Polk County, Iowa

Polk County
County
Polk County Courthouse
Polk County Courthouse
Flag of Polk County
Flag
Map of Iowa highlighting Polk County
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Map of the United States highlighting Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°41′06″N 93°34′13″W / 41.685°N 93.5703°W / 41.685; -93.5703
Country United States
State Iowa
FoundedJanuary 13, 1846
Named forJames K. Polk
SeatDes Moines
Largest cityDes Moines
Area
 • Total592 sq mi (1,530 km2)
 • Land574 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Water18 sq mi (50 km2)  3.0%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total492,401
 • Density830/sq mi (320/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Websitewww.polkcountyiowa.gov

Polk County is a county in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, 492,401 people lived there.[1] It the most populous county in Iowa.[2][3] The county seat is Des Moines,[4]. Des Moines is also the capital city of Iowa. Polk County is one of the five counties that make up the Des Moines-West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.[5]

History

Polk County was formed on January 13, 1846. It was named after President James K. Polk. The first courthouse was built in 1846. Construction of a second courthouse was begun in 1858. It was finished in 1866.

Geography

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18504,513—
186011,625157.6%
187027,857139.6%
188042,39552.2%
189065,41054.3%
190082,62426.3%
1910110,43833.7%
1920154,02939.5%
1930172,83712.2%
1940195,83513.3%
1950226,01015.4%
1960266,31517.8%
1970286,1017.4%
1980303,1706.0%
1990327,1407.9%
2000374,60114.5%
2010430,64015.0%
2020492,40114.3%
Iowa Data Center[3]

The county has a total area of 591.90 square miles (1,533.0 km2). Of this, 569.35 square miles (1,474.6 km2) (or 96.19%) is land and 22.55 square miles (58.4 km2) (or 3.81%) is water.[6] The county is bisected by the Des Moines River

Adjacent counties

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

  • Enterprise
  • Farrar

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "QuickFacts: Polk County, Iowa". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Retrieved 2011-06-01.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Data from the 2010 Census". State Data Center of Iowa. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2011-06-01.
  4. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. ↑ United States Office of Management and Budget. "Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). pp. 5, 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-05-14. Retrieved 2006-07-21.
  6. ↑ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13.

Other websites

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Polk County, Iowa.

41°41′06″N 93°34′13″W / 41.68500°N 93.57028°W / 41.68500; -93.57028