Polk County, Minnesota

Polk County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Its population was 31,192 at the 2020 census.[1] Its county seat is Crookston,[2] and the largest community is East Grand Forks.

Polk County
County
Polk County Government Center in Crookston
Polk County Government Center in Crookston
Map of Minnesota highlighting Polk County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting 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
 (2020)
 • Total31,192
 • Estimate 
(2022)
30,731 Decrease
 • Density15.8/sq mi (6.1/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 ft (463 m) above sea level.[5] The county has an area of 1,998 square miles (5,170 km2), of which 27 square miles (70 km2) (1.3%) is covered by water.[6]

Soils of Polk County[7]

USGS surveys show the county's high point to be 1,575 ft (0.480 km) south of U.S. 2, about 2 km east of Spring Lake, at 47.5197°N, 95.5906°W.

Major highways
  • Polk County State-Aid Highway 21: This is the major connector between Grand Forks and Pennington County, and connects with Pennington County State-Aid Highway 3.
  • Polk County State-Aid Highway 9: A major connector between Crookston and the south end of Grand Forks, it connects with Grand Forks County Road 7, and functions as a southside connector between US 75 and US 2 in Crookston.
  • Polk County State-Aid Highways 11 & 46: US 2 Truck Bypass of Crookston
  • Polk County State-Aid Highway 2: Designated and designed for heavy truck traffic connecting US 2 to Roseau County and Marshall County.

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.Note%±
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%
202031,192−1.3%
2022 (est.)30,731[8]−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 US census data

2020 Census

As of the census of 2020, there were 31,192 people.

Polk County Racial Composition[13]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 26,538 85.1%
Black or African American (NH) 958 3.1%
Native American (NH) 376 1.21%
Asian (NH) 156 0.5%
Pacific Islander (NH) 4 0.01%
Other/mixed (NH) 1,161 3.72%
Hispanic or Latino 1,999 6.41%

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 31,369 people, 12,070 households, and 8,050 families were in the county. The population density was 15.9 per square mile (6.1/km2). The 14,008 housing units had an average density of 7.11 per square mile (2.75/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.18% White, 0.33% African American, 1.30% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 2.77% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. About 4.79% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race; 41.7% were of Norwegian, 19.7% German, and 5.8% French ancestry.

Of the 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

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Government and politics

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

United States presidential election results for Polk County, Minnesota[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 9,865 63.26% 5,439 34.88% 290 1.86%
2016 8,979 60.69% 4,712 31.85% 1,105 7.47%
2012 7,615 51.83% 6,773 46.10% 305 2.08%
2008 7,148 46.62% 7,850 51.19% 336 2.19%
2004 8,724 55.68% 6,729 42.95% 215 1.37%
2000 7,609 53.81% 5,764 40.76% 767 5.42%
1996 5,563 40.94% 6,369 46.88% 1,655 12.18%
1992 5,817 38.95% 5,850 39.17% 3,267 21.88%
1988 7,032 47.96% 7,523 51.31% 107 0.73%
1984 8,617 54.60% 7,033 44.56% 132 0.84%
1980 9,036 51.21% 7,151 40.53% 1,457 8.26%
1976 6,552 40.86% 9,078 56.62% 404 2.52%
1972 8,139 51.24% 7,366 46.37% 380 2.39%
1968 6,074 40.04% 8,380 55.24% 715 4.71%
1964 5,039 31.28% 11,052 68.60% 20 0.12%
1960 7,528 44.52% 9,346 55.27% 35 0.21%
1956 6,847 46.10% 7,980 53.73% 26 0.18%
1952 8,326 53.09% 7,244 46.19% 113 0.72%
1948 4,662 31.98% 9,279 63.64% 639 4.38%
1944 4,402 33.07% 8,808 66.18% 100 0.75%
1940 5,200 32.53% 10,652 66.64% 133 0.83%
1936 3,751 24.30% 11,337 73.44% 349 2.26%
1932 3,604 27.32% 8,751 66.35% 835 6.33%
1928 7,215 56.08% 5,357 41.64% 294 2.29%
1924 5,027 43.94% 663 5.80% 5,750 50.26%
1920 8,197 69.47% 2,111 17.89% 1,492 12.64%
1916 2,471 37.93% 3,498 53.70% 545 8.37%
1912 735 12.79% 1,662 28.92% 3,350 58.29%
1908 3,311 55.21% 1,928 32.15% 758 12.64%
1904 3,549 71.71% 696 14.06% 704 14.23%
1900 2,863 49.62% 2,533 43.90% 374 6.48%
1896 2,855 35.39% 5,054 62.65% 158 1.96%
1892 1,376 23.35% 1,510 25.63% 3,006 51.02%
County Board of Commissioners[15]
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
Senate Mark Johnson[16] Republican District 1
House of Representatives Deb Kiel[17] Republican District 1B
U.S Congress (2023-2025)
Position Name Affiliation District
House of Representatives Michelle Fischbach[18] Republican 7th
Senate Amy Klobuchar[19] Democrat N/A
Senate Tina Smith[20] Democrat N/A

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  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 March 16, 2019)
  5. ""Find an Altitude/Polk County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 16, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States 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. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States 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". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  13. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Polk County, Minnesota".
  14. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  15. "Board of Commissioners | Polk County, MN". www.co.polk.mn.us. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  16. "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  17. "Rep. Debra Kiel (01B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  18. "Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach". Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  19. "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  20. "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.

47.77°N 96.40°W / 47.77; -96.40

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