Polk County, Missouri

Polk County, Missouri
Polk County, Missouri
2008 Republican primary in Missouri
John McCain	1,141 (25.28%)
Mike Huckabee	2,317 (51.33%)
Mitt Romney	842 (18.65%)
Ron Paul	154 (3.41%)

Polk County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials

Polk County
Polk County
U.S. county
	Polk County Courthouse in Bolivar
	Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
	Missouri's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 37°37′N 93°24′W / 37.62°N 93.4°W
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Founded	March 13, 1835
Named for	Ezekiel Polk
Seat	Bolivar
Largest city	Bolivar
Area
• Total	642 sq mi (1,660 km2)
• Land	636 sq mi (1,650 km2)
• Water	6.9 sq mi (18 km2) 1.1%
Population (2010)
• Total	31,137
• Estimate (2018)	32,201
• Density	49/sq mi (19/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	7th

Polk County is a county located in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 31,137.^[1] Its county seat is Bolivar.^[2] The county was organized January 5, 1835,^[3] 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.^[3]^[4] 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.^[5] 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.^[6]

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.^[7]

Adjacent counties[]

Hickory County (north)
Dallas County (east)
Greene County (south)
Dade County (southwest)
Cedar County (west)
St. Clair County (northwest)

Major highways[]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1840	8,449		—
1850	6,186		−26.8%
1860	9,995		61.6%
1870	12,445		24.5%
1880	15,734		26.4%
1890	20,339		29.3%
1900	23,255		14.3%
1910	21,561		−7.3%
1920	20,351		−5.6%
1930	17,803		−12.5%
1940	17,400		−2.3%
1950	16,062		−7.7%
1960	13,753		−14.4%
1970	15,415		12.1%
1980	18,822		22.1%
1990	21,826		16.0%
2000	26,992		23.7%
2010	31,137		15.4%
2018 (est.)	32,201	^[8]	3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census^[9] 1790-1960^[10] 1900-1990^[11] 1990-2000^[12] 2010-2015^[1]

As of the census^[13] 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.

Education[]

Public libraries[]

Polk County Public Library^[14]

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[]

**Past Gubernatorial Elections Results**
Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2016	66.92% 9,251	30.15% 4,168	2.92% 404
2012	53.89% 7,052	43.15% 5,647	2.96% 388
2008	45.76% 6,244	49.52% 6,758	4.72% 644
2004	67.84% 8,418	30.90% 3,835	1.56% 1.26
2000	58.65% 5,996	39.79% 4,068	1.55% 159
1996	55.64% 5,043	40.51% 3,672	3.85% 349

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

Missouri House of Representatives — District 128 — Polk County (2016)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Mike Stephens	11,500	85.48%	-14.52
	Independent	Janet Sheffield	1,953	14.52%	+14.52

Missouri House of Representatives — District 128 — Polk County (2014)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Sue Entichler	5,903	100.00%

Missouri House of Representatives — District 128 — Polk County (2012)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Sue Entlicher	11,744	100.00%

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.

Missouri Senate — District 28 — Polk County (2014)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Mike Parson	5,832	100.00%

Federal[]

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Polk County (2016)
	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Republican	Roy Blunt	9,693	69.93%	+17.50
Democratic	Jason Kander	3,605	26.01%	-14.35
Libertarian	Jonathan Dine	327	2.36%	-4.85
Green	Johnathan McFarland	107	0.77%	+0.77
Constitution	Fred Ryman	129	0.93%	+0.93

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Polk County (2012)
	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Todd Akin	6,789	52.43%
Democratic	Claire McCaskill	5,226	40.36%
Libertarian	Jonathan Dine	933	7.21%

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.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 7th Congressional District — Polk County (2016)
	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Republican	Billy Long	10,170	74.34%	+6.06
Democratic	Genevieve Williams	2,880	21.05%	-2.42
Libertarian	Benjamin T. Brixey	630	4.61%	-3.64

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 7th Congressional District — Polk County (2014)
	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Republican	Billy Long	4,442	68.28%	+1.25
Democratic	Jim Evans	1,527	23.47%	-4.21
Libertarian	Kevin Craig	537	8.25%	+2.95

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 7th Congressional District — Polk County (2012)
	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Billy Long	8,631	67.03%
Democratic	Jim Evans	3,564	27.68%
Libertarian	Kevin Craig	682	5.30%

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.

show

Presidential election results

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)[]

Polk County, Missouri
2008 Democratic primary in Missouri
Hillary Clinton	1,904 (63.81%)
Barack Obama	993 (33.28%)
John Edwards (withdrawn)	67 (2.25%)

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.

Media[]

The Bolivar Herald-Free Press is published twice weekly.

Communities[]

Cities[]

Bolivar (county seat)
Fair Play
Humansville
Morrisville
Pleasant Hope

Villages[]

Unincorporated communities[]

Townships[]

Polk County is divided into 22 townships:

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Laws of a public and general nature of the State of Missouri passed between the years 1824 & 1836" Volume II, published 1842, pg. 432-433 https://mdh.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/molaws/id/42050/rec/3
^ "History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri." published 1889, Goodspeed Publishing, page 286
^ “Polk County Classics, a Sesquicentennial Photograph Album, 1835-1985” by George Francis Hooper and James C. Sterling, published 1985, page 4 “History and Families of Polk County, Missouri” published 2002 by the Polk County Genealogical Society, Inc. page 8
^ https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/P/POLK,-James-Knox-(P000409)/
^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 13, 2019.
^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
^ Breeding, Marshall. "Polk County Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-26.

