Polk County, Nebraska

Polk County
Polk County
County
	County of Polk
	Polk County Courthouse in Osceola
	Wikimedia \| © OpenStreetMap Interactive map of Polk County
	Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Established	January 26, 1856
Organized	August 6, 1870
Named for	James K. Polk
County seat	Osceola
Largest city	Stromsburg
Area
• Total	441 sq mi (1,140 km2)
• Land	438 sq mi (1,130 km2)
• Water	2.3 sq mi (6 km2) 0.5%
Highest elevation	1,739 ft (530 m)
Lowest elevation	1,089 ft (332 m)
Population
• Estimate (2017)	5,328
• Density	12.2/sq mi (4.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code	402/531
FIPS code	31143
GNIS feature ID	835893
Website	www.polkcounty.ne.gov

Polk County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 5,406.^[1] Its county seat is Osceola.^[2] The county was formed in 1856, and was organized in 1870.^[3]^[4]^[5] It was named for President James K. Polk.^[6]

In the Nebraska license plate system, Polk County is represented by the prefix 41 (it had the 41st-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

Geography[]

The Platte River flows northeastward along the northwest boundary of Polk County. The lower portion of the county is drained by a local drainage, flowing east and east-northeastward into Butler County. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, dropping off to the river valley in the northern portion, and sloped to the east-southeast in the lower portion of the county. The county terrain is largely devoted to agriculture.^[7]^[8]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 441 square miles (1,140 km²), of which 438 square miles (1,130 km²) is land and 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²) (0.5%) is water.^[9]

Major highways[]

Adjacent counties[]

Butler County – east
Seward County – southeast
York County – south
Hamilton County – southwest
Merrick County – west
Platte County – north

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	19		—
1870	136		615.8%
1880	6,846		4,933.8%
1890	10,817		58.0%
1900	10,542		−2.5%
1910	10,521		−0.2%
1920	10,714		1.8%
1930	10,092		−5.8%
1940	8,748		−13.3%
1950	8,044		−8.0%
1960	7,210		−10.4%
1970	6,468		−10.3%
1980	6,320		−2.3%
1990	5,668		−10.3%
2000	5,639		−0.5%
2010	5,406		−4.1%
2017 (est.)	5,328	^[10]	−1.4%
US Decennial Census^[11] 1790-1960^[12] 1900-1990^[13] 1990-2000^[14] 2010-2013^[1]

As of the 2000 United States Census,^[15] there were 5,639 people, 2,259 households, and 1,570 families in the county. The population density was 5/km² (13/mi²). There were 2,717 housing units at an average density of 2/km² (6/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.92% White, 0.02% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.28% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. 1.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,259 households, out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.90% were married couples living together, 4.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.97.

The county population contained 25.10% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 21.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,819, and the median income for a family was $45,081. Males had a median income of $30,286 versus $19,595 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,934. About 4.40% of families and 5.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.20% of those under age 18 and 4.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities[]

Cities[]

Osceola (county seat)
Stromsburg

Villages[]

Polk
Shelby

Unincorporated communities[]

Townships[]

Politics[]

Polk County voters have been reliably Republican for several decades. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2016).

show

Presidential election results

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
^ Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p. 116. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
^ "Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey Reconnaissance Survey Final Report of Polk County, Nebraska". Nebraska State Historical Society. August 1, 1992. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
^ "Polk County". Nebraska Association of County Officials. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 7 March 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Retrieved on March 15, 2008.
^ Polk County NE Google Maps (accessed 27 January 2019)
^ ""Find Altitude" Google Maps (accessed 27 January 2019)". Archived from the original on 21 May 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved 27 January 2019.
^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
^ Election Results
^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 784 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 142 votes and Prohibition Eugene Chafin received 89 votes.

Coordinates: 41°11′N 97°34′W / 41.19°N 97.57°W / 41.19; -97.57

[QF-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2013.

[2] "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 7 June 2011.

[3] Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p. 116. Retrieved December 16, 2014.

[4] "Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey Reconnaissance Survey Final Report of Polk County, Nebraska". Nebraska State Historical Society. August 1, 1992. Retrieved December 16, 2014.

[5] "Polk County". Nebraska Association of County Officials. Retrieved December 16, 2014.

[6] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 7 March 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Retrieved on March 15, 2008.

[7] Polk County NE Google Maps (accessed 27 January 2019)

[8] ""Find Altitude" Google Maps (accessed 27 January 2019)". Archived from the original on 21 May 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.

[GR1-9] "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2014.

[10] "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved 27 January 2019.

[11] "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.

[12] "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 11, 2014.

[13] "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.

[14] "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2014.

[15] "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved 31 January 2008.

[16] Election Results

[17] The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 784 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 142 votes and Prohibition Eugene Chafin received 89 votes.

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Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2016	78.5% 2,028	16.0% 413	5.5% 141
2012	76.9% 1,890	21.5% 528	1.6% 39
2008	71.7% 1,822	26.3% 668	2.1% 53
2004	78.7% 2,146	20.1% 549	1.2% 32
2000	73.7% 1,925	23.3% 610	3.0% 78
1996	58.8% 1,504	29.3% 750	11.8% 302
1992	49.3% 1,437	22.7% 661	28.1% 820
1988	64.9% 1,769	34.7% 944	0.4% 11
1984	77.4% 2,149	22.0% 610	0.6% 17
1980	75.1% 2,206	18.3% 538	6.5% 192
1976	58.9% 1,797	39.0% 1,190	2.2% 66
1972	71.3% 2,050	28.8% 827
1968	66.8% 1,795	25.7% 690	7.5% 201
1964	48.2% 1,607	51.8% 1,730
1960	66.9% 2,397	33.1% 1,184
1956	68.6% 2,482	31.4% 1,135
1952	76.7% 3,008	23.3% 916
1948	59.2% 2,026	40.8% 1,396
1944	60.8% 2,357	39.2% 1,517
1940	61.9% 2,653	38.1% 1,635
1936	46.8% 2,256	52.2% 2,519	1.0% 48
1932	35.4% 1,636	63.5% 2,939	1.2% 53
1928	67.2% 3,096	32.4% 1,494	0.4% 19
1924	56.5% 2,354	29.5% 1,229	14.0% 584
1920	63.8% 2,393	33.0% 1,236	3.3% 122
1916	38.3% 1,060	57.8% 1,600	3.9% 108
1912	19.4% 485	39.9% 996	40.7% 1,015^[17]
1908	44.3% 1,171	47.8% 1,264	7.9% 208
1904	51.9% 1,235	10.1% 239	38.0% 905
1900	41.3% 1,023	55.5% 1,376	3.3% 81

show v t Municipalities and communities of Polk County, Nebraska, United States
County seat: Osceola
Cities	Osceola Stromsburg
Villages	Polk Shelby
Unincorporated communities	Durant Swedehome
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