Polk County, Iowa
Historic newspapers, landmarks, and county history layers for genealogists and local historians.
—newspaper titles
—digitized titles
210historic places
—earliest paper
1846formed
492,401pop. 2020
64cemeteries
—CW battlefields
At a glance
SummaryThe National Register of Historic Places includes 210 listed properties in the county, first listed in 1972; 2 are also National Historic Landmarks. Most listings are in or near Des Moines, West Des Moines, Johnston.
Summary generated automatically from the source data on this page.
Newspapers
Library of CongressNewspaper directory data for Iowa is not yet loaded on this site. Browse Polk titles at the Library of Congress.
National Register of Historic Places
NPS NRHP130 of 210 listings mapped; some locations are restricted by NPS to protect sensitive sites.
210 listed properties
| Property | City | Listed |
|---|---|---|
| Abraham Lincoln High School | Des Moines | 2002 |
| Acadian Manor Historic District | Des Moines | 2020 |
| Ainsworth, William W. and Elizabeth J., House | Des Moines | 1998 |
| Alleman, Richard L. and Verda M., Farm Historic District | Slater | 2015 |
| American Republic Insurance Company Headquarters Building | Des Moines | 2015 |
| Andrews, Josiah, House | Des Moines | 1988 |
| Apperson-Iowa Motor Car Company Building | Des Moines | 2016 |
| Argonne Building | Des Moines | 2020 |
| Ashby Manor Historic District | Des Moines | 1992 |
| Ayrshire Apartments | Des Moines | 1996 |
| Bailey, William H. and Alice, House | Des Moines | 1996 |
| Baker, C. H., Double House | Des Moines | 1996 |
| Baker-DeVotie-Hollingsworth Block (Boundary Increase) | Des Moines | 2008 |
| Baker-Devotie-Hollingsworth Block | Des Moines | 1978 |
| Bartlett, Walter M., Double House | Des Moines | 1998 |
| Bates Park Historic District | Des Moines | 1996 |
| Baum, William A. and Etta, Cottage | Des Moines | 1996 |
| Beeson, Byron A., House | Des Moines | 1996 |
| Bell, Hill McClelland, House | Des Moines | 1988 |
| Benham, F. A., House | Des Moines | 1998 |
| Big Creek Schoolhouse | Polk City | 2004 |
| Boyd, Byron and Ivan, House | Des Moines | 2004 |
| Boyt Company Building | Des Moines | 2009 |
| Bryn Mawr Apartments | Des Moines | 2017 |
| Burns United Methodist Church | Des Moines | 1977 |
| Camp Dodge Pool District | Johnston | 1995 |
| Carpenter, James Sansom, House | Des Moines | 1998 |
| Case, Larnerd, House | Des Moines | 1982 |
| Chaffee-Hunter House | Des Moines | 1998 |
| Chamberlain, D.S., Building | Des Moines | 2007 |
| Chautauqua Park Historic District | Des Moines | 1990 |
| Civic Center Historic District | Des Moines | 1988 |
| Clemens Automobile Company Building | Des Moines | 2009 |
| College Corner Commercial Historic Business District | Des Moines | 1998 |
| Cottage Grove Avenue Presbyterian Church | Des Moines | 2016 |
| Court Avenue Bridge | Des Moines | 1998 |
| Crane Building | Des Moines | 2001 |
| Crawford House | Des Moines | 1983 |
| Cummins, Albert Baird, House | Des Moines | 1982 |
| Darling, Jay Norwood and Genevieve Pendleton, House | Des Moines | 1992 |
| Davidson Bros. Company Warehouse and Manufacturing Building | Des Moines | 2024 |
| Denny, Professor Charles O., House | Des Moines | 1988 |
| Des Moines Art Center | Des Moines | 2004 |
| Des Moines Building | Des Moines | 2013 |
| Des Moines Fire Department Headquarters-Fire Station No. 1 and Shop Building | Des Moines | 2014 |
| Des Moines Saddlery Company Building | Des Moines | 1985 |
| Des Moines Western Railway Freight House | Des Moines | 2008 |
| Drake University Campus Historic District | Des Moines | 1988 |
| Earle & LeBosquet Block | Des Moines | 2009 |
| East Des Moines Commercial Historic District | Des Moines | 2019 |
| East Des Moines Industrial Historic District | Des Moines | 2017 |
| East Des Moines Industrial Historic District (Boundary Increase) | Des Moines | 2023 |
| Elliott Furniture Company | Des Moines | 2015 |
| Elmwood, The- The Oaks-The Birches | Des Moines | 2021 |
| Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa Building | Des Moines | 2015 |
| Evans, Edward B. and Nettie E., House | Des Moines | 2002 |
| Farmhouse, Olmsted Family | Urbandale | 2019 |
| Financial Center Office Building | Des Moines | 2025 |
| Fire Station No. 4 | Des Moines | 1979 |
