Polk County, Nebraska

County in Nebraska, United States

County in Nebraska

Polk County

County

County of Polk

Polk County Courthouse in Osceola

<mapframe>: The JSON content is not valid GeoJSON+simplestyle. The list below shows all attempts to interpret it according to the JSON Schema. Not all are errors.

* /0/query: The property query is required
* /0/ids: The property ids is required
* /0: Failed to match at least one schema
* /0/title: The property title is required
* /0/service: Does not have a value in the enumeration ["page"]
* /0: Failed to match exactly one schema
* /0/geometries: The property geometries is required
* /0/type: Does not have a value in the enumeration ["GeometryCollection"]
* /0/type: Does not have a value in the enumeration ["MultiPolygon"]
* /0/type: Does not have a value in the enumeration ["Point"]
* /0/type: Does not have a value in the enumeration ["MultiPoint"]
* /0/type: Does not have a value in the enumeration ["LineString"]
* /0/type: Does not have a value in the enumeration ["MultiLineString"]
* /0/type: Does not have a value in the enumeration ["Polygon"]
* /0/coordinates: The property coordinates is required
* /0/geometry: The property geometry is required
* /0/type: Does not have a value in the enumeration ["Feature"]
* /0/features: The property features is required
* /0/type: Does not have a value in the enumeration ["FeatureCollection"]

Interactive map of Polk County

Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska

Country|  United States
State|  Nebraska
Established| January 26, 1856
Organized| August 6, 1870
Named for| James K. Polk
County seat| Osceola
Largest city| Stromsburg
Area

• Total| 441 sq mi (1,140 km2)
• Land| 438 sq mi (1,130 km2)
• Water| 2.3 sq mi (6 km2)  0.5%
Highest elevation

| 1,739 ft (530 m)
Lowest elevation

| 1,089 ft (332 m)
Population

• Estimate

(2021[1])

| 5,214
• Density| 12.2/sq mi (4.7/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code| 402/531
FIPS code| 31143
GNIS feature ID| 835893
Website| www.polkcounty.ne.gov

Polk County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 5,214.[1] Its county seat is Osceola.[2] The county was formed in 1856, and was organized in 1870.[3][4][5] It was named for President James K. Polk.[6]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Polk County is represented by the prefix 41 (it had the 41st-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

## Contents

* 1 Geography
* 1.1 Major highways
* 1.2 Adjacent counties
* 2 Demographics
* 3 Communities
* 3.1 Cities
* 3.2 Villages
* 3.3 Unincorporated communities
* 3.4 Townships
* 4 Politics
* 5 See also
* 6 References

## Geography

[edit | edit source]

The Platte River flows northeastward along the northwest boundary of Polk County. The lower portion of the county is drained by a local drainage, flowing east and east-northeastward into Butler County. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, dropping off to the river valley in the northern portion, and sloped to the east-southeast in the lower portion of the county. The county terrain is largely devoted to agriculture.[7][8]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 441 square miles (1,140 km2), of which 438 square miles (1,130 km2) is land and 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2) (0.5%) is water.[9]

### Major highways

[edit | edit source]

* U.S. Highway 81
* Nebraska Highway 39
* Nebraska Highway 66
* Nebraska Highway 69
* Nebraska Highway 92

### Adjacent counties

[edit | edit source]

* Butler County – east
* Seward County – southeast
* York County – south
* Hamilton County – southwest
* Merrick County – west
* Platte County – north

## Demographics

[edit | edit source]

Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1860| 19| | —
1870| 136| | 615.8%
1880| 6,846| | 4,933.8%
1890| 10,817| | 58.0%
1900| 10,542| | −2.5%
1910| 10,521| | −0.2%
1920| 10,714| | 1.8%
1930| 10,092| | −5.8%
1940| 8,748| | −13.3%
1950| 8,044| | −8.0%
1960| 7,210| | −10.4%
1970| 6,468| | −10.3%
1980| 6,320| | −2.3%
1990| 5,668| | −10.3%
2000| 5,639| | −0.5%
2010| 5,406| | −4.1%
2020| 5,214| | −3.6%
2021 (est.)| 5,174| [1]| −0.8%
US Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2013[14]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[15] there were 5,639 people, 2,259 households, and 1,570 families in the county. The population density was 5/km2 (13/mi2). There were 2,717 housing units at an average density of 2/km2 (6/mi2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.92% White, 0.02% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.28% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. 1.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,259 households, out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.90% were married couples living together, 4.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.97.

