Adair County, Missouri

Founding: 1841
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: John Adair, Kentucky governor
Seat: Kirksville (1841–)

Land area: 567 square miles

Population (2020): 25,314

Population (historic): 2,283 (1850); 11,448 (1870); 17,417 (1890); 22,700 (1910); 19,436 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1910; 1930s; 1950–1980; 1990–2010

Subdivisions: Three cities; two villages; ten townships

National Register listings: 20

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,943 (16.9%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 33.9%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 1.8%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 14.3%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 10.4%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $967
Average outbuilding value (1930): $707
Average farmhouse size (1940): 5 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,453
Average farm size (1920): 108.3 acres
Sources of settlement: Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, and Virginia
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Kirksville

Namesake: Jesse Kirk, early resident

Founding: 1841 (platting); 1843 (post office); 1857 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 17,530

Population (historic): 658 (1860); 2,314 (1880); 5,966 (1900); 8,293 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1860–1980; 2000–2020
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,435 (18.6%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. *John Cain House (c. 1855). 19183 First Settlement Road. Benton. Razed.
2. *St. Mary Catholic Church (1904–1905). State Route 11, east of Oak Grove Road. Clay. Romanesque.