| County: | Polk County |
| State: | Minnesota |
| Ex Image: | Polk County Government Center.jpg |
| Ex Image Size: | 225px |
| Founded Date: | July 20 |
| Founded Year: | 1858 (created) 1872 (organized) |
| Seat Wl: | Crookston |
| Largest City Wl: | East Grand Forks |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 1998 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 1971 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 27 |
| Area Percentage: | 1.3 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 31192 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2023 |
| Population Est: | 30412 |
| Density Sq Mi: | 15.8 |
| Time Zone: | Central |
| Web: | http://www.co.polk.mn.us/ |
| District: | 7th |
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.[1] Its county seat is Crookston,[2] and the largest community is East Grand Forks.
Polk County is part of the Grand Forks, ND-MN metropolitan statistical area.
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 Knox 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.[3]
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.[4] The county slopes to the west and north, with its highest point near its southeast corner, at 1519feet above sea level.[5] The county has an area of, of which (1.3%) is covered by water.[6] USGS surveys show the county's high point to be 1575feet south of U.S. 2, about 2 km east of Spring Lake, at 47.5197°N, 95.5906°W.
| White (NH) | 28,994 | 28,497 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 26,538 | 94.18% | 93.30% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 85.10% | |
| Black or African American (NH) | 86 | 248 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 958 | 0.33% | 0.90% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 3.10% | |
| Native American (NH) | 381 | 413 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 376 | 1.30% | 1.40% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 1.21% | |
| Asian (NH) | 91 | 210 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 156 | 0.30% | 0.70% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 0.50% | |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 2 | 2 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 4 | 0.00% | 0.00% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 0.01% | |
| Other race (NH) | 0 | 9 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 71 | 1.30% | 1.60% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 2.00% | |
| Other/mixed (NH) | 313 | 501 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 1,161 | 2.77% | 2.10% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 3.72% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,502 | 1,720 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 1,999 | 4.79% | 5.40% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 6.41% | |
| Total | 31,369 | 31,600 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 31,192 | 100.0% | 100.0% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 100.0% |
As of the 2020 census, there were 31,192 people, 12,534 households, and 7,852 families residing in the county.[10] The population density was 1971/mi2. There were 14,623 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 85.1% white, 3.1% black or African American, 1.21% Native American, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.5% Asian, % other races, and 3.72% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.41% of the population.
As of the 2010 census, there were 31,600 people, 12,704 households, and _ families were in the county. The population density was 1971.13/mi2. There were 14,610 housing units.
As of the 2000 census, there were 31,369 people, 12,070 households, and 8,050 families were in the county. The population density was 15.9/mi2. The 14,008 housing units had an average density of 7.11/mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 94.18% White, 0.33% African American, 1.30% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 1.30% from other races, and 2.77% from two or more races. About 4.79% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race; 41.7% were of Norwegian, 19.7% German, and 5.8% French ancestry.
Of the 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.
Polk County was a swing district for several decades, before shifting solidly Republican as of late. As of 2020, it has selected the Republican nominee in presidential elections in 56% of elections since 1980.
| Commissioner | Vacant | District 1 | 2024 | ||
| Commissioner and Chairperson | Warren Strandell | District 2 | 2026 | ||
| Commissioner and Vice Chair | Gary Willhite | District 3 | 2024 | ||
| Commissioner | Joan Lee | District 4 | 2026 | ||
| Commissioner | Mark Holy | District 5 | 2024 |
| Senate | Mark Johnson[11] | Republican | District 1 | ||
| House of Representatives | Deb Kiel[12] | Republican | District 1B |
| House of Representatives | Michelle Fischbach[13] | Republican | 7th | ||
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar[14] | Democrat | N/A | ||
| Senate | Tina Smith[15] | Democrat | N/A |