Polk County, Iowa

County in Iowa, United States

County in Iowa

Polk County

County

Polk County Courthouse

Flag

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Iowa

Iowa's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 41°41′06″N 93°34′13″W﻿ / ﻿41.685°N 93.5703°W﻿ / 41.685; -93.5703
Country|  United States
State|  Iowa
Founded| January 13, 1846
Named for| James K. Polk
Seat| Des Moines
Largest city| Des Moines
Area

• Total| 592 sq mi (1,530 km2)
• Land| 574 sq mi (1,490 km2)
• Water| 18 sq mi (50 km2)  3.0%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 492,401
• Estimate

(2023)

| 505,255
• Density| 830/sq mi (320/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 3rd
Website| www.polkcountyiowa.gov

Polk County is located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 492,401.[1] It is Iowa's most populous county, and home to over 15% of the state's residents. The county seat is Des Moines,[2] which is also the capital city of Iowa. Polk County is included in the Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area.[3]

## History

[edit]

On January 13, 1846, the legislative body of the Iowa Territory authorized the creation of twelve counties in the Territory,[4] with general descriptions of their boundaries. On January 17 they further enacted a resolution setting the effective date of the county government for Jasper and Polk Counties as March 1, 1846.[5] Polk County's name referred to United States President James K. Polk, who served from 1845 to 1849.

The first courthouse, a two-story structure, was built in Des Moines in 1846. Rapid settlement and commercial growth in the county soon rendered this building insufficient, so construction of a larger building was initiated in 1858. Due to construction delays and the onset of the Civil War, the structure was not completed until 1866. The present courthouse was erected in 1906, and in 1962 it was extensively renovated and enlarged.[6]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 592 square miles (1,530 km2), of which 574 square miles (1,490 km2) is land and 18 square miles (47 km2) (3.0%) is water.[7] The county is bisected by the Des Moines River.

### Major highways

[edit]

* Interstate 35
* Interstate 80
* Interstate 235
* Interstate Multiplex with I-80 & I-35
* U.S. Highway 6
* U.S. Highway 65
* U.S Route 69
* Iowa Highway 5
* Iowa Highway 17
* Iowa Highway 28
* Iowa Highway 141
* Iowa Highway 160
* Iowa Highway 163
* Iowa Highway 415
* Iowa Highway 210

### Transit

[edit]

* Des Moines Area Regional Transit
* Burlington Trailways
* Jefferson Lines
* Des Moines Bus Station

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Boone – northwest
* Dallas – west
* Jasper – east
* Madison \- southwest (meeting in a 4-corners)
* Marion – southeast
* Story – north
* Warren – south

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Alleman
* Altoona
* Ankeny
* Bondurant
* Carlisle
* Clive
* Des Moines
* Elkhart
* Granger
* Grimes
* Johnston
* Mitchellville
* Norwalk
* Pleasant Hill
* Polk City
* Runnells
* Sheldahl
* Urbandale
* West Des Moines
* Windsor Heights

### Census-designated place

[edit]

* Saylorville

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Avon
* Berwick
* Enterprise
* Farrar
* Herrold
* Ivy

### Townships

[edit]

* Allen
* Beaver
* Bloomfield
* Camp
* Clay
* Crocker
* Delaware
* Des Moines
* Douglas
* Elkhart
* Four Mile
* Franklin
* Jefferson
* Lee
* Lincoln
* Madison
* Saylor
* Union
* Walnut
* Washington
* Webster

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1850| 4,513| | —
1860| 11,625| | 157.6%
1870| 27,857| | 139.6%
1880| 42,395| | 52.2%
1890| 65,410| | 54.3%
1900| 82,624| | 26.3%
1910| 110,438| | 33.7%
1920| 154,029| | 39.5%
1930| 172,837| | 12.2%
1940| 195,835| | 13.3%
1950| 226,010| | 15.4%
1960| 266,315| | 17.8%
1970| 286,101| | 7.4%
1980| 303,170| | 6.0%
1990| 327,140| | 7.9%
2000| 374,601| | 14.5%
2010| 430,640| | 15.0%
2020| 492,401| | 14.3%
2023 (est.)| 505,255| [8]| 2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[1]
Population of Polk County from US census data

### 2020 census

[edit]

2022 US Census population pyramid for Polk County from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the census of 2020, there were 492,401 people and 207,290 households in the county, with a population density of 833.5383/sq mi (321.8310/km2). 92.55% of the population reported being of one race. 66.18% were non-Hispanic White, 7.23% were Black, 9.76% were Hispanic, 0.46% were Native American, 4.98% were Asian, 0.06% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 11.33% were some other race or more than one race. There were 210,184 housing units, of which 196,891 were occupied.

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the census of 2010, there were 430,640 people and 170,197 households in the county, with a population density of 756.371/sq mi (292.037/km2). There were 182,262 housing units, of which 170,197 were occupied.

