Polk

Formed March 30, 1846 (61^st county)

Polk County (50,119), Livingston (5,649)

The white columns contrast with the tan bricks on the 1923 Texas Renaissance and Classical Revival courthouse.  It is on the square in the center of the city at Church and Washington.  United States Highway 190 is Church Street and United States Highway Business 59 is Washington Street as they pass through the city.  McLelland and Fink designed this facility.  A modern Judicial Center was added in 2011.  All three courthouses for Polk County have been located in Livingston since the county’s founding on March 30, 1846.  The county was taken from Liberty County as the 61^st county.  Polk County is named for United States President James Knox Polk.  Livingston got its name by early settlers for Livingston, Alabama.  Polk County is the birthplace of 1 Texas Governor, William P. Hobby. 

The area of the county is 1057 square miles.  It is 60 out of 254 in the state.  It ranks 67 out of 254 in population in the state.  It has a density of 47.4 persons per square mile making it 80 out of 254 in the state.  Polk County has 20.9% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 59 crosses north to south from Angelina County into San Jacinto County.  United States Highway 190 goes east to west from Tyler County into San Jacinto County.  United States Highway 287 enters from the northwest, Trinity County, and goes to the east, Tyler County.  The county is shaped like an arrowhead turned 45-degrees.  The Trinity River is the southwest border and the Neches River is the northeast border.  Livingston is in the southwest quarter of the county.  Livingston is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 11.3% of the county population. 

Polk County government consists of a sheriff, a County Judge, and 4 Commissioners.  Two District Court Judges serve Polk, San Jacinto, and Trinity counties and Two County Court Judges serve Polk County.  Polk County is northeast of Houston, Texas and northwest of Beaumont, Texas in southeast Texas.  The county center is 7.1 miles Northeast of Livingston.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Angelina, Tyler, Hardin, Liberty, San Jacinto, and Trinity counties.