Taxes
Polk County, Municipal, and Fire District Property Tax Rates – 2014-2015
Taxing Authority $per $100 Valuation
Polk County $0.5175
Town of Columbus $0.4150
Town of Tryon $0.5508
Town of Saluda $0.6050
Sales Tax Rate
The combined sales tax rate for Polk County, NC is 6.75 percent. The State of North Carolina receives 4.75 percent and Polk County receives 2.00 percent.
North Carolina Taxes
2015 Corporate Income Tax: A flat rate of 5% of net income.
[http://www.dor.state.nc.us/taxes/corporate]
Sales & Use Tax: 4.75% statewide with a local rate of 2.00% (combined 6.75 tax is not applicable to raw materials, containers, labels, packaging and shipping materials).
Franchise Tax: $1.50 per $1,000 and is applied to the greatest base determined as set forth in the law.
Inventory Tax: North Carolina does not impose an inventory tax.
Property Tax: North Carolina does not impose a state property tax. Subject to local rates.
Electricity: Beginning July 1, 2010, there is a full exemption on sales and use tax for fuel and electricity sold to a manufacturer for use in connection with the operation of a manufacturing facility.
Natural Gas: 2.83%
Telephone Service: 3% local; 6% intrastate; $50,000 cap applies for call center operations
Unemployment Insurance Rate: Average tax rate of $200.40; Employers rate 0.00% to 6.84%; Taxable base $19,300
Individual Income Tax Rates:
New, flat North Carolina tax rate: 5.75% effective for tax year 2015
This change was part of the changes made to individual income tax to reform and simplify the State’s tax law. Previously, there were three individual income tax rates of 6%, 7%, and 7.75%, based on filing status and income levels.
[http://www.dor.state.nc.us/taxes/individual/taxrate15.html]
Source: NC Department of Revenue and NC Department of Commerce
Read MoreGovernment
County & Municipal Administrative Locations
Polk County
828-894-3301
www.polknc.org
Town of Columbus
828-894-8236
www.columbusnc.com
Town of Saluda
828-749-2581
www.cityofsaludanc.com
City of Tryon
828-859-6655
www.tryon-nc.com
Polk County and Municipality Public Safety
Police/Sheriff Departments
Polk County Sheriff’s Department – 828-894-3001
Town of Columbus Police Department – 828-894-5464
Town of Saluda Police Department – 828-749-2691
Town of Tryon Police Department – 828-859-9195
Fire Departments
Polk County Fire Marshall’s Office – 828-894-3067
Demographics Profile
|
|
People QuickFacts |
Polk County |
North Carolina |
| Population, 2013 estimate |
20,411 |
9,848,060 |
|
| Population, 2012 estimate |
20,242 |
9,748,364 |
|
| Population, 2010 (April 1) estimates base |
20,510 |
9,535,471 |
|
| Population, percent change, April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013 |
-0.5% |
3.3% |
|
| Population, percent change, April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012 |
-1.3% |
2.2% |
|
| Population, 2010 |
20,510 |
9,535,483 |
|
| Persons under 5 years, percent, 2012 |
3.9% |
6.4% |
|
| Persons under 18 years, percent, 2012 |
17.9% |
23.4% |
|
| Persons 65 years and over, percent, 2012 |
26.1% |
13.8% |
|
| Female persons, percent, 2012 |
52.0% |
51.3% |
|
| White alone, percent, 2012 (a) |
93.2% |
71.9% |
|
| Black or African American alone, percent, 2012 (a) |
4.5% |
22.0% |
|
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent, 2012 (a) |
0.5% |
1.5% |
|
| Asian alone, percent, 2012 (a) |
0.5% |
2.5% |
|
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent, 2012 (a) |
Z |
0.1% |
|
| Two or more races, percent, 2012 |
1.3% |
2.0% |
|
| Hispanic or Latino, percent, 2012 (b) |
5.7% |
8.7% |
|
| White alone not Hispanic or Latino, percent, 2012 |
88.2% |
64.7% |
|
