Iowa

Polk

492,401
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Polk

Polk, Iowa, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 4,513. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 492,401.

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

On the ground today, 210 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020492,401
2010430,640
2000374,601
1990327,140
1980303,170
1970286,101
1960266,315
1950226,010
1940195,835
1930172,837
1920154,029
1910110,438
190082,624
189065,410
188042,395
187027,857
186011,625
18504,513
Source

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

Historic places in Polk

National Register of Historic Places listings in Polk, Iowa.

Baker, C. H., Double House
Des Moines
Des Moines Art Center
Des Moines
Turner, Susie P., Double House
Des Moines
Perry and Brainard Block
Des Moines
Trent-Beaver House
Des Moines
Masonic Temple of Des Moines
Des Moines
Wherry Block
Des Moines
Schmitt and Henry Manufacturing Company
Des Moines
Valley Junction Commercial Historic District
West Des Moines
Terrace Hill
Des Moines
Southwest Fifth St. Bridge
Des Moines
Cottage Grove Avenue Presbyterian Church
Des Moines
Oaklands, The, Historic District
Des Moines
Iowa State Fair and Exposition Grounds Historic District
Des Moines
Sherman Hill Historic District
Des Moines
Saint John's Roman Catholic Church
Des Moines
Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George
Des Moines
Flynn-Griffin Building
Des Moines
St. Ambrose Cathedral and Rectory
Des Moines
Farmhouse, Olmsted Family
Urbandale
Elliott Furniture Company
Des Moines
Maine, The
Des Moines
Crawford House
Des Moines
Sherman, Hoyt, Place
Des Moines
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Everything a full report reveals about Polk County, Iowa

This page charts the census history of Polk County, Iowa. 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, Iowa first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 4,513.
What is the population of Polk?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Polk had a recorded population of 492,401.
How many historic places are in Polk?
210 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Polk, Iowa.
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