Polk County, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Missouri
. As of 2010, the population was 31,137. Its county seat
is Bolivar
.
Polk County is part of the Springfield, Missouri
, Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
on January 5, 1835. Its original boundaries were later reduced to set up Dade, Dallas, and Hickory Counties. The name was suggested by a local pioneer, Ezekiel Campbell, to honor his grandfather Ezekiel Polk
who was a colonel in the Revolutionary War
and an early settler in western Tennessee. But, when the legislature acted to create the county, they named it for another grandson, James K. Polk
, who was the Speaker of the House
in the U.S. Congress
at the time.
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. 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.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. As of 2010, the population was 31,137. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Bolivar
Bolivar, Missouri
Bolivar is the county seat of Polk County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,325 at the 2010 census. The city was named for Bolivar, Tennessee, home to many of the original settlers, and like that city its name is pronounced to rhyme with Oliver...
.
Polk County is part of the Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
, Metropolitan Statistical Area
Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Area
The Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of five counties in southwestern Missouri, anchored by the city of Springfield - the state's third largest city. Other primary population centers in the metro area include Nixa, Ozark,...
.
History
Polk County was organized and separated from Greene CountyGreene County, Missouri
Greene County is a county located in Southwest Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 275,174 making it the fourth most populated county in Missouri. Its county seat is Springfield...
on January 5, 1835. Its original boundaries were later reduced to set up Dade, Dallas, and Hickory Counties. The name was suggested by a local pioneer, Ezekiel Campbell, to honor his grandfather Ezekiel Polk
Ezekiel Polk
Ezekiel Polk , American soldier, pioneer and grandfather of President James Knox Polk, was the next youngest of five boys and three girls born to William Polk and Margaret Taylor Polk of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, near present-day Carlisle...
who was a colonel in the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
and an early settler in western Tennessee. But, when the legislature acted to create the county, they named it for another grandson, James K. Polk
James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...
, who was the Speaker of the House
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
in the U.S. Congress
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
at the time.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 642.46 square miles (1,664 km²), of which 637.2 square miles (1,650.3 km²) (or 99.18%) is land and 5.26 square miles (13.6 km²) (or 0.82%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Hickory County (north)
- Dallas County (east)
- Greene CountyGreene County, MissouriGreene County is a county located in Southwest Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 275,174 making it the fourth most populated county in Missouri. Its county seat is Springfield...
(south) - Dade County (southwest)
- Cedar CountyCedar County, MissouriCedar County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2000, the population was 13,733. Its county seat is Stockton.- Origin of name :...
(west) - St. Clair County (northwest)
Major highways
Route 13
Route 32
Route 83
Route 123
Route 215
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 26,992 people, 9,917 households, and 7,140 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.45% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.67% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.19% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.33% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.06% from two or more races. 1.30% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
Cities and towns
|
Dunnegan, Missouri Dunnegan is an unincorporated community in Polk County, Missouri, United States. It is located on Route 123 about five miles north of Fair Play and mid-way to Humansville.... Eudora, Missouri Eudora is an unincorporated community in southwestern Polk County, Missouri, United States. It is located at the intersection of Route 123 and Route 215 about twenty miles northwest of Springfield.... Fair Play, Missouri Fair Play is a city in Polk County, Missouri, United States. The population was 457 at the 2009 census. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Fair Play is located at .... |
Flemington, Missouri Flemington is a village in Polk County, Missouri, United States. The population was 135 at the 2009 census. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Flemington is located at .... Goodson, Missouri Goodson is an unincorporated community in Polk County, Missouri, United States. It is located at the intersection of Missouri Supplemental Routes C and P. It is about sixteen miles northeast of Bolivar.... Goodnight, Missouri Goodnight is a village in southern Polk County, Missouri, United States. Located on Route 215, it incorporated in 2004. In 2009 the Population was 17.Goodnight is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.... |
Halfway, Missouri Halfway is a village in Polk County, Missouri, United States. The population was 195 at the 2009 census. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.... Humansville, Missouri Humansville is a city in Polk County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,020 at the 2009 census. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... Morrisville, Missouri Morrisville is a city in Polk County, Missouri, United States. The population was 376 at the 2009 census, at which time it was a town. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... |
Pleasant Hope, Missouri Pleasant Hope is a city in Polk County, Missouri, United States. The population was 604 at the 2009 census. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Demographics:... Polk, Missouri Polk is an unincorporated community in Polk County, Missouri, United States. It is located on Missouri Supplemental Route D about twelve miles northeast of Bolivar.Polk is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.... Tin Town, Missouri Tin Town is an unincorporated community in southeastern Polk County, Missouri, United States, on Route 215. The town had previously been known as Gold and renamed for numerous homes with tin for roofs. Tin Town is the boyhood home of Rock-A-Billy star Ronnie Self. Tin Town is part of the... |
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Polk County, Missouri
External links
- http://www.bolivarmonews.com/
- Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Polk County from University of MissouriUniversity of MissouriThe University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books