There are 114
counties and one independent city in the U.S. state of
Missouri. Following the
Louisiana Purchase and the admittance of Louisiana into the United States in 1812, five counties were formed out of the
Missouri Territory at the first general assembly. Most subsequent counties were apportioned from these five original counties. Six more counties were added through the 1836
Platte Purchase, the acquired lands of which formed the northwest tip of the state and consisted of
Andrew,
Atchison,
Buchanan,
Holt,
Nodaway, and
Platte counties.