Florida

Polk

725,046
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Polk

Polk, Florida, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 3,169. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 725,046.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Big Swamp Fight / Coacoochee's Last Stand (1841), Spanish Indian Raids — Third Seminole War Prelude (1849), and 77 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020725,046
2010602,095
2000483,924
1990405,382
1980321,652
1970227,222
1960195,139
1950123,997
194086,665
193072,291
192038,661
191024,148
190012,472
18907,905
18803,181
18703,169
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Polk

Military engagements that took place in Polk, Florida.

Big Swamp Fight / Coacoochee's Last Stand (1841)
1841
Spanish Indian Raids — Third Seminole War Prelude (1849)
1849

Historic places in Polk

National Register of Historic Places listings in Polk, Florida.

Lake of the Hills Community Club
Lake Wales
Henley Field Ball Park
Lakeland
El Retiro
Lake Wales
Bok Mountain Lake Sanctuary and Singing Tower
Lake Wales
South Florida Military College
Bartow
Mountain Lake Colony House
Lake Wales
Baynard, Ephriam M., House
Auburndale
Central Grammar School, Old
Haines City
Lakeland High School, Old
Lakeland
Lake Mirror Promenade
Lakeland
Polk Hotel
Haines City
Polk County Courthouse, Old
Bartow
Florida Southern College Architectural District
Lakeland
Oates Building
Lakeland
Bullard, B. K., House
Lake Wales
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
Haines City
Haines City National Guard Armory, Old
Haines City
Central Avenue School
Lakeland
Casa De Josefina
Lake Wales
Cypress Gardens
Winter Haven
Dixieland Historic District
Lakeland
Interlaken Historic Residential District
Winter Haven
Chalet Suzanne
Lake Wales
Dixie Walesbilt Hotel
Lake Wales
Browse all Floridahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Florida

Explore census history and historic records for more Florida counties.

AlachuaBakerBayBradfordBrevardBrowardCalhounCharlotteCitrusClayCollierColumbiaDeSotoDixieDuvalEscambiaFlaglerFranklinGadsdenGilchrist
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Everything a full report reveals about Polk County, Florida

This page charts the census history of Polk County, Florida. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Polk

When does Polk first appear in the US census?
Polk, Florida first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 3,169.
What is the population of Polk?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Polk had a recorded population of 725,046.
Were any battles fought in Polk?
2 documented military engagements took place in Polk, including Big Swamp Fight / Coacoochee's Last Stand (1841), Spanish Indian Raids — Third Seminole War Prelude (1849).
How many historic places are in Polk?
77 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Polk, Florida.
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