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Polk County, Missouri

Coordinates: 37°37′N 93°24′W / 37.62°N 93.40°W / 37.62; -93.40
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Polk County
County
Polk County Courthouse in Bolivar
Polk County Courthouse in Bolivar
Map of Missouri highlighting Polk County
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Map of the United States highlighting Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°37′N 93°24′W / 37.62°N 93.4°W / 37.62; -93.4
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedMarch 13, 1835
Named forEzekiel Polk
SeatBolivar
Largest cityBolivar
Area
 • Total642 sq mi (1,660 km2)
 • Land636 sq mi (1,650 km2)
 • Water6.9 sq mi (18 km2)  1.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total31,519
 • Estimate 
(2023)
31,519 Increase
 • Density49/sq mi (19/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th

Polk County is a county located in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 31,519.[1] Its county seat is Bolivar.[2] The county was organized January 5, 1835,[3] and named for Ezekiel Polk. Polk County is part of the Springfield, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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Polk County was separated and organized from Greene County on January 5, 1835. A supplement to the boundary change was made on March 13, 1835.[3][4] Its original boundaries were later reduced in creating Dade, Dallas, and Hickory counties. It was named in honor of Col. Ezekiel Polk of Tennessee, a soldier who served under General George Washington and who was the grandfather of John Polk Campbell and Ezekiel Madison Campbell, brothers who helped to settle Polk and Greene counties.[5] Ezekiel Polk was also the grandfather of James K. Polk, who was a member of the US House of Representatives in 1835. He was elected President of the United States in 1844.[6]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 642 square miles (1,660 km2), of which 636 square miles (1,650 km2) is land and 6.9 square miles (18 km2) (1.1%) is water.[7]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Transit

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18408,449—
18506,186−26.8%
18609,99561.6%
187012,44524.5%
188015,73426.4%
189020,33929.3%
190023,25514.3%
191021,561−7.3%
192020,351−5.6%
193017,803−12.5%
194017,400−2.3%
195016,062−7.7%
196013,753−14.4%
197015,41512.1%
198018,82222.1%
199021,82616.0%
200026,99223.7%
201031,13715.4%
202031,5191.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010[12]

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 26,992 people, 9,917 households, and 7,140 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 inhabitants per square mile (16/km2). There were 11,183 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.26% White, 0.45% Black or African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Approximately 1.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,917 households, out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 23.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 12.60% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 20.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,656, and the median income for a family was $35,843. Males had a median income of $25,383 versus $18,799 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,645. About 11.10% of families and 16.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.00% of those under age 18 and 12.00% of those age 65 or over.

2020 Census

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Polk County Racial Composition[14]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 28,682 91%
Black or African American (NH) 242 0.76%
Native American (NH) 190 0.6%
Asian (NH) 131 0.42%
Pacific Islander (NH) 4 0.01%
Other/Mixed (NH) 1,479 4.7%
Hispanic or Latino 791 2.51%

Education

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Public libraries

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  • Polk County Public Library[15]

Media

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The Bolivar Herald-Free Press is published twice weekly.

Communities

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Cities

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Villages

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Polk County is divided into 22 townships:

Politics

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Local

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The Republican Party completely controls politics at the local level in Polk County. Republicans hold all of the elected positions in the county.

Polk County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Rita Lemmon Republican
Circuit Clerk Tiffany Phillips Republican
County Clerk Rachel Lightfoot Republican
Collector Rachel Boyce Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Shannon Hancock Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)		 Kyle Legan Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)		 Melinda Robertson Republican
Coroner Jeff Witt Republican
Prosecuting Attorney Keaton Ashlock Republican
Public Administrator Barbara Davolt Republican
Recorder Carol Poindexter Republican
Sheriff Danny Morrison Republican
Surveyor Kevin Nelson Republican
Treasurer Shirley Allison Republican

State

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Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 81.7% 12,319 16.4% 2,475 1.9% 278
2016 66.92% 9,251 30.15% 4,168 2.92% 404
2012 53.89% 7,052 43.15% 5,647 2.96% 388
2008 45.76% 6,244 49.52% 6,758 4.72% 644
2004 67.84% 8,418 30.90% 3,835 1.56% 1.26
2000 58.65% 5,996 39.79% 4,068 1.55% 159
1996 55.64% 5,043 40.51% 3,672 3.85% 349

All of Polk County is in the 128th district in the Missouri House of Representatives, and is represented by Mike Stephens (R-Bolivar).

Missouri House of Representatives — District 128 — Polk County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Stephens 11,500 85.48% −14.52
Independent Janet Sheffield 1,953 14.52% +14.52
Missouri House of Representatives — District 128 — Polk County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sue Entichler 5,903 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 128 — Polk County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sue Entlicher 11,744 100.00%

All of Polk County is a part of Missouri's 28th District in the Missouri Senate, which is currently vacant. The previous incumbent, Mike Parson, was elected Missouri Lieutenant Governor in November 2016.

