COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Polk County: higher-rate fatality band
Polk County (NC) is in the higher per-capita third: 24.9/100k (#584 of 2,328). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 26
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 5
- Latest Year Deaths
- Low count
- 24.9
- Per 100k Residents
- Above average
- Stable
- Trend
Higher per-capita fatality band
Polk County ranks #584 of 2,328 by deaths per 100,000 residents (24.9/100k) - top-third rate among rated U.S. counties.
Polk County in the higher-rate third
According to NHTSA FARS, Polk County sits in the higher-rate third at 24.9 per 100k (#584 of 2,328), #21 of 94 in NC.
- #584 of 2,328
- higher-rate third
- #2,143 of 3,137
- smaller-book third
- #21 of 94
- in NC by rate
- Stable
- fatality trend
FARS milepost strip
Milepost POLK-149 · Polk 24.9/100k · #584 of 2,328
Polk County · 24.9/100k · stable
- YOY 24.9/100k
- RATE #584 of 2,328
- RANK 26 book
- BOOK Stable
- TREND 25 crash
- CAUSE +32.6% vs NC
Stamps derive from this county's NHTSA FARS row (per-100k or book, corpus rank, trend, nationwide peer NAME, vs-state gap), not a trip-risk forecast. PlainRoadSafety is informational only. See our disclaimer. Verify with NHTSA FARS → · Read with methodology → · Understanding road fatality data → · North Carolina state profile →
How does Polk County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Polk County is 32% deadlier than the comparison
2023 road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents and a 2023 FARS record.
Among the 15 rated counties in North Carolina, Polk County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 18.8 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Polk County's rate and the state average is 6.1 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Edgecombe County, at 28.7 per 100,000 (a difference of 3.8). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Robeson County (55.4), Scotland County (52.4), Montgomery County (49.8), Bertie County (47.3), Halifax County (44.4), Sampson County (41.9), Duplin County (38.4), Warren County (37.2), Alexander County (32.9), Anson County (32.0), Columbus County (31.9), Bladen County (30.5), Gates County (29.0), Edgecombe County (28.7).
Polk County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
25 Around the middle a lower per-capita rate than 25% of 2,328 rated counties
rated U.S. counties, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-09-03
More road safety data related to Polk County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Polk County vs other counties by ratePer-100k fatality comparison
- North Carolina statewide fatality dataAll counties in this state
- Deadliest states for drivingContext for NC
- State fatality changesYear-over-year state trends
- Browse all U.S. countiesAlphabetical county index
- All state profiles51 state dashboards
- State vs U.S. safety comparisonRoute-level lookup tool
- National statistics downloadFARS CSV + findings
- How to read FARS fatality dataMethodology primer
- Per-mile vs per-capita road riskRate denominator explained
- Counties starting with PLetter index including NC counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Polk County, North Carolina?
Polk County recorded 26 total traffic fatalities across 25 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 5 fatalities. The county averages approximately 2.9 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Polk County?
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Polk County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for North Carolina may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Polk County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Polk County is stable. Fatality counts have remained relatively consistent over the data period.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Polk County?
Polk County has a fatality rate of 24.9 per 100,000 residents, which leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does Polk County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Polk County ranks #584 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #21 of 94 rated counties in NC, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Polk County compare to the rest of North Carolina?
Polk County's per-capita rate of 24.9 per 100,000 residents is above the North Carolina county average of 18.8. Visit the North Carolina state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Polk County come from?
All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2023 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.