Christian County, Missouri

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Christian County

| state = Missouri

| ex image = Christian County MO Courthouse 20151022-158.jpg

| ex image size = 220px

| ex image cap = The Historic Christian County Courthouse in Ozark

| seal =

| founded year = 1859{{cite web|url=http://www.christiancountymo.gov/history.html|title=History of Christian County|publisher=Christian County, Mo|access-date=November 23, 2014}}

| founded date = March 8

| seat wl = Ozark

| largest city wl = Nixa

| area_total_sq_mi = 564

| area_land_sq_mi = 563

| area_water_sq_mi = 1.2

| area percentage = 0.2

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 88842

| population_density_sq_mi = auto

| time zone = Central

| footnotes =

| named for = William Christian

| web = christiancountymo.gov

| district = 7th

}}

Christian County is located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 88,842. Its county seat is Ozark.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }} The county was organized in 1859 and is named after Christian County, Kentucky, which in turn is named for William Christian, a Kentucky soldier of the American Revolutionary War.{{Cite web |last=Pokin |first=Steve |title=Answer Man: Why's Christian County have a panhandle in its boundary? Looks like Oklahoma |url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2018/08/08/heres-why-missouri-christian-county-has-panhandle/916985002/ |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=Springfield News-Leader |language=en-US}}

Christian County is part of the Springfield, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area. Between 2000 and 2010, it was the fastest-growing county in the state and one of the fastest growing ones in the nation as the county became more suburban due to the booming growth in Springfield.{{cite web|last=Tang|first=Didi|url=http://www.news-leader.com/article/20110225/NEWS01/102250353/New-Census-numbers-Christian-County-fastest-growing-state|title=New Census numbers: Christian County fastest growing in state|publisher=The Springfield News-Leader|date=February 11, 2011|access-date=February 18, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814050412/http://www.news-leader.com/article/20110225/NEWS01/102250353/New-Census-numbers-Christian-County-fastest-growing-state|archive-date=August 14, 2011}}

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|564|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|563|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.2|sqmi}} (0.2%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021170230/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 21, 2013 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=November 14, 2014 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files }}

The county is drained by James River and branches of the White River. The surface is undulating or hilly.{{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Christian (counties)|display=Christian. III. A S. W. county of Missouri}}

=Adjacent counties=

Greene County (north)
Webster County (northeast)
Douglas County (east)
Taney County (south)
Stone County (southwest)
Lawrence County (west)

=Major highways=

=National protected area=

Mark Twain National Forest (part)

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1860= 5491

|1870= 6707

|1880= 9628

|1890= 14017

|1900= 16939

|1910= 15832

|1920= 15252

|1930= 13169

|1940= 13538

|1950= 12412

|1960= 12359

|1970= 15124

|1980= 22402

|1990= 32644

|2000= 54285

|2010= 77422

|2020= 88842

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 14, 2014}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=November 14, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mo190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 14, 2014}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 14, 2014}} 2010–2020{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29043.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717190511/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29043.html|archive-date=July 17, 2011|url-status=dead}}

}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Christian County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic composition
{{nobold|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.}}

!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!Pop 2000{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Christian County, Missouri |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US29043&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}

!Pop 2010{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Christian County, Missouri |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US29043&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}

!{{partial|Pop 2020}}{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Christian County, Missouri |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US29043&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}

!% 2000

!% 2010

!{{partial|% 2020}}

White alone (NH)

|52,409

|72,982

|style='background: #ffffe6; |78,890

|96.54%

|94.27%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |88.80%

Black or African American alone (NH)

|139

|433

|style='background: #ffffe6; |597

|0.26%

|0.56%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.67%

Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|281

|442

|style='background: #ffffe6; |468

|0.52%

|0.57%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.53%

Asian alone (NH)

|154

|385

|style='background: #ffffe6; |624

|0.28%

|0.50%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.70%

Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian alone (NH)

|15

|50

|style='background: #ffffe6; |68

|0.03%

|0.06%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.08%

Other race alone (NH)

