Polk County, Texas

Last updated

Polk County
County
Courthouse Polk County Texas.jpg
Polk County Court House
Map of Texas highlighting Polk County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas in United States.svg
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°48′N94°50′W / 30.8°N 94.83°W / 30.8; -94.83
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Texas.svg  Texas
FoundedMarch 30, 1846
Named for James K. Polk
Seat Livingston
Largest townLivingston
Area
 • Total1,110 sq mi (2,900 km2)
 • Land1,057 sq mi (2,740 km2)
 • Water53 sq mi (140 km2)  4.74%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total50,123
 • Density45/sq mi (17/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
75934, 75936, 75939, 75960, 77326, 77335, 77350, 77351, 77360, 77364
Area code 936
Congressional district 36th
Website www.co.polk.tx.us

Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 50,123. [1] Its county seat is Livingston. [2] The county is named after James K. Polk.

Contents

The Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation of the federally recognized tribe is in Polk County, where the people have been since the early 19th century. They were forcibly evicted by the federal government from their traditional territory in the Southeast. [3] The 2000 census reported a resident population of 480 persons on the reservation. The tribe reports 1100 enrolled members.

History

Ike Turner Camp Confederate Monument, Livingston, Texas Confederate memorial in Polk County, TX IMG 8279.JPG
Ike Turner Camp Confederate Monument, Livingston, Texas

Polk County, named for James Knox Polk of Tennessee, President of the United States, was created by an act of the first Legislature of the State of Texas, approved on March 30, 1846, out of Liberty County, and embraced that portion from the part designated as the "Northern Division" of said county. It was one of the first of a series of 23 counties, formulated, constituted, and established by the State of Texas, after annexation to the United States. [4]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1850 2,348—
1860 8,300253.5%
1870 8,7074.9%
1880 7,189−17.4%
1890 10,33243.7%
1900 14,44739.8%
1910 17,45920.8%
1920 16,784−3.9%
1930 17,5554.6%
1940 20,63517.5%
1950 16,194−21.5%
1960 13,861−14.4%
1970 14,4574.3%
1980 24,40768.8%
1990 30,68725.7%
2000 41,13334.0%
2010 45,41310.4%
2020 50,12310.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [5]
1850–2010 [6] 2010 [7] 2020 [8]
Polk County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / EthnicityPop 2010 [7] Pop 2020 [8] % 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)32,83034,80872.29%69.45%
Black or African American alone (NH)5,1534,86911.35%9.71%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)7789141.71%1.82%
Asian alone (NH)1803400.40%0.68%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)700.02%0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH)141350.03%0.27%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)4921,7121.08%3.42%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)5,9597,34513.12%14.65%
Total45,41350,123100.00%100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

As of the census [9] of 2000, 41,133 people, 15,119 households, and 10,915 families were residing in the county. The population density was 39 inhabitants per square mile (15/km2). The 21,177 housing units averaged 20 per sq mi (8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 79.64% White, 13.17% African American, 1.74% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 3.75% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. About 9.39% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 15,119 households, 28.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were not families. About 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50, and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was distributed as 22.90% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 18.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 108.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,495, and for a family was $35,957. Males had a median income of $30,823 versus $21,065 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,834. About 13.30% of families and 17.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.10% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,110 sq mi (2,900 km2), of which 53 sq mi (140 km2) (4.7%) are covered by water. [10]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Education

School districts:

The county is in the district for Angelina College. [11] Polk County College / Commerce Center was completed in 2013 and is located on the U.S. Highway 59 Bypass. Angelina College offers advanced curriculum study and technical training at this location. The facility provides public auditorium space and may be used as a mass shelter in a disaster event . [12]

Government

PositionNameParty
 County JudgeSydney Murphy Republican
 Commissioner, Precinct 1Guylene Robertson Republican
 Commissioner, Precinct 2Mark Dubose Republican
 Commissioner, Precinct 3Milton Purvis Republican
 Commissioner, Precinct 4Jerry Cassity Republican

Infrastructure

Polk County Judicial Center, Livingston, Texas Polk County Judicial Center, Livingston, TX IMG 8276.JPG
Polk County Judicial Center, Livingston, Texas

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice Allan B. Polunsky Unit is located in West Livingston. [13] [14] This has been the location of the Texas men's death row since 1999. [15]

Transportation

Major highways

Mass transportation

Greyhound Lines operates the Livingston Station at the Super Stop Food Mart in Livingston. [16]

