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. Its county seat is Bolivar. The county was organized January 5, 1835, and named for Ezekiel Polk. Polk County is part of the Springfield, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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. 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. 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.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 642 sqmi, of which 636 sqmi is land and 6.9 sqmi (1.1%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Transit

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 26,992 people, 9,917 households, and 7,140 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 PD/sqmi. There were 11,183 housing units at an average density of 18 /mi2. 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

Education

Public libraries

Media

The Bolivar Herald-Free Press is published twice weekly.

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Polk County is divided into 22 townships:

Politics

Local

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

State

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

Federal

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.

Political culture

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.

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)

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.