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Polk County, North Carolina
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==Geography== {{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q507892|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Polk County}} According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|238.45|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|237.69|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.76|sqmi}} (0.32%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files β North Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_37.txt |access-date=September 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> It is the fifth-smallest county in North Carolina by total area.[[File:polk nc elevation.png|thumb|300px|Polk County Elevation]] The county's largest body of water is [[Lake Adger]], located about {{convert|5|mi|km}} north of [[Columbus, North Carolina|Columbus]]. Lake Adger is a [[reservoir]] formed by the damming of the [[Green River (North Carolina)|Green River]], which flows from west to east across the county. The northern extent of the river's watershed forms the northern border of the county. The elevation in the county ranges from just under {{convert|800|ft|m}} near the confluence of the [[Green River (North Carolina)|Green River]] and [[Broad River (North Carolina)|Broad River]] to over {{convert|3200|ft|m}} on Tryon Peak and Wildcat Spur, the highest peak in the county. Polk County is divided into two [[Physiographic regions of the world|physiographic regions]]; the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]] in the western third of the county and [[Piedmont (United States)|Piedmont]] for the eastern two-thirds. Since it is in a transition zone between the two regions, Polk County is often referred to as being in the [[Foothills (North Carolina)|foothills]]. ===State and local protected areas=== * Anne Elizabeth Suratt Nature Center * Bradley Nature Preserve at Alexander's Ford (part) * [[Chimney Rock State Park]] (part) * Green River Game Lands (part)<ref>{{Cite web |title=NCWRC Game Lands |url=https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/gamelands |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=www.ncpaws.org}}</ref> * [[Pearson's Falls]] * [[Shunkawauken Falls]] ===Major water bodies=== * [[Broad River (Carolinas)|Broad River]] * Colt Creek * Cove Creek * [[Green River (North Carolina)|Green River]] * [[North Pacolet River]] * Hughes Creek * [[Lake Adger]] * Little White Oak Creek * Ostin Creek * Vaughns Creek * Walnut Creek * White Oak Creek ===Adjacent counties=== * [[Rutherford County, North Carolina|Rutherford County]] β northeast * [[Spartanburg County, South Carolina]] β south-southeast * [[Greenville County, South Carolina]] β south-southwest * [[Henderson County, North Carolina|Henderson County]] β west ===Major highways=== * {{Jct|state=NC|I|26}} * {{Jct|state=NC|US|74}} * {{Jct|state=NC|US|176}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|9}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|108}} The interchange for I-26 and the US 74 freeway is located in Columbus. Interstate 26 provides Polk County with access to [[Asheville, North Carolina|Asheville]] and [[Spartanburg, South Carolina]]. Polk County is also served by an additional non-freeway U.S. Highway: US 176. This was the primary highway linking Saluda and Tryon to [[Hendersonville, North Carolina|Hendersonville]] and Spartanburg, SC. prior to the delayed completion of I-26 in 1976. Two North Carolina routes, NC 108 and NC 9, traverse the county as well. NC 108 begins in [[Rutherfordton, North Carolina|Rutherfordton]] and travels west through Columbus and ends at US 176 in Tryon. Oriented north-to-south, NC 9 connects [[Black Mountain, North Carolina|Black Mountain]] and [[Lake Lure, North Carolina|Lake Lure]] to Spartanburg and points southeast via Polk County. NC 108 and NC 9 intersect at the unincorporated town of Mill Spring. Polk County and Saluda are infamous among railroad enthusiasts for the [[Saluda Grade]], the steepest standard-gauge mainline railway grade in the United States.<ref>[http://www.ncmarkers.com/Results.aspx?k=Search&ct=btn Saluda Grade - North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123164946/http://www.ncmarkers.com/Results.aspx?k=Search&ct=btn|date=November 23, 2011}}</ref> [[Norfolk Southern]] suspended freight traffic indefinitely along this route in December 2001. The track remains in place, but are cut near [[Flat Rock, Henderson County, North Carolina|Flat Rock, North Carolina]] and [[Landrum, South Carolina]].
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