According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. It is the fifth-smallest county in North Carolina by total area. The county's largest body of water is Lake Adger, located about north of Columbus. Lake Adger is a reservoir formed by the damming of the Green River, which flows from west to east across the county. The northern extent of the river's watershed forms the northern border of the county. The elevation in the county ranges from just under near the confluence of the Green River and Broad River to over on Tryon Peak and Wildcat Spur, the highest peak in the county. Polk County is divided into two physiographic regions; the Blue Ridge Mountains in the western third of the county and Piedmont for the eastern two-thirds. Since it is in a transition zone between the two regions, Polk County is often referred to as being in the foothills.
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,324 people, 7,908 households, and 5,337 families residing in the county. The population density was 77 people per square mile. There were 9,192 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 92.26% White, 5.89% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 3.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. As of the census of 2000 the largest self-reported ancestry groups were:
English - 17%
Irish - 13%
German - 13%
Scotch-Irish - 7%
African - 5.89%
Scottish - 4%
Italian - 3%
There were 7,908 households out of which 23.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.30% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.50% were non-families. 28.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.78. In the county, the population was spread out with 20.10% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 26.30% from 45 to 64, and 23.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 90.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.10 males. The median income for a household in the county was $36,259, and the median income for a family was $45,096. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $23,070 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,804. 10.10% of the population and 6.40% of families were below the poverty line. 11.70% of those under the age of 18 and 8.80% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Transportation
Major highways
The interchange for I-26 and the US 74 freeway is located in Columbus. Interstate 26 provides Polk County with easy access to Asheville and Spartanburg. Polk County is also served by an additional non-freeway U.S. Highway: US 176. This was the primary highway linking Saluda and Tryon to Hendersonville and Spartanburg, S.C. prior to the delayed completion of I-26 in 1976. Two North Carolina routes, NC 108 and NC 9, traverse the county as well. NC 108 begins in Rutherfordton and travels west through Columbus and ends at US 176 in Tryon. Oriented north-to-south, NC 9 connects Black Mountain and Lake Lure to Spartanburg and points southeast via Polk County. NC 108 and NC 9 intersect at the unincorporated town of Mill Spring.
Polk County is a member of the Isothermal Planning and Development Commission regional council of governments. Sheila Whitmire is the current Registrar of Deeds and Eric McIntyre serves as the current mayor of Columbus, the county seat.
Politics
2016
In the 2016 Republican Primary in Polk County, Donald Trump received 1,624 votes followed by Ted Cruz who came in second with 1,135 votes. In the 2016 Democratic Primary, Bernie Sanders received 1,123 votes whereas Hillary Clinton won 1,099 votes. In the general election Donald Trump received 6,768 votes whereas Hillary Clinton received 3,735 votes and Libertarian Candidate Gary Johnson received 272 votes. Polk County was one of many counties in the state of North Carolina in which Donald Trump won in both the primary election and the general election, and which Hillary Clinton lost in both the primary election and the general election.