| Firestone District Office and Warehouse | Des Moines | 2022 |
| First Methodist Episcopal Church | Des Moines | 1984 |
| Fish and Game Pavilion and Aquarium | Des Moines | 1991 |
| Fitch, F.W., Company Historic District | Des Moines | 2013 |
| Fleming Building | Des Moines | 2002 |
| Flynn Farm, Mansion, and Barn | Des Moines | 1973 |
| Flynn-Griffin Building | Des Moines | 2016 |
| Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School NHL | Des Moines | 1974 |
| Franklin Apartments | Des Moines | 1996 |
| Gabriel, Rees, House | Des Moines | 1978 |
| Goddard Bungalow Court Historic District | Des Moines | 2000 |
| Goode, Lowry W., and Hattie N., First North Des Moines House | Des Moines | 1998 |
| Grand View College (Old Main) | Des Moines | 1978 |
| Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George | Des Moines | 1997 |
| Greenwood Park Plats Historic District | Des Moines | 2013 |
| Grocers Wholesale Company Building | Des Moines | 2008 |
| Haley, F.E., Double House | Des Moines | 1998 |
| Hallett Flat-Rawson & Co. Apartment Building | Des Moines | 2000 |
| Harbach, L. and Sons Furniture Warehouse and Factory Complex | Des Moines | 2015 |
| Hatton, Dr. John B. and Anna M., House | Des Moines | 1998 |
| Hawkeye Insurance Company Building | Des Moines | 1986 |
| Hawkeye Transfer Company Warehouse | Des Moines | 2010 |
| Hayes, William B., House | Des Moines | 1996 |
| Hazen, Allen, Water Tower | Des Moines | 2004 |
| Henshie-Briggs Row House | Des Moines | 2001 |
| Herndon Hall | Des Moines | 1977 |
| Herring Motor Car Company Building | Des Moines | 2004 |
| Herrold Bridge | Herrold | 1998 |
| Highland Park Historic Business District at Euclid and Sixth Avenues | Des Moines | 1998 |
| Hippee Building | Des Moines | 2018 |
| Hohberger Building | Des Moines | 2002 |
| Home Federal Savings and Loan Association of Des Moines Building | Des Moines | 2017 |
| Home of Marshall's Horseradish | Des Moines | 1998 |
| Homestead Building | Des Moines | 1982 |
| Hotel Fort Des Moines | Des Moines | 1982 |
| Hotel Kirkwood | Des Moines | 2003 |
| Hotel Randolph | Des Moines | 2009 |
| Hubbell Building | Des Moines | 2004 |
| Hubbell Warehouse | Des Moines | 2010 |
| I.O.O.F. (International Order of Odd Fellows) Valley Junction Lodge Hall No. 604 | West Des Moines | 2017 |
| Ingersoll Place Plat Historic District | Des Moines | 2000 |
| Iowa Commission for the Blind Building | Des Moines | 2010 |
| Iowa Ford Tractor Company Repair and Warehouse Building | Des Moines | 2021 |
| Iowa State Capitol | Des Moines | 1976 |
| Iowa State Fair and Exposition Grounds Historic District | Des Moines | 1987 |
| Iowa State Historical Building | Des Moines | 1978 |
| Iowa-Des Moines National Bank Building | Des Moines | 1979 |
| Johnson, Capt. Nicholas W. and Emma, House | Des Moines | 1990 |
| Johnstone, Dr. Anna E. and Andrew A., House | Des Moines | 1996 |
| Jones, G.W., Building | Des Moines | 2016 |
| Jordan House | West Des Moines | 1973 |
| Keeler, Rev. R. W. and Fannie E., House | Des Moines | 1993 |
| Kingman Place Historic District | Des Moines | 2000 |
| Kirkham, Francis M., House | Des Moines | 1988 |
| Knotts, Nellie and Thomas, House | Des Moines | 1988 |
| Kromer Flats | Des Moines | 1996 |
| Lexington, The | Des Moines | 1976 |
| Liberty Building | Des Moines | 2010 |
| Linden Heights Historic District | Des Moines | 2003 |
| Lord, Richard T. C., and William V. Wilcox House | Des Moines | 1988 |
| Lustron House #02437 | Windsor Heights | 2020 |
| Mack-International Motor Truck Corporation Building | Des Moines | 2017 |
| Mahnke House | Des Moines | 1983 |
| Maine, The | Des Moines | 1996 |
| Maish House | Des Moines | 1977 |
| Masonic Temple of Des Moines | Des Moines | 1997 |
| Mattes, Minnie Y. and Frank P., House | Des Moines | 2009 |
| Methodist Deaconess Institute-Esther Hall | Des Moines | 2009 |
| Middlesex Plat Historic District | Des Moines | 2000 |
| Municipal Building | Des Moines | 1977 |
| Murillo Flats | Des Moines | 2009 |
| National Biscuit Company Building | Des Moines | 2009 |
| Naylor House | Des Moines | 1974 |
| New Lawn, The | Des Moines | 1996 |
| Newens Sanitary Dairy Historic District | Des Moines | 2003 |
| Norman Apartment Building | Des Moines | 1988 |
| Northwestern Hotel | Des Moines | 1984 |
