Polk County

General

Population:  5,174
Land area (sq. mi.):  438.67
Population per square mile:  11.9

Race and Age

Race  2020

White: 91.1%
African American: 0.2%
American Indian: 0.3%
Asian: 0.0%
Hispanic: 5.0%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.0%
Two or More Races: 3.2%

Age  2020

0-17: 22.7%
18-64: 54.2%
65+: 23.1%

Households

Total households:  2,146  2020
With one child:  240  2022
With 2+ children:  330  2022
With seniors (65+):  630  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita:  $65,364  2021
% of Population in Poverty:  7.8%  2022
# of Housing Units:  2,524  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  91
Owner-occupied rate:  79.6%  2020
Median home price:  $138,900  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem):  59.5%  2021

Sources: National Association of Realtors, Nebraska Department of Revenue, Nebraska Legislature, Nebraska Library Commission, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Census Bureau (building permits), U.S. Census Bureau (demographics), U.S. Census Bureau (municipalities)

Employment, Schools, and Child Care

Unemployment rate:  1.7%  Sept. 2024

County Employment Website:  https://nebraskacounties.org/nebraska-counties/county-employment-opportunities.html

High school graduate or higher:  90.2%  2020

School Districts:  Centennial Public Schools, Columbus Public Schools, Cross County Community Schools, High Plains Community Schools, Osceola Public Schools, Shelby-Rising City Public Schools, Twin River Public Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher:  19.2%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Central Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  12 providers; 130 children  

Find child care:  For a list of child care providers in your zip code, visit Nebraska DHHS or the Nebraska Resource and Referral System.

Polk County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP):  $388,115,000  2022

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $44,938,801  2021

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $103,148,000  2022

Farm and Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $356,056,000  2022

Farm and Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $7,758,000  2022

• For components of nonfarm small business receipts, nonfarm wage income, and farm & ranch commodity sales and operations receipts, see "Notes" below.

Grain Elevators by Location (bushels capacity):

• Osceola: Frontier (1,182,630)
• Polk: CVA (5,463,000)
• Shelby: CVA (3,777,000)
• (1 bushel = 56 lbs. corn/sorghum, 60 lbs. soybeans/wheat; % max. moisture = 18% beans, 15.5% corn, 14% sorghum/soybeans, 13.5% wheat)

Railroad Miles:  56.50 main, 8.38 side

• Places with Railroad Service:  Osceola, Polk, Shelby, Strombsburg

Local Grain Market:  Click for today's grain prices in Polk County

Cattle Producers:  125

Crop Producers:  298

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.):  $195/acre
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.):  $287/acre

Dairy Producers:  2

Farmers Market:  Osceola Farmers Market (July - August, Wednesdays 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.)

Electricity Providers:  City of Stromsburg, Polk County Rural PPD, Village of Polk

Wind Turbines Operating (MW):  1 turbine (2,500 MW total)

Notes

• Nonfarm small business receipts are reported by partnerships and sole proprietorships. They do not include receipts reported by cooperative associations.
• Nonfarm wage income is reported based upon the wage earner's residential address; therefore, it also includes wages earned by Polk County residents in other counties or states, but it excludes wages earned in Polk County by residents of other counties or states.
• Nonfarm wage income excludes wages earned by anyone claimed as a dependent.
• Farm and ranch commodity sales receipts and operations receipts are reported based upon the farm or ranch owner's principal county of operations; therefore, those figures also include receipts reported by producers operating principally in Polk County for their production in other counties or states, but the figures exclude receipts reported for production in Polk County by producers operating principally in other counties or states.

Well Locations (Irrigation/Livestock), Soils, Groundwater & Surface Water

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells:  2,036  2024

Agricultural Wells per Square Mile:  4.64  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):  36  2024

Click for real time:

Streamflow data on Clear Creek (1.75 mile west of the county's eastern border)

Sources: National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA), Nebraska Cooperative Council, Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Nebraska Department of Revenue, Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska Office of the CIO, Nebraska Power Review Board, Nebraska Public Service Commission, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of the Treasury (IRS), Warehouse and Commodity Management Division (USDA)

2023 Levies and Valuation

County levy rate:  $0.2202 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied:  $4,296,602

Total local government property taxes levied:  $23,103,093

Total countywide taxable valuation:  $1,951,632,190

Click here for all levy rates in Polk County

County Levy and Taxation Laws

Levy limits

Since 1996, counties and other political subdivisions have been subject to the levy limits listed in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-3442 and Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-3443.

