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
National Register listings: 201
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.