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Polk County, Wisconsin (WI)



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County population in July 2007: 44,265 (7% urban, 93% rural)
County owner-occupied houses and condos: 13,025
Renter-occupied apartments: 3,229
% of renters here:  20%
State:  32%
Land area: 917 sq. mi.
Water area: 39.0 sq. mi.
Population density: 48 people per square mile 
 
 (average).

2008 cost of living index in Polk County: 79.8 (low, U.S. average is 100)

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Industries providing employment: Manufacturing (28.1%), Educational,health and social services (19.3%), Retail trade (10.1%).

Type of workers:

  • Private wage or salary: 78%
  • Government: 11%
  • Self-employed, not incorporated: 10%
  • Unpaid family work: 1%

Polk County, Wisconsin business data: stores, dealers, real estate agents, wholesalers, restaurants...

Races in Polk County, Wisconsin:

  • White Non-Hispanic (97.1%)
  • American Indian (1.4%)
  • Hispanic (0.8%)
  • Two or more races (0.7%)
(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Median resident age:  38.7 years
Wisconsin median age:  36.0 years

Males: 20,650  (50.0%)
Females: 20,669  (50.0%)
Average wage per job in 2003: $26,059
County population in 2003: 43,282
Jobs in 2003: 15,562

Polk County, WI forum
Recent posts about Polk County, Wisconsin on our local forum with over 400,000 registered users:
What is it really like in Polk County?  (4 replies)
Areas close to New Richmond WI  (4 replies)

Polk County,WI real estate house value trend


Total labor force in 2004: 23,677
Unemployment rate in 2004: 5.4%

Average household size:
Polk County:  2.5 people
Wisconsin:  2.5 people

Estimated median household income in 2007: $47,565 ($41,183 in 1999)
This county:  $47,565
Wisconsin:  $50,578

2007 median house/condo value: $153,901 ($100,200 in 2000)
Polk County:  $153,901
Wisconsin:  $168,800

Median contract rent in 2007 for apartments: $459 (lower quartile is $327, upper quartile is $576)
This county:  $459
State:  $569

Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $1,188
Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $408

Institutionalized population: 538


Crime in 2005 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):

  • Murders: 0
  • Rapes: 9
  • Robberies: 0
  • Assaults: 13
  • Burglaries: 179
  • Thefts: 155
  • Auto thefts: 40

Crime in 2004 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):

  • Murders: 2
  • Rapes: 9
  • Robberies: 0
  • Assaults: 4
  • Burglaries: 167
  • Thefts: 165
  • Auto thefts: 32

Polk County races chart


Polk County, WI map from a distance


2004 Presidential Election results in Polk County Wisconsin:


Bush/Cheney (Republican): 51.5%
Kerry/Edwards (Democratic): 47.5%




Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000: $1,574 (1.6%)

Polk County household income distribution in 2007 Polk County home values distribution


Polk County contract rent distribution in 2007

Residents with income below the poverty level in 2007:
This county:  7.1%
Whole state:  8.7%

Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2007:
This county:  2.5%
Whole state:  3.7%

Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Polk County is $457 a month.
Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $600 a month.
Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $738 a month.

Cities in this county include: Amery, Alden, Osceola, Lincoln, St. Croix Falls, Farmington, Garfield, Balsam Lake, Eureka, Frederic.

Neighboring counties: Barron County , Burnett County , Chisago County, Minnesota , Dunn County , St. Croix County , Washington County, Minnesota .


Polk County close-up map

Click to draw/clear county borders

Notable locations in this county outside city limits:

Notable locations in Polk County: Camp Icaghowan (A), Camp Neibel (B), Lutheran Bible Camp (C), Osceola State Fish Hatchery (D), Saint Pauls Camp (E), Laketown Townhall (F), Clam Falls Townhall (G), Apple River Townhall (H), Clayton Townhall (I), Georgetown Townhall (J), Polk County Home (K), Sterling Townhall (L), Black Brook Townhall (M), Saint Croix Falls Townhall (N), Alden Townhall (O), McKinley Townhall (P). Display/hide their locations on the map

