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Demographics

The Ozark Heritage Region is made up of seven counties, only one of which has a population over 25,000. All of the counties are Third Class regarding populations numbers. Twenty-three incorporated municipalities are contained in the region; one third class city, eighteen fourth class, and four villages. The region is comprised of forty school districts (or parts thereof). Twenty-six of those school districts offer grades Kindergarten through 12, with the other fourteen offering Kindergarten or first grade through eighth grade.

There are five Missouri legislative districts contained in whole or part in the Region. Missouri's 143rd, 144th, 147th, 151st and 153rd districts are represented. Similarly, four State Senatorial Districts, the 16th, 20th, 29th and 33rd lie within the boundaries of the region.

The Region is represented in the United States Senate by Senator Christopher S. "Kit" Bond and Senator Jim Talent. The counties of Howell, Oregon, Shannon, Texas and Wright lie within Missouri's Eighth Congressional District, currently represented by Congresswoman JoAnn Emerson. Douglas and Ozark Counties are in Missouri's Seventh Congressional District, and are represented by Congressman Roy Blunt.

Geographic, Climatic And Natural Resources Profile

Geology

The Ozark Heritage Region covers an area of 6,111 square miles in the south central portion of the State of Missouri. It includes the counties of Douglas, Howell, Oregon, Ozark, Shannon, Texas and Wright.

The region's bedrock geology is mostly that from the Ordovician age with thick, cherty and shaley dolomites, characteristic of the Jefferson City dolomite formation, and also thick, mostly cherty dolomites and sandstone, characteristic of the Gasconade dolomite and Roubidoux sandstone formations.

Some areas in the north eastern portion of the region date back to the Cambrian age with thick, mostly cherty dolomites, characteristic of the Potosi & Eminence dolomite formation. Some Precambrian age geology can also be found in this area containing felsite, granite and other igneous rocks, characteristic of the Stouts Creek felsite & Graniteville granite formations.

The region's surficial material is made up of a chert-clay residuum and colluvium derived from cherty dolomite and limestone. The thickness of this layer is generally O - 100 feet, but in places it is as thick as several hundred feet.

Topography

The region is underlain mostly by cherty dolomite or limestone. The solubility of these rocks has permitted extensive chemical erosion. The regions physical features are peculiar to carbonate-rock terrain. These features include numerous sinkholes, caves, springs and other phenomena characteristic of karst topography. The region is a highly dissected plateau with some isolated rolling plains.

Relief

Elevations in the region range from under 400 feet above sea level in the southern and eastern portions of the region to above 1600 feet above sea level in the western portion of the region.

Groundwater Quality

The region's water supply is obtained from an abundant source of groundwater located in the bedrock below the region. Dissolved solids in the groundwater range from 200 - 300 parts per million (PPM.)in the northern portion of the region and from 300 - 500 p.p.m. in the southern portion of the region.

The groundwater yields are low to moderate in the region, but wells which penetrate water filled caverns may be capable of relatively high yields.

The groundwater recharge rate in the region is mostly moderate to high, but in places it is high to very high.

There are numerous springs located in the region with flows averaging a million gallons or more per day, and some of these springs average 10 million gallons or more per day.

Climatic Profile

Precipitation By Season

Autumn Precipitation: Autumn is a season of variable precipitation. The region's average precipitation for the three month period of September, October and November ranges between 11to12 inches.

Winter Precipitation: The most pronounced precipitation gradient occurs during the winter season. The region's average precipitation for the three month period of December, January and February ranges between 6 inches in the northwestern portion of the region up to 10 inches in the southeastern portion of the region.

Spring Precipitation: The greatest amount of precipitation falls in the spring season. The region's average precipitation for the three month period of March, April and May ranges between 13 to 14 inches.

Summer Precipitation: The distribution and occurrence of rainfall is often erratic in the summer months. The region's average precipitation for the three month period of June, July and August ranges between 11 to 12 inches.

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