Phelps County Demographics

A map of Phelps County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	38,353	37,941	84.9%	85.0%
Multiracial	2,279	2,423	5.0%	5.4%
Asian	1,655	1,506	3.7%	3.4%
Hispanic	1,390	1,259	3.1%	2.8%
Black	1,100	1,028	2.4%	2.3%
Native American/Other	417	481	0.9%	1.1%

Phelps County, Missouri has an estimated population of 45,194, a slight increase from the 44,638 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 84.9% White, 5.0% Multiracial, 3.7% Asian, 3.1% Hispanic, 2.4% Black, and 0.9% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Phelps County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Phelps is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Missouri overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Phelps County, that probability was 27.2% in 2020 and 27.4% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Phelps County is ranked the 23rd most populous county in Missouri, out of 115 counties. Phelps County was ranked the 23rd most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Phelps County's White Population

38,353 residents of Phelps County, or 84.9% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Phelps County is higher than in Missouri overall, where 76.3% of the population is White. Phelps County ranks 87th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 115 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Phelps County's White population has grown by an estimated 1.1%. White residents' share of Phelps County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 84.9%.

Phelps County is more White than neighboring Pulaski County (68.5% White). Phelps County is less White than neighboring Maries County (91.7% White), Dent County (91.1% White), Crawford County (91.9% White), and Texas County (89% White).

Phelps County's Black Population

1,100 residents of Phelps County, or 2.4% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Phelps County is lower than in Missouri overall, where 10.9% of the population is Black. Phelps County ranks 36th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 115 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Phelps County's Black population has grown by an estimated 7.0%. Black residents' share of Phelps County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.4%.

Phelps County is more Black than neighboring Maries County (0.2% Black), Dent County (0.4% Black), and Crawford County (0.8% Black). Phelps County is less Black than neighboring Pulaski County (10.1% Black), and Texas County (3.5% Black).

Phelps County's Asian Population

1,655 residents of Phelps County, or 3.7% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Phelps County is comparable to the share in Missouri overall, where 2.1% of the population is Asian. Phelps County ranks 4th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 115 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Phelps County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 9.9%. Asian residents' share of Phelps County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.7%.

Phelps County is more Asian than neighboring Maries County (0% Asian), Dent County (0.9% Asian), Pulaski County (2.1% Asian), Crawford County (0.1% Asian), and Texas County (0.1% Asian).

Phelps County's Hispanic Population

1,390 residents of Phelps County, or 3.1% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Phelps County is slightly lower than in Missouri overall, where 5.2% of the population is Hispanic. Phelps County ranks 31st statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 115 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Phelps County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 10.4%. Hispanic residents' share of Phelps County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.1%.

Phelps County is more Hispanic than neighboring Maries County (2.1% Hispanic), Dent County (2.2% Hispanic), Crawford County (2.4% Hispanic), and Texas County (2.5% Hispanic). Phelps County is less Hispanic than neighboring Pulaski County (11.5% Hispanic).

Phelps County's Native American/Other Population

417 residents of Phelps County, or 0.9% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Phelps County is comparable to the share in Missouri overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Phelps County ranks 15th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 115 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Phelps County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 13.3%. Native American/Other residents' share of Phelps County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.9%.

Phelps County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Crawford County (0.8% Native American/Other), and Texas County (0.4% Native American/Other). Phelps County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Maries County (1.3% Native American/Other), and Pulaski County (1.5% Native American/Other).

Phelps County's Multiracial Population

2,279 residents of Phelps County, or 5.0% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Phelps County is comparable to the share in Missouri overall, where 4.8% of the population is Multiracial. Phelps County ranks 22nd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 115 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Phelps County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 5.9%. Multiracial residents' share of Phelps County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 5.0%.

Phelps County is more Multiracial than neighboring Maries County (4.8% Multiracial), Dent County (4.5% Multiracial), Crawford County (4.1% Multiracial), and Texas County (4.5% Multiracial). Phelps County is less Multiracial than neighboring Pulaski County (6.3% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.