Churches in Polk County include: Georgetown Church (A), West Immanuel Church (B), Alliance Church (C), Grace Church (D), Apple River Church (E), East Balsam Church (F), Christ Church (G), Balsam Church (H), Trinity Church (I). Display/hide their locations on the map

Cemeteries: Georgetown Cemetery (1), Saint Marys Cemetery (2), West Clayton Cemetery (3), Johnstown Cemetery (4), Saint John Cemetery (5), Wagon Landing Cemetery (6), Saint Croix Falls Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map

Lakes, reservoirs, and swamps: Pickerel Lake (A), Duck Lake (B), Spring Lake (C), East Lake (D), Lamont Lake (E), Larsen Lake (F), Land Lake (G), Pine Island Lake (H). Display/hide their locations on the map

Streams, rivers, and creeks: Peabody Creek (A), Rice Bed Creek (B), Bull Brook (C), Parker Creek (D), Rock Creek (E), Otter Creek (F), Lagoo Creek (G), Markee Creek (H), Knapp Creek (I). Display/hide their locations on the map

Parks in Polk County include: Dalles of the Saint Croix River State Natural Area (1), Tula Lake State Natural Area (2), Grenquist Park (3), Snake Creek State Public Fishing Area (4), Centennial Bedrock Glade State Natural Area (5), Sand Creek State Fishery Area (6), Sterling Barrens State Natural Area (7), Clear Lake Village Park (8), Balsam Branch State Wildlife Area (9). Display/hide their locations on the map

 
Unemployment in September 2007:
Here:  5.1%
Wisconsin:  4.6%


Unemployment by year (%)


County total employment by year


County average yearly wages by year ($)


Current college students: 1,120
People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 85.9%
People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 15.6%

Number of foreign born residents: 405 (54% naturalized citizens)

Polk County:  1.0%
Whole state:  3.6%

Year of entry for the foreign-born population
  • 1995 to March 2000: 121
  • 1990 to 1994: 26
  • 1985 to 1989: 26
  • 1980 to 1984: 19
  • 1975 to 1979: 15
  • 1970 to 1974: 18
  • 1970 to 1974: 23
  • 1965 to 1969: 157


Mean travel time to work: 28.7 minutes

Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 61.7%

Polk County marital status for males
Polk County marital status for females

Housing units in structures:

  • One, detached: 16,485
  • One, attached: 316
  • Two: 454
  • 3 or 4: 336
  • 5 to 9: 418
  • 10 to 19: 382
  • 20 or more: 450
  • Mobile homes: 2,068
  • Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 220

Housing units in Polk County with a mortgage: 5,289 (704 second mortgage, 680 home equity loan, 26 both second mortgage and home equity loan)
Houses without a mortgage: 2,353

Here:  69.2% with mortgage
State:  68.7% with mortgage

Agriculture in Polk County
Average size of farms: 177 acres
Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $43696
Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $134.79
The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 73.19%
Average total farm production expenses per farm: $37920
Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 49.23%
Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $46858
The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 92.95%
Average age of principal farm operators: 54 years
Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 16.65
Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 36.47%
Corn for grain: 49293 harvested acres
All wheat for grain: 1704 harvested acres
Soybeans for beans: 20794 harvested acres
Vegetables: 2373 harvested acres
Land in orchards: 183 acres

Polk County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is below Wisconsin state average. It is 1.0 times below overall U.S. average.
Tornadoes in this county have caused 2 fatalities and 8 injuries recorded between 1950 and 2004.
On 6/23/1952, a category 3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado killed 2 people and injured 6 people and caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in damages.



