Polk County, Missouri

History

Polk County was organized and separated from Greene County on January 5, 1835. Its original boundaries were later reduced in creating Dade, Dallas, and Hickory counties. The name was suggested by a local pioneer, Ezekiel Madison Campbell, to honor his grandfather Ezekiel Polk, a colonel in the Revolutionary War and an early settler of western Tennessee.

Geography

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.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

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 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.

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

Polk County is divided into two legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, both of which are represented by Republicans.

All of Polk County is a part of Missouri’s 28th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Mike Parson (R-Bolivar.

Federal

Polk County is split into two congressional districts at the federal level. Most of the 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. The rest of the county lies in Missouri's 4th Congressional District and is currently represented by Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville).

Missouri Presidential Preference Primary (2008)

Media

The Bolivar Herald-Free Press is published twice weekly.

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Polk County is divided into 22 townships: