Polk County, Minnesota

Polk County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 31,600 at the 2010 United States Census.[1] Its county seat is Crookston,[2] and the largest community is East Grand Forks.

Polk County
U.S. county
Postcard. Carnegie Public Library at Crookston
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°46′N 96°24′W
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedJuly 20, 1858 (created)
1872 (organized)
Named forJames Knox Polk
SeatCrookston
Largest cityEast Grand Forks
Area
 • Total1,998 sq mi (5,170 km2)
 • Land1,971 sq mi (5,100 km2)
 • Water27 sq mi (70 km2)  1.3%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total31,600
 • Estimate 
(2019)
31,364
 • Density16.0/sq mi (6.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.co.polk.mn.us

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. 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.[3]

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.[4] The county slopes to the west and north, with its highest point near its southeast corner, at 1,519' (463m) ASL.[5] The county has an 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.[6]

Soils of Polk County[7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas[4]
  • 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

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%
201031,6000.7%
2019 (est.)31,364[8]−0.7%
US Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2019[1]
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 US census data

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 31,369 people, 12,070 households, and 8,050 families in the county. The population density was 15.9/sqmi (6.14/km2). There were 14,008 housing units at an average density of 7.11/sqmi (2.74/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.

The county population contained 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

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Government and politics

Polk County has been a swing district for several decades. As of 2016 it has selected the Republican candidate in presidential elections in 56% of national elections since 1980.

Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[13]
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
County Board of Commissioners[14]
Position Name District Next Election
Commissioner and Vice Chair Gerald Jacobson District 1 2020
Commissioner Warren Strandell District 2 2022
Commissioner and Chairperson Gary Willhite District 3 2020
Commissioner Joan Lee District 4 2022
Commissioner Don Diedrich District 5 2020
State Legislature (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
  Senate Mark Johnson[15] Republican District 1
  House of Representatives Deb Kiel[16] Republican District 1B
U.S Congress (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
  House of Representatives Collin Peterson[17] Democrat 7th
  Senate Amy Klobuchar[18] Democrat N/A
  Senate Tina Smith[19] Democrat N/A

See also

Footnotes
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 21, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. pp. 42-28.
  4. Polk County MN Google Maps (accessed 16 March 2019)
  5. ""Find an Altitude/Polk County MN" Google Maps (accessed 16 March 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  7. Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 57-60. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  8. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  9. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  13. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  14. "Board of Commissioners | Polk County, MN". www.co.polk.mn.us. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  15. "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  16. "Rep. Debra Kiel (01B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  17. "Congressman Collin Peterson". Congressman Collin Peterson. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  18. "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  19. "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

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.

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