Airport

West Livingston has the Livingston Municipal Airport, operated by the City of Livingston. [13] [17]

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Notable people

Politics

United States Congress

SenatorsNamePartyFirst ElectedLevel
 Senate Class 1 John Cornyn Republican 1993Senior Senator
 Senate Class 2 Ted Cruz Republican 2012Junior Senator
RepresentativesNamePartyFirst ElectedArea(s) of Polk County Represented
 District 36 Brian Babin Republican New district created with 2010 census. First elected 2014.Entire county
United States presidential election results for Polk County, Texas [22]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 18,57376.79%5,38722.27%2260.93%
2016 15,17676.45%4,18721.09%4892.46%
2012 14,07173.54%4,85925.39%2041.07%
2008 13,73168.15%6,23030.92%1880.93%
2004 13,77866.09%6,96433.41%1040.50%
2000 11,74661.84%6,87736.21%3711.95%
1996 6,47345.44%6,36044.65%1,4119.91%
1992 5,39037.81%5,94241.69%2,92220.50%
1988 5,83148.88%5,94349.82%1551.30%
1984 5,98760.36%3,89839.30%330.33%
1980 3,77146.51%4,21351.96%1241.53%
1976 2,52936.30%4,38462.93%540.78%
1972 3,04863.13%1,76036.45%200.41%
1968 1,01322.18%1,84140.31%1,71337.51%
1964 1,19932.41%2,49267.35%90.24%
1960 1,26837.74%2,03760.63%551.64%
1956 1,66352.89%1,46546.60%160.51%
1952 1,45439.36%2,23860.58%20.05%
1948 31713.96%1,42262.64%53123.39%
1944 1546.83%1,81780.61%28312.56%
1940 2809.58%2,64290.42%00.00%
1936 1418.01%1,61891.93%10.06%
1932 1104.93%2,11794.98%20.09%
1928 50833.73%99466.00%40.27%
1924 27212.70%1,83985.85%311.45%
1920 25519.84%81063.04%22017.12%
1916 1079.39%91880.60%11410.01%
1912 415.26%61578.85%12415.90%

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walker County, Texas</span> County in Texas, United States

Walker County is a county located in the east central section of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 76,400. Its county seat is Huntsville. Initially, Walker County was named for Robert J. Walker, a legislator from Mississippi who introduced into the United States Congress the resolution to annex Texas. Walker later supported the U.S. during its Civil War and earned some enmity for it. In order to keep the county's name, the state renamed it for Samuel H. Walker, a Texas Ranger and soldier in the United States Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler County, Texas</span> County in Texas, United States

Tyler County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is in East Texas and its seat is Woodville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trinity County, Texas</span> County in Texas, United States

Trinity County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,602. Its county seat is Groveton. The county is named for the Trinity River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Jacinto County, Texas</span> County in Texas, United States

San Jacinto County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 27,402. Its county seat is Coldspring. The county's name comes from the Battle of San Jacinto which secured Texas' independence from Mexico and established a republic in 1836.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Augustine County, Texas</span> County in Texas, United States

San Augustine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 7,918. Its county seat is San Augustine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sabine County, Texas</span> County in Texas, United States

Sabine County is a county located on the central eastern border of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 9,894. The county was organized on December 14, 1837, and named for the Sabine River, which forms its eastern border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rains County, Texas</span> County in Texas, United States

Rains County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 12,164. Its seat is Emory. The county are named for Emory Rains, a Texas state legislator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nueces County, Texas</span> County in Texas, United States

Nueces County is located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 353,178, making it the 16th-most populous county in the state. The county seat is Corpus Christi. The county was formed in 1846 from portions of San Patricio County and organized the following year. It is named for the Nueces River, which marks the county's northwestern boundary with San Patricio County before emptying into its mouth at Nueces Bay north of the port of Corpus Christi. Nueces County is part of the Corpus Christi metropolitan statistical area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newton County, Texas</span> County in Texas, United States

Newton County is the easternmost county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 12,217. Its county seat is Newton. The county is named for John Newton, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nacogdoches County, Texas</span> County in Texas, United States

Nacogdoches County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 64,653. Its county seat is Nacogdoches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jasper County, Texas</span> County in Texas, United States

