Polk County, Iowa Genealogy
Guide to Polk County, Iowa ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
| Polk County, Iowa | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of Iowa | |
 Location of Iowa in the U.S. | |
| Facts | |
| Founded | January 13, 1846 |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Des Moines |
| Courthouse | |
 | |
Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 County Courthouse
- 3 History
- 4 Places/Localities
- 5 Resources
- 6 Societies and Libraries
- 7 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named for President James K. Polk. The County has Des Moines as its seat and the County was created 1846. The County is located in the center area of the state. [1]
Polk County, Iowa Record Dates[edit | edit source]
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1880 | 1880 | 1941 | 1850 | 1846 | 1855 | 1847 |
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
History[edit | edit source]
Parent County[edit | edit source]
1846--Polk County was created 13 January 1846 from unorganized territory. County seat: Des Moines
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
For animated maps illustrating Iowa County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Iowa County Boundary Maps" (1816-1872) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.
Places/Localities[edit | edit source]
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[3]
| Cities | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Townships | ||
- Neighboring Counties
Boone • Dallas • Jasper • Madison • Marion • Story • Warren
Resources[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- Portrait and biographical album of Polk County, Iowa : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent an at Ancestry.com ($)
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
| Tombstone Transcriptions Online | Tombstone Transcriptions in Print | List of Cemeteries in the county |
| Findagrave.com | Family History Library | Findagrave.com |
| IAGenWeb | WorldCat | Billion Graves |
| IAGenWeb Archives | FamilySearch Places | |
| Tombstone Project | ||
| Iowa Gravestone Photo Project | ||
| Billion Graves | ||
| See Iowa Cemeteries for more information. | ||
- Glendale Cemetery, Des Moines BillionGraves
- Iowa, Polk County, Cemetery Gravestone Records at FamilySearch — index
Census[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1850 | 4,513 | — |
| 1860 | 11,625 | 157.6% |
| 1870 | 27,857 | 139.6% |
| 1880 | 42,395 | 52.2% |
| 1890 | 65,410 | 54.3% |
| 1900 | 82,624 | 26.3% |
| 1910 | 110,438 | 33.7% |
| 1920 | 154,029 | 39.5% |
| 1930 | 172,837 | 12.2% |
| 1940 | 195,835 | 13.3% |
| 1950 | 226,010 | 15.4% |
| 1960 | 266,315 | 17.8% |
| 1970 | 286,101 | 7.4% |
| 1980 | 303,170 | 6.0% |
| 1990 | 327,140 | 7.9% |
| 2000 | 374,601 | 14.5% |
| 2010 | 430,640 | 15.0% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
State Census
- 1895 - Iowa State Census, 1895 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1905 - Iowa State Census, 1905 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1915 - Iowa State Census, 1915 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1925 - Iowa State Census. 1925 at FamilySearch — index and images
Church[edit | edit source]
Most church records are held by individual churches. Some denominations are gathering their records into a central repository. For more information about these major repositories, see Iowa Church Records. List of Churches and Church Parishes
Ward and Branch Records
- Des Moines
Court[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
Fold3.com ($) has Des Moines City Directories 1881-1913 (2 yrs. missing) and miscellaneous years going back to 1866 available online.
- R.L. Polk & Co.'s Des Moines City and Valley Junction directory for the year commencing December 1st, 1915 Des Moines, Iowa: R.L. Polk & Co., 1915. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)
- R.L. Polk & Co.'s Des Moines City and Valley Junction directory for the year commencing December 1, 1912 Des Moines, Iowa: R.L. Polk & Co., c1912. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)
Land[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. They include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Iowa Land and Property for information about early Iowa land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, transactions were usually recorded and housed at the county courthouse.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Polk County, Iowa Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Iowa Local Histories.
- Annals of Polk County, Iowa : and city of Des Moines at Ancestry.com $
- Centennial history of Polk County, Iowa. By J. M. Dixon. Des Moines: State Register, 1876. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust; At various libraries (WorldCat)Centennial history of Polk County, Iowa at Ancestry.com $
- Historical Polk County ... By Writers' Program (Iowa). [S.l.: s.n., 1940?]. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; At various libraries (WorldCat).
- The history of Polk County, Iowa: containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc.. Des Moines, Ia. : Union Historical Co., 1880. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Google Books; At various libraries (WorldCat).
- Des Moines, the pioneer of municipal progress and reform of the middle West: together with the history of Polk County, Iowa, the largest, most populous and most prosperous county in the state of Iowa. By Johnson Brigham. Chicago, Illinois : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1911. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library-Vol. 1, FamilySearch Digital Library-Vol. 2, HathiTrust, Google Books; At various libraries (WorldCat).
- Pioneers of Polk County, Iowa, and reminiscences of early days. By Lorenzo F. Andrews. Des Moines [Iowa]: Baker-Trisler Co., 1908. Online at: Vol. 1 FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Vol. 2 FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat).
- Resources and industries of Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa: showing the trade and commerce, railroads, business, manufacturing, mining interests, etc., of Iowa's capital and metropolis, the great railroad center of the Northwest, also containing short sketches of the towns of Polk County. By Joseph P.Bushnell. Des Moines, Iowa: J.P. Bushnell, 1885. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- Roster of the Ohiowa Association: living in Polk county and Ohioans and their descendants who are eligible to membership. By John L. Crawford. [s.l.]: The Association, 1908. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; At various libraries (WorldCat).
