Polk County, Iowa
Polk County is a county in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, 492,401 people lived there.[1] It the most populous county in Iowa.[2][3] The county seat is Des Moines,[4]. Des Moines is also the capital city of Iowa. Polk County is one of the five counties that make up the Des Moines-West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.[5]
Polk County | |
|---|---|
 Polk County Courthouse | |
 Flag | |
 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 | |
| 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 | |
| • Total | 492,401 |
| • Density | 830/sq mi (320/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Website | www |
History
changePolk County was formed on January 13, 1846. It was named after President James K. Polk. The first courthouse was built in 1846. Construction of a second courthouse was begun in 1858. It was finished in 1866.
Geography
change| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 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% | |
| Iowa Data Center[3] | |||
The county has a total area of 591.90 square miles (1,533.0 km2). Of this, 569.35 square miles (1,474.6 km2) (or 96.19%) is land and 22.55 square miles (58.4 km2) (or 3.81%) is water.[6] The county is bisected by the Des Moines River
Adjacent counties
change- Boone County (northwest)
- Story County (north)
- Jasper County (east)
- Marion County (southeast)
- Warren County (south)
- Madison County (southwest)
- Dallas County (west)
Communities
changeCities
changeUnincorporated communities
changeReferences
change- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "QuickFacts: Polk County, Iowa". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ↑ "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Retrieved 2011-06-01.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Data from the 2010 Census". State Data Center of Iowa. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2011-06-01.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ 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 2006-05-14. Retrieved 2006-07-21.
- ↑ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
Other websites
change
- Polk County government's website
- [Historic Polk County Church: Ankeny Christian Church, Dave Clark pastor]