|13

|29

|style='background: #ffffe6; |240

|0.02%

|0.04%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.27%

Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|560

|1,203

|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,943

|1.03%

|1.55%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.56%

Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|714

|1,898

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,012

|1.32%

|2.45%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.39%

Total

|54,285

|77,422

|style='background: #ffffe6; |88,842

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

=2000 census=

As of the census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, there were 54,285 people, 20,425 households, and 15,645 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|96|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 21,827 housing units at an average density of {{convert|39|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units }}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.31% White, 0.27% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. Approximately 1.32% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.7% were of American, 21.1% German, 12.3% English and 11.3% Irish ancestry.

There were 20,425 households, out of which 38.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.00% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.40% were non-families. 19.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.80% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 31.70% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $50,200, and the median income for a family was $58,806. Males had a median income of $31,929 versus $21,852 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,873. About 7.10% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.20% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

=Local=

The Republican Party controls politics at the local level in Christian County. The Republicans hold all of the elected positions in the county.

On May 20, 2015, Sheriff Joey Kyle plead guilty to embezzling county funds and participating in an illegal fraud scheme. As a part of a plea agreement, he immediately resigned as sheriff, was sentenced to one year plus one day in federal prison, and must repay more than $50,000 in restitution to Christian County.{{cite web|url=http://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/christian-county/2015/05/20/joey-kyle/27652909/|website=news-leader.com|title=Going to jail: Christian County Sheriff admits to fraud and embezzlement|access-date=February 1, 2018}}

{{Missouri county elected officials

| name =Christian County, Missouri

| assessor =Danny Gray

| assessorparty =Republican

| auditor =Amy Dent

| auditorparty =Republican

| circuitclerk =Barbie Barnett-Stillings

| circuitclerkparty =Republican

| countyclerk =Kay Brown

| countyclerkparty =Republican

| presiding =Ralph Phillips

| presidingparty =Republican

| district1 =Mike Robertson

| district1party =Republican

| district2 =Hosea Bilyeu

| district2party =Republican

| collector =Ted Nichols

| collectorparty =Republican

| coroner =Mandi Armintage

| coronerparty =Republican

| prosecutor =Amy Fite

| prosecutorparty =Republican

| administrator =Ken Davis

| administratorparty=Republican

| recorder =Kelly Hall

| recorderparty =Republican

| sheriff =Brad Cole

| sheriffparty =Republican

| treasurer =Karen Matthews

| treasurerparty =Republican

}}

=State=

class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"

|+ Past Gubernatorial Elections Results

bgcolor=lightgrey

! Year

! Republican

! Democratic

! Third Parties

align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|2024

|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|74.71% 37,658

|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|23.51% 11,822

|align="center" |1.78% 897

align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|2020

|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|74.60% 34,827

|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|23.30% 10,863

|align="center" |2.1% 970

align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|2016

|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|68.97% 28,618

|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|27.94% 11,593

|align="center" |3.09% 1,285

align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|2012

|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|58.01% 21,902

|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|39.73% 15,000

|align="center" |2.26% 852

align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|2008

|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|49.65% 18,556

|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|47.73% 17,840

|align="center" |2.61% 977

align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|2004

|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|68.61% 21,400

|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|30.27% 9,443

|align="center" |1.12% 348

align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|2000

|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|58.90% 13,646

|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|39.49% 9,148

|align="center" |1.61% 373

align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|1996

|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|56.69% 10,559

|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|40.22% 7,491

|align="center" |3.10% 577

Christian County is divided into three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which are represented by Republicans.

District 138 — Don Phillips (R-Kimberling City). Consists of the communities of Billings and part of Republic.

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 138 — Christian County (2016){{cite web|url= http://enr.sos.mo.gov/CountyResults.aspx|title=County Results - State of Missouri - 2016 General Election|publisher=Missouri Secretary of State|date=December 12, 2016|access-date=April 22, 2017}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Don Phillips

|votes = 1,865

|percentage = 100.00%

|change =

}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 138 — Christian County (2014)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Don Phillips

|votes = 856

|percentage = 100.00%

|change =

}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 138 — Christian County (2012)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Don Phillips

|votes = 1,625

|percentage = 100.00%

|change =

}}

District 139 — Rep. Jered Taylor (R-Nixa). Consists of the communities of Clever, Highlandville, Nixa, and Spokane.

