Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

a voluntary council of local governments
serving the missouri meramec area.

maries

Dent County

755

SQUARE MILES

February 10, 1851

DATE ORGANIZED

Lewis Dent, pioneer settler

NAME Of ORIGIN

CITIES

Salem

Communities

Boss, Bunker, Jadwin, Lecoma

Contact

Dent County Commission, 400 N. Main St., Salem, MO 65560, 573-729-4144

Square Miles

755

Date Organized

February 10, 1851

Name Origin

Lewis Dent, pioneer settler

Population

14,432 (2022 American Community Survey)

Median Age

43.1 (2016 ACS)

Civilian Labor Force

5,997 (2016 ACS)

Unemployment Rate

3.7% (2016 ACS)

Average Income

$38,020 (household) (2016 ACS)

County Resident Who Work Outside County

26.1% (2010)

County Employees That Live Outside County

9.3% (2010)

Average Travel Time to Workplace

25.4 minutes (2006-2010 avg.)

Cities

Salem

Communities

Boss, Bunker, Jadwin, Lecoma

Commissioners

Presiding Commissioner – Gary Larson

Associate Commissioners – Gary Polk & Wes Mobray

County Clerk

Angie Curley

Assessor

Jamie L. Homeyer

Circuit Clerk

Kristi Craig

Recorder

Cindy Ard

Collector

Shannon Vankirk

Treasurer

Denita Williams

Prosecuting Attorney

Andrew M. Curley

Sheriff

Bob Wells

Associate Circuit Judge

Nathan Kelsaw

Coroner

Benjamin Pursifull

Public Administrator

Sherida Cook

Surveyor

Michelle Elwood

Top Employers

Doe Run, Inc. (Bunker); US Foodservice and Wal-Mart (Salem); Salem Memorial Hospital; Mark Twain National Forest; Dent County Government; Dent County Schools; City of Salem

Form of Government

3 Person Commission

Schools

Dent Phelps R-III, Green Forest R-II, North Wood R-IV, Oak Hill R-I, Salem R-80

Medical Services

Salem Memorial District Hospital (Salem); 8 Pharmacists, 7 MDs, 3 DOs , 31 RNs, 42 LPNs, 5 Dentists; AirEvac Lifeteam

Colleges/Universities/VO-Tech Schools

Southwest Baptist University Annex (Salem)

Transportation Access

Highways 72, 32, 68 & 19, Salem Memorial Airport

Attractions

Gateway to the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Current River, Montauk State Park & Fish Hatchery, Mark Twain National Forest, Indian Trail Conservation Area, Cedar Grove Conservation Area, Montauk Towersite, White River Trace Conservation Area, Dent County Museum, Dent County Commons, Bonebrake Center (Salem)

Contacts

Dent County Commission, 400 N. Main St., Salem, MO 65560, 573-729-4144

Economic Development Coordinators

Sally Burbridge
City of Salem
400 N. Iron
Salem, MO 65560
Phone: (573) 729-4811 or (573) 729-2428
Fax: (573) 729-5371
economic@salemmo.com

Industrial Development Authority

Dent County IDA, Donald Dodd donald@thesalemnewsonline.com, 573-729-4126