Class of Workers



Most common industries for males:



  • Construction (13%)
  • Metal and metal products (9%)
  • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (7%)
  • Plastics and rubber products (5%)
  • Educational services (5%)
  • Machinery (4%)
  • Transportation equipment (3%)


Most common industries for females:



  • Health care (17%)
  • Educational services (11%)
  • Accommodation and food services (6%)
  • Finance and insurance (4%)
  • Food and beverage stores (4%)
  • Social assistance (4%)
  • Plastics and rubber products (4%)


Most common occupations for males



  • Other production occupations including supervisors (9%)
  • Metal workers and plastic workers (8%)
  • Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (5%)
  • Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations including supervisors (5%)
  • Farmers and farm managers (4%)
  • Laborers and material movers, hand (4%)
  • Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (3%)


Most common occupations for females



  • Secretaries and administrative assistants (5%)
  • Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (5%)
  • Other production occupations including supervisors (5%)
  • Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (4%)
  • Assemblers and fabricators (4%)
  • Metal workers and plastic workers (4%)
  • Information and record clerks except customer service representatives (4%)


Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents:



  • Canada (23%)
  • Germany (12%)
  • Mexico (10%)
  • Korea (7%)
  • Philippines (5%)
  • United Kingdom (4%)
  • Italy (3%)


Most common first ancestries reported in Polk County:



  • German (31%)
  • Norwegian (19%)
  • Swedish (11%)
  • Irish (6%)
  • United States or American (5%)
  • Danish (4%)
  • English (4%)

Polk County mode of transportation to work chart

Means of transportation to work

  • Drove a car alone: 15,611 (77%)
  • Carpooled: 2,588 (13%)
  • Bus or trolley bus: 51 (0%)
  • Ferryboat: 2 (0%)
  • Taxi: 6 (0%)
  • Motorcycle: 7 (0%)
  • Bicycle: 27 (0%)
  • Walked: 642 (3%)
  • Other means: 86 (0%)
  • Worked at home: 1,268 (6%)

People in group quarters in Polk County, Wisconsin
  • 476 people in nursing homes
  • 47 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
  • 37 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
  • 15 people in homes for abused, dependent, and neglected children
  • 9 people in homes for the mentally retarded

Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2005 was $49,005.

6.49% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($38,121 average adjusted gross income)

Here:  6.49%
Wisconsin average:  6.06%

10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
2.89% relocated from other counties in Wisconsin ($14,831 average AGI)
3.60% relocated from other states ($23,290 average AGI)
Polk County:  3.60%
Wisconsin average:  2.00%



Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries


Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:
from St. Croix County, WI  1.20% ($38,739 average AGI)
from Chisago County, MN  0.52% ($38,685)
from Barron County, WI  0.47% ($23,988)
from Ramsey County, MN  0.46% ($44,200)
from Washington County, MN  0.46% ($46,113)
from Burnett County, WI  0.42% ($25,972)
from Hennepin County, MN  0.34% ($43,655)


6.05% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($36,277 average adjusted gross income)

Here:  6.05%
Wisconsin average:  6.22%

10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
3.09% relocated to other counties in Wisconsin ($17,844 average AGI)
2.97% relocated to other states ($18,433 average AGI)
Polk County:  2.97%
Wisconsin average:  2.21%



Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries


Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:
to St. Croix County, WI  1.12% ($39,114 average AGI)
to Barron County, WI  0.49% ($32,859)
to Burnett County, WI  0.37% ($34,750)
to Ramsey County, MN  0.35% ($29,767)
to Washington County, MN  0.27% ($46,128)
to Chisago County, MN  0.26% ($52,222)
to Hennepin County, MN  0.26% ($44,289)

Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 12.2
Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2003: 11.2



Births per 1000 population in Polk County

Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 10.0
Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2003: 9.6



Deaths per 1000 population in Polk County

Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 9.1
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2003: 8.8



Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Polk County

Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2003: 6,858 (6,088 aged, 770 disabled)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 8%
Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 6%

Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 6.84
Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 9267.190
Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 211.910
Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 26931.14

General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1157.260
Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 927.160
Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 4.51

Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 41.25
Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 54.14

Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 18.05


Household type by relationship


Households: 40,733
  • In family households: 34,929 (9,564 male householders, 1,865 female householders)
    9,445 spouses, 12,422 children (11,320 natural, 294 adopted, 808 stepchildren), 376 grandchildren, 175 brothers or sisters, 123 parents, 237 other relatives, 722 non-relatives
  • In nonfamily households: 5,804 (2,456 male householders (1,930 living alone)), 2,420 female householders (2,170 living alone)), 928 nonrelatives
  • In group quarters: 586 (540 institutionalized population)

Size of family households: 5,360 2-persons, 2,277 3-persons, 2,186 4-persons, 1,106 5-persons, 335 6-persons, 165 7-or-more-persons.

