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Polk County, Minnesota

Coordinates: 47°46′N 96°24′W / 47.77°N 96.40°W / 47.77; -96.40
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Polk County
County
Map of Minnesota highlighting Polk County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°46′N 96°24′W / 47.77°N 96.4°W / 47.77; -96.4
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedJuly 20, 1858 (created)
1872 (organized)[1]
Named forJames Knox Polk[1]
SeatCrookston
Largest cityEast Grand Forks
Area
 • Total
1,998 sq mi (5,170 km2)
 • Land1,971 sq mi (5,100 km2)
 • Water27 sq mi (70 km2)  1.3%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2015)
31,533
 • Density16/sq mi (6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.co.polk.mn.us

Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 31,600 at the 2010 census.[2] Its county seat is Crookston,[3] and the largest community is East Grand Forks.

Polk County is included in the Grand Forks, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Polk county was named after the country's 11th president, James K. Polk, who on March 3, 1849, signed the Congressional act organizing the Minnesota Territory. The county was formed on July 20, 1858 and formally organized in 1872-73.[1]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,998 square miles (5,170 km2), of which 1,971 square miles (5,100 km2) is land and 27 square miles (70 km2) (1.3%) is water.[4]

Native vegetation based on NRCS soils information[5]

Major highways

  • Polk County 21: Major connector between Polk County and Thief River Falls. Connects with Pennington County 3.
  • Polk County 11 and Polk County 46: US-2 Truck Bypass of Crookston. Polk County 11 runs east and west between US-2 in Crookston and Polk County 46 just west of Gentilly and Polk County 46 runs north and south from Polk County 11 and US-2.
  • Polk County 9: Runs east and west connecting US-75 and US-2 on the south side of Crookston.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
188011,433—
189030,192164.1%
190035,42917.3%
191036,0011.6%
192037,0903.0%
193036,019−2.9%
194037,7344.8%
195035,900−4.9%
196036,1820.8%
197034,435−4.8%
198034,8441.2%
199032,498−6.7%
200031,369−3.5%
201031,6000.7%
2015 (est.)31,533[6]−0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2015[2]
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 U.S. census data

As of the census of 2000, there were 31,369 people, 12,070 households, and 8,050 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 14,008 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.18% White, 0.33% Black or African American, 1.30% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.57% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. 4.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.7% were of Norwegian, 19.7% German and 5.8% French ancestry.

There were 12,070 households out of which 32.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 28.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.90% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,105, and the median income for a family was $44,310. Males had a median income of $31,472 versus $21,535 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,279. About 7.30% of families and 10.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.30% of those under age 18 and 10.90% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Townships

Unincorporated communities

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 421.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  5. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 57-60. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  6. ^ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.

Further reading

  • R.I. Holcombe and William H Bingham, Compendium of History and Biography of Polk County, Minnesota. Minneapolis: W. H. Bingham & Co., 1916.
  • Huber D. McLellan, The History of the Early Settlement and Development of Polk County, Minnesota. PhD dissertation. Northwestern University, 1928.
  • Polk County Historical Society, Bicentennial History of Polk County, Minnesota: Pioneers of the Valley. n.c.: Polk County Historical Society, 1976.
  • Polk County Historical Society, The Polk County Historian. (journal)
  • Claude Eugene Wentsel, Polk County, Minnesota, in the World War. Ada, MN: C.E. Wentsel, 1922.
  • Winger Golden Jubilee Historical Committee, Golden Jubilee, Winger, Minnesota, 1904-1954. Winger, MN: Winger Enterprise, n.d. [1954].
  • Maxine Workman, Minnesota Cemeteries, Polk County. West Fargo, ND: Red River Genealogy Society, 1988.

47°46′N 96°24′W / 47.77°N 96.40°W / 47.77; -96.40

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