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′5.338″N 93°34′8.295″W﻿ / ﻿41.68481611°N 93.56897083°W﻿ / 41.68481611; -93.56897083
Country|  United States
State|  Iowa
Founded| January 13, 1846
Named after| James K. Polk
Seat| Des Moines
Largest city| Des Moines
Area

• Total

| 591.888 sq mi (1,532.98 km2)
• Land| 572.720 sq mi (1,483.34 km2)
• Water| 019.168 sq mi (49.64 km2)  3.0%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 492,401

• Estimate

(2023)

| 505,255
• Density| 882.927/sq mi (340.900/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 3rd
Website| polkcountyiowa.gov

Polk County is located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 492,401.[1] making it the most populous county in Iowa, and was estimated to be 505,255 in 2023.[2] It is home to over 15% of the state's residents. The county seat is Des Moines,[3] which is also the capital city of Iowa. Polk County is included in the Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area.[4]

## History

[edit]

On January 13, 1846, the legislative body of the Iowa Territory authorized the creation of twelve counties in the Territory,[5] 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.[6][7] 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.[8]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 591.888 square miles (1,532.98 km2), of which 572.720 square miles (1,483.34 km2) is land and 19.168 square miles (49.64 km2) (3.0%) is water.[9] The county is bisected by the Des Moines River.

### Major highways

[edit]

* Interstate 35
* Interstate 80
* Interstate 235
* 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 210
* Iowa Highway 415

### Transit

[edit]

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

## 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| [10]| 2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13]
1990–2000[14] 2010–2020[2]
2022 US Census population pyramid for Polk County from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the third quarter of 2024, the median home value in Polk County was $285,410.[15]

As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 202,404 estimated households in Polk County with an average of 2.41 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $81,621. Approximately 11.5% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Polk County has an estimated 71.0% employment rate, with 39.5% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 83.7% holding a high school diploma.[2]

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (85.2%), Spanish (7.8%), Indo-European (1.5%), Asian and Pacific Islander (3.2%), and Other (2.2%).

The median age in the county was 36.8 years.

Polk County, Iowa – racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic) | Pop. 1980[16] | Pop. 1990[17] | Pop. 2000[18] | Pop. 2010[19] | Pop. 2020[20]

|
|
|
|
|

White alone (NH)  | 280,143
(92.40%) | 299,469
(91.54%) | 323,785
(86.43%) | 347,710
(80.74%) | 362,260
(73.57%)
Black or African American alone (NH)  | 13,570
(4.48%) | 14,618
(4.47%) | 17,874
(4.77%) | 25,344
(5.89%) | 34,990
(7.11%)
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)  | 712
(0.23%) | 834
(0.25%) | 878
(0.23%) | 894
(0.21%) | 1,081
(0.22%)
Asian alone (NH)  | 2,204
(0.73%) | 5,871
(1.79%) | 9,765
(2.61%) | 15,118
(3.51%) | 24,313
(4.94%)
Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | — | — | 178
(0.05%) | 228
(0.05%) | 280
(0.06%)
Other race alone (NH)  | 1,962
(0.65%) | 187
(0.06%) | 554
(0.15%) | 605
(0.14%) | 1,713
(0.35%)
Mixed race or multiracial (NH)  | — | — | 5,077
(1.36%) | 8,094
(1.88%) | 19,709
(4.00%)
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 4,579
(1.51%) | 6,161
(1.88%) | 16,490
(4.40%) | 32,647
(7.58%) | 48,055
(9.76%)
Total | 303,170
(100.00%) | 327,140
(100.00%) | 374,601
(100.00%) | 430,640
(100.00%) | 492,401
(100.00%)

### 2020 census

[edit]

Population of Polk County from US census data

As of the 2020 census, there were 492,401 people, 196,891 households, and 121,993 families residing in the county.[21] The population density was 860.5 inhabitants per square mile (332.2/km2). There were 210,184 housing units at an average density of 367.3 per square mile (141.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 75.93% White, 7.23% African American, 0.46% Native American, 4.98% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.88% from some other races and 7.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 9.76% of the population.[22]

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the 2010 census, there were 430,640 people, 170,197 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was 750.5 inhabitants per square mile (289.8/km2). There were 182,262 housing units at an average density of 317.6 per square mile (122.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.73% White, 6.00% African American, 0.32% Native American, 3.53% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.93% from some other races and 2.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.58% of the population.

