# Polk County, Minnesota *County in northwestern Minnesota, U.S.* Polk County lies in northwestern [[Minnesota]], on the Red River boundary with North Dakota.[^1] Crookston is its seat of government and East Grand Forks its most populous city. The county belongs to the Grand Forks metropolitan statistical area.[^1] The 2020 census counted 31,192 residents, and the 2024 estimate put the figure at 30,413.[^1] The [[Minnesota Legislature]] established the county on July 20, 1858, as one of the new state's early acts. It left the county unorganized until 1872 and 1873.[^2] ## History Polk County was created by legislative act on July 20, 1858, one of the state government's early measures. The act did not organize the county at that time.[^2] The name honors James K. Polk, the 11th U.S. president, who signed the act of Congress that organized the [[Minnesota Territory]].[^2] Organization came in 1872 and 1873. Crookston, then a newly settled community, became the seat.[^2] ## Geography Polk County borders North Dakota, with the Red River separating the two.[^3] The Red Lake River crosses the upper central part of the county from east to west and joins the Red at Grand Forks.[^3] Agriculture occupies the county's low, rolling hills. The land falls toward the west and north and reaches its highest elevation, 1,519 feet (463 m), near the southeast corner.[^3] USGS surveys place the high point about 1,575 feet south of U.S. 2 and roughly 2 km east of Spring Lake, at 47.5197°N, 95.5906°W.[^3] Figures from the [[United States Census Bureau]] give a total area of 1,997.791 square miles (5,174.25 km²). Of that, 1,970.999 square miles is land and 26.792 square miles (1.34%) is water.[^4] By area, it ranks eighth among Minnesota's counties.[^4] ### Adjacent counties Neighboring counties include Marshall County to the north, Pennington and Red Lake counties to the northeast, Clearwater County to the east, and Mahnomen County.[^5] ### Transit and highways The Tri-Valley Opportunity Council runs the T.H.E. Bus transit service.[^6] U.S. Highways 2, 59 and 75 serve the county, as do Minnesota State Highways 9, 32, 92, 102 and 220.[^6] Several county state-aid highways carry regional traffic:[^6] - **County State-Aid Highway 21** links Grand Forks with Pennington County, where it meets Pennington County State-Aid Highway 3. - **County State-Aid Highway 9** joins Crookston to the south end of Grand Forks and meets Grand Forks County Road 7. It also serves as a southside connector between US 75 and US 2 in Crookston. - **County State-Aid Highways 11 and 46** form the US 2 truck bypass of Crookston. - **County State-Aid Highway 2** is designed for heavy trucks and connects US 2 with Roseau and Marshall counties. ## Demographics The 2020 census recorded 31,192 residents, with a median age of 39.3 years. Of those residents, 24.6% were under 18 and 19.0% were 65 or older.[^7] The 2024 estimate counted 30,413 people, 12,448 households and 14,785 housing units.[^7] That estimate reported the following breakdown:[^7] - 91.5% White (85.8% non-Hispanic White) - 2.8% African American - 2.1% Native American - 1.0% Asian - 0.1% Pacific Islander - 2.6% of two or more races Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 7.0% of the population.[^7] The 2023 American Community Survey estimated 12,448 households, averaging 2.38 people each.[^7] The same survey gave a median household income of $69,136 and a poverty rate of about 10.7%. It reported an employment rate of 66.0%. Of the population, 93.2% held at least a high school diploma and 28.1% held a bachelor's degree or higher.[^7] In the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home value was $227,076.[^7] ## Communities **Cities.** The county has 15 cities: Beltrami, Climax, Crookston (the seat), East Grand Forks, Erskine, Fertile, Fisher, Fosston, Gully, Lengby, McIntosh, Mentor, Nielsville, Trail and Winger.[^8] **Unincorporated communities.** These are Benoit, Cisco, Dugdale, Euclid, Greenview, Maple Bay, Olga, Sherack and Tabor.[^8] **Townships.** The list of townships runs to 58 entries, from Andover Township to Woodside Township.[^8] ## Government and politics For several decades Polk County voted as a swing county. The source describes it as having since moved to solidly Republican.[^9] Through 2020, the county had chosen the Republican presidential nominee in 56% of elections held since 1980.[^9] ## Education Eleven school districts serve the county:[^10] - Clearbrook-Gonvick (ISD #2311) - Climax-Shelly (ISD #592) - Crookston (District 593) - East Grand Forks (ISD #595) - Fertile-Beltrami (ISD #599) - Fisher (ISD #600) - Fosston (ISD #601) - Red Lake County Central (ISD #2906) - Red Lake Falls (ISD #630) - Warren-Alvarado-Oslo (ISD #2176) - Win-E-Mac (ISD #2609) ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Polk County, Minnesota* (revision 1381553928, retrieved 2026-10-25), lead and Geography sections — location, border with North Dakota, county seat, largest city, 2020 and 2024 population, and metropolitan area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polk_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Polk County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), History section — creation by the Minnesota Legislature on July 20, 1858; naming after James K. Polk; organization in 1872 and 1873 with Crookston as seat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polk_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Polk County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Geography section — Red River border, Red Lake River course, terrain, slope, and high point (1,519 ft; USGS location). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polk_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Polk County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Geography section — area figures attributed to the United States Census Bureau, and rank by area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polk_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Polk County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Geography section, Adjacent counties subsection — neighboring counties. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polk_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Polk County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Geography section, Transit and Major highways subsections — T.H.E. Bus, U.S. and state highways, and county state-aid highways. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polk_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Polk County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Demographics section — 2020 census, 2024 estimate, 2023 American Community Survey figures, and Q4 2024 median home value. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polk_County,_Minnesota [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Polk County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Communities section — cities, unincorporated communities and townships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polk_County,_Minnesota [^9]: Wikipedia contributors, *Polk County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Government and politics section — swing-county history and the 56% figure as of 2020. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polk_County,_Minnesota [^10]: Wikipedia contributors, *Polk County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Education section — school districts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polk_County,_Minnesota