Polk County

Polk County, Texas
Polk County is in the East Texas Timberlands region on the east bank of the Trinity River. Its geographical center is at 94°50' north latitude and 30°49' west longitude. The county seat, Livingston, straddles U.S. highways 59 and 190 about seventy-six miles northeast of Houston. The county comprises 1,061 square miles, ranging in elevation from 100 to 300 feet. The land gently rolls in the north and has light-colored, loamy surfaces and deep, reddish clay subsoils. To the south the topography is more level, with acidic, sandy to loamy surfaces and deep, reddish loam or clay subsoils. Along the Trinity River the soils are dark with loamy surfaces and cracking clay subsoils. Marine deposits indicate that the region was once under the sea. Pine and hardwood forests cover much of the area, but nearly 40 percent of the county is considered prime farmland. The Neches and Trinity rivers border the county, which is drained by seven primary streams: Menard, Sally, Tombigbee, Big Sandy, Long King, Piney, and Kickapoo creeks. Lake Livingston, a man-made reservoir on the Trinity River, covers 82,600 acres. The average annual temperature is 67° F. Precipitation averages forty-eight inches annually, and the growing season lasts 250 days.
Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.
Richard B. McCaslin | © Texas State Historical Association
Polk County at a Glance
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County Map of Texas
Polk County
- Polk County
Places of Polk County
Photos of Polk County and surrounding areas

Polk County, Texas
The Polk County Courthouse is located in Livingston, the seat of Polk County, Texas. Photograph by Jim Evans.

Polk County, Texas
Map of Polk County, Texas. Map Credit: Robert Plocheck.

Livingston, Texas
The Fain Theather in Livingston, Texas is a landmark of the the seat of Polk County. Photograph by Jim Evans. Livingston

Visitors enjoying a beautiful day on Lake Livingstone
Photo by Larry D. Moore, CC 4 Lake Livingston

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Polk County by the Numbers
Population & Civilian Labor Counts
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Population Counts
Polk County
Pop. | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
51,353 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Civilian Labor Counts
Polk County
People | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
17,607 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Per Capita Income
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Per Capita Income (USD) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
$39,438 | 2019 | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |
Property Values, Retail Sales, and Wages
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Property Values
Polk County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
5,036,760,023 | 2019 | State Property Tax Board |
Retail Sales
Polk County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
510,272,356 | 2019 | State Comptroller of Public Accounts |
Wages
Polk County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
124,542,524 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Unemployment
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Unemployment Percentage | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
9.8 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Rainfall
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Rainfall (inches) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
51.5 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Temperature Ranges
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Min. (January Average, °F) | Max. (July Average, °F) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|---|
39.6 | 93.7 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Land Area & Total Area
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Land Area
Polk County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
1,057.1 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Total Area
Polk County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
1,109.7 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |