United States › Tennessee › Polk County COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS
Polk County Tennessee · 16,050 residents · 435 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 16,050 people, Polk County is a county in Tennessee. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 8% of adults. 81% of homes are owner-occupied. The typical home is worth $63,900, having risen by half since 1990. The median age is 38.6, about 3 years above the US median. Renters pay $345 a month at the median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 38.6
US median: 35.2
Less educated
8% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01
Population & growth from 36.5 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
13K 14K 16K 17K 18K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Polk County Age distribution, 2000
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $29,643
+4%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $21,663 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $9,311 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 18.3% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$63,900
+29%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $37,700 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$345
+1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $258 in 1990
US average: $602
from 82.9% in 1990
19.2% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 99.5%(13,578)
Hispanic / Latino 0.4%(51)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 97.8%(15,689)
Hispanic / Latino 0.7%(117)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Ancestry
+ 20 more ancestry groups with data from 5.8% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 51.3% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 1.5% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 27.5 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 19.5%(1,245)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 13.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 43.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 13.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 24.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 19.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 57.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 41.7% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 17.5%(180)
Gulf War (1990s) 13.1%(135)
Share of the 1,029 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Polk County Head to head
Compare Polk County to nearby counties POLK COUNTY VS
Bradley County
Income $66,552 +125%
Home value $261,900 +310%
Population 115,465 +521%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Fannin County
Income $57,073 +93%
Home value $306,600 +380%
Population 26,111 +40%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
McMinn County
Income $61,470 +107%
Home value $211,800 +231%
Population 57,404 +209%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POLK COUNTY VS
Murray County
Income $69,253 +134%
Home value $180,700 +183%
Population 41,607 +124%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Polk County, Tennessee? Polk County, Tennessee has about 16,050 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in Polk County, Tennessee? The typical household in Polk County, Tennessee earns about $29,643 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Polk County, Tennessee expensive? In Polk County, Tennessee, the median home is worth about $63,900, and the typical rent is about $345 a month.
How educated are people in Polk County, Tennessee? About 7.5% of adults age 25 and over in Polk County, Tennessee hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Polk County, Tennessee? About 13.0% of people in Polk County, Tennessee live below the federal poverty line.
Has Polk County, Tennessee grown since 1990? Yes, Polk County, Tennessee has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,407 residents, a change of about 18 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 