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the census of 2000, there were 374,601 people, 149,112 households, and 96,624 families in the county. The population density was 658 inhabitants per square mile (254/km2). There were 156,447 housing units at an average density of 275 per square mile (106/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.34% White, 4.84% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 2.63% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.22% from other races, and 1.66% from two or more races. 4.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.9% were of German, 10.6% Irish, 9.0% English and 8.4% American ancestry.

Of the 149,112 households 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.00% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.20% were non-families. 28.10% of households were one person and 8.60% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.04.

Age spread: 25.70% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 32.20% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 11.10% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.70 males.

The median household income was $46,116 and the median family income was $56,560. Males had a median income of $37,182 versus $28,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,654. About 5.30% of families and 7.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.70% of those under age 18 and 6.40% of those age 65 or over.

## Government and infrastructure

[edit]

The Iowa Department of Corrections Iowa Correctional Institution for Women is in Mitchellville and in Polk County.[13]

In the first third of the 20th century, Polk County was primarily Republican, backing its candidates in all presidential elections from 1896 to 1932 except for 1912 & 1916\. From 1936 to 1980, the county was a swing county, only failing to back the national winner during that period in 1960 & 1968\. Starting with the 1984 election, the county has become consistently majority Democratic, backing the party's candidate in every presidential election from that point forward. Following national trends, suburbs of Des Moines such as Urbandale and Ankeny have changed from Republican strongholds into moderate areas; as Iowa shifted dramatically from competitive to firmly Republican during the Donald Trump era in the mid-to-late 2010s, this is one of the state's few remaining Democratic strongholds.

United States presidential election results for Polk County, Iowa[14] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 106,800  | 41.27%  | 146,250  | 56.52% | 5,705  | 2.20%
2016 | 93,492  | 40.38%  | 119,804  | 51.74% | 18,259  | 7.89%
2012 | 96,096  | 41.98%  | 128,465  | 56.13% | 4,321  | 1.89%
2008 | 89,668  | 41.82%  | 120,984  | 56.43% | 3,757  | 1.75%
2004 | 95,828  | 47.29%  | 105,218  | 51.93% | 1,572  | 0.78%
2000 | 79,927  | 45.89%  | 89,715  | 51.51% | 4,525  | 2.60%
1996 | 60,884  | 39.00%  | 83,877  | 53.73% | 11,345  | 7.27%
1992 | 63,708  | 38.09%  | 78,585  | 46.98% | 24,965  | 14.93%
1988 | 57,854  | 40.42%  | 84,476  | 59.01% | 814  | 0.57%
1984 | 71,413  | 48.30%  | 75,413  | 51.01% | 1,022  | 0.69%
1980 | 64,156  | 44.63% | 61,984  | 43.12%  | 17,618  | 12.26%
1976 | 62,316  | 45.23%  | 71,917  | 52.20% | 3,530  | 2.56%
1972 | 70,245  | 52.95% | 59,169  | 44.60%  | 3,245  | 2.45%
1968 | 51,814  | 45.14%  | 52,731  | 45.94% | 10,239  | 8.92%
1964 | 37,280  | 33.30%  | 74,194  | 66.27% | 479  | 0.43%
1960 | 64,077  | 53.74% | 55,091  | 46.20%  | 66  | 0.06%
1956 | 62,392  | 54.02% | 53,025  | 45.91%  | 74  | 0.06%
1952 | 60,934  | 54.03% | 50,867  | 45.10%  | 982  | 0.87%
1948 | 33,742  | 41.46%  | 45,289  | 55.65% | 2,348  | 2.89%
1944 | 36,629  | 44.07%  | 46,072  | 55.43% | 417  | 0.50%
1940 | 41,245  | 44.26%  | 51,647  | 55.42% | 301  | 0.32%
1936 | 33,819  | 42.56%  | 44,274  | 55.72% | 1,367  | 1.72%
1932 | 34,023  | 49.54% | 31,517  | 45.89%  | 3,132  | 4.56%
1928 | 42,290  | 67.65% | 19,725  | 31.55%  | 498  | 0.80%
1924 | 37,491  | 62.21% | 6,665  | 11.06%  | 16,114  | 26.74%
1920 | 36,073  | 66.82% | 16,281  | 30.16%  | 1,632  | 3.02%
1916 | 11,295  | 45.81%  | 12,327  | 50.00% | 1,034  | 4.19%
1912 | 4,665  | 20.66%  | 7,239  | 32.07%  | 10,671  | 47.27%
1908 | 12,555  | 58.02% | 7,924  | 36.62%  | 1,161  | 5.37%
1904 | 14,113  | 72.53% | 3,086  | 15.86%  | 2,259  | 11.61%
1900 | 12,628  | 64.72% | 6,180  | 31.67%  | 703  | 3.60%
1896 | 11,127  | 60.24% | 7,087  | 38.37%  | 257  | 1.39%
1892 | 7,757  | 53.76% | 5,538  | 38.38%  | 1,133  | 7.85%
1888 | 7,049  | 57.48% | 4,966  | 40.50%  | 248  | 2.02%
1884 | 6,122  | 56.06% | 4,768  | 43.66%  | 30  | 0.27%
1880 | 4,781  | 58.50% | 2,161  | 26.44%  | 1,230  | 15.05%

### Population ranking

[edit]

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Polk County.