| Living in same house 1 year & over, percent, 2008-2012 |
91.3% |
84.4% |
|
| Foreign born persons, percent, 2008-2012 |
4.1% |
7.5% |
|
| Language other than English spoken at home, pct age 5+, 2008-2012 |
5.8% |
10.8% |
|
| High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25+, 2008-2012 |
86.1% |
84.5% |
|
| Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons age 25+, 2008-2012 |
27.0% |
26.8% |
|
| Veterans, 2008-2012 |
2,006 |
738,926 |
|
| Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16+, 2008-2012 |
25.4 |
23.5 |
|
| Housing units, 2012 |
11,442 |
4,375,234 |
|
| Homeownership rate, 2008-2012 |
74.8% |
67.1% |
|
| Housing units in multi-unit structures, percent, 2008-2012 |
10.7% |
17.1% |
|
| Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2008-2012 |
$171,800 |
$153,600 |
|
| Households, 2008-2012 |
8,769 |
3,693,221 |
|
| Persons per household, 2008-2012 |
2.29 |
2.51 |
|
| Per capita money income in past 12 months (2012 dollars), 2008-2012 |
$23,983 |
$25,285 |
|
| Median household income, 2008-2012 |
$42,762 |
$46,450 |
|
| Persons below poverty level, percent, 2008-2012 |
15.7% |
16.8% |
|
|
|
Business QuickFacts |
Polk County |
North Carolina |
| Private nonfarm establishments, 2011 |
477 |
215,1131 |
|
| Private nonfarm employment, 2011 |
3,693 |
3,284,5921 |
|
| Private nonfarm employment, percent change, 2010-2011 |
-0.4% |
1.5%1 |
|
| Nonemployer establishments, 2011 |
1,833 |
656,617 |
|
| Total number of firms, 2007 |
2,705 |
798,791 |
|
| Black-owned firms, percent, 2007 |
S |
10.5% |
|
| American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms, percent, 2007 |
F |
1.0% |
|
| Asian-owned firms, percent, 2007 |
F |
2.5% |
|
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander-owned firms, percent, 2007 |
F |
0.1% |
|
| Hispanic-owned firms, percent, 2007 |
S |
2.7% |
|
| Women-owned firms, percent, 2007 |
32.3% |
28.2% |
|
| Manufacturers shipments, 2007 ($1000) |
153,075 |
205,867,299 |
|
| Merchant wholesaler sales, 2007 ($1000) |
64,996 |
88,795,885 |
|
| Retail sales, 2007 ($1000) |
110,320 |
114,578,173 |
|
| Retail sales per capita, 2007 |
$5,764 |
$12,641 |
|
| Accommodation and food services sales, 2007 ($1000) |
15,539 |
16,126,939 |
|
| Building permits, 2012 |
43 |
48,692 |
|
|
|
Geography QuickFacts |
Polk County |
North Carolina |
| Land area in square miles, 2010 |
237.79 |
48,617.91 |
|
| Persons per square mile, 2010 |
86.3 |
196.1 |
|
| FIPS Code |
149 |
37 |
|
| Metropolitan or Micropolitan Statistical Area |
None |
Agriculture
Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $17,467
Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $627.92
The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 37.50%
The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 38.71%
Average total farm production expenses per farm: $25,864
Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 16.33%
Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 1.29%
Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $35,269
The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 91.92%
Average age of principal farm operators: 55 years
Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 10.98
Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 7.31%
Corn for grain: 9 harvested acres
Vegetables: 77 harvested acres
Land in orchards: 396 acres Read More
Labor Force
Polk County Unemployment for April 2014: 4.2%
North Carolina Unemployment for April 2014: 6.2%
National Unemployment for
April 2014: 6.3%
Industries providing employment: Manufacturing (23.0%),
Educational, health and social services (18.4%), Retail trade (10.6%), Construction (10.1%).
