Who is the Howell County Assessor?

Daniel Franks (Republican) is the Assessor of Howell County, Missouri.

Who is the Howell County Circuit Clerk?

Cynthia Lee (Republican) is the Circuit Clerk of Howell County, Missouri.

Who is the Howell County Collector of Revenue?

Janet Crow (Independent) is the Collector of Revenue of Howell County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.

Who is the Howell County Coroner?

James T. (Tim) Cherry (Republican) is the Coroner of Howell County, Missouri.

Who is the Howell County County Clerk?

Kelly Waggoner (Republican) is the County Clerk of Howell County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.

Who is the Howell County County Surveyor?

Ray Riggs (Republican) is the County Surveyor of Howell County, Missouri.

Who is the Howell County Prosecuting Attorney?

Michael P. Hutchings (Republican) is the Prosecuting Attorney of Howell County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.

Who is the Howell County Public Administrator?

John Pruett (Republican) is the Public Administrator of Howell County, Missouri.

Who is the Howell County Recorder of Deeds?

Jeffrey (Jeff) Brasier (Republican) is the Recorder of Deeds of Howell County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.

Who is the Howell County Sheriff?

Matt Roberts (Republican) is the Sheriff of Howell County, Missouri.

Who is the Howell County Treasurer?

Nancy Franz (Republican) is the Treasurer of Howell County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.

Who are the Howell County commissioners?

Calvin Wood (Associate Commissioner, Northern District); Bruce Williams (Associate Commissioner, Southern District); Ralph Riggs (Presiding Commissioner).

What is the population of Howell County?

About 40,383 people, with a median age of 40.3; the median household income is $50,993 and 20.3% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).

What is the unemployment rate in Howell County?

4.1% in September 2026 (preliminary): 683 people unemployed in a labor force of 16,695, against 4.0% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).

How many local governments are there in Howell County?

27 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 4 municipal, 8 school district and 14 special district governments.

Howell County, MO elected officials: county commissioners, sheriff, school board and cities

Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Howell County: 14 seats on 12 elected bodies. 6 seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot; they update once the county certifies its results.

County Commission

Howell County Commission

Office	Who holds it now	Next term
Associate Commissioner, Northern District	Calvin Wood Republican source
Associate Commissioner, Southern District	Bruce Williams Republican source
Presiding Commissioner	Ralph Riggs Republican source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

County officers

Office	Who holds it now	Next term
Assessor	Daniel Franks Republican source
Circuit Clerk	Cynthia Lee Republican source
Collector of Revenue	Janet Crow Independent source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Coroner	James T. (Tim) Cherry Republican source
County Clerk	Kelly Waggoner Republican source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County Surveyor	Ray Riggs Republican source
Prosecuting Attorney	Michael P. Hutchings Republican source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Public Administrator	John Pruett Republican source
Recorder of Deeds	Jeffrey (Jeff) Brasier Republican source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Sheriff	Matt Roberts Republican source
Treasurer	Nancy Franz Republican source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

How many local governments Howell County has

The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 27 local governments in Howell County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.

Kind of government	Census count (2022)	Listed on this page
County government	1	1
Cities, towns, villages and townships	4	0
School districts (school boards)	8	0
Special districts (elected boards)	14	0

Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).

About these counts

The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments, though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.

Who lives in Howell County

40,383people

40.3median ageU.S.: 38.9

$50,993 household incomeU.S.: $80,734

20.3%below the U.S.: 12.5%

17.8%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%

$173,000median home valueU.S.: $332,700

5%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%

1.2%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%

9.2%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%

11.7%U.S.: 8.4%

44.9%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%

24.7%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 2.6% · White 91.5% · Black 0.5% · Asian 0.4% · Other or more than one race 5% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)

Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).

About these figures

The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.

Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.

Jobs in Howell County

4.1%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 4.0%. Missouri: 3.3%.

683people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.

16,012people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.

16,695in the September 2026, preliminary.

Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.

Every month, last two years

Month	Rate	Unemployed	Employed	Labor force
September 2026 (preliminary)	4.1%	683	16,012	16,695
August 2026	4.5%	748	15,719	16,467
July 2026	5.0%	813	15,497	16,310
June 2026	4.6%	763	15,958	16,721
May 2026	4.1%	680	15,780	16,460
April 2026	4.0%	657	15,972	16,629
March 2026	4.6%	772	15,832	16,604
February 2026	4.5%	750	15,841	16,591
January 2026	4.9%	801	15,702	16,503
December 2025	3.7%	614	15,969	16,583
November 2025	3.9%	647	15,950	16,597
October 2025	not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 2025	4.0%	659	15,757	16,416
August 2025	5.0%	829	15,657	16,486
July 2025	5.6%	915	15,407	16,322
June 2025	5.2%	874	15,922	16,796
May 2025	4.7%	776	15,724	16,500
April 2025	4.3%	716	15,866	16,582
March 2025	5.1%	856	15,806	16,662
February 2025	4.9%	809	15,842	16,651
January 2025	4.7%	774	15,850	16,624
December 2024	4.1%	678	15,936	16,614
November 2024	4.1%	673	15,852	16,525
October 2024	4.0%	669	15,901	16,570

