Polk County, Arkansas

County in Arkansas, United States

County in Arkansas

Polk County

County

Polk County Courthouse in Mena

Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas

Arkansas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 34°30′07″N 94°14′27″W﻿ / ﻿34.501944444444°N 94.240833333333°W﻿ / 34.501944444444; -94.240833333333
Country|  United States
State|  Arkansas
Founded| November 30, 1844
Named after| James K. Polk
Seat| Mena
Largest city| Mena
Area

• Total

| 862 sq mi (2,230 km2)
• Land| 858 sq mi (2,220 km2)
• Water| 4.8 sq mi (12 km2)  0.6%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 19,221

• Estimate

(2024)

| 19,434
• Density| 22/sq mi (8.6/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 4th

Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,221.[1] The county seat is Mena.[2] Polk County is Arkansas's 48th county, formed on November 30, 1844; it was named for James K. Polk, 11th President of the United States.

## Wet county

[edit]

Pol County was formerly under an alcohol prohibition as a dry county. However, following a historic mid-term election in 2022, Polk County is now a wet county.[3]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 862 square miles (2,230 km2), of which 858 square miles (2,220 km2) is land and 4.8 square miles (12 km2) (0.6%) is water.[4]

### Major highways

[edit]

* Future Interstate 49
* U.S. Highway 59
* U.S. Highway 71
* U.S. Highway 270
* U.S. Highway 278
* Highway 4
* Highway 8
* Highway 84
* Highway 88

### Transit

[edit]

* Jefferson Lines

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Scott County (north)
* Montgomery County (east)
* Pike County (southeast)
* Howard County (southeast)
* Sevier County (south)
* McCurtain County, Oklahoma (southwest)
* Le Flore County, Oklahoma (northwest)

### National protected area

[edit]

* Ouachita National Forest (part)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1850| 1,263| | —
1860| 4,262| | 237.5%
1870| 3,376| | −20.8%
1880| 5,857| | 73.5%
1890| 9,283| | 58.5%
1900| 18,352| | 97.7%
1910| 17,216| | −6.2%
1920| 16,412| | −4.7%
1930| 14,857| | −9.5%
1940| 15,832| | 6.6%
1950| 14,182| | −10.4%
1960| 11,981| | −15.5%
1970| 13,297| | 11.0%
1980| 17,007| | 27.9%
1990| 17,347| | 2.0%
2000| 20,229| | 16.6%
2010| 20,662| | 2.1%
2020| 19,221| | −7.0%
2024 (est.)| 19,434| [5]| 1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010[10]
Age pyramid Polk County[11]

### 2020 census

[edit]

Polk County racial composition[12] Race  | Number  | Percentage

|
|

White (non-Hispanic)  | 16,092  | 83.72%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)  | 39  | 0.2%
Native American | 335  | 1.74%
Asian | 100  | 0.52%
Pacific Islander | 9  | 0.05%
Other/Mixed | 1,368  | 7.12%
Hispanic or Latino | 1,278  | 6.65%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 19,221 people, 8,243 households, and 5,672 families residing in the county.

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2000 census,[13] there were 20,229 people, 8,047 households, and 5,793 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km2). There were 9,236 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.69% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 1.49% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.72% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 3.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,047 households, out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 25.00% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,180, and the median income for a family was $31,379. Males had a median income of $23,397 versus $17,294 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,063. 18.20% of the population and 14.00% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 23.50% were under the age of 18 and 16.20% were 65 or older.

As of 2010 Polk County had a population of 20,662. Of this population 89.77% were non-Hispanic whites, 0.31% were blacks, 1.76% Native Americans, 0.45% Asians, 2.03% non-Hispanics reporting one or more race and 5.76% Hispanic or Latino.