| Oaklands, The, Historic District | Des Moines | 1996 |
| Odenweller, F. F.-James P. and Nettie Morey House | Des Moines | 1988 |
| Owl's Head Historic District | Des Moines | 1978 |
| Peak, George B., House | Des Moines | 1978 |
| Perry and Brainard Block | Des Moines | 1996 |
| Plymouth Place | Des Moines | 2015 |
| Polk County Courthouse | Des Moines | 1979 |
| Polk County Homestead and Trust Company Addition Historic District | Des Moines | 2016 |
| Prospect Park Second Plat Historic District | Des Moines | 1998 |
| Public Library of Des Moines | Des Moines | 1977 |
| Register and Tribune Building | Des Moines | 2016 |
| Reynolds, Anson O., House | Des Moines | 1988 |
| Riverview Park Plat Historic District | Des Moines | 1996 |
| Rollins, Ralph, House | Des Moines | 1978 |
| Ruan Center & Carriers Building | Des Moines | 2025 |
| Rumely-Des Moines Drug Company Building | Des Moines | 1989 |
| Saint John's Roman Catholic Church | Des Moines | 1987 |
| Salisbury House | Des Moines | 1977 |
| Sargent's Garage | Des Moines | 1998 |
| Savery Hotel | Des Moines | 1998 |
| Scheibe, Julius, Cottage | Des Moines | 1998 |
| Schmitt and Henry Manufacturing Company | Des Moines | 2010 |
| Scott, Mary A. and Caleb D., House | Des Moines | 1988 |
| Scottish Rite Consistory Building | Des Moines | 1983 |
| Seth Richards Commercial Block | Des Moines | 2005 |
| Sherman Hill Historic District | Des Moines | 1979 |
| Sherman Hill Historic District (Boundary Increase and Decrease) | Des Moines | 2012 |
| Sherman, Hoyt, Place | Des Moines | 1977 |
| Sherman, Lampson P., House | Des Moines | 1988 |
| Simmons, John P., House | Des Moines | 1988 |
| Sixth and Forest Historic District | Des Moines | 1996 |
| Smouse, David W., Opportunity School | Des Moines | 2002 |
| Southeast Water Trough | Des Moines | 1976 |
| Southwest Fifth St. Bridge | Des Moines | 1998 |
| St. Ambrose Cathedral and Rectory | Des Moines | 1979 |
| St. Anthony’s Church | Des Moines | 2021 |
| St. Paul's Episcopal Church | Des Moines | 2010 |
| Standard Glass and Paint Company Building | Des Moines | 2004 |
| Stevenson, Samuel A. and Margaret, House | Des Moines | 1985 |
| Stoner, Thomas I., House | Des Moines | 1992 |
| Stuart, Dr. Richard and Paulina, House | Des Moines | 1988 |
| Studebaker Corporation Branch Office Building | Des Moines | 2015 |
| Sylvan Theater Historic District | Des Moines | 1995 |
| Syndicate Block | Des Moines | 2001 |
| Taft-West Warehouse | Des Moines | 2006 |
| Teachout Building | Des Moines | 1999 |
| Terrace Hill NHL | Des Moines | 2003 |
| Terrace Hill | Des Moines | 1972 |
| Theodore Roosevelt High School | Des Moines | 2002 |
| Trent-Beaver House | Des Moines | 1996 |
| Trier, Paul J. and Ida, House | Johnston | 1988 |
| Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church | Des Moines | 1998 |
| Turner, Susie P., Double House | Des Moines | 1998 |
| U.S. Post Office | Des Noines | 1974 |
| Universalist Church | Mitchellville | 2005 |
| Vail, Mrs. Marian D.-Prof. Charles Noyes Kinney House | Des Moines | 1988 |
| Val-Air Ballroom | West Des Moines | 2022 |
| Valley Auto Co.-Morgan Auto Co. Garage | West Des Moines | 2021 |
| Valley Junction Commercial Historic District | West Des Moines | 2017 |
| Valley Junction-West Des Moines City Hall and Engine House | West Des Moines | 1983 |
| Veneman's Bungalow Court Historic District | Des Moines | 2000 |
| Wallace, Henry, House | Des Moines | 1993 |
| Walnut Tire and Battery Co.-Globe Publishing Company Building | Des Moines | 2017 |
| Warfield, Pratt and Howell Company Warehouse | Des Moines | 1985 |
| Washington and Elizabeth Miller Tract-Center-Soll Community Historic District | Des Moines | 2017 |
| Weitz, Charles H. and Lena May, House | Des Moines | 1998 |
| West Chester | Des Moines | 1984 |
| West Ninth Streetcar Line Historic District | Des Moines | 1998 |
| Wherry Block | Des Moines | 1998 |
| William O. and Mattie M. Coffee House | Des Moines | 2024 |
| Woodland Place Historic District | De Moines | 2000 |
| Youngerman Block | Des Moines | 2009 |
| Younker Brothers Department Store | Des Moines | 2010 |
| Younker Brothers Department Store (Boundary Decrease) | Des Moines | 2018 |
Source: National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Property links open NRHP nomination files at the National Archives.
