A Great Community.
Looking for just the right location to open your business, new factory, or farm? Then you've come to the right place. Barton County is an ideal location with many small communities working together we have all the ideals of America's Heartland and the core values that make small town life appealing.
Barton County's long term success has been based on a strongly diversified economic base and this continues to be the case today. Encompassing major industry employers such as Epoch, Golden City Forms, and Thorco Industries, to strong retail, combined with a solid agricultural base.
According to USDA census reports in 2007 Barton County contained 349,319 acres of land being used for agriculture among 1046 farms. Barton County was the #1 Wheat Producer in Missouri and the #3 Harvester of Vegetables in 2007 producing a market value of products over $90 million dollars for the same year.
The population estimate of Barton County is 12,531.
In 2006 there were 5,900 people employed in non-farm related establishments to complement the agricultural industry.
2002 Census data shows Manufacturer shipments totaled $299 million, Wholesale trade sales $59 million, Retail sales of $95 million and Accommodation/Food Industry sales of $7.4 million.
Combine all this with a 73.5% Home-ownership rate and a median income of $35,845 we have the perfect place to live, work and be in business. The cost of living in Barton County remains low compared to a United States ranking average of 100, Barton County is rated at a 76.5, so come join us and help create the future!
Ideal Location
Barton County is centrally located to the rest of America. Transportation and Logistics are a dream location from here with the intersection of Highway 160 and Highway 71 which is in process of being upgraded to the new Interstate 49 which will connect directly between Kansas City, MO to New Orleans, LA.An ideal location for central distribution of your products especially if you don't want to deal with the traffic of Kansas City; you can have the advantages of low traffic combined with excellent access to major highways. If your company needs larger shipments, we have excellent rail road access throughout most of the county as well. Service runs through the county provided by Union Pacific, Burlington Northern, and Santa Fe.
There are ready to go sites for retail or small manufacturing built and ready for you right now or if you prefer to build to suit, sites are being prepared and will be listed soon as well on our Location One site, but they are available and we can help you find the site that is perfect for your needs.
Lamar, the County Seat has been declared to be an Enhanced Enterprise Zone, which gives many benefits to expanding companies and new businesses locating in the area.
Knowledgeable Support
Barton County is well prepared to deliver the very important support to new and existing business and industry. We have many resources in place and more being prepared to deliver. Our Board of Directors is a diversified group of business men and women, working in all fields from medical to banking, retail to agriculture.The Barton County Chamber is a very strong organization that works to promote all its members around the county, state and country. They also work to organize special events that add to the overall quality of life in Barton County, and have a strong focus on tourism, to bring in outside dollars to our community.
University of Missouri has an Extension Office located in Barton County staffed with people ready to help from Small Business Specialist to Agricultural experts. Each member of their staff has resources and knowledge to share that will assist in getting your business up and running or to help you expand your business interest to the next level.
A strong well rated set of school systems throughout the County ensure the future with quality education and students who are prepared and ready to either enter the workforce directly or to go on to college and further education. A part of the County school system is the Lamar Area Vo-tech. The Area Vo-tech offers 9 different programs in 6 Career Paths as identified by the State of Missouri. They include Health Occupations, Auto Mechanics, Machine Tool Technology, Welding, Drafting/Woodworking, Carpentry, Vocational Agriculture, Business Accounting & Business, and Marketing & Small Business.