† county seat

Rank  | City/Town/etc.  | Municipal type  | Population (2020 Census)  | Population (2022 Estimate)

|
|
|
|

1  | Des Moines (partially in Warren County)  | City  | 214,133  | 211,034
2  | Ankeny | City  | 67,887  | 72,222
3  | West Des Moines (partially in Dallas, Warren and Madison Counties)  | City  | 68,723  | 70,741
4  | Urbandale (partially in Dallas County)  | City  | 45,580  | 46,648
5  | Johnston | City  | 24,064  | 24,390
6  | Altoona | City  | 19,565  | 21,503
7  | Clive (partially in Dallas County)  | City  | 18,601  | 18,908
8  | Grimes (partially in Dallas County)  | City  | 15,392  | 16,295
9  | Norwalk (mostly in Warren County)  | City  | 12,799  | 14,177
10  | Pleasant Hill | City  | 10,147  | 11,186
11  | Bondurant | City  | 7,365  | 8,710
12  | Polk City | City  | 5,543  | 6,046
13  | Windsor Heights | City  | 5,252  | 5,109
14  | Carlisle (partially in Warren County)  | City  | 4,160  | 4,283
15  | Saylorville | CDP  | 3,584  | —
16  | Mitchellville (partially in Jasper County)  | City  | 2,485  | 2,493
17  | Granger (mostly in Dallas County)  | City  | 1,654  | 1,951
18  | Elkhart | City  | 882  | 993
19  | Runnells | City  | 457  | 448
20  | Alleman | City  | 423  | 433
21  | Sheldahl (partially in Boone and Story Counties)  | City  | 297  | 301

## Education

[edit]

School districts include:[15]

* Ankeny Community School District
* Ballard Community School District
* Bondurant-Farrar Community School District
* Carlisle Community School District
* Collins-Maxwell Community School District
* Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District
* Des Moines Independent Community School District
* Johnston Community School District
* Madrid Community School District
* North Polk Community School District
* PCM Community School District
* Saydel Community School District
* Southeast Polk Community School District
* Urbandale Community School District
* West Des Moines Community School District
* Woodward-Granger Community School District

## Attractions

[edit]

* Adventureland Resort
* Blank Park Zoo
* Iowa State Capitol
* Iowa State Fair
* Living History Farms
* Science Center of Iowa
* Valley Junction
* Wells Fargo Arena

## See also

[edit]

* Iowa portal

* Polk County Courthouse
* Iowa State Capitol
* Terrace Hill also known as Hubbell Mansion, Benjamin F. Allen House, or the Iowa Governor's Mansion
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Polk County, Iowa

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on March 2, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ United States Office of Management and Budget. "Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). pp. 5, 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2006.
4. ^ The counties were Boone, Clarke, Dallas, Decatur, Jasper, Lucas, Madison, Marshall, Polk, Story, Warren, and Wayne.
5. ^ The History of Polk County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, &c. Union Historical Co. 1880. pp. 419, 425.
6. ^ Polk County[permanent dead link]
7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
13. ^ Iowa Correctional Institution for Women Archived July 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Iowa Department of Corrections. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
15. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Polk County, IA" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022. \- Text list

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Polk County, Iowa.

* Polk County government website

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Polk County, Iowa

| Boone County | Story County |

|
|

|  |
Dallas County |

Polk County

| Jasper County
|  |
Madison County | Warren County | Marion County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Polk County, Iowa, United States

County seat: Des Moines

Cities|

* Alleman
* Altoona
* Ankeny
* Bondurant
* Carlisle‡
* Clive‡
* Des Moines‡
* Elkhart
* Granger‡
* Grimes‡
* Johnston
* Mitchellville‡
* Norwalk‡
* Pleasant Hill
* Polk City
* Runnells
* Sheldahl‡
* Urbandale‡
* West Des Moines‡
* Windsor Heights

Map of Iowa highlighting Polk County

Townships|

* Allen
* Beaver
* Bloomfield
* Camp
* Clay
* Crocker
* Delaware
* Des Moines
* Douglas
* Elkhart
* Four Mile
* Franklin
* Jefferson
* Lee
* Lincoln
* Madison
* Saylor
* Union
* Walnut
* Washington
* Webster

CDP|

* Saylorville

Other
communities|

* Adelphi
* Avon
* Berwick
* Crocker
* Enterprise
* Farrar
* Herrold
* Ivy
* Oralabor
* Saylor

Ghost town|

* Dudley
* Zook Spur

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* Iowa portal
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* v
* t
* e

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Des Moines (capital)

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Largest cities|

* Ames
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41°41′06″N 93°34′13″W﻿ / ﻿41.68500°N 93.57028°W﻿ / 41.68500; -93.57028
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