Jasper County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 32,980. Its county seat is Jasper. The county was created as a municipality in Mexico in 1834, and in 1837 was organized as a county in the Republic of Texas. It is named for William Jasper, an American Revolutionary War hero.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Houston County, Texas</span> County in Texas, United States

Houston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 22,066. Its county seat is Crockett. Houston County was one of 46 entirely dry counties in the state of Texas, until voters in a November 2007 special election legalized the sale of alcohol in the county.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hidalgo County, Texas</span> County in Texas, United States

Hidalgo County is located in the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat is Edinburg and the largest city is McAllen. The county is named for Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the priest who raised the call for Mexico's independence from Spain. It is located in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas and is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of Hidalgo County was 870,781, making it the eighth-most populous county in Texas. Hidalgo County is designated by the U.S. Census Bureau as the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metropolitan statistical area, which itself is part of the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission-Rio Grande City, Texas combined statistical area with neighboring Starr County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cherokee County, Texas</span> County in Texas, United States

Cherokee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 50,412. The county seat is Rusk, which lies 130 miles southeast of Dallas and 160 miles north of Houston. The county was named for the Cherokee, who lived in the area before being expelled in 1839. Cherokee County comprises the Jacksonville micropolitan statistical area, which is also included in the Tyler–Jacksonville combined statistical area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bee County, Texas</span> County in Texas, United States

Bee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is in South Texas and its county seat is Beeville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angelina County, Texas</span> County in Texas, United States

Angelina County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is in East Texas and its county seat is Lufkin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corrigan, Texas</span> Town in Texas, United States

Corrigan is a town in north central Polk County, Texas. It is located along U.S. Highway 59 and is about 100 miles from Houston. Its population was 1,477 in the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Livingston, Texas</span> Town in Texas

Livingston is a town in and the county seat of Polk County, Texas. With a population of 5,640 at the 2020 census, it is the largest city in Polk County. It is located about 46 miles south of Lufkin and was originally settled in 1835 as Springfield. Its name was changed in 1846 to Livingston, when it was designated as the county seat of Polk County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Livingston, Texas</span> CDP in Texas

West Livingston is a census-designated place (CDP) in western Polk County, Texas, United States, located along the eastern shore of Lake Livingston 6 miles (9.7 km) west of central Livingston. The population was 8,156 at the 2020 census.

Big Thicket Lake Estates is a census-designated place (CDP) in Polk and Liberty counties, Texas, United States. This was a new CDP for the 2010 census, with a population of 742, decreasing to 514 at the 2020 census.

References

  1. ↑ "Polk County, Texas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ Howard N. Martin, "ALABAMA-COUSHATTA INDIANS", Handbook of Texas Online, uploaded 9 June 2010, accessed 18 November 2014
  4. ↑ Ike Turner Camp, U. C. V. (1901). Historical Polk County, Texas: Companies and Soldiers Organized in and Enrolled From Said County in Confederate States Army and Navy—1861–1865, Organization Ike Turner Camp, U. C. V., Unveiling, Etc. Livingston, Texas: Polk County Enterprise, Printers. pp.  3–4.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  5. ↑ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  6. ↑ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  7. 1 2 "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Polk County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  8. 1 2 "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Polk County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  9. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  10. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  11. ↑ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.165. ANGELINA COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA..
  12. ↑ , Polk County College Archived February 2, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  13. 1 2 "West Livingston CDP, Texas Archived 2011-06-06 at the Wayback Machine ." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Polunsky Unit Archived 2010-07-25 at the Wayback Machine ." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 7, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Death Row Facts" Archived 2009-08-06 at the Wayback Machine , Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 7, 2010.
  16. ↑ " "Greyhound.com | Locations : States : Texas". Archived from the original on August 15, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2012.." Greyhound Lines. Retrieved on July 29, 2012. NOTE: The information for Livingston appears as a pop-up window.
  17. ↑ "Municipal Airport Archived 2010-05-06 at the Wayback Machine ." City of Livingston. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Tribal History", Alabama-Coushatta website
  19. ↑ "Margaret Virginia Margo Jones", Texas Escapes website
  20. ↑ "René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle", Handbook of Texas Online, accessed 18 November 2014
  21. ↑ Randy Hill, "A Southern Homecoming" Archived 2008-05-13 at the Wayback Machine , n.d., USA Deep South website
  22. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 29, 2018.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Polk County, Texas at Wikimedia Commons

30°48′N94°50′W / 30.80°N 94.83°W / 30.80; -94.83
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.