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Polk County, Arkansas

Coordinates: 34°30′07″N 94°14′27″W / 34.50194°N 94.24083°W / 34.50194; -94.24083
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Polk County
County
Polk County Courthouse in Mena
Polk County Courthouse in Mena
Map of Arkansas highlighting Polk County
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Map of the United States highlighting Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°30′07″N 94°14′27″W / 34.501944444444°N 94.240833333333°W / 34.501944444444; -94.240833333333
Country United States
State Arkansas
FoundedNovember 30, 1844
Named forJames K. Polk
SeatMena
Largest cityMena
Area
 • Total
862 sq mi (2,230 km2)
 • Land858 sq mi (2,220 km2)
 • Water4.8 sq mi (12 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
19,221
 • Estimate 
(2023)
19,436 Increase
 • Density22/sq mi (8.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th

Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,221.[1] The county seat is Mena.[2] Polk County is Arkansas's 48th county, formed on November 30, 1844; it was named for James K. Polk, 11th President of the United States.

Wet County

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Formerly an alcohol prohibition or dry county. However, following a historic mid-term election, Polk County is now a wet county.[3]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 862 square miles (2,230 km2), of which 858 square miles (2,220 km2) is land and 4.8 square miles (12 km2) (0.6%) is water.[4]

Major highways

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Transit

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Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18501,263—
18604,262237.5%
18703,376−20.8%
18805,85773.5%
18909,28358.5%
190018,35297.7%
191017,216−6.2%
192016,412−4.7%
193014,857−9.5%
194015,8326.6%
195014,182−10.4%
196011,981−15.5%
197013,29711.0%
198017,00727.9%
199017,3472.0%
200020,22916.6%
201020,6622.1%
202019,221−7.0%
2023 (est.)19,436[5]1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010[10]
Age pyramid Polk County[11]

2020 census

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Polk County racial composition[12]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 16,092 83.72%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 39 0.2%
Native American 335 1.74%
Asian 100 0.52%
Pacific Islander 9 0.05%
Other/Mixed 1,368 7.12%
Hispanic or Latino 1,278 6.65%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 19,221 people, 8,243 households, and 5,672 families residing in the county.

2000 census

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As of the 2000 census,[13] there were 20,229 people, 8,047 households, and 5,793 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km2). There were 9,236 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.69% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 1.49% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.72% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 3.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,047 households, out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% 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 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 25.00% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,180, and the median income for a family was $31,379. Males had a median income of $23,397 versus $17,294 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,063. 18.20% of the population and 14.00% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 23.50% were under the age of 18 and 16.20% were 65 or older.

As of 2010 Polk County had a population of 20,662. Of this population 89.77% were non-Hispanic whites, 0.31% were blacks, 1.76% Native Americans, 0.45% Asians, 2.03% non-Hispanics reporting one or more race and 5.76% Hispanic or Latino.

Government

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Since 1952, Polk County has been heavily Republican, only voting for the Democratic nominee for president three times since then. It last voted for the Democratic nominee for president in 1992, when it gave Arkansas governor Bill Clinton 43.8 percent of the vote. After this, the county trended rapidly towards Republicans, with the Republican margin of victory increasing in every subsequent election. In 2020, the county gave Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump 82.9 percent of the vote, the highest ever vote share for a Republican presidential candidate in the county, and Democratic nominee Joe Biden 14.7 percent of the vote, the lowest ever vote share for a Democratic presidential candidate in the county.

United States presidential election results for Polk County, Arkansas[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 6,987 84.30% 1,145 13.82% 156 1.88%
2020 7,035 82.86% 1,246 14.68% 209 2.46%
2016 6,618 80.40% 1,212 14.72% 401 4.87%
2012 5,955 77.08% 1,556 20.14% 215 2.78%
2008 5,473 71.25% 1,957 25.48% 251 3.27%
2004 5,192 66.57% 2,473 31.71% 134 1.72%
2000 4,600 63.95% 2,315 32.18% 278 3.86%
1996 2,852 42.70% 2,824 42.28% 1,003 15.02%
1992 2,757 38.20% 3,162 43.81% 1,298 17.99%
1988 4,099 62.15% 2,390 36.24% 106 1.61%
1984 5,181 70.15% 2,101 28.45% 104 1.41%
1980 3,993 58.51% 2,617 38.35% 214 3.14%
1976 2,432 40.76% 3,505 58.75% 29 0.49%
1972 3,609 74.83% 1,120 23.22% 94 1.95%
1968 2,094 40.30% 1,290 24.83% 1,812 34.87%
1964 2,022 43.88% 2,575 55.88% 11 0.24%
1960 1,882 51.82% 1,635 45.02% 115 3.17%
1956 1,832 58.29% 1,287 40.95% 24 0.76%
1952 1,756 55.91% 1,379 43.90% 6 0.19%
1948 554 25.89% 1,417 66.21% 169 7.90%
1944 764 43.09% 999 56.35% 10 0.56%
1940 585 31.49% 1,255 67.55% 18 0.97%
1936 537 30.95% 1,170 67.44% 28 1.61%
1932 223 11.90% 1,568 83.67% 83 4.43%
1928 1,022 53.34% 870 45.41% 24 1.25%
1924 502 31.49% 863 54.14% 229 14.37%
1920 1,173 46.27% 1,208 47.65% 154 6.07%
1916 448 26.51% 1,242 73.49% 0 0.00%
1912 162 11.08% 694 47.47% 606 41.45%
1908 628 37.88% 824 49.70% 206 12.42%
1904 476 40.44% 528 44.86% 173 14.70%
1900 411 29.63% 922 66.47% 54 3.89%
1896 51 4.78% 1,004 94.10% 12 1.12%
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Polk County is the setting for Stephen Hunter's fictional Bob Lee Swagger series, the most notable being Black Light, as well as the place where Joel B Reed's fictional character, Jazz Phillips, of the Jazz Phillips mystery series, grew up.

Communities

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Cities

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Townships in Polk County, Arkansas as of 2010

Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas; some may have incorporated cities or towns within part of their boundaries. Arkansas townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the United States census does list Arkansas population based on townships (sometimes referred to as "county subdivisions" or "minor civil divisions"). Townships are also of value for historical purposes in terms of genealogical research. Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps and publications. The townships of Polk County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. [15][16]

  • Acorn (small part of Mena)
  • Big Fork
  • Cedar
  • Center (most of Mena)
  • Cove (Hatfield)
  • Eagle
  • Faulkner
  • Freedom
  • Fulton
  • Gap Springs
  • Mill Creek
  • Mountain
  • Ouachita
  • Ozark (Grannis, Wickes)
  • Potter (small part of Mena)
  • Rich Mountain
  • White (Cove, Vandervoort)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Polk County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Eperson, Andrew (November 10, 2022). "Alcohol sales approved in Hot Spring, Polk Counties". KARK. Little Rock, Arkansas: Nexstar Media Group, Inc. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  8. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  11. ^ Based on 2000 census data
  12. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  15. ^ 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Polk County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  16. ^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
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34°30′07″N 94°14′27″W / 34.50194°N 94.24083°W / 34.50194; -94.24083

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