Polk County, North Carolina
Polk County: county in North Carolina, United States
About
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,510 and a population density of 33 people per km². After 10 years in 2020 county had an estimated population of 21,030 inhabitants. Its county seat is Columbus. The county was created 171 years ago in 1854.
County Snapshot
Polk County at a glance
Polk County currently has 3 quality-checked populated place pages linked on MapSof, making it easier to jump from the county overview into local city pages.
Mapped populated places
3
These counts use a stricter populated-place filter so the main lists stay focused on real city and town pages.
North Carolina counties
100
Open related pagesLargest city
TryonPopulation 1,635
Top linked places
Quick Facts about Polk County
| Population | 21,030 (2020) |
| Country | United States of America |
| State | North Carolina (United States) |
| Different from | Polk County |
| Twitter username | polkcountync |
| Area | 618 km2 |
| Water as percent of area | 0.3% |
| Land as percent of area | 99.7% |
| Latitude & Longitude | 35.2793,-82.1697 |
| Named for | William Polk |
| Capital | Columbus |
| Establishment | January 01, 1855 |
| Time Zone | America/New_York |
| Local time | 20:39:46 (18th April 2026) |
| Density | 34 Pop. per km² as of 2020 |
| Population growth | 2.47% (2010-2020) |
| Weather | 89℉ Mostly Sunny 7-days weather |
Geography
Polk County is located at 35°16'45"N 82°10'11"W (35.2792900, -82.1696700). It has 4 neighbors: Henderson County, Rutherford County, Greenville County and Spartanburg County.
Polk County map
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The largest city of Polk County is Tryon with a population of 1,635. Other cities include, Columbus population 1,007 and Saluda population 703. See all Polk County cities & populated places.
Polk County Populated Places
Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in Polk County.
| City Name | Population | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Tryon | 1,635 | Town in North Carolina, United States |
| Columbus | 1,007 | Town in Polk County, North Carolina, United States |
| Saluda | 703 | Human settlement in North Carolina, United States of America |
Weather
Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. West southwest wind 1 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
7-Day Forecast- Columbus
Demographics
The population of Polk County increased by 2.47% in 10 years.
| Year | Population | % Change | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 20,510 | - | census |
| 2011 | 20,288 | -1.09% | estimation process |
| 2012 | 20,249 | -0.19% | estimation process |
| 2013 | 20,388 | 0.68% | estimation process |
| 2014 | 20,367 | -0.1% | estimation process |
| 2015 | 20,414 | 0.23% | estimation process |
| 2016 | 20,414 | 0% | estimation process |
| 2017 | 20,564 | 0.73% | estimation process |
| 2018 | 20,668 | 0.5% | estimation process |
| 2019 | 20,724 | 0.27% | estimation process |
| 2020 | 21,030 | 1.46% | estimation process |
People born in Polk County (2)
People born in Polk County, including politician John B. Earle, frontiersman William S. Williams, .
More notable people
Other places with the same name (11)
- Polk County, Florida county in Minnesota, United States with a population of 744,552 people.
- Polk County, Iowa county in Iowa, United States with a population of 494,281 people.
- Polk County, Oregon county in Oregon, United States with a population of 87,744 people.
- Polk County, Texas county in Texas, United States with a population of 52,995 people.
- Polk County, Wisconsin county in Wisconsin, United States with a population of 43,794 people.
- Polk County, Georgia county in Georgia, United States with a population of 42,840 people.
- Polk County, Missouri county in Missouri, United States with a population of 32,490 people.
- Polk County, Minnesota county in Minnesota, United States with a population of 30,900 people.
- Polk County, Arkansas county in Arkansas, United States with a population of 19,707 people.
- Polk County, Tennessee county in Tennessee, United States with a population of 16,835 people.
- Polk County, Nebraska county in Nebraska, United States with a population of 5,201 people.
North Carolina Other Counties (more counties)
| County Name | Population | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Wake County | 1,132,271 | County in North Carolina, United States |
| Mecklenburg County | 1,128,945 | County in North Carolina, United States |
| Charlotte | 900,350 | The fourteenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Charlotte metropolitan area. |
| Guilford County | 540,521 | County in North Carolina, United States of America |
| Raleigh | 474,414 | The capital of North Carolina, Raleigh is a major center for business, government, and education. |
| Forsyth County | 383,843 | County in North Carolina, United States of America |
| West Raleigh | 338,759 | A census-designated place located in Wake County, North Carolina. |
| Cumberland County | 336,364 | County in Maine, United States |
| Durham County | 327,306 | County in North Carolina, United States of America |
| Greensboro | 297,878 | The third most populous city in North Carolina and the center of the Greensboro metropolitan area. |
| Durham | 285,897 | The third most populous city in North Carolina and the center of the Durham metropolitan area. |
| Buncombe County | 263,477 | County in North Carolina, United States |
| Winston-Salem | 248,112 | The fifth most populous city in North Carolina. |
| Union County | 244,562 | County in North Carolina, United States |
| New Hanover County | 236,613 | County in North Carolina, United States |
| Gaston County | 226,568 | County in North Carolina, United States |