Yearly averages

Year	Rate	Unemployed	Employed	Labor force
2025 (11 months)	4.6%	770	15,795	16,565
2024	4.5%	736	15,766	16,502
2023	3.7%	606	15,881	16,487
2022	3.0%	490	15,662	16,152
2021	4.5%	722	15,464	16,186
2020	6.6%	1,084	15,243	16,327
2019	3.9%	650	15,961	16,611
2018	3.5%	579	15,864	16,443
2017	4.7%	755	15,346	16,101
2016	6.2%	1,015	15,267	16,282

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. Missouri's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 3.6% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.

Crime reported in Howell County

292.6 per 100,0002025. Missouri: 417.8.

955.8 per 100,0002025. Missouri: 1,644.1.

0murders2025, 120 violent crimes in all.

Earlier years

Year	Violent	Rate	Property	Rate
2025	120	292.6	392	955.8
2024	107	259.2	476	1,153.2
2023	126	306.6	576	1,401.7
2022	122	303.7	687	1,710.2
2021	155	385.3	844	2,097.9
2020	147	367.0	1,124	2,806.5
2018	133	332.5	1,050	2,624.7
2017	122	303.7	930	2,314.9
2016	123	307.7	900	2,251.8

By police agency (4)

Agency	Year	Violent	Property	People served
Howell County Sheriff's Office	2025	69	163	23,272
West Plains Police Department	2025	35	188	12,834
Mountain View Police Department	2025	11	25	2,678
Willow Springs Police Department	2025	5	16	2,228

Crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. Years with incomplete reporting are left out. Crime in Missouri · the U.S.

Police staffing

2.07 per 1,000 residents2025, 4 agencies serving 41,012 people.

85sworn officers2025, full-time, as of October 31.

33civilian staff2025, full-time.

Agencies counted (4), 2025

Agency	Officers	Civilians	People served
Howell County Sheriff's Office	38	25	23,272
West Plains Police Department	34	6	12,834
Willow Springs Police Department	8	1	2,228
Mountain View Police Department	5	1	2,678

Earlier years

Year	Officers	Per 1,000	Civilians	Agencies
2025	85	2.07	33	4
2024	87	2.11	34	4
2023	87	2.12	34	4
2022	71	1.77	30	4
2021	77	1.91	26	4
2019	67	1.68	21	4
2018	67	1.67	22	4
2017	70	1.74	17	4
2016	70	1.75	14	4

Full-time employees of the county's city police departments and sheriff's office, as each reported them to the FBI (Uniform Crime Reporting, Law Enforcement Employees), per 1,000 people in the areas those agencies serve (the FBI's population figures). A year is shown only when every one of these agencies sent a count; a count under half or over double the agency's own counts in nearby years is treated as not sent. Towns policed under contract by another agency are counted through that agency. State police, campus and other agencies aren't included. Sheriffs' offices often also run the county jail and courthouse security, so their staff counts include those jobs.

Quick answers

Who is the Howell County Assessor?: Daniel Franks (Republican) is the Assessor of Howell County, Missouri.
Who is the Howell County Circuit Clerk?: Cynthia Lee (Republican) is the Circuit Clerk of Howell County, Missouri.
Who is the Howell County Collector of Revenue?: Janet Crow (Independent) is the Collector of Revenue of Howell County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Howell County Coroner?: James T. (Tim) Cherry (Republican) is the Coroner of Howell County, Missouri.
Who is the Howell County County Clerk?: Kelly Waggoner (Republican) is the County Clerk of Howell County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Howell County County Surveyor?: Ray Riggs (Republican) is the County Surveyor of Howell County, Missouri.
Who is the Howell County Prosecuting Attorney?: Michael P. Hutchings (Republican) is the Prosecuting Attorney of Howell County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Howell County Public Administrator?: John Pruett (Republican) is the Public Administrator of Howell County, Missouri.
Who is the Howell County Recorder of Deeds?: Jeffrey (Jeff) Brasier (Republican) is the Recorder of Deeds of Howell County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Howell County Sheriff?: Matt Roberts (Republican) is the Sheriff of Howell County, Missouri.
Who is the Howell County Treasurer?: Nancy Franz (Republican) is the Treasurer of Howell County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who are the Howell County commissioners?: Calvin Wood (Associate Commissioner, Northern District); Bruce Williams (Associate Commissioner, Southern District); Ralph Riggs (Presiding Commissioner).
What is the population of Howell County?: About 40,383 people, with a median age of 40.3; the median household income is $50,993 and 20.3% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Howell County?: 4.1% in September 2026 (preliminary): 683 people unemployed in a labor force of 16,695, against 4.0% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Howell County?: 27 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 4 municipal, 8 school district and 14 special district governments.

Officeholders as of November 6, 2026, from the Missouri Secretary of State's Official Manual (Blue Book) 2025–2026; each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.

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