Polk County, Texas

Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,413.[1] Its county seat is Livingston.[2]

Polk County
County
County of Polk
Polk County Court House
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°48′N 94°50′W
Country United States
State Texas
FoundedMarch 30, 1846
Named forJames K. Polk
SeatLivingston
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
 • Estimate 
(2017)
49,162
 • Density46.5/sq mi (18.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
75934, 75936, 75939, 75960, 77326, 77335, 77350, 77351, 77360, 77364
Area code936
Congressional district36th
Websitewww.co.polk.tx.us

The Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation of the federally recognized tribe is in Polk County, where the people have been since the early 19th century, after having been forcibly evicted from the Southeast.[3] The 2000 census reported a resident population of 480 persons within the reservation. The tribe reports 1100 enrolled members.

History
See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Polk County, Texas
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]

Government

County
Position Name Party
  County Judge Sydney Murphy Republican
  Commissioner, Precinct 1 Robert C. "Bob" Willis Republican
  Commissioner, Precinct 2 Ronnie Vincent Republican
  Commissioner, Precinct 3 Milton Purvis Republican
  Commissioner, Precinct 4 C.T. "Tommy" Overstreet Republican

Infrastructure
Polk County Judicial Center, Livingston, Texas

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice Allan B. Polunsky Unit is located in West Livingston.[5][6] This has been the location of the Texas death row since 1999.[7]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18502,348—
18608,300253.5%
18708,7074.9%
18807,189−17.4%
189010,33243.7%
190014,44739.8%
191017,45920.8%
192016,784−3.9%
193017,5554.6%
194020,63517.5%
195016,194−21.5%
196013,861−14.4%
197014,4574.3%
198024,40768.8%
199030,68725.7%
200041,13334.0%
201045,41310.4%
2019 (est.)51,353[8]13.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1850–2010[10] 2010–2014[1] 2017[11]

As of the census[12] 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 square mile (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 square miles (2,900 km2), of which 1,057 square miles (2,740 km2) are land and 53 square miles (140 km2) (4.7%) are covered by water.[13]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Education

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 .[14]

Transportation

Major highways
  • U.S. Highway 59
    • Interstate 69 is currently under construction and will eventually follow the current route of U.S. 59 throughout most of Polk County.
  • U.S. Highway 190
  • U.S. Highway 287
  • State Highway 146
  • Farm to Market Road 350
  • Farm to Market Road 356
  • Farm to Market Road 357
  • Farm to Market Road 942
  • Farm to Market Road 943
  • Farm to Market Road 1745

Mass transportation

Greyhound Lines operates the Livingston Station at the Super Stop Food Mart in Livingston.[15]

Airport

West Livingston has the Livingston Municipal Airport, operated by the City of Livingston.[5][16]

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Notable people

Politics

United States Congress
Senators Name Party First Elected Level
  Senate Class 1 John Cornyn Republican 1993 Senior Senator
  Senate Class 2 Ted Cruz Republican 2012 Junior Senator
Representatives Name Party First Elected Area(s) of Polk County Represented
  District 36 Brian Babin Republican New district created with 2010 census. First elected 2014. Entire county
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 76.8% 18,573 22.3% 5,387 0.9% 226
2016 76.5% 15,176 21.1% 4,187 2.5% 489
2012 73.5% 14,071 25.4% 4,859 1.1% 204
2008 68.2% 13,731 30.9% 6,230 0.9% 188
2004 66.1% 13,778 33.4% 6,964 0.5% 104
2000 61.8% 11,746 36.2% 6,877 2.0% 371
1996 45.4% 6,473 44.7% 6,360 9.9% 1,411
1992 37.8% 5,390 41.7% 5,942 20.5% 2,922
1988 48.9% 5,831 49.8% 5,943 1.3% 155
1984 60.4% 5,987 39.3% 3,898 0.3% 33
1980 46.5% 3,771 52.0% 4,213 1.5% 124
1976 36.3% 2,529 62.9% 4,384 0.8% 54
1972 63.1% 3,048 36.5% 1,760 0.4% 20
1968 22.2% 1,013 40.3% 1,841 37.5% 1,713
1964 32.4% 1,199 67.4% 2,492 0.2% 9
1960 37.7% 1,268 60.6% 2,037 1.6% 55
1956 52.9% 1,663 46.6% 1,465 0.5% 16
1952 39.4% 1,454 60.6% 2,238 0.1% 2
1948 14.0% 317 62.6% 1,422 23.4% 531
1944 6.8% 154 80.6% 1,817 12.6% 283
1940 9.6% 280 90.4% 2,642
1936 8.0% 141 91.9% 1,618 0.1% 1
1932 4.9% 110 95.0% 2,117 0.1% 2
1928 33.7% 508 66.0% 994 0.3% 4
1924 12.7% 272 85.9% 1,839 1.5% 31
1920 19.8% 255 63.0% 810 17.1% 220
1916 9.4% 107 80.6% 918 10.0% 114
1912 5.3% 41 78.9% 615 15.9% 124

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 6, 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  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. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. "West Livingston CDP, Texas Archived 2011-06-06 at the Wayback Machine." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.
  6. "Polunsky Unit Archived 2010-07-25 at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 7, 2010.
  7. "Death Row Facts" Archived 2009-08-06 at the Wayback Machine, Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 7, 2010.
  8. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  10. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  11. "QuickFacts. Polk County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  13. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  14. , Polk County College Archived February 2, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  15. ""Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-08-15. Retrieved 2012-07-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)." Greyhound Lines. Retrieved on July 29, 2012. NOTE: The information for Livingston appears as a pop-up window.
  16. "Municipal Airport Archived 2010-05-06 at the Wayback Machine." City of Livingston. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.
  17. "Tribal History", Alabama-Coushatta website
  18. "Margaret Virginia Margo Jones", Texas Escapes website
  19. "René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle", Handbook of Texas Online, accessed 18 November 2014
  20. Randy Hill, "A Southern Homecoming" Archived 2008-05-13 at the Wayback Machine, n.d., USA Deep South website
  21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-07-29.

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