Polk County, Wisconsin

Polk County, Wisconsin
Polk County Courthouse in Balsam Lake
Location in the state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location in the U.S.
Founded	1848
Seat	Balsam Lake
Largest city	Amery
Area
• Total	956 sq mi (2,476 km2)
• Land	914 sq mi (2,367 km2)
• Water	42 sq mi (109 km2), 4.4%
Population
• (2010)	44,205
• Density	48/sq mi (19/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	www.co.polk.wi.us

Polk County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the population was 44,205.^[1] Its county seat is Balsam Lake.^[2]

Geography

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.^[3] Native vegetation, based on NRCS soils information, can be seen here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Polk_County_Wisconsin_Native_Vegetation_Wiki_Version.pdf

Adjacent counties

• Burnett County - north
• Barron County - east
• Dunn County - southeast
• St. Croix County - south
• Washington County, Minnesota - southwest
• Chisago County, Minnesota - west

Major highways

National protected area

• Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (part)

Demographics

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Polk County

As of the 2000 census,^[8] 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 according to Census 2000.

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.

Education

Communities

Cities

• Amery
• St. Croix Falls

Villages

Towns

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 (1873-19??) — 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.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Polk County, Wisconsin

Footnotes

External links

• Polk County Website
• Polk County Economic Development Corporation
• Polk County Tourism

		Burnett County
	Chisago County, Minnesota		Barron County
	Polk County, Wisconsin
	Washington County, Minnesota	St. Croix County	Dunn County

v t e Municipalities and communities of Polk County, Wisconsin, United States County seat: Balsam Lake Cities Amery St. Croix Falls Villages Balsam Lake Centuria Clayton Clear Lake Dresser Frederic Luck Milltown Osceola Turtle Lake‡ Towns Alden Apple River Balsam Lake Beaver Black Brook Bone Lake Clam Falls Clayton Clear Lake Eureka Farmington Garfield Georgetown Johnstown Laketown Lincoln Lorain Luck McKinley Milltown Osceola St. Croix Falls Sterling West Sweden CDP Lewis Unincorporated communities Atlas Bunyan Clam Falls Cushing Deronda East Farmington Eureka Center Fox Creek Horse Creek Indian Creek Joel Lamar Little Falls Lykens McKinley Nye Pole Cat Crossing‡ Range Richardson Sand Lake Ubet Wanderoos West Denmark West Sweden Wolf Creek Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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Coordinates: 45°28′N 92°26′W / 45.46°N 92.44°W / 45.46; -92.44