Type of workers:
- Private wage or salary: 74%
- Government: 14%
- Self-employed, not incorporated: 11%
- Unpaid family work: 0%
Civilian Labor Force Estimates for Polk County
| Polk | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.2 | ||||||||
| 2013 | 8.2 | 7.6 | 7 | 6.6 | 6.8 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 6.2 | 5.7 | 4.2 | 4.9 | 4.6 |
| 2012 | 8.5 | 8.4 | 7.8 | 7.5 | 7.7 | 8 | 7.8 | 7.7 | 7.1 | 6.8 | 7.1 | 7.8 |
| 2011 | 8.8 | 8.4 | 7.8 | 8.1 | 7.1 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 8.2 | 7.9 | 7.6 | 7.1 | 7.7 |
| 2010 | 10 | 10.2 | 9.4 | 8.4 | 7.8 | 8 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.8 | 7.5 |
| North Carolina | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | 6.7 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 6.2 | ||||||||
| 2013 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.2 | 6.3 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.9 | 8.7 | 8.3 | 8 | 6.9 | 6.6 |
| 2012 | 10.2 | 9.9 | 9.7 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.6 | 9.7 | 9.6 | 9.3 | 9.1 | 9.2 |
| 2011 | 10.5 | 10.4 | 10.4 | 10.5 | 10.6 | 10.6 | 10.7 | 10.7 | 10.6 | 10.4 | 10.4 | |
| 2010 | 10.6 | 11.4 | 11.3 | 11.2 | 11 | 10.8 | 10.8 | 10.7 | 10.6 | 10.6 | 8.8 | 10.6 |
Colleges and Universities
within 50 miles of Polk County
University Of North Carolina at Asheville – 3499
Furman University, Greenville SC – 2958
Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC – 1197
Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, NC – 1308
Limestone College, – 3218
North Greenville University – 1844
University Of South Carolina Upstate, Spartanburg, SC – 4484
Converse College, Spartanburg – 1200
Community Colleges / Technical –Vocational Schools
Isothermal Community College-Columbus – 1050
Isothermal Community College-Spindale – 5808 (Public)
Spartanburg Methodist College – 790 (Private not-for-profit)
Spartanburg Community College – 5749 (Public)
South College – Asheville – 222 (Private for-profit)
ITT Technical Institute-Greenville – 555 (Private, for-profit)
Brown-Mackie College-Greenville – 679 (Private for-profit)
Greenville Technical College-Greenville – 13,411 (Public)
Virginia College-Greenville – 858 (Private for-profit)
McDowell Co. Community College – 1518 (Public)
Cleveland Co. Community College – 4029 (Public)
Haywood Co. Community College – 2489 (Public)
Western Piedmont Community College, Morganton – 3191 (Public)
Univ. of South Carolina-Union – 523 (Public)
* Source: NC Community College System – Annual Statistical Report, 2010-2011; USNews.com – Americas Best Colleges 2011
Isothermal Community College
Founded in 1964, Isothermal Community College serves Rutherford and Polk counties in the foothills of western North Carolina. ICC’s Polk County program was initiated in 1967 with classes meeting at various locations throughout the county. A permanent site for the campus became available in October 1982 when the Polk County Commissioners granted the college 10 1/2 acres near St. Luke’s Hospital. This new site was dedicated on July 25, 1983 and construction of the new facility was completed in the fall of 1989.
ICC’s Polk Center provides occupational training in Nurse Aide and Allied Health including Therapeutic Massage as well as Fire and Rescue, Law Enforcement and EMS/EMT Emergency Services training. The center also offers a wide range of personal enrichment classes in Computers, Creative Arts & Literature, Health & Happiness, History & Current Events, Foreign Language, Agriculture and more.
Future plans include a Heritage Crafts Program developed in collaboration with Tryon Arts and Crafts School. Honoring the longtime tradition of handcrafts in the region, the program will provide training in the entrepreneurial skills needed to start and manage a craft business along with hands-on studio training in a specific craft such as woodworking, forge or fiber arts.