## Government

[edit]

### Government

[edit]

The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by the Constitution of Arkansas and the Arkansas Code. The quorum court is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are called justices of the peace and are elected from county districts every even-numbered year. The number of districts in a county vary from nine to fifteen, and district boundaries are drawn by the county election commission. The Polk County Quorum Court has nine members. Presiding over quorum court meetings is the county judge, who serves as the chief operating officer of the county. The county judge is elected at-large and does not vote in quorum court business, although capable of vetoing quorum court decisions.[14][15]

Polk County, Arkansas elected countywide officials[16][17] Position  | Officeholder  | Party

|
|

County Judge  | Brandon Ellison  | Republican
County Clerk  | Lisa Standridge  | Republican
Circuit Clerk  | Michelle Heath Schnell  | Republican
Sheriff/Collector  | Scott Sawyer  | Republican
Treasurer  | Tanya Fretz  | Republican
Assessor  | Jovan Thomas  | Independent
Coroner  | Brian Bowser  | Republican

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 7 Republicans and 2 Independents. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:[16][17][18]

* District 1: Chris Daniel (I)
* District 2: Jeremy Jones (R)
* District 3: Levi Ellison (R)
* District 4: James P. Looney (R)
* District 5: Troy Lunsford (R)
* District 6: Tommy Floyd (R)
* District 7: Tawana L. Gilbert (R)
* District 8: Terry Scott (I)
* District 9: Mitchell Ray Tidwell (R)

Additionally, the townships of Polk County are entitled to elect their own respective constables, as set forth by the Constitution of Arkansas. Constables are largely of historical significance as they were used to keep the peace in rural areas when travel was more difficult.[19] The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:[18]

* Gap Springs: John Deming (R)
* Mountain: Donald D. Davis (R)
* Potter: Eddie Price (R)

### Politics

[edit]

Since 1952, Polk County has been heavily Republican, only voting for the Democratic nominee for president three times since then. It last voted for the Democratic nominee for president in 1992, when it gave Arkansas governor Bill Clinton 43.8 percent of the vote. After this, the county trended rapidly towards Republicans, with the Republican margin of victory increasing in every subsequent election. In 2020, the county gave Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump 82.9 percent of the vote, the highest ever vote share for a Republican presidential candidate in the county, and Democratic nominee Joe Biden 14.7 percent of the vote, the lowest ever vote share for a Democratic presidential candidate in the county.

United States presidential election results for Polk County, Arkansas[20] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 6,987  | 84.30% | 1,145  | 13.82%  | 156  | 1.88%
2020 | 7,035  | 82.86% | 1,246  | 14.68%  | 209  | 2.46%
2016 | 6,618  | 80.40% | 1,212  | 14.72%  | 401  | 4.87%
2012 | 5,955  | 77.08% | 1,556  | 20.14%  | 215  | 2.78%
2008 | 5,473  | 71.25% | 1,957  | 25.48%  | 251  | 3.27%
2004 | 5,192  | 66.57% | 2,473  | 31.71%  | 134  | 1.72%
2000 | 4,600  | 63.95% | 2,315  | 32.18%  | 278  | 3.86%
1996 | 2,852  | 42.70% | 2,824  | 42.28%  | 1,003  | 15.02%
1992 | 2,757  | 38.20%  | 3,162  | 43.81% | 1,298  | 17.99%
1988 | 4,099  | 62.15% | 2,390  | 36.24%  | 106  | 1.61%
1984 | 5,181  | 70.15% | 2,101  | 28.45%  | 104  | 1.41%
1980 | 3,993  | 58.51% | 2,617  | 38.35%  | 214  | 3.14%
1976 | 2,432  | 40.76%  | 3,505  | 58.75% | 29  | 0.49%
1972 | 3,609  | 74.83% | 1,120  | 23.22%  | 94  | 1.95%
1968 | 2,094  | 40.30% | 1,290  | 24.83%  | 1,812  | 34.87%
1964 | 2,022  | 43.88%  | 2,575  | 55.88% | 11  | 0.24%
1960 | 1,882  | 51.82% | 1,635  | 45.02%  | 115  | 3.17%
1956 | 1,832  | 58.29% | 1,287  | 40.95%  | 24  | 0.76%
1952 | 1,756  | 55.91% | 1,379  | 43.90%  | 6  | 0.19%
1948 | 554  | 25.89%  | 1,417  | 66.21% | 169  | 7.90%
1944 | 764  | 43.09%  | 999  | 56.35% | 10  | 0.56%
1940 | 585  | 31.49%  | 1,255  | 67.55% | 18  | 0.97%
1936 | 537  | 30.95%  | 1,170  | 67.44% | 28  | 1.61%
1932 | 223  | 11.90%  | 1,568  | 83.67% | 83  | 4.43%
1928 | 1,022  | 53.34% | 870  | 45.41%  | 24  | 1.25%
1924 | 502  | 31.49%  | 863  | 54.14% | 229  | 14.37%
1920 | 1,173  | 46.27%  | 1,208  | 47.65% | 154  | 6.07%
1916 | 448  | 26.51%  | 1,242  | 73.49% | 0  | 0.00%
1912 | 162  | 11.08%  | 694  | 47.47% | 606  | 41.45%
1908 | 628  | 37.88%  | 824  | 49.70% | 206  | 12.42%
1904 | 476  | 40.44%  | 528  | 44.86% | 173  | 14.70%
1900 | 411  | 29.63%  | 922  | 66.47% | 54  | 3.89%
1896 | 51  | 4.78%  | 1,004  | 94.10% | 12  | 1.12%