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 139 — Christian County (2016)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Jared Taylor

|votes = 16,991

|percentage = 100.00%

|change =

}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 139 — Christian County (2014)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Jered Taylor

|votes = 7,528

|percentage = 100.00%

|change = +28.86

}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 139 — Christian County (2012)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Kevin Elmer

|votes = 12,375

|percentage = 71.14%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Bob Rubino

|votes = 5,020

|percentage = 28.86%

|change =

}}

District 140 — [http://house.mo.gov/member.aspx?year=2017&district=140 Rep. Lynn Morris] (R-Ozark). Consists of the communities of Fremont Hills, Ozark, Saddlebrook, and Sparta.

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 140 — Christian County (2016)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Lynn Morris

|votes = 14,371

|percentage = 75.80%

|change = +3.45

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Jim Billedo

|votes = 4,175

|percentage = 22.02%

|change = +1.27

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Green Party (United States)

|candidate = Robert Debbaut

|votes = 413

|percentage = 2.18%

|change = +2.18

}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 140 — Christian County (2014)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Lynn Morris

|votes = 7,151

|percentage = 79.25%

|change = -20.75

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Jim Billedo

|votes = 1,872

|percentage = 20.75%

|change = +20.75

}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 140 — Christian County (2012)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Lynn Morris

|votes = 15,284

|percentage = 100.00%

|change =

}}

All of Christian County is a part of Missouri's 20th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by [http://www.senate.mo.gov/mem20/ Eric Burlison] (R-Battlefield).

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 20 — Christian County (2014)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Jay Wasson

|votes = 16,395

|percentage = 100.00%

|change =

}}

=Federal=

{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — Christian County (2016)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Roy Blunt

|votes = 27,812

|percentage = 66.93%

|change = +12.53

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Jason Kander

|votes = 11,857

|percentage = 28.53%

|change = -9.67

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Jonathan Dine

|votes = 1,113

|percentage = 2.68%

|change = -4.72

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Green Party (United States)

|candidate = Johnathan McFarland

|votes = 356

|percentage = 0.86%

|change = +0.86

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Constitution Party (United States)

|candidate = Fred Ryman

|votes = 418

|percentage = 1.00%

|change = +1.00

}}

{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — Christian County (2012)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Todd Akin

|votes = 20,383

|percentage = 54.40%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Claire McCaskill

|votes = 14,312

|percentage = 38.20%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Jonathan Dine

|votes = 2,774

|percentage = 7.40%

|change =

}}

All of Christian County is included in Missouri's 7th Congressional District and is currently represented by Billy Long (R-Springfield) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 7th Congressional District — Christian County (2016)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Billy Long

|votes = 28,849

|percentage = 70.50%

|change = +6.41

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Genevieve Williams

|votes = 9,890

|percentage = 24.17%

|change = -1.75

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Benjamin T. Brixey

|votes = 2,179

|percentage = 5.33%

|change = -4.66

}}

{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 7th Congressional District — Christian County (2014)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Billy Long

|votes = 12,261

|percentage = 64.09%

|change = -2.08

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Jim Evans

|votes = 4,959

|percentage = 25.92%

|change = -2.04

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Kevin Craig

|votes = 1,910

|percentage = 9.99%

|change = +4.12

}}

{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 7th Congressional District — Christian County (2012)}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Billy Long

|votes = 24,505

|percentage = 66.17%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Jim Evans

|votes = 10,353

|percentage = 27.96%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Kevin Craig

|votes = 2,174

|percentage = 5.87%

|change =

}}

==Political culture==

{{PresHead|place=Christian County, Missouri|source={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|website=uselectionatlas.org|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|access-date=February 1, 2018}}}}

