Founded November 28, 1839 Largest town Benton Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4 Area 1,145 km² County seat Benton | Named for James K. Polk Congressional district 3rd Website www.polkgovernment.com Population 16,690 (2013) Unemployment rate 6.1% (Apr 2015) | |
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Cities Benton, Copperhill, Ducktown Rivers Conasauga River, Hiwassee River, Conasauga Creek Points of interest Blue Ridge Mountains, Ducktown Basin Museum, Ocoee Dam No 2, Savannah Oaks Winery, Thunder Rock Recreatio | ||
Polk County is a county located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2010 census, the population was 16,825. Its county seat is Benton. The county was created November 28, 1839 from parts of Bradley and McMinn counties. The county was named after then-governor (and future president) James K. Polk.
Contents
- Map of Polk County TN USA
- Geography
- Adjacent counties
- National protected areas
- State protected areas
- Demographics
- Education
- Cities
- Town
- References
Map of Polk County, TN, USA
Polk County is included in the Cleveland, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Chattanooga-Cleveland-Dalton, TN-GA-AL Combined Statistical Area.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 442 square miles (1,140 km2), of which 435 square miles (1,130 km2) is land and 7.7 square miles (20 km2) (1.7%) is water. The total area is 1.65% water. Located in the extreme southeastern corner of Tennessee, it is the state's only county to share borders with both Georgia and North Carolina.
Much of the terrain of eastern Polk County is mountainous, including Big Frog Mountain, constituting part of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Large tracts of Polk County are part of the Cherokee National Forest. The Ocoee River, site of whitewater slalom events in the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympic Games, runs through Polk County and is vital to one of the county's major industries, whitewater rafting. The calmer Hiwassee River, a tributary of the Tennessee River which flows through northern Polk County, is also used for rafting and tubing.
Adjacent counties
National protected areas
State protected areas
Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 16,825 people, 6,653 households, and 4,755 families residing in the county. The population density was 38.7 people per square mile. There were 7,991 housing units at an average density of 18.4 per square mile.
There were 6,653 households out of which 26.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.30% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.20% 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 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out with 22.14% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 20 to 24, 10.20% from 25 to 34, 21.60% from 35 to 49, 21.70% from 50-64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.5 years.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $29,643, and the median income for a family was $36,370. Males had a median income of $27,703 versus $21,010 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,025. About 9.70% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.80% of those under age 18 and 18.40% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Polk County is home to two high schools, Copper Basin and Polk County. Polk County High School holds one of the most active FFA Chapters in the State. Additionally, the school has won multiple national titles, such as the Future Business Leaders of America Web Development, and E-Business championship. Also home of the Milk Squad!
Polk County's other schools are Benton Elementary, Copper Basin Elementary, and South Polk Elementary, Coalhill Elementary School.