Polk County, Texas

Infobox U.S. County
county = Polk County
state = Texas

---

map size = 250
founded = 1846
seat = Livingston | area_total_sq_mi =1110
area_land_sq_mi =1057
area_water_sq_mi =53
area percentage = 4.74%
census yr = 2000
pop = 41133
density_km2 =15
web = www.co.polk.tx.us
|

Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population was 41,133. Its county seat is LivingstonGR|6. Polk County is named for James Knox Polk, the eleventh president of the United States.

The Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation is in Eastern Polk County. The 2000 census reported a resident population of 480 persons within the reservation.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,110 square miles (2,874 km²), of which, 1,057 square miles (2,738 km²) of it is land and 53 square miles (136 km²) of it (4.74%) is water.

Major Highways

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Adjacent counties

*Angelina County (north)
*Tyler County (east)
*Hardin County (southeast)
*Liberty County (south)
*San Jacinto County (southwest)
*Trinity County (northwest)

National protected area

* Big Thicket National Preserve (part)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 41,133 people, 15,119 households, and 10,915 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 21,177 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile (8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.64% White, 13.17% Black or African American, 1.74% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.74% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. 9.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,119 households out of which 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 non-families. 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 spread out with 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 the median income 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.

Cities and towns

*Blanchard (unincorporated)
*Camden (unincorporated)
*Corrigan
*Dallardsville (unincorporated)
*Goodrich
*Laurelia (ghost town)
*Leggett (unincorporated)
*Livingston
*Moscow
*Onalaska
*Seven Oaks
*West Livingston (census-designated place)

Notable People

Notable people from Polk County include:

* Colita: principal chief of the Coushatta Indians [ [http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/AA/bma19.html] ]
* Senator Clem Fain, Jr: Texas State Senator, Honorary Chief of and Texas Agent for the Alabama-Coushatta Indians
* Percy Foreman: Internationally famous criminal defense attorney
* John Wesley Hardin: Old West Gunslinger
* William P. Hobby: Governor of Texas, Publisher of Houston Post
* Margo Jones: Influential American stage director who launched the careers of Tennessee Williams and Ray Walston and directed Williams' The Glass Menagerie on Broadway [ [http://www.texasescapes.com/AllThingsHistorical/Tennessee-Williams-Texas-Director-Margaret-Virginia-Margo-Jones-BB506.htm] ]
* Long King: principal chief of the Coushatta Indians [ [http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/AA/bma19.html] ]
* Sally Mayes: Award winning Broadway actress and singer. Livingston named a street in her honor.
* Mark Moseley: Won Super Bowl XVII and the 1982 MVP as a placekicker
* Lt. James N. Parker, Jr.: Co-pilot of the Doolittle Raid (aka Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo) [ [http://www.doolittletokyoraiders.com/doolittle_crew09.htm Doolittle Raiders Online ] ]
* Captain (Ike) Isaac Newton Turner: Captain in the Civil War with Hood's Brigade [ [http://www.historicmarkers.com/Texas/Polk_County_Texas/Captain_Isaac_Newton_Moreland_Turner%2C_C._S._A.__TX10428/] ] [ [http://usads.ms11.net/randy.html] ]
* Brad Womack: Star of ABC's The Bachelor "Season 11"

Transportation

The TTC-69 component (recommended preferred) of the planned Trans-Texas Corridor goes through Polk County [ [http://ttc.keeptexasmoving.com/projects/i69/detailed_maps_dn.aspx TxDoT, TTC Section D, Detailed Map 2, 2007-12-19 & Section N, Detailed Map 1, 2007-12-18] ] .

References

External links

* [http://www.co.polk.tx.us/ Polk County government's website]
*Handbook of Texas|id=PP/hcp6|name=Polk County