Polk County, Wisconsin

Polk County, Wisconsin
Polk County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 44,977. Its county seat is Balsam Lake. The county was created in 1853 and named for United States President James K. Polk.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of , of which is land and (4.4%) is water.
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
Railroads
Canadian National
Minnesota Transportation Museum
Buses
List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin
Airports
Amery Municipal Airport (KAHH) serves the county and surrounding communities.
L.O. Simenstad Municipal Airport (KOEO).
National protected area
Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (part)
Demographics
2020 census
As of the census of 2020, the population was 44,977. The population density was . There were 24,129 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 93.5% White, 0.9% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.8% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.1% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 41,319 people, 16,254 households, and 11,329 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 21,129 housing units at an average density of . 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.
Education
Communities
Cities
Amery
St. Croix Falls
Villages
Balsam Lake (county seat)
Centuria
Clayton
Clear Lake
Dresser
Frederic
Luck
Milltown
Osceola
Turtle Lake (mostly in Barron County)
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
Census-designated place
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 (partial)
Range
Richardson
Sand Lake
Ubet
Wanderoos
West Denmark
West Sweden
Wolf Creek
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 Socialist Party of America nominee for vice president of the United States, was born in rural Polk County and was a dairy farmer there.
Politics
See also
Public Saftey in Polk County
National Register of Historic Places listings in Polk County, Wisconsin
References
Further reading
Prentice, Worthy A. Reminiscences of Early Pioneer Days in Polk County. Balsam Lake, Wis,: Polk County Ledger, n.d..
External links
Polk County website
Polk County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Polk County Economic Development Corporation
Polk County Tourism
1853 establishments in Wisconsin
Populated places established in 1853