Polk County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 31,192 at the 2020 census, and was estimated at 30,413 in 2024. The county seat is Crookston and the largest city is East Grand Forks.
Polk County is part of the Grand Forks metropolitan statistical area.
Contents
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 K. 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.
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. 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.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,997.791 square miles (5,174.25 km2), of which 1,970.999 square miles (5,104.86 km2) is land and 26.792 square miles (69.39 km2) (1.34%) is water. It is Minnesota's 8th-largest county by area.
USGS surveys show the county's high point is 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.
Transit
Tri-Valley Opportunity Council (T.H.E. Bus)
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.
Protected areas
Source:
Demographics
As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home value in Polk County was $227,076.
As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 12,448 estimated households in Polk County with an average of 2.38 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $69,136. Approximately 10.7% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Polk County has an estimated 66.0% employment rate, with 28.1% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 93.2% holding a high school diploma.
The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (93.7%), Spanish (2.6%), Indo-European (2.2%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.2%), and Other (1.4%).
The median age in the county was 39.3 years.
Racial and ethnic composition
Polk County, Minnesota – racial and ethnic compositionNote: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
2024 estimate
As of the 2024 estimate, there were 30,413 people and 12,448 households residing in the county. There were 14,785 housing units at an average density of 0.0 per square mile (0.0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.5% White (85.8% NH White), 2.8% African American, 2.1% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.0% of the population.
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 31,192. The median age was 39.3 years. 24.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.9 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 87.3% White, 3.1% Black or African American, 1.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.0% from some other race, and 5.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.4% of the population.
53.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 46.5% lived in rural areas.
There were 12,534 households in the county, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.8% were married-couple households, 20.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 14,623 housing units, of which 14.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.1% were owner-occupied and 27.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.0%.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 31,600 people, 12,704 households, and 8,196 families residing in the county. The population density was 16.0 inhabitants per square mile (6.2/km2). There were 14,610 housing units at an average density of 7.41 inhabitants per square mile (2.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.34% White, 0.85% African American, 1.43% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.57% from some other races and 2.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.44% of the population.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 31,369 people, 12,070 households, and 8,050 families residing in the county. The population density was 15.9 inhabitants per square mile (6.1/km2). There were 14,008 housing units at an average density of 7.11 inhabitants per square mile (2.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.18% White, 0.33% African American, 1.30% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.30% from some other races and 2.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.79% of the population.
In terms of ancestry, 41.7% were Norwegians, 19.7% were Germans, and 5.8% were French.
There were 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
Government and politics
Polk County was a swing county for several decades, before shifting solidly Republican as of lately. As of 2020, it has selected the Republican nominee in presidential elections in 56% of elections since 1980.
Education
School districts include: