Polk County, Missouri

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Polk County, Missouri
File:Bolivarmo2-retouched.jpg
Polk County Courthouse in Bolivar
Map of Missouri highlighting Polk County
Location in the U.S. state of Missouri
Map of the United States highlighting Missouri
Missouri's location in the U.S.
Founded January 5, 1835
Named for James K. Polk
Seat Bolivar
Largest city Bolivar
Area
 • Total 642 sq mi (1,663 km2)
 • Land 636 sq mi (1,647 km2)
 • Water 6.9 sq mi (18 km2), 1.1%
Population
 • (2010) 31,137
 • Density 49/sq mi (19/km²)
Congressional district 7th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5

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 founded January 5, 1835, and named for Ezekiel Polk.

Polk County is part of the Springfield, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Polk County was organized and separated from Greene County 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 Madison Campbell, to honor his grandfather Ezekiel Polk who was a colonel in the Revolutionary War and an early settler in 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.[3]

Adjacent counties

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%
Est. 2014 31,054 [4] −0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[9] 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.

Politics

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Local

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

Polk County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Carolyn Page Republican
Circuit Clerk Vesta Seiner Republican
County Clerk Melinda Robertson Republican
Collector Debbi R-McGinnis Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Denzil Roberts Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)		 Kyle Legan Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)		 Billy Dryer Republican
Coroner Roy Harms Republican
Prosecuting Attorney Kenneth R. Ashlock Republican
Public Administrator Barbara Davolt Republican
Recorder Carol Poindexter Republican
Sheriff Kay Williams Republican
Surveyor John R.M. Nelson Republican
Treasurer Vonna Bauer Republican

State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
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

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

  • District 126 – Mike Kelley (R-Lamar). Consists of the communities of Morrisville and Pleasant Hope.
Missouri House of Representatives – District 126 - Polk County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Kelley 2,067 100.00
  • District 133 – Sue Entichler (R-Bolivar). Consists of the communities of Aldrich, Bolivar, Fair Play, Halfway, and Humansville.
Missouri House of Representatives – District 133 - Polk County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sue Entichler 6,658 100.00

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.

Missouri Senate - District 28 - Polk County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Parson 8,236 86.44
Libertarian Bennie B. Hatfield 1,292 13.56

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).

U.S. House of Representatives – Missouri’s 7th Congressional District - Polk County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Billy Long 4,740 63.89
Democratic Scott Eckersley 2,162 29.14
Libertarian Kevin Craig 517 6.97
U.S. House of Representatives – Missouri’s 4th Congressional District - Polk County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Vicky Hartzler 1,296 54.27
Democratic Ike Skelton* 901 37.73
Libertarian Jason Michael Braun 118 4.94
Constitution Greg Cowan 73 3.06

Political culture

Past Presidential Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2008 65.39% 8,956 33.24% 4,553 1.37% 188
2004 68.95% 8,586 30.31% 3,775 0.64% 92
2000 62.46% 6,430 35.03% 3,606 2.51% 258
1996 49.74 4,521 36.38% 3,307 13.88% 1,262

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

Media

The Bolivar Herald-Free Press is published twice weekly.

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Polk County is divided into 22 townships:

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See also

References

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External links

 St. Clair County Hickory County
Cedar County Dallas County
  Polk County, Missouri  
Dade County Greene County

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