The county population contained 25.10% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 21.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,819, and the median income for a family was $45,081. Males had a median income of $30,286 versus $19,595 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,934. About 4.40% of families and 5.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.20% of those under age 18 and 4.70% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities

[edit | edit source]

### Cities

[edit | edit source]

* Osceola (county seat)
* Stromsburg

### Villages

[edit | edit source]

* Polk
* Shelby

### Unincorporated communities

[edit | edit source]

* Durant
* Swedehome or Swede Home

### Townships

[edit | edit source]

* Canada
* Clear Creek
* Hackberry
* Island
* Osceola
* Platte
* Pleasant Home
* Stromsburg
* Valley

## Politics

[edit | edit source]

Polk County voters have been reliably Republican for several decades. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

United States presidential election results for Polk County, Nebraska[16][17] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 2,291  | 79.58% | 530  | 18.41%  | 58  | 2.01%
2016 | 2,028  | 78.54% | 413  | 16.00%  | 141  | 5.46%
2012 | 1,890  | 76.92% | 528  | 21.49%  | 39  | 1.59%
2008 | 1,822  | 71.65% | 668  | 26.27%  | 53  | 2.08%
2004 | 2,146  | 78.69% | 549  | 20.13%  | 32  | 1.17%
2000 | 1,925  | 73.67% | 610  | 23.34%  | 78  | 2.99%
1996 | 1,504  | 58.84% | 750  | 29.34%  | 302  | 11.82%
1992 | 1,437  | 49.25% | 661  | 22.65%  | 820  | 28.10%
1988 | 1,769  | 64.94% | 944  | 34.65%  | 11  | 0.40%
1984 | 2,149  | 77.41% | 610  | 21.97%  | 17  | 0.61%
1980 | 2,206  | 75.14% | 538  | 18.32%  | 192  | 6.54%
1976 | 1,797  | 58.86% | 1,190  | 38.98%  | 66  | 2.16%
1972 | 2,050  | 71.25% | 827  | 28.75%  | 0  | 0.00%
1968 | 1,795  | 66.83% | 690  | 25.69%  | 201  | 7.48%
1964 | 1,607  | 48.16%  | 1,730  | 51.84% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 2,397  | 66.94% | 1,184  | 33.06%  | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 2,482  | 68.62% | 1,135  | 31.38%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 3,008  | 76.66% | 916  | 23.34%  | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 2,026  | 59.21% | 1,396  | 40.79%  | 0  | 0.00%
1944 | 2,357  | 60.84% | 1,517  | 39.16%  | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 2,653  | 61.87% | 1,635  | 38.13%  | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 2,256  | 46.78%  | 2,519  | 52.23% | 48  | 1.00%
1932 | 1,636  | 35.35%  | 2,939  | 63.50% | 53  | 1.15%
1928 | 3,096  | 67.17% | 1,494  | 32.41%  | 19  | 0.41%
1924 | 2,354  | 56.49% | 1,229  | 29.49%  | 584  | 14.01%
1920 | 2,393  | 63.80% | 1,236  | 32.95%  | 122  | 3.25%
1916 | 1,060  | 38.29%  | 1,600  | 57.80% | 108  | 3.90%
1912 | 485  | 19.43%  | 996  | 39.90% | 1,015  | 40.67%
1908 | 1,171  | 44.31%  | 1,264  | 47.82% | 208  | 7.87%
1904 | 1,235  | 51.91% | 239  | 10.05%  | 905  | 38.04%
1900 | 1,023  | 41.25%  | 1,376  | 55.48% | 81  | 3.27%