Read MoreHousing Availability & Costs
Polk County offers a wide range of housing choices. From newly constructed subdivisions, townhomes, and condos to historic homes to a variety of apartment choices, there are numerous available housing options. According to the Sperling’s bestplaces.net, the median cost of a single-family home in 2010 was $168,300. 78.6% (2005-2009) of the population owned their homes. Home appreciation costs in 2010 were -5.31%.
Single-family new house construction building permits:
• 2000: 121 buildings, average cost: $124,000
• 2001: 152 buildings, average cost: $126,500
• 2002: 160 buildings, average cost: $127,200
• 2003: 197 buildings, average cost: $124,400
• 2004: 155 buildings, average cost: $129,100
• 2005: 165 buildings, average cost: $160,600
• 2006: 191 buildings, average cost: $197,300
• 2007: 162 buildings, average cost: $215,600
• 2008: 88 buildings, average cost: $228,900
• 2009: 51 buildings, average cost: $222,700
• 2010: 39 buildings, average cost $267,749
• 2011: 41 buildings, average cost $251,696
Utilities
Utilities in Polk County are provided by various carriers depending upon the location of service. Below is a list that shows, in general terms, the providers for various services in each Polk County municipality. For more specific information on availability of service or rates, please contact the Polk County Economic and Tourism Development Commission.
Electricity Providers
Duke Energy
1-800-653-5307
www.duke-energy.com
Duke Energy generates and delivers electricity and innovative products and services. We demonstrate our business values in all aspects of our operations and in the way we help our customers, employees, shareholders and communities prosper. At Duke Energy, we’ve been helping the Piedmont region of North and South Carolina grow since 1904. We’re committed to providing your business with a continuous flow of service and expertise -– to respond quickly to new opportunities and to help you bring higher quality, greater production and increased efficiencies to your business. As you begin to locate or expand your plant or facility in the Carolinas, we invite you to look to us for expert guidance and customized services.
Rutherford Electric Membership Corporation
1-828-584-1410
www.remc.com
North Carolina proudly continues to be a leader in domestic and international business and industry expansion. In the area we serve, Rutherford EMC has, since 1937, helped the state earn this well deserved reputation. We are a non-profit cooperative – a retail supplier of electricity to over 57,000 commercial and residential consumers in ten counties. Rutherford EMC’s retail sales of kWh have increased over 20 percent in the last five years – testimony to our energy to get things done. Our best track record is in the quality of our service and our commitment to overall economic growth in the communities where we help people do business and enjoy life.
Gas Providers
PSNC
www.psncenergy.com
877-776-2427
PSNC knows that businesses large and small count on natural gas to meet a number of needs. For public and private enterprises such as office buildings, schools, churches, hotels, restaurants and government buildings, natural gas provides the energy for space heating, water heating and cooling. Restaurants and other establishments that require cooking facilities count on natural gas, too. The company is committed to helping your business succeed Whethe a small start-up company or an established commercial enterprise, depend on PSNC for customized and unparalleled level of service to meet your unique needs.
Telecommunications Providers
Charter Business
1-800-314-7195
www.charter-business.com
Charter Communications, Inc. is a leading broadband communications company and the third largest publicly traded cable operator in the United States. Charter provides a full range of advanced broadband services, including advanced Charter Digital Cable video entertainment programming, Charter High-Speed Internet access service, and Charter Telephone services. Charter Business™ similarly provides scalable, tailored and cost-effective broadband communications solutions to business organizations, such as business-to-business internet access, data networking, video and music entertainment services, and business telephone. Charter’s advertising sales and production services are sold under the Charter Media brand.
Windstream
1-800-843-9214
www.windstream.net
Offering business and residential services in Polk County, Windstream is a national provider. Business offerings include data centers, disaster recovery, internet access, voice service, as well as providing for small business and industry, especially financial services, health care, retail, education, government, technology, media and manufacturing.
PANGEA Internet
828-817-0863
www.pangaea.us
PANGEA Internet is an internet service offered by e-Polk, Inc, a non-profit company. PANGEA Internet’s fiber network has expanded more than one hundred sixty miles, serving the major arteries of Polk County.
