Christian County, Missouri

Christian County, Missouri
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Coordinates: 36°58′N 93°11′W / 36.97°N 93.19°W / 36.97; -93.19
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedMarch 8, 1859
Named afterWilliam Christian
SeatOzark
Largest cityNixa
Area
 • Total
564 sq mi (1,460 km2)
 • Land563 sq mi (1,460 km2)
 • Water1.2 sq mi (3.1 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
88,842
 • Density158/sq mi (60.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitechristiancountymo.gov

Christian County is located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 88,842. Its county seat is Ozark. The county was organized in 1859 and is named after Christian County, Kentucky, which in turn is named for William Christian, a Kentucky soldier of the American Revolutionary War.

Part of the Springfield, Missouri metropolitan statistical area, Christian County experienced rapid growth between 2000 and 2010, becoming the fastest-growing county in Missouri and one of the fastest in the nation, largely due to Springfield's expansion.