Polk County, Minnesota

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Polk County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 31,192 at the 2020 census,[1] and was estimated to be 30,413 in 2024.[2] The county seat is Crookston and the largest city is East Grand Forks.[3]

Polk County is part of the Grand Forks, ND-MN metropolitan statistical area.

History

In one of its early acts as a state entity, the Minnesota Legislature created the county on July 20, 1858, but did not organize it at that time.[4] The county was named for the 11th president of the United States, James Knox Polk, who signed the congressional act that organized the Minnesota Territory. The county was organized in 1872 and 1873, with the newly settled community of Crookston as the county seat.[5]

Geography

Polk County lies on Minnesota's border with North Dakota (across the Red River). The Red Lake River flows west through the upper central part of the county, discharging into the Red at Grand Forks. The county terrain consists of low, rolling hills, devoted to agriculture.[6] The county slopes to the west and north, with its highest point near its southeast corner, at Template:Convert above sea level.[7]

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 (1.34%) is water.[8] It is the 8th largest county in Minnesota by total area.[9]

File:Polk Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf
Soils of Polk County[10]

USGS surveys show the county's high point to be Template:Convert south of U.S. 2, about 2 km east of Spring Lake, at 47.5197°N, 95.5906°W.

Transit

  • Tri-Valley Opportunity Council (T.H.E. Bus)

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas

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  • Agassiz Dunes Scientific and Natural Area (part)
  • Belgium State Wildlife Management Area
  • Brandsvold State Wildlife Management Area
  • Castor State Wildlife Management Area
  • Enerson State Wildlife Management Area
  • Erskine State Wildlife Management Area
  • Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
  • Gully Fen Scientific and Natural Area
  • Hangaard State Wildlife Management Area
  • Hasselton State Wildlife Management Area (part)
  • Hill River State Wildlife Management Area
  • Kroening State Wildlife Management Area
  • Lavoi State Wildlife Management Area
  • Lessor State Wildlife Management Area
  • Mahgre State Wildlife Management Area
  • Malmberg Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
  • Pembina State Wildlife Management Area
  • Polk State Wildlife Management Area
  • Red River State Recreation Area (part)
  • Red River Valley Natural History Area
  • Rindahl State Wildlife Management Area
  • Rydell National Wildlife Refuge
  • Sand Hill Recreation Area
  • Shypoke State Wildlife Management Area
  • Stipa State Wildlife Management Area

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Demographics

Template:US Census population

As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home value in Polk County was $227,076.[11]

As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 12,448 estimated households in Polk County with an average of 2.38 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $69,136. Approximately 10.7% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Polk County has an estimated 66.0% employment rate, with 28.1% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 93.2% 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 (93.7%), Spanish (2.6%), Indo-European (2.2%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.2%), and Other (1.4%).

The median age in the county was 39.5 years.

Polk County, Minnesota – racial and ethnic composition
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Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic) Pop. 1980[12] Pop. 1990[13] Pop. 2000[14] Pop. 2010[15] Pop. 2020[16]
White alone (NH) 33,869
(97.20%)		 30,824
(94.85%)		 28,994
(92.43%)		 28,497
(90.18%)		 26,538
(85.08%)
Black or African American alone (NH) 64
(0.18%)		 53
(0.16%)		 86
(0.27%)		 248
(0.78%)		 958
(3.07%)
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 268
(0.77%)		 376
(1.16%)		 381
(1.21%)		 413
(1.31%)		 376
(1.21%)
Asian alone (NH) 83
(0.24%)		 89
(0.27%)		 91
(0.29%)		 210
(0.66%)		 156
(0.50%)
Pacific Islander alone (NH) — — 2
(0.01%)		 2
(0.01%)		 4
(0.01%)
Other race alone (NH) 0
(0.00%)		 10
(0.03%)		 0
(0.00%)		 9
(0.03%)		 71
(0.23%)
Mixed race or multiracial (NH) — — 313
(1.00%)		 501
(1.59%)		 1,090
(3.49%)
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 560
(1.61%)		 1,146
(3.53%)		 1,502
(4.79%)		 1,720
(5.44%)		 1,999
(6.41%)
Total 34,844
(100.00%)		 32,498
(100.00%)		 31,369
(100.00%)		 31,600
(100.00%)		 31,192
(100.00%)

2024 estimate

File:PolkCountyMn2022PopPyr.png
2022 US Census population pyramid for Polk County, from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the 2024 estimate, there were 30,413 people and 12,448 households residing in the county. There were 14,785 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 91.5% White (85.8% NH White), 2.8% African American, 2.1% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.0% of the population.[17]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 31,192 people, 12,534 households, and 7,852 families residing in the county.[18] The population density was Template:Convert. There were 14,623 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 87.29% White, 3.13% African American, 1.46% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.97% from some other races and 5.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 6.41% of the population.[19] 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18, 5.8% were under 5 years of age, and 19.8% were 65 and older.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 31,600 people, 12,704 households, and 8,196 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 14,610 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 93.34% White, 0.85% African American, 1.43% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.57% from some other races and 2.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.44% of the population.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 31,369 people, 12,070 households, and 8,050 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 14,008 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 94.18% White, 0.33% African American, 1.30% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.30% from some other races and 2.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.79% of the population.

In terms of ancestry, 41.7% were Norwegians, 19.7% were Germans, and 5.8% were French.

There were 12,070 households, 32.3% had children under 18 living with them, 54.9% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were not families. About 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47, and the average family size was 3.07.

The county's age distribution was 25.9% under 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.

The median income for a household was $35,105, and for a family was $44,310. Males had a median income of $31,472 versus $21,535 for females. The per capita income was $17,279. About 7.3% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Government and politics

Polk County was a swing county for several decades, before shifting solidly Republican as of lately. As of 2020, it has selected the Republican nominee in presidential elections in 56% of elections since 1980. 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:PresFoot

County Board of Commissioners[20]
Position Name District Next Election
Commissioner Vacant District 1 2024
Commissioner and Chairperson Warren Strandell District 2 2026
Commissioner and Vice Chair Gary Willhite District 3 2024
Commissioner Joan Lee District 4 2026
Commissioner Mark Holy District 5 2024
State Legislature (2023-2025)
Position Name Affiliation District
style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Senate Mark Johnson[21] Republican District 1
style="background-color:Template:Party color" | House of Representatives Deb Kiel[22] Republican District 1B
U.S Congress (2023-2025)
Position Name Affiliation District
style="background-color:Template:Party color" | House of Representatives Michelle Fischbach[23] Republican 7th
style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Senate Amy Klobuchar[24] Democrat N/A
style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Senate Tina Smith[25] Democrat N/A

Education

School districts include:[26] Template:Div col

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See also

References

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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.

External links

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  10. ↑ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 57-60. Template:ISBN.
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