County formation
Newberry AHCBPolk was formed in 1846 (1846-01-13) from unknown / original county.
POLK created by Iowa Territory from Non-County Area 8 attached to MAHASKA.
Source: Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
Population by decade
CensusPolk County population from 1850 to 2020 (Census historical series).
| 1850 | 1860 | 1880 | 1900 | 1920 | 1940 | 1950 | 1960 | 1980 | 2000 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,513 | 11,625 | 42,395 | 82,624 | 154,029 | 195,835 | 226,010 | 266,315 | 303,170 | 374,601 | 492,401 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau historical county population (Forstall 1790–1990) and public-domain / CC0 county population series through 2020.
Cemeteries & historical places
USGS GNIS64 cemeteries and 4 historical populated places (ghost towns / former settlements) recorded in USGS GNIS for this county.
Cemeteries — 64 of 64 listed
| Name |
|---|
| Altoona Cemetery |
| Ankeny Memorial Gardens Cemetery |
| Avon Cemetery |
| Beebe Cemetery |
| Berwick Cemetery |
| Bondurant Cemetery |
| Brethren Cemetery |
| Byers Cemetery |
| Canfield Cemetery |
| Chapel Hill Gardens Cemetery |
| Children of Israel Cemetery |
| Church of the Brethren Cemetery |
| Crocker Cemetery |
| Davis Farm Cemetery |
| Elkhart Cemetery |
| Elm Grove Cemetery |
| Emanuel Cemetery |
| Enterprise Cemetery |
| Farrar Cemetery |
| Fort Des Moines Cemetery |
| Franklin Cemetery |
| Glendale Cemetery |
| Greenwood Friends Cemetery |
| Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery |
| Holy Cross Cemetery |
| Hopkins Grove Cemetery |
| Jewish Children of Israel Cemetery |
| Jordan Cemetery |
| Keller Cemetery |
| Kinsey Cemetery |
| Laurel Hill Cemetery |
| Lem Small Cemetery |
| Lincoln Cemetery |
| Lincoln Township Cemetery |
| Lowman Cemetery |
| Maffit Cemetery |
| McDivitt Grove Cemetery |
| Mitchellville Cemetery |
| Mount Zion Cemetery |
| New Altoona Cemetery |
| Oak Grove Cemetery |
| Oakwood Cemetery |
| Oralabor Cemetery |
| Pine Hill Cemetery |
| Polk City Cemetery |
| Resthaven Cemetery |
| Ridgedale Cemetery |
| Rising Sun Cemetery |
| Rittgers Cemetery |
| Rittgers Cemetery |
| Saint Ambrose Cemetery |
| Sheldahl Cemetery |
| Sims Cemetery |
| Spry Cemetery |
| Stuart Cemetery |
| Sunny Hill Cemetery |
| Sunset Memorial Gardens |
| Union Cemetery |
| United Brethren Cemetery |
| Valley View Cemetery |
| Warren - Powers Cemetery |
| White Oak Cemetery |
| Wicker Cemetery |
| Woodland Cemetery |
Historical populated places — 4 of 4
| Name |
|---|
| Corydon |
| Oakwood Station |
| Quilhart |
| Rider |
Source: USGS Geographic Names Information System (public domain). Cemeteries from the 2021 NationalFile archive; historical places from GNIS HistoricalFeatures topical extract.
Historical markers
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Search HMdb for Polk County, Iowa
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