Polk County, Wisconsin

Polk County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the population was 44,205.[2] Its county seat is Balsam Lake.[3] The county was created in 1853.[4]

Polk County
U.S. county
Polk County Highway Department in Balsam Lake
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°28′N 92°26′W
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Founded1853
Named forJames K. Polk[1]
SeatBalsam Lake
Largest cityAmery
Area
 • Total956 sq mi (2,480 km2)
 • Land914 sq mi (2,370 km2)
 • Water42 sq mi (110 km2)  4.4%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total44,205
 • Estimate 
(2019)
43,783
 • Density46/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.co.polk.wi.us

Geography
Soils of Polk County[5]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 956 square miles (2,480 km2), of which 914 square miles (2,370 km2) is land and 42 square miles (110 km2) (4.4%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties

Major highways
  • U.S. Highway 8
  • U.S. Highway 63
  • Highway 35 (Wisconsin)
  • Highway 46 (Wisconsin)
  • Highway 48 (Wisconsin)

Airports

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18601,400—
18703,422144.4%
188010,018192.8%
189012,96829.4%
190017,80137.3%
191021,36720.0%
192026,87025.8%
193026,567−1.1%
194026,197−1.4%
195024,944−4.8%
196024,9680.1%
197026,6666.8%
198032,35121.3%
199034,7737.5%
200041,31918.8%
201044,2057.0%
2019 (est.)43,783[7]−1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2019[2]
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Polk County

As of the 2000 census,[12] there were 41,319 people, 16,254 households, and 11,329 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile (17/km2). There were 21,129 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile (9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.64% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 1.06% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 0.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 31.4% were of German, 18.6% Norwegian, 11.3% Swedish, 5.5% Irish and 5.3% American ancestry.

There were 16,254 households, out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.50 males.

In 2017, there were 400 births, giving a general fertility rate of 56.0 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 14th lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.[13] Additionally, there were fewer than five reported induced abortions performed on women of Polk County residence in 2017.[14]

Education

Communities
The sign for Polk County while entering Wisconsin on US8

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Notable residents
  • Arnold Franz Brasz (1888–1966), a prominent painter, sculptor, and printmaker was born in Polk County on July 19, 1888
  • George A. Nelson (1873-1962) — the 1936 candidate for Vice President of the United States of the Socialist Party of America was born in rural Polk County and was a dairy farmer there.

Politics
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 63.0% 16,590 35.6% 9,361 1.4% 374
2016 60.7% 13,810 33.3% 7,565 6.0% 1,370
2012 53.6% 12,094 44.6% 10,073 1.8% 406
2008 49.8% 11,282 48.0% 10,876 2.1% 485
2004 51.5% 12,095 47.5% 11,173 1.0% 235
2000 48.4% 9,557 45.3% 8,961 6.3% 1,244
1996 32.8% 5,387 50.8% 8,334 16.4% 2,692
1992 30.1% 5,446 42.9% 7,746 27.0% 4,879
1988 43.0% 6,866 56.2% 8,981 0.8% 128
1984 49.8% 8,106 49.4% 8,034 0.8% 129
1980 44.2% 7,207 46.7% 7,607 9.1% 1,482
1976 41.3% 6,159 56.9% 8,485 1.9% 280
1972 52.4% 6,567 45.8% 5,738 1.8% 228
1968 48.8% 5,583 45.3% 5,179 5.9% 671
1964 34.1% 3,754 65.6% 7,215 0.3% 34
1960 55.2% 6,387 44.5% 5,148 0.3% 30
1956 54.0% 5,894 45.7% 4,985 0.3% 27
1952 61.7% 6,966 37.9% 4,274 0.4% 42
1948 41.5% 3,974 55.7% 5,330 2.8% 268
1944 53.6% 5,329 45.1% 4,489 1.3% 127
1940 53.6% 6,031 44.3% 4,979 2.1% 238
1936 34.3% 3,596 53.5% 5,618 12.2% 1,285
1932 37.1% 3,425 58.7% 5,421 4.2% 386
1928 75.1% 6,905 23.7% 2,177 1.2% 108
1924 37.6% 2,793 4.3% 317 58.2% 4,324
1920 80.5% 4,796 12.6% 752 6.9% 412
1916 51.2% 2,080 42.2% 1,713 6.6% 269
1912 27.1% 848 26.6% 830 46.3% 1,447
1908 72.0% 2,788 21.1% 816 6.9% 267
1904 85.6% 2,985 8.5% 296 6.0% 208
1900 77.5% 2,735 19.7% 694 2.9% 101
1896 74.6% 2,861 23.2% 891 2.2% 85
1892 60.3% 1,477 23.9% 585 15.8% 386

See also

References
  1. Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 163.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  5. Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 61 - 64. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  10. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  13. "Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables". Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  14. Reported Induced Abortions in Wisconsin, Office of Health Informatics, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Section: Trend Information, 2013-2017, Table 18, pages 17-18
  15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

Further reading

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