Like most counties situated in Southwest Missouri, Christian County is a Republican stronghold in presidential elections. George W. Bush carried Christian County in 2000 and 2004 by more than two-to-one margins, and like many other rural and exurban counties throughout Missouri, Christian County strongly favored John McCain over Barack Obama in 2008. The only Democratic presidential candidate to win Christian County since the Civil War has been Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932.Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868–2004, pp. 239, 241, 244 {{ISBN|0786422173}} In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump was the favored candidate receiving 30,941 votes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/11/08/christian-county-election-results/93502544/|title=Christian County Election Results|website=Springfield News-Leader|language=en|access-date=October 8, 2019}}

Like most areas throughout the Bible Belt in Southwest Missouri, voters in Christian County traditionally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to strongly influence their Republican leanings. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman—it overwhelmingly passed Christian County with 80.46 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters as Missouri became the first state to ban same-sex marriage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state—it failed in Christian County with 58.98 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research. Despite Christian County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist causes like increasing the minimum wage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Christian County with 73.01 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 78.99 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.

=Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)=

{{main|2008 Missouri Democratic presidential primary|2008 Missouri Republican presidential primary}}

Voters in Christian County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally. Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) received more votes, a total of 5,852, than any candidate from either party in Christian County during the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary.

Education

=Public schools=

Billings R-IV School District - Billings
Billings Elementary School (PK-06)
Billings High School (07-12)
Chadwick R-I School District - Chadwick
Chadwick Elementary School (PK-06)
Chadwick High School (07-12)
Clever R-V School District - Clever
Clever EleMiddle School (PK-08)
Clever High School (09-12)
Logan-Rogersville R-VIII School District - Rogersville
Logan-Rogersville Primary School - (PK-01)
Logan-Rogersville Elementary School - (02-03)
Logan-Rogersville Upper Elementary School - (04-06)
Logan-Rogersville Middle School - (07-08)
Logan-Rogersville High School - (09-12)
Nixa R-II School District - Nixa
Nixa Early Childhood Center (PK)
High Pointe Elementary School (K-04)
Mathews Elementary School (K-04)
Century Elementary School (K-04)
Espy Elementary School (K-04)
John Thomas School of Discovery (K-06)
Nicholas A. Inman Intermediate School (05-06)
Summit Intermediate School (05-06)
Nixa Jr. High School (07-08)
Nixa Public High School (09-12)
Ozark R-VI School District - Ozark
North Elementary School (K-04)
East Elementary School (K-04)
West Elementary School (K-04)
South Elementary School (K-04)
Upper Elementary School (05-06)
Ozark Jr. High School (07-08)
Ozark High School (09-12)
Sparta R-III School District - Sparta
Sparta Elementary School (PK-05)
Sparta Middle School (06-08)
Sparta High School (09-12)
Spokane R-VII School District - Spokane
Highlandville Elementary School (PK-05) - Highlandville
Spokane Middle School (06-08)
Spokane High School (09-12)

=Private schools=

Faith Christian School - Spokane - (PK-12) - Baptist

=Colleges and universities=

Ozarks Technical Community College - Richwood Valley Campus - Public

Public libraries

= Christian County Library System =

Christian County currently has three public library branches that serve the community. The Christian County Library (CCL) operates these branches. The library offers residents books, A/V materials, programming, printing, and WiFi access.{{Cite web|url=https://christiancountylibrary.org/library/library-services/|title=Services at Christian County Library - Digital - Research and More|date=August 26, 2016|website=Christian County Library|language=en-US|access-date=October 5, 2019}} There is a branch in Ozark, Nixa, and Clever.{{Cite web|url=https://christiancountylibrary.org/locations/|title=Locations|date=March 1, 2019|website=Christian County Library|language=en-US|access-date=October 5, 2019}} In August 2019, the library announced the continuation of their expansion to the public. Construction is set to begin on at least one new library branch by spring 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://christiancountylibrary.org/your-library-district-is-growing-sparta-and-clever-branch-construction-timeline-announced/|title=Your Library District is Growing: Sparta and Clever Branch Construction Timeline Announced|date=August 30, 2019|website=Christian County Library|language=en-US|access-date=October 8, 2019}}