Statutes and regulations

Nebraska Revised Statutes (Chapter 77)

Nebraska Administrative Code (Title 350)

Local tax reductions, exemptions, and credits

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-902(5)(a) (Deed "stamp tax" exemption): "The [stamp tax] shall not apply to: ... (5)(a) Deeds between spouses, between ex-spouses for the purpose of conveying any rights to property acquired or held during the marriage, or between parent and child, without actual consideration therefor."

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-201(2) (Valuation of agricultural land and horticultural land): "Agricultural land and horticultural land as defined in section 77-1359 shall constitute a separate and distinct class of property for purposes of property taxation, shall be subject to taxation, unless expressly exempt from taxation, and shall be valued at seventy-five percent of its actual value, except that for school district taxes levied to pay the principal and interest on bonds that are approved by a vote of the people on or after January 1, 2022, such land shall be valued at fifty percent of its actual value."

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-6703(1) (Tax credit for school district taxes paid): "(1) For taxable years beginning or deemed to begin on or after January 1, 2020, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, there shall be allowed to each eligible taxpayer a refundable credit against the income tax imposed by the Nebraska Revenue Act of 1967 or against the franchise tax imposed by sections 77-3801 to 77-3807. The credit shall be equal to the credit percentage for the taxable year, as set by the department under subsection (2) of this section, multiplied by the amount of school district taxes paid by the eligible taxpayer during such taxable year."

Sources: Nebraska Department of Revenue

State Senator: Jana Hughes (District 24)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings): 

• Agriculture
• General Affairs
• Natural Resources

Select Committees:

• LR135 Select Interim Committee

Special Committees: 

• Building Maintenance

Map and statistics for Legislative District 24

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Polk County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 6

Year Authorized: 1856

Year Organized: 1870

Etymology: James Polk (11th U.S. president)

Members of the Territorial Legislature established a series of county boundaries along the Platte River on Jan. 26, 1856. At the time Polk County was part of a larger Butler County. Fourteen years later, a special election resulted in the creation of the present day Polk County, named after the 11th president of the United States, James Knox Polk.

When the county was organized in 1870, there was no county seat or courthouse. Each county official who had been elected at an August election conducted county business from his residence.

In October 1871, county residents voted to make the settlement of Osceola the county seat. County commissioners approved the construction of a frame courthouse and took possession of the building when it was completed in 1872. Unfortunately, the courthouse was destroyed by fire nine years later and many of the county's documents were lost.

One year after the destructive fire, a new courthouse was opened. The brick building, which cost $10,000, became a source of pride for county residents. With the publicity the courthouse received when it opened in 1882, it was soon being visited by people from outside the county. In fact, an excursion train was run from David City in neighboring Butler County to bring visitors to see the new building.

As the 20th century began, like so many other counties in the state, Polk County found itself outgrowing its courthouse. So in 1922 the present courthouse was constructed. The three-story building was an architectural landmark. Around a steel reinforced frame was built a modern renaissance exterior that featured terra cotta trim. The interior of the building was highlighted with marble stairs and wainscoting.

Polk County was developed as an agricultural area. Despite severe storms, blizzards and an infestation of grasshoppers in the 1870s and 1880s, those who made a living off the land persevered. That same hearty spirit is prevalent today as the county's economy is based primarily on family farming and livestock production.

Highlight an important program in your county in this space! Send an email to:

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

Local Highlights

Communities and Development

License Plate Number:  41

Time Zone:  Central

Zoned County:  Yes

Number of Veterans:  311  2023

County Hospital:  Annie Jeffrey Memorial County Health Center

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  79

Number of County-Owned Dams:  1

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  78.67%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  3,643  2024

Number of Precincts:  6  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  5  2022

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.):  88.13 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

Emergency Mgt. Planning, Exercise and Training (PET) Region: East Central

Natural Resource Districts: Central Platte NRD, Upper Big Blue NRD

State Lands (acres): Flatsedge WMA (79.50)

Sources: Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, Nebraska Legislature, Nebraska Office of the CIO, Nebraska Secretary of State, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Election Assistance Commission, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (eCFR)