Macon

Formed January 1, 1837 (57^th county)

Macon County (15,212), Macon (5,459)

A red brick Federalist courthouse complex was built in 1865 consisting of two buildings.  It is located on a square at Washington, Walker, Sheridan, and Manning Streets.  The courthouse is six blocks west of United States Highway 63 passing through the town.  Memorial veterans’ slabs are on the courthouse grounds.   Levi Aldrich and John H. Konefas were the architects.  The courthouse has been enlarged, was renovated in 1971 and 1976 and is currently under renovation in 2015.  The county was created on January 1, 1837 from Ralls County as the 57^th county.  The county and county seat are named for North Carolina politician Nathaniel Macon.  Bloomington served as the county seat until 1863 when Macon took over. 

Macon County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  One Circuit Court Judge serves Macon and Shelby counties and One County Court Judge serves Macon County.  Macon County is in northeast Missouri.  Saint Louis, Missouri is southeast and Kansas City, Missouri is southwest of the county.  The county center is 12.6 miles North-Northwest of Macon nearer Atlanta.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Adair, Knox, Shelby, Monroe, Randolph, Chariton, and Linn counties. 

The area of the county is 804 square miles.  It is 14 out of 115 in the state.  It ranks 68 out of 115 in population in the state.  It has a density of 18.9 persons per square mile making it 84 out of 115 in the state.  Macon County has 54.2% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 36 passes east to west in the county from Shelby County to Linn County.  United States Highway 63 goes north to south from Adair County to Randolph County.  Macon County is a number 7 with the northeast corner missing.  The City of Macon is in the southeast quarter of the county.  Macon is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 35.9% of the county population.