Polk County
An old bank building in Independence. (Oregon State Archives Photo No. polD0058)
Contact
County Seat: Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas 97338
Phone: 503-623-8173 (General); 503-623-3154 (Court Administrator)
Fax: 503-623-0896
E-mail: unger.valerie@co.polk.or.us
Web: www.co.polk.or.us
About
Population (2009): 68,785
Established: Dec. 22, 1845
Elev. at Dallas: 325'
Area: 745 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 39.1° July 65.6°
Assessed Value: $4,625,538,871
Real Market Value: $7,379,577,620
Annual Precipitation: 51.66"
Economy: Agriculture, forest products, manufacturing, electronics and education
Related resources
History
Historical
Records Inventory
Scenic
Image
Economic
Information (from OBDD)
"County
Quick Facts" (from U.S.
Census Bureau)
County
Seat Map (from Yahoo!
Maps)
County
Map (from ODOT)
Incorporated cities
Dallas | Falls City | Independence | Monmouth | Salem | Willamina
Points of interest
Western Oregon University, covered bridges, historic courthouse, Brunk House, Baskett Slough Wildlife Refuge, mountain scenery, wineries, National Historic Trail, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Headquarters and Spirit Mountain Casino
History and general information
Polk County was created from the original Yamhill district in 1845 by the Provisional Legislature. It was named for then President James Knox Polk. The first county seat was at Cynthia Ann. City officials later changed its name to Dallas, after Vice-President George M. Dallas, and moved the community about a mile to improve its water supply.
The first courthouse was at Cynthia Ann. A second courthouse burned in 1898 and was replaced with the present building, built with sandstone quarried three miles west of Dallas. A three-story office annex was completed in 1966. Polk County Human Services was consolidated in the newly acquired Academy Building in 1989.
Traveling back roads in Polk County will reveal many attractions, from covered bridges and pleasant parks to vineyards, wineries, and bed and breakfast lodgings spotting the surrounding hills. Many roads meander through beautiful fertile valleys from the Willamette River to the timbered foothills of the Coast Range. Polk County was the primary destination of early wagon trains which took the southern route to Oregon. Cities located in Polk County include Dallas, Independence, Monmouth, Falls City and portions of Salem and Willamina.
County officials
Commissioners—Mike Ainsworth (R) 2015, Jennifer Wheeler (R) 2013, Craig Pope, Chair (R) 2015; Dist. Atty. Stan Butterfield 2013; Assess. Douglas P. Schmidt 2013; Clerk Valerie Unger 2013; Sheriff Robert Wolfe 2015; Surv. Eric Berry; Treas. Linda Fox 2013; Co. Admin. Greg P. Hansen