Size of nonfamily households: 4,100 1-person, 662 2-persons, 89 3-persons, 21 4-persons, 4 5-persons.

97.0% of residents of Polk County speak English at home.
1.2% of residents speak Spanish at home (68% speak English very well, 11% speak English well, 18% speak English not well, 3% don't speak English at all).
1.6% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (78% speak English very well, 12% speak English well, 9% speak English not well, 1% don't speak English at all).
0.1% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (63% speak English very well, 15% speak English well, 22% speak English not well).
0.2% of residents speak other language at home (69% speak English very well, 21% speak English well, 10% speak English not well).

In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $198,452,000 ($4522 per capita)
Department of Defense expenditure: $12,432,000
Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $98,033,000
Federal other direct payments to individuals: $37,863,000
Federal direct payments not to individuals: $5,713,000
Federal grants: $33,144,000
Federal procurement contracts: $15,378,000 ($9,773,000 Department of Defense)
Federal salaries and wages: $8,319,000 ($0,000 Department of Defense)
Federal Government direct loans: $2,275,000
Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $16,832,000
Federal Government insurance: $18,763,000

Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 2,462
Here:  56 per 1000 residents
State:  65 per 1000 residents

Deaths: 2,143
Here:  48 per 1000 residents
State:  44 per 1000 residents

Net international migration: +81
Here:  +2 per 1000 residents
State:  +8 per 1000 residents

Net internal migration: +2,651
Here:  +60 per 1000 residents
State:  +3 per 1000 residents



Population growth in Polk County

Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 2.70 millions of gallons per day (all from ground)

Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:  6.0
State:  6.1

Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:  4.1
State:  4.1



Year house built:

  • 1999 to March 2000: 806
  • 1995 to 1998: 1,860
  • 1990 to 1994: 1,804
  • 1980 to 1989: 2,990
  • 1970 to 1979: 3,870
  • 1960 to 1969: 2,211
  • 1950 to 1959: 1,862
  • 1940 to 1949: 1,374
  • 1939 or earlier: 4,352

Rooms in owner-occupied houses in Polk County, Wisconsin:
  • 1 room: 19
  • 2 rooms: 111
  • 3 rooms: 443
  • 4 rooms: 1,704
  • 5 rooms: 2,755
  • 6 rooms: 2,884
  • 7 rooms: 1,994
  • 8 rooms: 1,636
  • 9+ rooms: 1,479


Rooms in renter-occupied apartments in Polk County, Wisconsin:
  • 1 room: 83
  • 2 rooms: 338
  • 3 rooms: 689
  • 4 rooms: 910
  • 5 rooms: 483
  • 6 rooms: 338
  • 7 rooms: 200
  • 8 rooms: 104
  • 9+ rooms: 84


Bedrooms in owner-occupied houses and condos in Polk County:
  • no bedroom: 50
  • 1 bedroom: 539
  • 2 bedrooms: 3,575
  • 3 bedrooms: 6,103
  • 4 bedrooms: 2,271
  • 5+ bedrooms: 487


Bedrooms in renter-occupied apartments in Polk County:
  • no bedroom: 102
  • 1 bedroom: 986
  • 2 bedrooms: 1,269
  • 3 bedrooms: 575
  • 4 bedrooms: 238
  • 5+ bedrooms: 59


Cars and other vehicles available in Polk County in owner-occupied houses/condos:
  • no vehicle: 369
  • 1 vehicle: 2,927
  • 2 vehicles: 5,895
  • 3 vehicles: 2,652
  • 4 vehicles: 846
  • 5+ vehicles: 336


Cars and other vehicles available in Polk County in renter-occupied apartments
  • no vehicle: 467
  • 1 vehicle: 1,508
  • 2 vehicles: 919
  • 3 vehicles: 253
  • 4 vehicles: 51
  • 5+ vehicles: 31


62% of Polk County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago.
   Out of people who lived in different houses, 51% lived in this county.
   Out of people who lived in different counties, 40% lived in Wisconsin.

