Polk County, Nebraska

Founding: 1870 (declared in 1856)
Parent county: York
Namesake: James Polk, U.S. president
Seat: Osceola (1871–)
Land area: 438 square miles
Population (2020): 5,214
Population (historic): 6,846 (1880); 10,542 (1900); 10,092 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1870–1890; 1910s
Subdivisions: Two cities; two villages
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 942 (37%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 42.6%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 7%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 5.7%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,988
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,889

Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.7 rooms

Number of farms (1920): 1,476
Average farm size (1920): 158.6 acres
Sources of settlement: Sweden, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Germany, Pennsylvania, and Poland
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Osceola

 
Namesake: Osceola, Iowa
Founding: 1871 (platting); 1871 (post office); 1881 (incorporation)
Population (2020): 875
Population (historic): 527 (1880); 882 (1900); 1,054 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1871–1890; 1900–1920; 1940s; 1970s; 1990s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 164 (47.3%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. *Charles Morrill Farm (1900–1901). 1328 Road 125. Stromsburg. Rustic Revival.
2. *Nils Monson Farm (1885). 12947 Road L. Osceola. Second Empire.

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