== Tax approval ==

On Tuesday, August 8, 2017, voters in Christian County approved to instate a 20-cent property tax levy. Sixty-eight percent of the voters approved the tax. Before this tax, the library was only able to operate one branch for the whole county. To accommodate new housing and population growth in the county, CCL announced their intentions to construct and/or open new branches around the county. The tax approval also allowed for a renovation of the original Ozark Branch. CCL expects eighty-five percent of the population in Christian County to be within a five-mile radius of the library after all intended branches are opened.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ozarksfirst.com/local-news/christian-county-voters-approve-library-tax/|title=Christian County Voters Approve Library Tax|date=August 9, 2017|website=KOLR - OzarksFirst.com|language=en-US|access-date=February 3, 2020}}

File:CCL Nixa Branch.jpg

class="wikitable"

|+Christian County Library Board of Trustees{{Cite web|url=https://christiancountylibrary.org/library/trustees/|title=Trustees & Administration|date=August 27, 2016|website=Christian County Library|language=en-US|access-date=October 8, 2019}}

!Position Held

!Name

President

|Ken Barthelette

Vice President

|Loretta Hermann

Treasurer

|Maurine Myers

Secretary

|Heather Davidson

Member at Large

|Christa Mitchell

Christian County Library{{cite web | last = Breeding | first = Marshall | title = Christian County Library | publisher = Libraries.org | url = https://librarytechnology.org/library/5440 | access-date = May 8, 2017}}
Billings City Library

Public safety

Billings Fire Protection District
Billings Police Department
Chadwick Fire Protection District - Chadwick
Christian County Ambulance District
Christian County Sheriff's Department
Clever Fire Protection District
Clever Police Department
Highlandville Fire Protection District
Highlandville Police Department
Nixa Fire Protection District
Nixa Police Department
Ozark Fire Protection District
Ozark Police Department
Sparta Fire Protection District
Sparta Police Department

Communities

=Cities=

Billings
Clever
Fremont Hills
Highlandville
Nixa (largest city)
Ozark (county seat)
Republic (mostly in Greene County)
Sparta
Springfield (mostly in Greene County)

=Village=

Saddlebrooke (small portion in Taney County)

=Census-designated place=

Spokane

=Other unincorporated communities=

=Townships=

In popular culture

The Christian County chapter of the Bald Knobbers created the distinctive masks that the group has become known for, despite the original Taney County chapter never adopting such masks.{{Cite web |title=Springfield-Greene County Library -- Bittersweet |url=https://thelibrary.org/lochist/periodicals/bittersweet/su79e.htm#:~:text=The%20Christian%20County%20Bald%20Knobbers,County%20group%20to%20eradicate%20vice. |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=thelibrary.org}} This masked depiction is what would eventually be used in the book, The Shepherd of the Hills by Harold Bell Wright. The book would later be adapted to film and the stage. This masked depiction can also be seen on the ride Fire in the Hole located at Silver Dollar City.

Jason Bourne, the main protagonist of the Bourne film franchise was from Nixa, the largest city in Christian County.

The 2010 film Winter's Bone was filmed entirely in Taney County and Christian County. Many locals were cast in significant roles in the film.{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/08/18/139753185/on-location-the-frozen-ozarks-of-winters-bone|title=On Location: The Frozen Ozarks Of 'Winter's Bone'|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=January 15, 2020}}

References

External links

[http://www.christiancountymo.gov Official Website]
[http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/specialcollections/platbooks.htm Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Christian County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816173126/http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/specialcollections/platbooks.htm |date=August 16, 2011 }} from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Christian County, Missouri

|North = Greene County

|Northeast = Webster County

|East = Douglas County

|Southeast =

|South = Taney County

|Southwest = Stone County

|West = Lawrence County

|Northwest =

}}

{{coord|36.97|-93.19|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MO_source:UScensus1990}}