Missouri

Howell

39,750
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Howell

Howell, Missouri, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 3,169. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 39,750.

Its recorded population peaked at 40,400 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 2 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them West Plains Skirmish (Howell County), Skirmish at West Plains, and 7 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202039,750
201040,400
200037,238
199031,447
198028,807
197023,521
196022,027
195022,725
194022,270
193019,672
192021,102
191021,065
190021,834
189018,618
18808,814
18704,218
18603,169
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Howell

Military engagements that took place in Howell, Missouri.

West Plains Skirmish (Howell County)
1862
Skirmish at West Plains
1862

Historic places in Howell

National Register of Historic Places listings in Howell, Missouri.

Smith, W.J. and Ed, Building
West Plains
West Plains Bank Building
West Plains
Courthouse Square Historic District
West Plains
International Shoe Company Building
West Plains
Mount Zion Lodge Masonic Temple
West Plains
Elledge Arcade Buildings
West Plains
Browse all Missourihistoric sites ›

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Everything a full report reveals about Howell County, Missouri

This page charts the census history of Howell 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 Howell

When does Howell first appear in the US census?
Howell, Missouri first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 3,169.
What is the population of Howell?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Howell had a recorded population of 39,750.
When did Howell's population peak?
Howell's recorded population peaked at 40,400 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Howell?
2 documented military engagements took place in Howell, including West Plains Skirmish (Howell County), Skirmish at West Plains.
How many historic places are in Howell?
7 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Howell, Missouri.
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