Polk County, Missouri
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Polk County is a county located in the state of Missouri. As of 2000, the population is 26,992. Its county seat is Bolivar6.
Map_of_Missouri_highlighting_Polk_County.png
Image:Map of Missouri highlighting Polk County.png
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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 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.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,664 km² (642 mi²). 1,650 km² (637 mi²) of it is land and 14 km² (5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.82% water.
Adjacent counties
- Hickory County (north)
- Dallas County (east)
- Greene County (south)
- Dade County (southwest)
- Cedar County (west)
- St. Clair County (northwest)
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 26,992 people, 9,917 households, and 7,140 families residing in the county. The population density is 16/km² (42/mi²). There are 11,183 housing units at an average density of 7/km² (18/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 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 are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 9,917 households out of which 33.00% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% are married couples living together, 8.20% have a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% are non-families. 23.20% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.70% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.56 and the average family size is 3.02.
In the county the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 94.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $29,656, and the median income for a family is $35,843. Males have a median income of $25,383 versus $18,799 for females. The per capita income for the county is $13,645. 16.30% of the population and 11.10% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 20.00% of those under the age of 18 and 12.00% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Cities and towns