## See also

[edit | edit source]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Polk County, Nebraska

## References

[edit | edit source]

1. ^ a b c Bureau, US Census. "County Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p. 116. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
4. ^ "Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey Reconnaissance Survey Final Report of Polk County, Nebraska". Nebraska State Historical Society. August 1, 1992. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
5. ^ "Polk County". Nebraska Association of County Officials. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
6. ^ "Polk County". Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved March 7, 2010. Retrieved on March 15, 2008.
7. ^ Polk County NE Google Maps (accessed 27 January 2019)
8. ^ ""Find Altitude" Google Maps (accessed 27 January 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
9. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
10. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
14. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
15. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
16. ^ Election Results
17. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 784 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 142 votes and Prohibition Eugene Chafin received 89 votes.

Places adjacent to Polk County, Nebraska

|  | Platte County |

|
|

|  |
Merrick County |

Polk County, Nebraska

| Butler County
|  |
Hamilton County | York County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Polk County, Nebraska, United States

County seat: Osceola

Cities|

* Osceola
* Stromsburg

Map of Nebraska highlighting Polk County

Villages|

* Polk
* Shelby

Unincorporated
communities|

* Durant
* Swedehome

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Nebraska

Lincoln (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Geography
* Government
* Governors
* Lt. Governors
* Legislature
* Speakers of the Legislature
* State Senators
* Congressional districts maps
* History
* People
* Symbols
* Tourist attractions

Society|

* Crime
* Culture
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Elections
* Politics

Regions|

* Dissected Till Plains
* Grand Island metropolitan area
* Kearney Micropolitan Statistical Area
* Lincoln metropolitan area
* Omaha metropolitan area
* Panhandle
* Pine Ridge
* Rainwater Basin
* Sandhills
* Siouxland
* Wildcat Hills

Largest cities|

* Alliance
* Beatrice
* Bellevue
* Columbus
* Fremont
* Gering
* Grand Island
* Hastings
* Kearney
* La Vista
* Lexington
* Lincoln
* McCook
* Norfolk
* North Platte
* Omaha
* Papillion
* Scottsbluff
* South Sioux City
* York

Counties|

* Adams
* Antelope
* Arthur
* Banner
* Blaine
* Boone
* Box Butte
* Boyd
* Brown
* Buffalo
* Burt
* Butler
* Cass
* Cedar
* Chase
* Cherry
* Cheyenne
* Clay
* Colfax
* Cuming
* Custer
* Dakota
* Dawes
* Dawson
* Deuel
* Dixon
* Dodge
* Douglas
* Dundy
* Fillmore
* Franklin
* Frontier
* Furnas
* Gage
* Garden
* Garfield
* Gosper
* Grant
* Greeley
* Hall
* Hamilton
* Harlan
* Hayes
* Hitchcock
* Holt
* Hooker
* Howard
* Jefferson
* Johnson
* Kearney
* Keith
* Keya Paha
* Kimball
* Knox
* Lancaster
* Lincoln
* Logan
* Loup
* Madison
* McPherson
* Merrick
* Morrill
* Nance
* Nemaha
* Nuckolls
* Otoe
* Pawnee
* Perkins
* Phelps
* Pierce
* Platte
* Polk
* Red Willow
* Richardson
* Rock
* Saline
* Sarpy
* Saunders
* Scotts Bluff
* Seward
* Sheridan
* Sherman
* Sioux
* Stanton
* Thayer
* Thomas
* Thurston
* Valley
* Washington
* Wayne
* Webster
* Wheeler
* York

Coordinates: 41°11′N 97°34′W﻿ / ﻿41.19°N 97.57°W﻿ / 41.19; -97.57
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template