Cooper County is located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri.

[2] The county was organized December 17, 1818, and named for Sarshell Cooper, a frontier settler who was killed by Native Americans near Arrow Rock in 1814.

26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The Republican Party completely controls politics at the local level in Cooper County.

Cooper County is divided into three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which elected Republicans, but one is currently vacant.