North Carolina

Polk

19,328
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Polk

Polk, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 4,043. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 19,328.

Its recorded population peaked at 20,510 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 6 percent.

On the ground today, 26 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202019,328
201020,510
200018,324
199014,416
198012,984
197011,735
196011,395
195011,627
194011,874
193010,216
19208,832
19107,640
19007,004
18905,902
18805,062
18704,319
18604,043
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Polk

National Register of Historic Places listings in Polk, North Carolina.

Saluda Main Street Historic District
Saluda
Blockhouse Site
Tryon
Stone Hedge
Tryon
Mills-Screven Plantation
Tryon
Jones, Rev. Joshua D., House
Mill Spring
Friendly Hills
Tryon
Green River Plantation
Columbus
Lynncote
Tryon
Ryder Hall
Saluda
Church of the Transfiguration
Saluda
Sunnydale
Tryon
Bank of Tryon Building
Tryon
Railway Clerks' Mountain House
Saluda
Charlton Leland
Saluda
Johnson, John Hiram, House
Saluda
Tryon Country Club
Tryon
Pine Crest Inn
Tryon
Polk County Courthouse
Columbus
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Polk County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Polk County, North Carolina. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Polk

When does Polk first appear in the US census?
Polk, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 4,043.
What is the population of Polk?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Polk had a recorded population of 19,328.
When did Polk's population peak?
Polk's recorded population peaked at 20,510 in 2010.
How many historic places are in Polk?
26 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Polk, North Carolina.
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