Polk County, Georgia

Polk County
County
Polk County Courthouse in Cedartown
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°00′N 85°11′W / 34°N 85.18°W / 34; -85.18
Country	United States
State	Georgia
Founded	December 20, 1851; 173 years ago (1851)
Named for	James K. Polk
Seat	Cedartown
Largest city	Cedartown
Area
• Total	312 sq mi (810 km2)
• Land	310 sq mi (800 km2)
• Water	1.8 sq mi (5 km2)  0.6%
Population  (2020)
• Total	42,853
• Estimate  (2023)	44,223
• Density	140/sq mi (53/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	14th
Website	www.polkgeorgia.org

Polk County is a county in the Northwest region of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,853.^[1] The county seat is Cedartown.^[2] The county was created on December 20, 1851, by an act of the Georgia General Assembly and named after James K. Polk, the eleventh President of the United States.^[3] Polk County comprises the Cedartown, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 312 square miles (810 km²), of which 310 square miles (800 km²) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) (0.6%) is water.^[4] Much of the county is also covered in rolling hills and small mountains, most of which are part of the Piedmont Plateau and the Ridge-and-Valley mountains, which are both smaller sections of the larger Appalachian Mountains. The highest of these small mountains is Shorty mountain near the Unincorporated community of Etna with an elevation of 1,610 ft (491 m) above sea level. The most prominent mountain in the county (as well as the 5th highest) is Signal Mountain in Rockmart with a prominence of 360 ft (110 m) and an elevation of 1,290 ft (393 m) above sea level. ^[5]

Most of eastern Polk County, centered on Rockmart, is located in the Etowah River sub-basin of the ACT River Basin (Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin), while most of western Polk County, centered on Cedartown, is located in the Upper Coosa River sub-basin of the same ACT River Basin. Small slivers of the southern edges of the county are located in the Upper Tallapoosa River sub-basin of the same larger ACT River Basin.^[6]

• Floyd County – north
• Bartow County – northeast
• Paulding County – east
• Haralson County – south
• Cleburne County, Alabama – southwest
• Cherokee County, Alabama – west

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 42,853 people, 15,038 households, and 10,151 families residing in the county.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 41,475 people, 15,092 households, and 10,908 families living in the county.^[18] The population density was 133.6 inhabitants per square mile (51.6/km²). There were 16,908 housing units at an average density of 54.5 per square mile (21.0/km²).^[19] The racial makeup of the county was 77.1% white, 12.5% black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 7.5% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 11.8% of the population.^[18] In terms of ancestry, 17.2% were English, 15.2% were American, 13.0% were Irish, and 5.3% were German.^[20]

Of the 15,092 households, 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.7% were non-families, and 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.20. The median age was 36.2 years.^[18]

The median income for a household in the county was $38,646 and the median income for a family was $43,172. Males had a median income of $37,070 versus $27,758 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,214. About 15.6% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.4% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.^[21]

As of the census^[22] of 2000, there were 38,127 people, 14,012 households, and 10,340 families living in the county. The population density was 122 inhabitants per square mile (47/km²). There were 15,059 housing units at an average density of 48 per square mile (19/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.52% White, 13.34% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.62% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. 7.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,012 households, out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couples living together, 13.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.20% were non-families. 22.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.10% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.20 males. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there were 95.70 men.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,328, and the median income for a family was $37,847. Males had a median income of $29,985 versus $21,452 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,617. About 11.20% of families and 15.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.70% of those under age 18 and 12.60% of those age 65 or over.

• Silver Comet Trail^[23]

• Polk County Standard Journal

• Aragon
• Braswell
• Cedartown (county seat)
• Rockmart
• Taylorsville (partly in Bartow County)

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Polk County, Georgia
• List of counties in Georgia

• Polk County Historical Society
• Polk County Genealogy
• Polk County Courthouse – Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia
• Polk County Tourism website – Polk on Purpose!

34°00′N 85°11′W / 34.00°N 85.18°W / 34.00; -85.18