Polk County, Minnesota

Polk County, Minnesota
Postcard. Carnegie Public Library at Crookston, Minnesota.
Map of Minnesota highlighting Polk County
Location in the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location in the U.S.
Founded July 20, 1858 (created)
1872 (organized)[1]
Named for James Knox Polk[1]
Seat Crookston
Largest city East Grand Forks
Area
 • Total 1,998 sq mi (5,175 km2)
 • Land 1,971 sq mi (5,105 km2)
 • Water 27 sq mi (70 km2), 1.3%
Population (est.)
 • (2017) 31,619
 • Density 16/sq mi (6/km2)
Congressional district 7th
Time zone Central: UTC−6/−5
Website www.co.polk.mn.us

Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 37,600 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]

Soils of Polk County[5]

Major highways

  • Polk County 21: Major connector between Polk County and Thief River Falls. Connects with Pennington County 3.
  • Polk County 11: First segment of US-2 Truck Bypass of Crookston. Runs east and west between US-2 in Crookston and Polk County 46 just west of Gentilly.
  • Polk County 46: Second segment of US-2 Truck Bypass of Crookston. Runs north and south between Polk County 11 west of Gentilly and US-2.
  • Polk County 9: East-west shortcut connecting US-75 and US-2 on the south side of Crookston. Also provides a shortcut to the south end of Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
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%
201037,60019.9%
Est. 201731,619[6]−15.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10]
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 U.S. census data

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 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

Politics

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 60.7% 8,979 31.9% 4,712 7.5% 1,105
2012 51.8% 7,615 46.1% 6,773 2.1% 305
2008 46.6% 7,148 51.2% 7,850 2.2% 336
2004 55.7% 8,724 43.0% 6,729 1.4% 215
2000 53.8% 7,609 40.8% 5,764 5.4% 767
1996 40.9% 5,563 46.9% 6,369 12.2% 1,655
1992 39.0% 5,817 39.2% 5,850 21.9% 3,267
1988 48.0% 7,032 51.3% 7,523 0.7% 107
1984 54.6% 8,617 44.6% 7,033 0.8% 132
1980 51.2% 9,036 40.5% 7,151 8.3% 1,457
1976 40.9% 6,552 56.6% 9,078 2.5% 404
1972 51.2% 8,139 46.4% 7,366 2.4% 380
1968 40.0% 6,074 55.2% 8,380 4.7% 715
1964 31.3% 5,039 68.6% 11,052 0.1% 20
1960 44.5% 7,528 55.3% 9,346 0.2% 35
1956 46.1% 6,847 53.7% 7,980 0.2% 26
1952 53.1% 8,326 46.2% 7,244 0.7% 113
1948 32.0% 4,662 63.6% 9,279 4.4% 639
1944 33.1% 4,402 66.2% 8,808 0.8% 100
1940 32.5% 5,200 66.6% 10,652 0.8% 133
1936 24.3% 3,751 73.4% 11,337 2.3% 349
1932 27.3% 3,604 66.4% 8,751 6.3% 835
1928 56.1% 7,215 41.6% 5,357 2.3% 294
1924 43.9% 5,027 5.8% 663 50.3% 5,750
1920 69.5% 8,197 17.9% 2,111 12.6% 1,492
1916 37.9% 2,471 53.7% 3,498 8.4% 545
1912 12.8% 735 28.9% 1,662 58.3% 3,350
1908 55.2% 3,311 32.2% 1,928 12.6% 758
1904 71.7% 3,549 14.1% 696 14.2% 704
1900 49.6% 2,863 43.9% 2,533 6.5% 374
1896 35.4% 2,855 62.7% 5,054 2.0% 158
1892 23.4% 1,376 25.6% 1,510 51.0% 3,006

See also

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 3 Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 421.
  2. ↑ "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. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  5. ↑ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 57-60. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  6. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  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.
  11. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-10-10.

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.

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

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