COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Polk County: higher-rate fatality band
Polk County (TX) is in the higher per-capita third: 46.1/100k (#126 of 2,328). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 128
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 25
- Latest Year Deaths
- High count
- 46.1
- Per 100k Residents
- Well above average
- Increasing
- Trend
Higher per-capita fatality band
Polk County ranks #126 of 2,328 by deaths per 100,000 residents (46.1/100k) - 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 46.1 per 100k (#126 of 2,328), #25 of 160 in TX.
- #126 of 2,328
- higher-rate third
- #551 of 3,137
- larger-book third
- #25 of 160
- in TX by rate
- Increasing
- fatality trend
NHTSA FARS milepost
Milepost POLK-373 · Polk 46.1/100k · #126 of 2,328
Polk County · 46.1/100k · increasing
- MILE 46.1/100k
- POST #126 of 2,328
- BAND 128 book
- VOL Increasing
- AVG 116 crash
- YOY +69.0% vs TX
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 → · Texas state profile →
How does Polk County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Polk County is 69% 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 Texas, Polk County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 27.3 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate puts it among the most dangerous one in ten U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Polk County's rate and the state average is 18.8 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Nolan County, at 55.9 per 100,000 (a difference of 9.8). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Leon County (96.7), Wilbarger County (79.9), Ward County (73.0), Eastland County (72.1), Milam County (69.4), Karnes County (66.6), Dawson County (66.6), Comanche County (64.1), Falls County (63.6), Freestone County (63.6), Panola County (61.3), Blanco County (61.3), Live Oak County (60.4), Nolan County (55.9).
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
46 Higher than most a lower per-capita rate than 5% 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
- Texas statewide fatality dataAll counties in this state
- Deadliest states for drivingContext for TX
- 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 TX counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Polk County, Texas?
Polk County recorded 128 total traffic fatalities across 116 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 25 fatalities. The county averages approximately 14.2 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Polk County?
Despite a comparatively active crash history (116 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Polk County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Texas may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Polk County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Polk County is increasing. This indicates that traffic fatalities have risen over the data period, warranting attention to road safety initiatives.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Polk County?
Polk County has a fatality rate of 46.1 per 100,000 residents, which puts it among the most dangerous one in ten 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 #126 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #25 of 160 rated counties in TX, 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 Texas?
Polk County's per-capita rate of 46.1 per 100,000 residents is above the Texas county average of 27.3. Visit the Texas 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.