Polk County is part of the Springfield, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area.

[3][4] Its original boundaries were later reduced in creating Dade, Dallas, and Hickory counties.

23.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The previous incumbent, Mike Parson, was elected Missouri Lieutenant Governor in November 2016.

Polk County has been a Republican Party stronghold for most of its history at the presidential level.

In only four presidential elections from 1896 to the present has a Democratic Party candidate carried the county, the most recent being Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) received more votes, a total of 2,317, than any candidate from either party in Polk County during the 2008 presidential primary.