Polk County:  61.7%
State average:  57.2%


Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:

  • This state: 24251
  • Northeast: 410
  • Midwest: 14103
  • South: 861
  • West: 1099

Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $97,700


Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 3%

Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 2%


Year Householders Moved Into Unit:

 

Most commonly used house heating fuel in houses and condos:
  • Bottled, tank, or LP gas (42%)
  • Utility gas (31%)
  • Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (11%)
  • Wood (8%)
  • Electricity (7%)

Most commonly used house heating fuel in apartments:
  • Utility gas (35%)
  • Electricity (32%)
  • Bottled, tank, or LP gas (21%)
  • Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (9%)
  • Wood (2%)
  • Other fuel (2%)



Private vs. public school enrollment:
Students in private schools in grades 1 to 8 (elementary and middle school): 235
Here:  4.5%
Wisconsin:  16.4%

Students in private schools in grades 9 to 12 (high school): 66
Here:  2.3%
Wisconsin:  9.1%

Students in private undergraduate colleges: 131
Here:  14.0%
Wisconsin:  18.1%


Educational Attainment


School Enrollment by Level of School



Age and Sex of Sensory-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)


Age and Sex of Physically-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)



Age and Sex of Mentally-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)


Age and Sex of Self-Care Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)



Age and Sex of Go-Outside-Home Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)


Age and Sex of Residents with Employment Disability (Noninst.)


Polk County government finances in 2004:
  • Charges - All Other: $12,554,000
    Solid Waste Management: $217,000
    Parks & Recreation: $5,000
  • Construction - General Public Buildings: $4,623,000
    Regular Highways: $2,711,000
    Corrections - Other: $722,000
    Parks & Recreation: $21,000
  • Current Operations - Welfare - Other: $11,438,000
    Health Services - Other: $9,299,000
    Regular Highways: $7,216,000
    General - Other: $5,776,000
    Police Protection: $2,732,000
    Corrections - Other: $2,132,000
    Central Staff Services: $1,317,000
    Natural Resources - Other: $1,302,000
    Judicial and Legal Services: $1,299,000
    General Public Buildings: $802,000
    Financial Administration: $689,000
    Libraries: $439,000
    Solid Waste Management: $410,000
    Parks & Recreation: $309,000
    Elementary & Secondary Education: $233,000
    Welfare, Cash Assistance - Other: $65,000
    Housing & Community Development: $2,000
  • Federal Intergovernmental - All Other: $186,000
  • General - Interest on Debt: $1,352,000
  • Local Intergovernmental - All Other: $453,000
    Highways: $414,000
  • Long Term Debt Beginning Outstanding, NEC: $29,737,000
  • Long Term Debt Issue, Unspecified - Other NEC: $2,165,000
  • Long Term Debt Outstanding - Full Faith & Credit - Other, NEC: $31,314,000
  • Long Term Debt Retired Unspecified - Other, NEC: $588,000
  • Miscellaneous - General Revenue, NEC: $1,182,000
    Interest Earnings: $240,000
    Rents: $206,000
  • Other Capital Outlay - Police Protection: $741,000
    Central Staff: $100,000
    General - Other: $28,000
  • Other Funds - Cash & Deposits: $8,419,000
  • State Intergovernmental - Public Welfare: $7,878,000
    Highways: $2,735,000
    General Support: $2,216,000
    All Other: $1,531,000
    Health & Hospitals: $374,000
    Housing & Community Development: $283,000
    Education: $4,000
  • Tax - Property: $12,434,000
    Total General Sales: $1,978,000
    NEC: $560,000
  • Total Salaries & Wages: $16,455,000


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Total Number Of Recipients


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of aged recipients


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of blind and disabled recipients


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients under 18


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients between 18 and 64


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients older than 64


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients also receiving OASDI