Missouri

Ray

23,158
2020 population
1830
first census record
20
census records

About Ray

Ray, Missouri, first appears in the United States federal census in 1830, when it recorded a population of 2,657. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 23,158.

Its recorded population peaked at 24,805 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 7 percent.

On the ground today, 7 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Blue Mills Landing, Orrick Skirmish (Ray County), Ray County Guerrilla Skirmish, and 6 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202023,158
201023,494
200023,354
199021,971
198021,378
197017,599
196016,075
195015,932
194018,584
193019,846
192020,508
191021,451
190024,805
189024,215
188020,190
187018,700
186014,092
185010,373
18406,553
18302,657
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Ray

Military engagements that took place in Ray, Missouri.

Blue Mills Landing
1861
Orrick Skirmish (Ray County)
1862
Ray County Guerrilla Skirmish
1862
Richmond Skirmish (Ray County, 1862)
1862
Jesse James Joins Quantrill (First Actions 1863)
1863
Death of Bloody Bill Anderson at Richmond MO
1864
Death of Bloody Bill Anderson at Richmond
1864

Historic places in Ray

National Register of Historic Places listings in Ray, Missouri.

Watkins House
Richmond
Ray County Courthouse
Richmond
Mansur, Isiah, Farmstead Historic District
Richmond
New Hope Primitive Baptist Church
Richmond
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Other counties in Missouri

Explore census history and historic records for more Missouri counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Ray County, Missouri

This page charts the census history of Ray 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 Ray

When does Ray first appear in the US census?
Ray, Missouri first appears in the federal census in 1830, with a recorded population of 2,657.
What is the population of Ray?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Ray had a recorded population of 23,158.
When did Ray's population peak?
Ray's recorded population peaked at 24,805 in 1900.
Were any battles fought in Ray?
7 documented military engagements took place in Ray, including Blue Mills Landing, Orrick Skirmish (Ray County), Ray County Guerrilla Skirmish.
How many historic places are in Ray?
6 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Ray, Missouri.
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