Polk County, Iowa

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Polk County is located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 492,401.<ref name="2020 Census (City)">Template:Cite web</ref> making it the most populous county in Iowa, and was estimated to be 505,255 in 2023.<ref name="QF"/> It is home to over 15% of the state's residents. The county seat is Des Moines,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which is also the capital city of Iowa. Polk County is included in the Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

On January 13, 1846, the legislative body of the Iowa Territory authorized the creation of twelve counties in the Territory,<ref>The counties were Boone, Clarke, Dallas, Decatur, Jasper, Lucas, Madison, Marshall, Polk, Story, Warren, and Wayne.</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref>Polk County Template:Dead link</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (3.0%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county is bisected by the Des Moines River.

Major highways

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Demographics

Template:US Census population

File:PolkCountyIA2022PopPyr.png

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref>

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
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Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic)	Pop. 1980<ref name=1980CensusScope>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop. 1990<ref name=1990CensusScope>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop. 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop. 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>
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

File:PolkCountyIowaPop2020.png

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 210,184 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 430,640 people, 170,197 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 182,262 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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

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 Template:Convert. There were 156,447 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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

The Iowa Department of Corrections Iowa Correctional Institution for Women is in Mitchellville and in Polk County.<ref>Iowa Correctional Institution for Women Template:Webarchive. Iowa Department of Corrections. Retrieved November 29, 2010.</ref>

Population ranking

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

School districts include:<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

Attractions

Communities

References

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External links

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Polk County – official website

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