Polk County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Its population was 31,192 at the 2020 census. Its county seat is Crookston, and the largest community is East Grand Forks.
Polk County is part of the Grand Forks, ND-MN metropolitan statistical area.
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 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.
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 above sea level. The county has an area of , of which (1.3%) is covered by water. USGS surveys show the county's high point to be south of U.S. 2, about 2 km east of Spring Lake, at 47.5197°N, 95.5906°W.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 2
U.S. Highway 59
U.S. Highway 75
Minnesota State Highway 9
Minnesota State Highway 32
Minnesota State Highway 92
Minnesota State Highway 102
Minnesota State Highway 220
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.
Adjacent counties
Marshall County (north) Pennington County (northeast) Red Lake County (northeast) Clearwater County (east) Mahnomen County (southeast) Norman County (south) Traill County, North Dakota (southwest) Grand Forks County, North Dakota (west)
Protected areas
Agassiz Dunes Scientific and Natural Area (part) Belgium State Wildlife Management Area Brandsvold State Wildlife Management Area Castor State Wildlife Management Area Enerson State Wildlife Management Area Erskine State Wildlife Management Area Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge Gully Fen Scientific and Natural Area Hangaard State Wildlife Management Area Hasselton State Wildlife Management Area (part) Hill River State Wildlife Management Area Kroening State Wildlife Management Area Lavoi State Wildlife Management Area Lessor State Wildlife Management Area Mahgre State Wildlife Management Area Malmberg Prairie Scientific and Natural Area Pembina State Wildlife Management Area Polk State Wildlife Management Area Red River State Recreation Area (part) Red River Valley Natural History Area Rindahl State Wildlife Management Area Rydell National Wildlife Refuge Sand Hill Recreation Area Shypoke State Wildlife Management Area Stipa State Wildlife Management Area
Demographics
2020 Census
As of the census of 2020, there were 31,192 people.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,369 people, 12,070 households, and 8,050 families were in the county. The population density was . The 14,008 housing units had an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 94.18% White, 0.33% African American, 1.30% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 2.77% from other races, and 1.30% 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.