COLUMBUS – Polk County’s population has grown by almost 1,600 residents since fiscal year 2007, according to the county’s audit report released late last year.

Polk’s population was 19,247 in 2007 and 20,828 in 2016, according to the audit report.

Polk County’s median age has also grown over the last decade from 46.03 in 2007 to 51.06 in 2016, according to the report.

Unemployment has also increased since 2007, with fluctuations over the years. In 2007, Polk County’s unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, while in 2016, the unemployment rate was 4.9 percent according to the report. The highest unemployment rate over the last decade was 8.8 percent in 2009, with the lowest being 3.8 in 2007. Polk’s unemployment rate in 2015 was 5.7 percent, according to the report.

School enrollment has dropped over the last decade. Polk County School’s enrollment was 2,425 in 2007 and 2,167 in 2016, according to the report. The highest enrollment over the last decade was 2,477 in 2008. Polk’s school enrollment in 2015 was 2,276, according to the report, 109 students more than 2016.