Geography of Polk County
Polk County sits at roughly 30.79° N and 94.83° W in the East Texas region of Texas, spanning 1,057 square miles of terrain that includes the landscape characteristic of the area — from open ranchland and farmland to small-town main streets. The county's centroid is near Livingston, and the county shares boundaries with 6 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 53,434 residents across 1,057 square miles, Polk County has a population density of about 50.6 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Livingston
Livingston serves as the seat of government for Polk County. The county courthouse, commissioners court, district clerk, and primary public records are located here. As with all 254 Texas counties, the county seat is the anchor of civic life and the principal address for elections, permits, and court filings.
History & name origin
Polk County was established in 1846 and was named for James Knox Polk, the eleventh president of the United States (1845–1849). It was carved from territory previously part of Liberty County.
Polk County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Polk County geography, population, county seat, neighboring counties, and how to use the maps on this page. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
Where is Polk County, Texas located?+
Polk County is located in the East Texas region of Texas at approximately 30.793° N, 94.830° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48373. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Polk County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Polk County in square miles?+
Polk County covers approximately 1,057 square miles of land in the East Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 60th out of 254 Texas counties. The full bounding box of the county is rendered to scale on the interactive map and matches the U.S. Census TIGER 2023 polygon.
What is the population of Polk County, Texas?+
Polk County has a population of approximately 53,434 residents. With 1,057 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 50.6 people per square mile, which is moderately populated for a Texas county. That makes Polk County the 71st most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Polk County?+
Livingston is the county seat of Polk County, Texas, which was organized in 1846 and named for James Knox Polk, the eleventh president of the United States (1845–1849). Polk County was originally carved out of Liberty County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Polk County are located in Livingston.
Which Texas counties border Polk County?+
Polk County shares borders with Hardin, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Angelina, and Liberty counties. These 6 neighboring counties are highlighted on the schematic boundary map and linked at the bottom of this page so you can quickly compare population, area, and county seats across the East Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Polk County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Polk County is available from the "Download PDF" button at the top of this page. The printable layout uses authentic U.S. Census TIGER boundary geometry for Polk County, includes a Texas locator inset, and is sized for standard 8.5" × 11" Letter paper. For interactive use, the live Leaflet map on this page supports OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, Esri topographic, and Carto light basemaps with zoom, scale bar, and fullscreen.
What is the FIPS code for Polk County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Polk County is 48373, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 373. This is the same FIPS code used by the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line files, the American Community Survey, and most federal datasets that key on county.