Shannon County, Missouri

Shannon County
Shannon County courthouse in Eminence
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°10′N 91°24′W / 37.16°N 91.4°W / 37.16; -91.4
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedJanuary 29, 1841
Named afterGeorge Shannon
SeatEminence
Largest cityWinona
Area
  Total
1,004 sq mi (2,600 km2)
  Land1,004 sq mi (2,600 km2)
  Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.02%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
7,031
  Density7.0/sq mi (2.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.shannon-county.com

Shannon County is a county in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,031. Its county seat is Eminence. The county was officially organized on January 29, 1841, and was named in honor of George F. "Peg-Leg" Shannon, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It is the second-largest county by area in Missouri.

Missouri's first copper mine was opened in Shannon County in 1846 and Missouri's only manganese mine was opened here during World War II.

As of the 2000 census, Shannon County ranked 78th on the list of counties with the lowest per capita income and 46th on the list of counties with the lowest median household incomes in the United States, making it the poorest county in Missouri.