Polk County, Tennessee

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


seallink =
founded = 1839
seat = Benton
largest city = Benton
area_total_sq_mi = 442
area_total_km2 = 1146
area_land_sq_mi = 435
area_land_km2 = 1127
area_water_sq_mi = 7
area_water_km2 = 19
area percentage = 1.65%
census yr = 2000
pop = 16050
density_sq_mi = 37
density_km2 = 14
time zone = Eastern
UTC offset = -5
DST offset= -4
footnotes =
web =
ex

---

ex image c

Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. The county had a population of 16,050 in 2000. Its county seat is BentonGR|6. The county was named after then-governor James K. Polk.

It is included in the Cleveland, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 442 square miles (1,146 km²), of which, 435 square miles (1,127 km²) of it is land and 7 square miles (19 km²) of it is water. The total area is 1.65% water.

Much of the terrain of eastern Polk County is mountainous, including Big Frog Mountain, constituting part of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Large tracts of Polk County are part of the Cherokee National Forest. The Ocoee River, site of whitewater slalom events in the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympic Games, runs through Polk County and is vital to one of the county's major industries, whitewater rafting. The calmer Hiwassee River, a tributary of the Tennessee River which flows through northern Polk County, is also used for rafting and tubing.

Adjacent counties

*Monroe County (northeast)
*Cherokee County, North Carolina (east)
*Fannin County, Georgia (southeast)
*Murray County, Georgia (southwest)
*Bradley County (west)
*McMinn County (northwest)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 16,050 people, 6,448 households, and 4,752 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile (14/km²). There were 7,369 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (7/km²). There were 6,448 households out of which 29.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.30% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.89. The racial makeup of the county was 98.35% White, 0.14% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.60% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 26.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,643, and the median income for a family was $36,370. Males had a median income of $27,703 versus $21,010 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,025. About 9.70% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.80% of those under age 18 and 18.40% of those age 65 or over.

SCHOOLSK-5 Benton Elementary and South Polk Elementary6-8 Chilhowee Middle School9-12 Polk County High School

Cities and towns

*Benton
*Copperhill
*Delano
*Ducktown
*Farner
*Ocoee
*Old Fort
*Reliance
*Turtletown

References

External links

*dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Tennessee/Counties/Polk/|Polk County