External links[]

http://www.bolivarmonews.com/
Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Polk County Archived 2011-08-16 at the Wayback Machine from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books
Polk County Sheriff's Office

Coordinates: 37°37′N 93°24′W / 37.62°N 93.40°W / 37.62; -93.40

[QF-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2013.

[GR6-2] "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.

[mdh.contentdm.oclc.org-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b Laws of a public and general nature of the State of Missouri passed between the years 1824 & 1836" Volume II, published 1842, pg. 432-433 https://mdh.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/molaws/id/42050/rec/3

[4] "History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri." published 1889, Goodspeed Publishing, page 286

[5] “Polk County Classics, a Sesquicentennial Photograph Album, 1835-1985” by George Francis Hooper and James C. Sterling, published 1985, page 4 “History and Families of Polk County, Missouri” published 2002 by the Polk County Genealogical Society, Inc. page 8

[6] ttps://history.house.gov/People/Listing/P/POLK,-James-Knox-(P000409)/

[GR1-7] "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2014.

[USCensusEst2018-8] "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 13, 2019.

[9] "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.

[10] "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 18, 2014.

[11] "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.

[12] "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.

[GR2-13] "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

[14] Breeding, Marshall. "Polk County Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.

[15] Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-26.

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Polk County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor	Carolyn Page	Republican
Circuit Clerk	Tiffany Phillips	Republican
County Clerk	Melinda Robertson	Republican
Collector	Debbi R-McGinnis	Republican
Commissioner (Presiding)	Shannon Hancock	Republican
Commissioner (District 1)	Kyle Legan	Republican
Commissioner (District 2)	Rex Austin	Republican
Coroner	Melissa Britton	Republican
Prosecuting Attorney	Kenneth R. Ashlock	Republican
Public Administrator	Barbara Davolt	Republican
Recorder	Carol Poindexter	Republican
Sheriff	Danny Morrison	Republican
Surveyor	Mike Shuler	Republican
Treasurer	Vonna Bauer	Republican

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2020	78.5% 11,850	19.1% 2,885	2.4% 363
2016	75.8% 10,438	19.1% 2,631	5.0% 694
2012	70.5% 9,252	27.3% 3,580	2.2% 287
2008	65.4% 8,956	33.2% 4,553	1.4% 188
2004	69.0% 8,586	30.3% 3,775	0.7% 92
2000	62.5% 6,430	35.0% 3,606	2.5% 258
1996	49.7% 4,521	36.4% 3,307	13.9% 1,261
1992	39.9% 3,465	38.2% 3,316	21.8% 1,894
1988	59.4% 5,030	40.4% 3,419	0.3% 21
1984	66.0% 5,467	34.0% 2,819
1980	57.9% 4,842	39.9% 3,336	2.3% 190
1976	51.3% 3,893	48.3% 3,663	0.5% 34
1972	70.7% 5,409	29.3% 2,245
1968	59.8% 4,145	31.3% 2,170	8.9% 614
1964	49.5% 3,288	50.5% 3,353
1960	66.5% 4,849	33.5% 2,440
1956	59.8% 4,410	40.2% 2,968
1952	67.8% 5,263	31.9% 2,474	0.3% 24
1948	56.7% 4,026	43.3% 3,079	0.0% 2
1944	66.5% 5,040	33.3% 2,527	0.2% 18
1940	62.0% 5,534	37.9% 3,380	0.2% 14
1936	56.7% 5,126	43.1% 3,899	0.3% 23
1932	46.4% 3,811	53.0% 4,355	0.6% 47
1928	69.6% 5,307	30.2% 2,303	0.2% 12
1924	56.2% 4,097	41.6% 3,033	2.2% 161
1920	62.8% 4,967	36.0% 2,847	1.2% 93
1916	53.8% 2,613	44.2% 2,149	2.0% 96
1912	39.0% 1,802	41.9% 1,935	19.0% 879
1908	54.4% 2,670	43.6% 2,139	2.0% 96
1904	56.9% 2,659	38.7% 1,807	4.5% 209
1900	53.6% 2,679	43.6% 2,178	2.8% 142
1896	48.3% 2,564	51.1% 2,711	0.6% 31
1892	46.0% 1,918	29.0% 1,211	25.0% 1,042
1888	49.0% 2,100	41.8% 1,794	9.2% 394

show v t Municipalities and communities of Polk County, Missouri, United States
County seat: Bolivar
Cities	Bolivar Fair Play Humansville Morrisville Pleasant Hope
Villages	Aldrich Flemington Goodnight Halfway
Townships	Campbell Flemington Jackson Jefferson Johnson McKinley Mooney Union Wishart
Unincorporated communities	Adonis Brighton Burns Cliquot Dunnegan Eudora Goodson Graydon Springs Huckaby Huron Karlin Knox Mohawk Corner Polk Rimby Rock Prairie Rondo Schofield Sentinel Slagle Sunset Tin Town Van Violet West Bend Wishart
Ghost towns	Clifford Dewey Gresham Ingalls Orleans
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