Polk County, Missouri

County in Missouri, United States

U.S. county in Missouri

Polk County

U.S. county

Polk County Courthouse in Bolivar

Location within the U.S. state of Missouri

Missouri's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Missouri
Founded| March 13, 1835
Named for| Ezekiel Polk
Seat| Bolivar
Largest city| Bolivar
Area

• Total| 642 sq mi (1,660 km2)
• Land| 636 sq mi (1,650 km2)
• Water| 6.9 sq mi (18 km2)  1.1%
Population

(2010)

• Total| 31,137
• Estimate

(2018)

| 32,201
• Density| 49/sq mi (19/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 7th

Polk County is a county located in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 31,137.[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.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Adjacent counties
* 2.2 Major highways
* 3 Demographics
* 3.1 2020 Census
* 4 Education
* 4.1 Public libraries
* 5 Politics
* 5.1 Local
* 5.2 State
* 5.3 Federal
* 5.3.1 Political culture
* 5.4 Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)
* 6 Media
* 7 Communities
* 7.1 Cities
* 7.2 Villages
* 7.3 Unincorporated communities
* 7.4 Townships
* 8 See also
* 9 References
* 10 External links

## 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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* Hickory County (north)
* Dallas County (east)
* Greene County (south)
* Dade County (southwest)
* Cedar County (west)
* St. Clair County (northwest)

### Major highways

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* Route 13
* Route 32
* Route 83
* Route 123
* Route 215

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1840| 8,449| | —
1850| 6,186| | −26.8%
1860| 9,995| | 61.6%
1870| 12,445| | 24.5%
1880| 15,734| | 26.4%
1890| 20,339| | 29.3%
1900| 23,255| | 14.3%
1910| 21,561| | −7.3%
1920| 20,351| | −5.6%
1930| 17,803| | −12.5%
1940| 17,400| | −2.3%
1950| 16,062| | −7.7%
1960| 13,753| | −14.4%
1970| 15,415| | 12.1%
1980| 18,822| | 22.1%
1990| 21,826| | 16.0%
2000| 26,992| | 23.7%
2010| 31,137| | 15.4%
2020| 31,519| | 1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2015[1]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 26,992 people, 9,917 households, and 7,140 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 people per square mile (16/km2). There were 11,183 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/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[13] 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[14]

## Politics

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This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

|

### 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|  Carolyn Page|  Republican
Circuit Clerk|  Tiffany Phillips|  Republican
County Clerk|  Melinda Robertson|  Republican
Collector|  Debbi R-McGinnis|  Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)|  Shannon Hancock|  Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)|  Kyle Legan|  Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)|  Rex Austin|  Republican
Coroner|  Melissa Britton|  Republican
Prosecuting Attorney|  Kenneth R. Ashlock|  Republican
Public Administrator|  Barbara Davolt|  Republican
Recorder|  Carol Poindexter|  Republican
Sheriff|  Danny Morrison|  Republican
Surveyor|  Mike Shuler|  Republican
Treasurer|  Vonna Bauer|  Republican

### State

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Past Gubernatorial Elections Results Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties

|
|
|

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[15] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

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.

## Media

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The Bolivar Herald-Free Press is published twice weekly.

## Communities

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### Cities

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* Bolivar (county seat)
* Fair Play
* Humansville
* Morrisville
* Pleasant Hope

### Villages

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* Aldrich
* Flemington
* Goodnight
* Halfway

### Unincorporated communities

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* Adonis
* Brighton
* Burns
* Cliquot
* Dunnegan
* Eudora
* Goodson
* Graydon Springs
* Huckaby
* Huron
* Karlin
* Knox
* Mohawk Corner
* Polk
* Rimby
* Rock Prairie
* Rondo
* Schofield
* Sentinel
* Slagle
* Sunset
* Tin Town
* Van
* Violet
* West Bend
* Wishart

### Townships

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Polk County is divided into 22 townships:

* Campbell Township
* Cliquot Township
* East Looney Township
* East Madison Township
* Flemington Township
* Jackson Township
* Jefferson Township
* Johnson Township
* McKinley Township
* Mooney Township
* North Benton Township
* North Green Township
* Northeast Marion Township
* Northwest Marion Township
* South Benton Township
* South Green Township
* Southeast Marion Township
* Southwest Marion Township
* Union Township
* West Looney Township
* West Madison Township
* Wishart Township

## See also

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* National Register of Historic Places listings in Polk County, Missouri

## References

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1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
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. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
13. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Polk County, Missouri".
14. ^ Breeding, Marshall. "Polk County Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 26, 2018.

