Polk County

As of the 2020 census, Polk County, TX, had a population of 50,123. The racial composition was approximately 76% White, 11% African American, 1.3% Native American, 1.1% Asian, and 8% identifying as two or more races. The Hispanic or Latino population stood at around 14%. The median household income was about $42,513, with a poverty rate of 18.7%. The population density was 42 people per square mile in the county, which spans 1,057 square miles.

As of the latest data, Polk County, TX has a median home value of approximately $139,000. The median rent is around $750 per month. The county boasts a homeownership rate of roughly 80%, with a median household income near $45,000. About 17% of the housing units are vacant. The housing market has experienced moderate growth, with property values increasing by about 5% over the past year.

For Polk County, TX, as of the latest updates, key election information includes:

• County Judge: Sydney Brown Murphy (Incumbent).
• Sheriff: Byron Lyons (Incumbent).
• Commissioners:
  • Precinct 1: Guylene Robertson.
  • Precinct 2: Ronnie Vincent.
  • Precinct 3: Milt Purvis.
  • Precinct 4: Tommy Overstreet.
• Turnout: Voter turnout has varied, with recent elections seeing around 40-45% turnout.

For state and federal elections, Polk County participates in elections for positions such as Governor, U.S. House Representatives, and State Senators. Candidates change per election cycle, so checking the latest county election office or the Texas Secretary of State's website is recommended for up-to-date candidate lists and detailed numerical statistics.

Note: Ensure to verify closer to election dates for the most current candidate rosters and precise turnout numbers.

As of the latest available data, Polk County, TX, has relatively lower educational attainment compared to state and national averages. About 80.3% of residents aged 25 and over have attained a high school diploma or higher, compared to Texas' average of approximately 83.2% and the national average of around 88%. For higher education, only 13.4% of Polk County residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher, whereas the Texas state average is about 29.3%, and the national average is approximately 35%. This suggests that Polk County lags behind both the state of Texas and the United States as a whole in terms of educational attainment.

Polk County, TX has a labor force participation rate of around 53.5%, with an unemployment rate close to 6.1%, as of the latest data. The top employment sectors in Polk County are:

1. Healthcare and Social Assistance: Employs approximately 17.3% of the workforce.
2. Retail Trade: Accounts for about 14.5%.
3. Educational Services: Represents roughly 10.2%.

Comparison to National and State Averages:

• National Averages:

  • Healthcare and Social Assistance: Around 14.8%
  • Retail Trade: Approximately 11%
  • Educational Services: Roughly 9.0%

• Texas Averages:

  • Healthcare and Social Assistance: Around 13.7%
  • Retail Trade: Approximately 12.3%
  • Educational Services: Roughly 9.5%

Polk County relies more on Healthcare, Retail, and Education sectors compared to national and state averages. It has a slightly higher unemployment rate than both the national average (around 3.7%) and Texas state average (around 4.8%).

Polk County, TX, has a median household income of approximately $44,000. In comparison, the median household income in Texas is around $63,826, while the national median is roughly $68,700. This indicates that Polk County's median income is significantly lower than both state and national averages.

Here’s a quick comparison:

From this data, it's clear that Polk County has a lower economic standing compared to the broader averages in both Texas and the United States.

As of the most recent data, Polk County, TX has a relatively moderate crime rate compared to national averages. The total crime rate in Polk County is around 3,300 per 100,000 people. Here is a breakdown of the types of crimes:

These figures are subject to change and should be verified with local law enforcement for the most current statistics.