Maps[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Old Antique Atlases & Maps of Iowa
- View historic Polk County, Iowa maps in the David Rumsey Map Collection.
- Township Map of 1875 Polk County, Iowa with enlarged views of each township (My Genealogy Hound)
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
Military[edit | edit source]
- 1835-1998 - Iowa, Armed Forces Grave Registrations, ca. 1835-1998 at FamilySearch — index
- 1861-1949 - Iowa, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records, 1861-1949 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1862-1910 - Iowa, Records of Persons Subject to Military Duty, 1862-1910 at FamilySearch — index
Civil War[edit | edit source]
Regiments. Service men in Polk County, Iowa Genealogy served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Polk County, Iowa Genealogy:
- - 2nd Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company D
- - 2nd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D
- - 4th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company E
- - 10th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A
- - 10th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company K
- - 13th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company E
- - 15th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company B
- - 16th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company K
- - 17th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company B
- - 17th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company K
- - 18th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company I
- - 23rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A
- - 23rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company B
- - 23rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company C
- - 23rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company E
- - 47th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company F
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
- 1859-1990 - United States, Iowa Naturalization Records, 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — index and images
- Iowa. District Court (Polk County). Naturalization Records, 1907–1927. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1977. FHL films 1015201–17 item 2.
- Iowa. District Court. (Polk County). Index to Naturalization, 1852–1884. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1977. FHL film 1015217 item 1.
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- Altoona Public Library Archives, Polk County (1876-2000)
- Johnston Historical Society Archive, Polk County (1970-2007)
- NewspaperArchive.com ($) has historical newspapers online including Des Moines newspapers that covered local news on Polk County residents. This database is free at some libraries.
- Roland Historical Society Archives, Story County (1895-1975)
- Warren County Newspapers (1855-Present)
- Des Moines Daily Leader. 1901-02. Des Moines, IA, USA. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Probate[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1758 - 1997 Iowa Wills and Probate Records 1758-1997 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
Taxation[edit | edit source]
- 1934-1958 - Iowa, Old Age Tax Assistance Records, 1934-1958 at FamilySearch — index
Iowa tax records complement land records and can supplement the years between censuses. Iowa's unique Old Age Assistance tax gives names, addresses and birth years. There may be gaps of several years. For more information, see the wiki page Iowa Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records consist of births, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded by civil officials on registers, certificates, and other documents. Copies or extracts may be purchased from the Iowa Department of Public Health or the County Clerk's office. See also Iowa Vital Records.
Births[edit | edit source]
- 1850-1939 - Iowa, Delayed Birth Records, 1850-1939 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1921-1942 - Iowa, Birth Records, 1921-1942 at FamilySearch — index and images
Marriages[edit | edit source]
- 1518-1996 - Iowa, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
- 1809-1992 Iowa, Marriages, 1809-1992 at MyHeritage ($) — index
- 1836-1926 Iowa, Marriages, 1836 - 1926 at MyHeritage ($) — index
- 1838-1934 - Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1880-1951 Iowa, Marriage Records, 1880-1951 at Ancestry.com ($) — index and images
Deaths[edit | edit source]
- 1850-1990 - Iowa, Deaths and Burials 1850-1990 at FamilySearch
- 1880-1992 - Iowa, County Death Records, 1880-1992 at FamilySearch — index
- 1900-1939 Iowa Death Index, 1900-1939 at MyHeritage ($) — index
- 1904-1951 - Iowa, Death Records, 1904-1951 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1920-1967 Iowa, Death Records, 1920-1967 at Ancestry.com ($) — index and images
Societies and Libraries[edit | edit source]
Iowa Genealogical Society
628 E Grand Ave
Des Moines IA 50309-1924
Telephone:515-276-0287
E-mail: igs@iowagenealogy.org
Website
State Historical Society Research Center
600 E Locust St.
Des Moines, IA 50319
Telephone:515-281-6200
Website
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
- Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
Websites[edit | edit source]
 |
Check back often with these websites. Internet offerings are growing at record rates. Local societies and libraries may know of other websites. |
| State Historical Society of Iowa | Free | Select from research collection topics |
| IAGenWeb Project | Free | Data may be submitted by individuals or complete transcriptions |
| USGenWeb Archives | Free | Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions |
| [1] [2][3] FamilySearch | Free | Births, 1880-1935; Deaths 1880-1992; Marriages, 1838-1934; all indexes |
| FamilySearch | Free | Iowa, Polk County Probate Records, 1914-1924; browse images |
| RootsWeb Resources | Free | Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions |
| Linkpendium | Free | Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($) |
| CyndisList | Free | Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($) |
| StateofUS.com | Free | family history resources and government records |
Books, microfilm, or manuscripts of genealogical records | |
| FamilySearch Catalog | Select topics. To select towns, add a comma to the search box. |
| WorldCat | To find nearby libraries that have specific items, see WorldCat Online Catalog. |
| Allen County Public Library | located in Indiana They are heavily involved in digitizing. |
| GeneaBloggers | enter "Iowa" in search box to see list and links to Iowa blogs | |
| list of groups from "Iowa Genealogy" search | ||
| genealogy.com | IA Genealogy Forum | |
| ancestry.com | Polk County Message Board | |
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Polk, Iowa," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polk_County,_Iowa."
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Polk County, Iowa. Page 230-238 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 222-225.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Polk County, Iowa," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polk_County,_Iowa, accessed 22 October 2019.