## External links

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* http://www.bolivarmonews.com/
* Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Polk County Archived 2011-08-16 at the Wayback Machine from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books
* Polk County Sheriff's Office

Places adjacent to Polk County, Missouri

| St. Clair County | Hickory County |

|
|

|  |
Cedar County |

Polk County, Missouri

| Dallas County
|  |
Dade County | Greene County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Polk County, Missouri, United States

County seat: Bolivar

Cities|

* Bolivar
* Fair Play
* Humansville
* Morrisville
* Pleasant Hope

Map of Missouri highlighting Polk County

Villages|

* Aldrich
* Flemington
* Goodnight
* Halfway

Townships|

* Campbell
* Cliquot
* East Looney
* East Madison
* Flemington
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Johnson
* McKinley
* Mooney
* North Benton
* Northeast Marion
* North Green
* Northwest Marion
* South Benton
* Southeast Marion
* South Green
* Southwest Marion
* Union
* West Looney
* West Madison
* Wishart

Unincorporated
communities|

* Adonis
* Brighton
* Burns
* Cliquot
* Dunnegan
* Eudora
* Goodson
* Graydon Springs
* Huckaby
* Huron
* Karlin
* Knox
* Mohawk Corner
* Polk
* Rimby
* Rock Prairie
* Rondo
* Schofield
* Sentinel
* Slagle
* Sunset
* Tin Town
* Van
* Violet
* West Bend
* Wishart

Ghost towns|

* Clifford
* Dewey
* Gresham
* Ingalls
* Orleans

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Missouri

Jefferson City (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Geography
* Government
* Delegations
* History
* Battles
* Civil War
* People
* Symbols
* Tourist attractions
* Transportation

Society|

* Culture
* Crime
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Politics

Regions|

* Boonslick
* Bootheel
* Four State Area
* Honey Lands
* Lead Belt
* Lincoln Hills
* Little Dixie
* Loess Hills
* Mid-Missouri
* Mississippi Embayment
* Missouri Rhineland
* Northern Plains
* Osage Plains
* The Ozarks
* Platte Purchase
* Pony Express
* St. Francois Mountains

Metro areas|

* Columbia
* Jefferson City
* Joplin
* Kansas City
* Springfield
* St. Joseph
* St. Louis

Largest cities|

* Kansas City
* St. Louis
* Springfield
* Columbia
* Independence
* Lee's Summit
* O'Fallon
* St. Joseph
* St. Charles
* Blue Springs
* St. Peters
* Florissant
* Joplin
* Chesterfield
* Wentzville
* Jefferson City
* Cape Girardeau
* Wildwood
* University City
* Ballwin
* Liberty
* Raytown
* Kirkwood
* Maryland Heights
* Gladstone
* Grandview
* Hazelwood

Counties and
independent cities|

* Adair
* Andrew
* Atchison
* Audrain
* Barry
* Barton
* Bates
* Benton
* Bollinger
* Boone
* Buchanan
* Butler
* Caldwell
* Callaway
* Camden
* Cape Girardeau
* Carroll
* Carter
* Cass
* Cedar
* Chariton
* Christian
* Clark
* Clay
* Clinton
* Cole
* Cooper
* Crawford
* Dade
* Dallas
* Daviess
* DeKalb
* Dent
* Douglas
* Dunklin
* Franklin
* Gasconade
* Gentry
* Greene
* Grundy
* Harrison
* Henry
* Hickory
* Holt
* Howard
* Howell
* Iron
* Jackson
* Jasper
* Jefferson
* Johnson
* Knox
* Laclede
* Lafayette
* Lawrence
* Lewis
* Lincoln
* Linn
* Livingston
* Macon
* Madison
* Maries
* Marion
* McDonald
* Mercer
* Miller
* Mississippi
* Moniteau
* Monroe
* Montgomery
* Morgan
* New Madrid
* Newton
* Nodaway
* Oregon
* Osage
* Ozark
* Pemiscot
* Perry
* Pettis
* Phelps
* Pike
* Platte
* Polk
* Pulaski
* Putnam
* Ralls
* Randolph
* Ray
* Reynolds
* Ripley
* St. Charles
* St. Clair
* St. Francois
* St. Louis (City)
* St. Louis (County)
* Ste. Genevieve
* Saline
* Schuyler
* Scotland
* Scott
* Shannon
* Shelby
* Stoddard
* Stone
* Sullivan
* Taney
* Texas
* Vernon
* Warren
* Washington
* Wayne
* Webster
* Worth
* Wright

Coordinates: 37°37′N 93°24′W﻿ / ﻿37.62°N 93.40°W﻿ / 37.62; -93.40
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