## Popular culture

[edit]

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Polk County, Arkansas" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Polk County is the setting for Stephen Hunter's fictional Bob Lee Swagger series, the most notable being Black Light, as well as the place where Joel B Reed's fictional character, Jazz Phillips, of the Jazz Phillips mystery series, grew up.

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Mena (county seat)
* Wickes

### Towns

[edit]

* Cove
* Grannis
* Hatfield
* Vandervoort

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Acorn
* Board Camp

### Other unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Ink

### Townships

[edit]

Townships in Polk County, Arkansas as of 2010

Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas; some may have incorporated cities or towns within part of their boundaries. Arkansas townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the United States census does list Arkansas population based on townships (sometimes referred to as "county subdivisions" or "minor civil divisions"). Townships are also of value for historical purposes in terms of genealogical research. Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps and publications. The townships of Polk County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. [21][22]

* Acorn (small part of Mena)
* Big Fork
* Cedar
* Center (most of Mena)
* Cove (Hatfield)
* Eagle
* Faulkner
* Freedom
* Fulton
* Gap Springs
* Mill Creek
* Mountain
* Ouachita
* Ozark (Grannis, Wickes)
* Potter (small part of Mena)
* Rich Mountain
* White (Cove, Vandervoort)

## See also

[edit]

* List of lakes in Polk County, Arkansas
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Polk County, Arkansas
* Osro Cobb

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Polk County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Eperson, Andrew (November 10, 2022). "Alcohol sales approved in Hot Spring, Polk Counties". KARK. Little Rock, Arkansas: Nexstar Media Group, Inc. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
8. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
11. ^ Based on 2000 census data
12. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
14. ^ "Quorum Courts". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
15. ^ "Office of County Judge". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
16. ^ a b "Polk | Association of Arkansas Counties". www.arcounties.org. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
17. ^ a b "2022 General Election - County, District Officials" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 18, 2022.
18. ^ a b "Polk County, Arkansas, elections, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
19. ^ "What is a Constable?". What is a Constable?. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
20. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
21. ^ 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Polk County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
22. ^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 29, 2014.

## External links

[edit]

* Polk County, Arkansas entry on the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture

Places adjacent to Polk County, Arkansas

| Le Flore County, Oklahoma | Scott County |

|
|

|  |

Polk County, Arkansas

| Montgomery County
|  |
McCurtain County, Oklahoma | Sevier County | Howard County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Polk County, Arkansas, United States

County seat: Mena

Cities|

* Mena
* Wickes

Map of Arkansas highlighting Polk County

Towns|

* Cove
* Grannis
* Hatfield
* Vandervoort

CDPs|

* Acorn
* Board Camp

Other unincorporated
communities|

* Big Fork
* Cherry Hill
* Corinth
* Dallas
* Hatton
* Ink
* Old Potter
* Pleasant Hill
* Potter

* Arkansas portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Arkansas

Little Rock (capital)

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34°30′07″N 94°14′27″W﻿ / ﻿34.50194°N 94.24083°W﻿ / 34.50194; -94.24083
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