Polk County, Iowa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "Settlement short description".Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".Expression error: Unexpected < operatorScript error: No such module "Category handler".Expression error: Unexpected < operatorScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 492,401,[1] and was estimated to be 516,546 in 2025,[2] making it the most populous county in Iowa. The county seat and the largest city 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.

History

Polk County was formed on January 13, 1846 and organized on March 1, 1846.[4], 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

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Script error: No such module "convert"., of which Script error: No such module "convert". is land and Script error: No such module "convert". (3.24%) is water.[9] It is the 41st-largest county in Iowa by total area[10] The county is bisected by the Des Moines River.

Major highways

Transit

Demographics

<templatestyles src="US Census population/styles.css"/>

Historical population
CensusPop.Template:Sronly%±
18504,513—
186011,625Script error: No such module "String".%
187027,857Script error: No such module "String".%
188042,395Script error: No such module "String".%
189065,410Script error: No such module "String".%
190082,624Script error: No such module "String".%
1910110,438Script error: No such module "String".%
1920154,029Script error: No such module "String".%
1930172,837Script error: No such module "String".%
1940195,835Script error: No such module "String".%
1950226,010Script error: No such module "String".%
1960266,315Script error: No such module "String".%
1970286,101Script error: No such module "String".%
1980303,170Script error: No such module "String".%
1990327,140Script error: No such module "String".%
2000374,601Script error: No such module "String".%
2010430,640Script error: No such module "String".%
2020492,401Script error: No such module "String".%
2025 (est.)516,546[11] IncreaseScript error: No such module "String".%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14]
1990–2000[15] 2010–2020[2]

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

As of the second quarter of 2025, the median home value in Polk County was $293,337.[16]

As of the 2024 American Community Survey, there are 211,294 estimated households in Polk County with an average of 2.40 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $82,405. Approximately 9.9% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Polk County has an estimated 69.4% employment rate, with 41.5% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 92.4% holding a high school diploma.[2] There were 224,898 housing units at an average density of Script error: No such module "convert"..

The top five reported languages (people were allowed to report up to two languages, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (85.0%), Spanish (6.6%), Indo-European (3.2%), Asian and Pacific Islander (3.4%), and Other (1.9%).

The median age in the county was 36.2 years.

Polk County, Iowa – racial and ethnic composition
<templatestyles src="Nobold/styles.css"/>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[17] Pop. 1990[18] Pop. 2000[19] Pop. 2010[20] Pop. 2020[21]
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%)

2024 estimate

As of the 2024 estimate, there were 516,185 people, 211,294 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was Script error: No such module "convert".. There were 224,898 housing units at an average density of Script error: No such module "convert".. The racial makeup of the county was 82.8% White (72.7% NH White), 8.2% African American, 0.6% Native American, 5.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 11.2% of the population.

2020 census

File:PolkCountyIowaPop2020.png
Population of Polk County from the U.S. census data

As of the 2020 census, there were 492,401 people, 196,891 households, and 121,993 families residing in the county.[22] The population density was Script error: No such module "convert".. There were 210,184 housing units at an average density of Script error: No such module "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.[23]

The median age was 36.0 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.6 males age 18 and over.[24][25]

95.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 4.5% lived in rural areas.[26]

There were 196,891 households in the county, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.9% were married-couple households, 19.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 210,184 housing units, of which 6.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 65.7% were owner-occupied and 34.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.4%.[24]

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 Script error: No such module "convert".. There were 182,262 housing units at an average density of Script error: No such module "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 Script error: No such module "convert".. There were 156,447 housing units at an average density of Script error: No such module "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.[27]

Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresFoot

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 214,133 213,096
2 Ankeny City 67,887 76,727
3 West Des Moines (partially in Dallas, Warren and Madison Counties) City 68,723 73,664
4 Urbandale (partially in Dallas County) City 45,580 48,119
5 Johnston City 24,064 25,292
6 Altoona City 19,565 22,598
7 Clive (partially in Dallas County) City 18,601 19,808
8 Grimes (partially in Dallas County) City 15,392 17,766
9 Norwalk (mostly in Warren County) City 12,799 15,396
10 Pleasant Hill City 10,147 12,012
11 Bondurant City 7,365 9,565
12 Polk City City 5,543 6,545
13 Windsor Heights City 5,252 5,106
14 Carlisle (partially in Warren County) City 4,160 4,512
15 Saylorville CDP 3,584 3,622
16 Mitchellville (partially in Jasper County) City 2,485 2,717
17 Granger (mostly in Dallas County) City 1,654 2,191
18 Elkhart City 882 1,165
19 Runnells City 457 467
20 Alleman City 423 447
21 Sheldahl (partially in Boone and Story Counties) City 297 326

Education

School districts include:[28]

Attractions

Communities

Cities

<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Townships

<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

See also

Script error: No such module "Portal".

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ The counties were Boone, Clarke, Dallas, Decatur, Jasper, Lucas, Madison, Marshall, Polk, Story, Warren, and Wayne.
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Polk CountyScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1". - Text list

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Script error: No such module "Side box".

Script error: No such module "navbox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Navbox". Script error: No such module "navbox". Script error: No such module "Authority control".

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Polk_County,_Iowa&oldid=9697632"