Median age rises, school enrollment decreases

COLUMBUS — Polk County’s population and median age have increased over the past decade, while its school enrollment and unemployment figures have decreased.

The North Carolina Local Government Commission approved Polk County’s 2017-2018 audit report last week, which included statistical information comparing demographic data since 2009. According to the report, the county’s population has increased by 2,257 people since 2009.

Polk County’s population in 2009 was 19,018, compared to 21,275 in 2018, according to the report. The population has mostly increased over the past decade, with the population growing by more than 1,200 people between 2010 and 2011, the largest growth over the last 10 years.

The population decreased slightly between the years of 2011 and 2012 and again between 2012 and 2013.

Most years, the population increased by 100 to 200 people, with the population growing by 255 people between 2017 and 2018.

The county’s median age has also steadily increased over the last decade, from 45.22 in 2009 to 51.80 in 2018. The increase has been gradual every year, with the median age never decreasing over the last decade. The median age jumped from 47.17 in 2011 to 49.58 in 2012.

The median age also jumped in 2015 from 50.36 years to 51.06 years in 2016.

School enrollment has declined over the last decade, with 2,444 students enrolled in Polk County Schools in 2009 and 2,098 students enrolled in 2018, according to the report.

Although there were a couple of years the enrollment increased slightly, most years saw decreased figures.

There were 2,385 students enrolled in 2010; 2,355 enrolled in 2011; 2,293 enrolled in 2012; 2,294 enrolled in 2013; 2,246 enrolled in 2014; 2,276 enrolled in 2015; 2,167 enrolled in 2016; 2,147 enrolled in 2017 and 2,098 enrolled in 2018.

Polk County’s unemployment rate has decreased tremendously over the last decade, from 8.8 percent unemployment in 2009 to 4.1 percent in 2018. The county’s unemployment remained high after the 2008 economic crash through 2010, when the county’s unemployment rate was 8.1 percent. In 2011, Polk County’s unemployment rate dropped to 7.7 percent, but in 2012, the county’s rate rose to 8 percent.

The rate started dropping in 2013, when it was 6.9 percent, and continued in 2014 when it was 4.7 percent. After rising a point in 2015, to 5.7 percent, the county’s unemployment rate has been 4.9 percent, 4 percent and 4.1 percent the last three years respectively.

The Bulletin will publish other statistical information from the county as well as the 2017-2018 fiscal year audit report in the coming days.

Polk County’s population

2009 – 19,018

2010 – 19,355

2011 – 20,588

2012 – 20,433

2013 – 20,422

2014 – 20,603

2015 – 20,755

2016 – 20,828

2017 – 21,020

2018 – 21,275