Polk, Pennsylvania Explained

Official Name:Polk, Pennsylvania
Settlement Type:Borough
Pushpin Map:Pennsylvania
Pushpin Label Position:right
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Pennsylvania
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Venango
Government Type:Borough Council
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Larry Allen Boyle (Libertarian)[1]
Established Title:Settled
Established Date:1839
Established Title1:Incorporated
Established Date1:1886
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[2]
Area Total Km2:5.28
Area Land Km2:5.25
Area Water Km2:0.03
Area Total Sq Mi:2.04
Area Land Sq Mi:2.03
Area Water Sq Mi:0.01
Population As Of:2020
Population Footnotes:[3]
Population Total:634
Population Density Km2:120.73
Population Density Sq Mi:312.62
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Coordinates:41.3717°N -79.9294°W
Postal Code Type:Zip code
Postal Code:16342
Area Code:814
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:42-61936

Polk is a borough in Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 703 at the 2020 census.[4]

Polk State Center, a state-run facility for the intellectually disabled, was opened in 1897 and is located in the borough. In 2019, Pennsylvania announced a plan to close the facility. [5] Families and residents sued Pennsylvania in an attempt to prevent the closure. [6]

Geography

Polk (pronounced poke) is located at 41.3717°N -79.9294°W (41.371532, -79.929445).[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2sqmi, of which 1.9sqmi is land and 0.51% is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,031 people, 196 households, and 127 families residing in the borough. The population density was 531sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 209 housing units at an average density of 107.6sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the borough was 96.22% White, 2.72% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.39% from other races, and 0.19% from two or more races.

There were 196 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 11.6% under the age of 18, 3.2% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 37.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 102.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $33,929, and the median income for a family was $38,438. Males had a median income of $22,273 versus $31,875 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $12,963. About 3.1% of families and 35.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 42.5% of those age 65 or over.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2009 Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania Candidates. Libertarian Party. 2016-12-26.
  2. Web site: ArcGIS REST Services Directory. United States Census Bureau. October 16, 2022.
  3. Web site: Census Population API. United States Census Bureau. Oct 12, 2022.
  4. Web site: Bureau . US Census . City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021 . Census.gov . US Census Bureau . 17 July 2022.
  5. Web site: Tribune. Meadville. State announces plan to close Polk State Center in Venango County. 2022-02-18. Meadville Tribune. en.
  6. Web site: Brubaker. Harold. Residents sue Pennsylvania over closing of state centers for developmentally disabled. 2022-04-15. Philadelphia Inquirer. en.
  7. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. 2011-04-23. 2011-02-12.