Polk County, Arkansas

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




map size = 225
founded = November 30, 1844
seat = Mena | area_total_sq_mi =862
area_land_sq_mi =859
area_water_sq_mi =3
area percentage = 0.35%
census yr = 2000
pop = 20229
density_km2 =9
web =
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Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2000, the population was 20,229. The county seat is Mena.GR|6 Polk County is Arkansas's 48th county, formed on November 30, 1844 and named for James Polk, President of the United States. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county. It is also the setting for Stephen Hunter's fictional Bob Lee Swagger, series, the most notable being Black Light.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 862 square miles (2,234 km²), of which, 859 square miles (2,226 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (8 km²) of it (0.35%) is water.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

*Scott County (north)
*Montgomery County (east)
*Howard County (southeast)
*Sevier County (south)
*McCurtain County, Oklahoma (southwest)
*Le Flore County, Oklahoma (northwest)

National protected area

* Ouachita National Forest (part)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 20,229 people, 8,047 households, and 5,793 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 9,236 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.69% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 1.49% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.72% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 3.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 8,047 households out of which 31.90% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.60% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 25.00% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,180, and the median income for a family was $31,379. Males had a median income of $23,397 versus $17,294 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,063. 18.20% of the population and 14.00% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 23.50% are under the age of 18 and 16.20% are 65 or older.

Cities and towns

References