Polk County
Welcome To Polk County
The area that became Polk County was originally inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Ojibwe (Chippewa), Menominee, and Sioux. The region’s abundant rivers, lakes, and forests provided vital resources for these indigenous groups, who relied on fishing, hunting, and gathering for their livelihoods.
The first European settlers arrived in the early 1800s, with many drawn to the area’s fertile land and abundant natural resources. In the mid-1800s, the St. Croix River and Mississippi River became crucial transportation routes for logging and trade. The logging industry played a significant role in the area’s development, with timber being floated down the rivers to mills further south.
Polk County was officially established in 1853, named after President James Knox Polk, who was in office at the time. Early settlers established small farming communities, and the county’s population grew steadily as agriculture and timber industries flourished. The construction of railroads in the 1860s further boosted the region’s economy, facilitating transportation and trade.