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2000 census, there were 374,601 people, 149,112 households, and 96,624 families residing in the county. The population density was 658.3 inhabitants per square mile (254.2/km2). There were 156,447 housing units at an average density of 275.0 per square mile (106.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.34% White, 4.84% African American, 0.27% Native American, 2.63% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.22% from some other races and 1.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.40% of the population. 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.[23]

United States presidential election results for Polk County, Iowa[24] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 112,240  | 43.70%  | 140,075  | 54.54% | 4,523  | 1.76%
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 (2024 Estimate)

|
|
|
|

1  | Des Moines † (partially in Warren County)  | City  | 214,133  | 209,232
2  | Ankeny | City  | 67,887  | 76,435
3  | West Des Moines (partially in Dallas, Warren and Madison Counties)  | City  | 68,723  | 73,300
4  | Urbandale (partially in Dallas County)  | City  | 45,580  | 47,112
5  | Johnston | City  | 24,064  | 24,816
6  | Altoona | City  | 19,565  | 22,372
7  | Clive (partially in Dallas County)  | City  | 18,601  | 19,122
8  | Grimes (partially in Dallas County)  | City  | 15,392  | 16,615
9  | Norwalk (mostly in Warren County)  | City  | 12,799  | 15,524
10  | Pleasant Hill | City  | 10,147  | 12,092
11  | Bondurant | City  | 7,365  | 9,465
12  | Polk City | City  | 5,543  | 6,537
13  | Windsor Heights | City  | 5,252  | 5,009
14  | Carlisle (partially in Warren County)  | City  | 4,160  | 4,379
15  | Saylorville | CDP  | 3,584  | 2,760
16  | Mitchellville (partially in Jasper County)  | City  | 2,485  | 2,661
17  | Granger (mostly in Dallas County)  | City  | 1,654  | 2,142
18  | Elkhart | City  | 882  | 1,090
19  | Runnells | City  | 457  | 449
20  | Alleman | City  | 423  | 434
21  | Sheldahl (partially in Boone and Story Counties)  | City  | 297  | 315

## Education

[edit]

School districts include:[25]

* 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
* Casey's Center
* Iowa State Capitol
* Iowa State Fair
* Living History Farms
* Science Center of Iowa
* Valley Junction

## 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
* Oralabor
* Saylor

### 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

## 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. ^ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
2. ^ a b c "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Polk County, Iowa". www.census.gov. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on March 2, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ "Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). Office of Management and Budget. pp. 5, 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2006.
5. ^ The counties were Boone, Clarke, Dallas, Decatur, Jasper, Lucas, Madison, Marshall, Polk, Story, Warren, and Wayne.
6. ^ The history of Polk County, Iowa: containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. Union Historical Co. 1880. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
7. ^ The history of Polk County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. Union Historical Co. 1880. pp. 419, 425. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
8. ^ Polk County[permanent dead link]
9. ^ "2024 County Gazetteer Files – Iowa". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved February 27, 2025.
11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
13. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
14. ^ "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.
15. ^ "County Median Home Price". National Association of Realtors. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
16. ^ "Polk County, Iowa — Population by Race". CensusScope. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
17. ^ "Polk County, Iowa — Population by Race". CensusScope. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
18. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Polk County, Iowa". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
19. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Polk County, Iowa". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
20. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Polk County, Iowa". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
21. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
22. ^ "How many people live in Polk County, Iowa". USA Today. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
23. ^ Iowa Correctional Institution for Women Archived July 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Iowa Department of Corrections. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
24. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
25. ^ "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 – official website

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
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Iowa

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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