Missouri Senate — District 28 — Polk County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Parson 5,832 100.00%

Federal

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U.S. Senate — Missouri — Polk County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 9,693 69.93% +17.50
Democratic Jason Kander 3,605 26.01% −14.35
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 327 2.36% −4.85
Green Johnathan McFarland 107 0.77% +0.77
Constitution Fred Ryman 129 0.93% +0.93
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Polk County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Todd Akin 6,789 52.43%
Democratic Claire McCaskill 5,226 40.36%
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 933 7.21%

All of Polk county is included in Missouri's 7th Congressional District and is currently represented by Billy Long (R-Springfield) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 7th Congressional District — Polk County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Billy Long 10,170 74.34% +6.06
Democratic Genevieve Williams 2,880 21.05% −2.42
Libertarian Benjamin T. Brixey 630 4.61% −3.64
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 7th Congressional District — Polk County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Billy Long 4,442 68.28% +1.25
Democratic Jim Evans 1,527 23.47% −4.21
Libertarian Kevin Craig 537 8.25% +2.95
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 7th Congressional District — Polk County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Billy Long 8,631 67.03%
Democratic Jim Evans 3,564 27.68%
Libertarian Kevin Craig 682 5.30%

Political culture

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Polk County has been a Republican Party stronghold for most of its history at the presidential level. In only four presidential elections from 1896 to the present has a Democratic Party candidate carried the county, the most recent being Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

United States presidential election results for Polk County, Missouri[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 11,850 78.49% 2,885 19.11% 363 2.40%
2016 10,438 75.84% 2,631 19.12% 694 5.04%
2012 9,252 70.52% 3,580 27.29% 287 2.19%
2008 8,956 65.39% 4,553 33.24% 188 1.37%
2004 8,586 68.95% 3,775 30.31% 92 0.74%
2000 6,430 62.46% 3,606 35.03% 258 2.51%
1996 4,521 49.74% 3,307 36.38% 1,261 13.87%
1992 3,465 39.94% 3,316 38.22% 1,894 21.83%
1988 5,030 59.39% 3,419 40.37% 21 0.25%
1984 5,467 65.98% 2,819 34.02% 0 0.00%
1980 4,842 57.86% 3,336 39.87% 190 2.27%
1976 3,893 51.29% 3,663 48.26% 34 0.45%
1972 5,409 70.67% 2,245 29.33% 0 0.00%
1968 4,145 59.82% 2,170 31.32% 614 8.86%
1964 3,288 49.51% 3,353 50.49% 0 0.00%
1960 4,849 66.52% 2,440 33.48% 0 0.00%
1956 4,410 59.77% 2,968 40.23% 0 0.00%
1952 5,263 67.81% 2,474 31.88% 24 0.31%
1948 4,026 56.65% 3,079 43.32% 2 0.03%
1944 5,040 66.45% 2,527 33.32% 18 0.24%
1940 5,534 61.98% 3,380 37.86% 14 0.16%
1936 5,126 56.65% 3,899 43.09% 23 0.25%
1932 3,811 46.40% 4,355 53.03% 47 0.57%
1928 5,307 69.63% 2,303 30.22% 12 0.16%
1924 4,097 56.19% 3,033 41.60% 161 2.21%
1920 4,967 62.82% 2,847 36.01% 93 1.18%
1916 2,613 53.79% 2,149 44.24% 96 1.98%
1912 1,802 39.04% 1,935 41.92% 879 19.04%
1908 2,670 54.43% 2,139 43.61% 96 1.96%
1904 2,659 56.88% 1,807 38.65% 209 4.47%
1900 2,679 53.59% 2,178 43.57% 142 2.84%
1896 2,564 48.32% 2,711 51.09% 31 0.58%
1892 1,918 45.98% 1,211 29.03% 1,042 24.98%
1888 2,100 48.97% 1,794 41.84% 394 9.19%

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)

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Main articles: 2008 Missouri Democratic presidential primary and 2008 Missouri Republican presidential primary

Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) received more votes, a total of 2,317, than any candidate from either party in Polk County during the 2008 presidential primary.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Polk County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Laws of a public and general nature of the State of Missouri passed between the years 1824 & 1836" Volume II, published 1842, pg. 432-433 https://mdh.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/molaws/id/42050/rec/3
  4. ^ "History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri." published 1889, Goodspeed Publishing, page 286
  5. ^ “Polk County Classics, a Sesquicentennial Photograph Album, 1835-1985” by George Francis Hooper and James C. Sterling, published 1985, page 4 “History and Families of Polk County, Missouri” published 2002 by the Polk County Genealogical Society, Inc. page 8
  6. ^ "POLK, James Knox | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives".
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  12. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Polk County, Missouri".
  15. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Polk County Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
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37°37′N 93°24′W / 37.62°N 93.40°W / 37.62; -93.40

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