Polk County, Iowa

Founding: 1846
Parent county: Unorganized territory
Namesake: James Polk, U.S. president
Seat: Des Moines (1846–)
Land area: 574 square miles
Population (2020): 492,401
Population (historic): 4,513 (1850); 27,857 (1870); 65,410 (1890); 110,438 (1910); 172,837 (1930)
Periods of population growth: pre-1850–2020
Subdivisions: 20 cities; one CDP; 21 townships
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 31,671 (15.8%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 51.8%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 8%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 7%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 6%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,294
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,746
Average farmhouse size (1940): 6 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,948
Average farm size (1920): 96.1 acres
Sources of settlement: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, Norway, Ireland, and Germany
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Des Moines

 
Namesake: The Des Moines River
Founding: 1837 (post office); 1843 (founding); 1851 (incorporation)
Population (2020): 214,133
Population (historic): 502 (1850); 12,035 (1870); 50,093 (1890); 86,368 (1910); 142,559 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1843–1960; 1980–2020
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 27,280 (29.3%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. William Heydon House (c. 1875). 10150 46th Road. Beaver. Italianate.
2. Ellis Fitzrandolph House (c. 1875). 9105 29th Road. Douglas.
3. Martin Flynn Farm (1867–1871). 2600 111th Street. Walnut. Italianate.
4. James Jordan House (1850–1851/1870). 2001 Fuller Road. Walnut. Italianate/Gothic Revival.

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