As of the census of 2000, there were 15,661 people, 6,030 households, and 4,383 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile. There were 6,914 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 97.45% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Approximately 0.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 3.57% percent reported speaking Pennsylvania German or Germanat home. Dallas County is the county with the largest concentration of Kauffman Amish Mennonites, who have preserved Pennsylvania German as their every day language and an old form of Standard German for church. They had 950 adherents in Dallas County in 2010. There were 6,030 households out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.80% were married couplesliving together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.04. In the county, the population was spread out with 27.50% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.70 males. The median income for a household in the county was $27,346, and the median income for a family was $33,500. Males had a median income of $26,438 versus $17,569 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,106. About 14.20% of families and 17.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.40% of those under age 18 and 18.50% of those age 65 or over.
The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Dallas County. Republicans hold all of the elected positions in the county.
State
All of Dallas County is a part of Missouri’s 129th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by . All of Dallas County is a part of Missouri’s 28th District in the Missouri Senate. The seat is currently vacant. The previous incumbent, Mike Parson, was elected Lieutenant Governor in 2016.
Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton received more votes, a total of 1,157, than any candidate from either party in Dallas County during the 2008 presidential primary. She narrowly edged out former Governor Mike Huckabee by four votes.