Transportation
Interstate I-26 and US Highway 74 in Our Polk offer a distinct competitive advantage for companies located in the area. The average commute time for our local labor force throughout the county is less than thirty minutes. Interstate I-85 — with links to the east coast corridor — is less than 35 minutes away via I-26 in Spartanburg, South Carolina and the deep water ports of Charleston and Wilmington are less than 260 miles away with Morehead City, Savannah, and Jacksonville ports all less than a day’s drive from Our Polk.
| City | Distance From Polk |
| Asheville | 45 miles (45 minutes) |
| North Metro Atlanta | 168 miles (2 hours, 40 minutes) |
| Charleston | 230 miles (3 hours, 45 minutes) |
| Charlotte | 90 miles (1hour, 15 minutes) |
| Columbia, SC | 115 miles (2 hours) |
| Raleigh, NC | 250 miles (4 hours) |
| Spartanburg, SC | 35 miles (30 minutes) |
Education
Schools and education are an important part of Our Polk life. Our public school system serves over 2,600 students from pre-kindergarten through grade twelve in six schools throughout the county.
Test scores for students in grades 3-12 consistently rank the system among the top ten in North Carolina. Our SAT scores exceed state and national averages and have increased from 985 to 1063 since 2000.
Our public school system is ranked 25th among the 115 school systems statewide in local per-pupil spending. The teacher/student ratio of Our Polk is among the highest in North Carolina. Test scores demonstrate that Polk County students exceed both the North Carolina ABC Accountability Standards and the Adequate Yearly Progress Goals required by the Federal No Child Left Behind Legislation.
Our Polk pubic schools have approximately 200 classroom teachers with 100% of our teachers having met the highly-qualified-standard in 2005 – 20% above the NC state average. Nearly 50% of our staff holds graduate degrees ranking Our Polk third when compared to the other 115 school systems in North Carolina.
In our temperate climate, Polk County Public Schools are closed an average of four days a year due to inclement weather.
College and Universities within 30 miles of Our Polk include Isothermal Community College, Blue Ridge Community College in North Carolina, and Spartanburg Technical College, University of South Carolina Upstate, Converse College, and Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. For more info on colleges and universities, click here.
Additional School Statistics
Graduation Rate (2010) – 87.2%
Per Student Expenditures K-12 (2010) – $10,117
Asian Students Passing End of Grade Exams (2010) *
Percent With a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (2009) – 25%
Black Students Passing End of Grade Exams (2010) – 65.3%
Hispanic Students Passing End of Grade Exams (2010) – 69.1%
Percent With High School Diploma (2005-2009) – 30%
Percent With Less Than High School Diploma (2009) – 18%
Students Passing End of Grade Exams (2010) – 70%
White Students Passing End of Grade Exams (2010) – 90%
Public Schools Polk County
|
2141 South NC9Hwy |
Mill Spring |
Regular School, Traditional Calendar |
PK-5 |
|
|
51 Walker Street |
Columbus |
Regular School, Traditional Calendar |
9-13 |
|
|
1681 East NC 108 Hwy |
Columbus |
Regular School, Traditional Calendar |
9-12 |
|
|
321 Wolverine Trail |
Mill Spring |
Regular School, Traditional Calendar |
6-8 |
|
|
214 E Main Street |
Saluda |
Regular School, Traditional Calendar |
PK-5 |
|
|
86 Sunny View School Road |
Mill Spring |
Regular School, Traditional Calendar |
PK-5 |
|
|
100 School Place |
Tryon |
Regular School, Traditional Calendar |
PK-5 |
Non-Public Schools in Polk County – 2009-2010
There are no private schools in Polk County. Private schools can be found in neighboring Spartanburg Co (SC), Greenville County (SC), Henderson County, Rutherford County. *Source: State of North Carolina Dept. of Admin., Division of Non-Public Education, 2010 Directory of Non-Public Schools
Read More
