Polk County, Missouri

Adjacent counties

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

Major highways

• Route 13
• Route 32
• Route 83
• Route 123
• Route 215

Transit

• Jefferson Lines

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 31,519. The median age was 39.3 years. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.4 males age 18 and over.^[24]

The racial makeup of the county was 92.2% White, 0.8% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 5.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.5% of the population.^[25]

32.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 67.2% lived in rural areas.^[27]

There were 11,992 households in the county, of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[24]

There were 13,387 housing units, of which 10.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.7% were owner-occupied and 30.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%.^[24]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 26,992 people, 9,917 households, and 7,140 families residing in the county.^[28] The population density was 42 inhabitants per square mile (16/km²). There were 11,183 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9/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.

Public libraries

• Polk County Public Library^[29]

High Schools

• Bolivar High School
• Halfway Secondary School
• Fair Play Secondary School
• Pleasant Hope Secondary School

Universities

• Southwest Baptist University
• Bolivar Technical College

Cities

• Bolivar (county seat)
• Fair Play
• Humansville
• Morrisville
• Pleasant Hope

Villages

• Aldrich
• Flemington
• Goodnight, from 2003 to 2016
• Halfway

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Polk County is divided into 22 townships:

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

All of Polk County is in the 128th district in the Missouri House of Representatives, and is represented by Christopher Warwick (R-Bolivar), who was elected in 2024.

All of Polk County is a part of Missouri's 28th district in the Missouri Senate, which is currently held by Republican Sandy Crawford.

Federal

All of Polk county is included in Missouri's 4th congressional district and is currently represented by Mark Alford (R-Lake Winnebago) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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.