Missouri

Carter

5,202
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Carter

Carter, Missouri, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 1,235. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 5,202.

Its recorded population peaked at 7,482 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 30 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Van Buren, Van Buren Skirmish (Carter County), and 31 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20205,202
20106,265
20005,941
19905,515
19805,428
19703,878
19603,973
19504,777
19406,226
19305,503
19207,482
19105,504
19006,706
18904,659
18802,168
18701,455
18601,235
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Carter

Military engagements that took place in Carter, Missouri.

Skirmish at Van Buren
1862
Van Buren Skirmish (Carter County)
1862

Historic places in Carter

National Register of Historic Places listings in Carter, Missouri.

Gibson, J. W., House
Grandin
Big Spring Historic District
Van Buren
McNew, Thornton, House
Grandin
Nance, Della, House
Grandin
Mays, Terry, House
Grandin
Lawhorn, Buford, House
Grandin
Smith, Lawrence, House
Grandin
Masonic Lodge
Grandin
Smith, James, House
Grandin
Herrington, Loretta, House
Grandin
Lewis, Iva, House
Grandin
Bedell, Mrs. Louis, House
Grandin
Tucker, Lee, House
Grandin
Owens, Hazel, House
Grandin
Knapp, Wallace, House
Grandin
Shoat, Hazel, House
Grandin
Sixth Street Historic District
Grandin
Greensfelder, Delia, House
Grandin
Phillips, Ernie, House
Grandin
Powers, Alvis, House
Grandin
Hinton, James, House
Grandin
Kitterman, Nola, House
Grandin
Smith, William F., House
Grandin
Jacobson, Nettie, House
Grandin
Browse all Missourihistoric sites ›

Other counties in Missouri

Explore census history and historic records for more Missouri counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Carter County, Missouri

This page charts the census history of Carter County, Missouri. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Carter

When does Carter first appear in the US census?
Carter, Missouri first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 1,235.
What is the population of Carter?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Carter had a recorded population of 5,202.
When did Carter's population peak?
Carter's recorded population peaked at 7,482 in 1920.
Were any battles fought in Carter?
2 documented military engagements took place in Carter, including Skirmish at Van Buren, Van Buren Skirmish (Carter County).
How many historic places are in Carter?
31 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Carter, Missouri.
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