Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 48% of U.S. towns · #103 of 140 in Iowa. What drives it
Most of Polk City was built recently: 4% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 2004. Its Register listing is the Big Creek Schoolhouse. Below: maps from 1911 on and the census since 1880.
Polk City dates its founding to 1846 (Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history agree). The census first counted it in 1880.
More historic than 48% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Polk City is more historic than 48% of U.S. towns, #103 of 140 in Iowa. Its age holds the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
Iowa towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Iowa town has 9.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Polk City’s 1.7 sits near the middle of its state (36% of Iowa towns have fewer) while its 1 listings outnumber those of 51% of U.S. towns.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Polk City’s history is told.
Lost a third of its people between 1890 and 1920, then grew more than tenfold.
15 censuses, 1880–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Polk City’s Wikipedia page.
Polk City’s post office has been open since 1852. Two other post offices opened and closed inside today’s town.
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikipedia’s history of Polk City.
Polk City was settled in 1846 and incorporated as a city on March 13, 1875. It was an early contender for the seat of Polk County before Des Moines was ultimately chosen. The city was named after President James K. Polk, who was president at the time of its founding. Polk City is also known for having the only "town square" in all of Polk County.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Polk City, cut from the printed page as they were published.
Of all these stations, Mitchellville, Polk City, and Altoona are the largest. The stations on the Narrow Gauge Railroad have all, with the exception of Polk City, grown up since the completion of that road to Ames.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Armstrong, aldermen. In 1865 the Chicago & Northwestern railroad was completed to Boone, and in 1867 the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific road was completed to Des Moines, and these roads soon began to draw largely on the territory before tributary to Polk City. In 1874 the Des Moines & Minneapolis (narrow gauge) road was opened from Des Moines to Ames, passing through Polk City, and the citizens thereof were measurably contented and pleased; but one of the most uncertain things is the future of a town located on a railroad. In 1879 the narrow gauge road passed into
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The first church organized in the north part of the county was the Methodist Church of Polk City, in 18-18. The Baptists organized a church there several years later, and the United Brethren effected an organization in 1851. The Congregational Church was not organized till in the year 1858.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
BuiltBig Creek Schoolhouse is built
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological SurveyEvery edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Polk City. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Polk City.
The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.
In 1846, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. Polk City’s post office opened in 1849, and the census of 1880 counted 443 people here.
Polk City is more historic than 48% of U.S. towns, #103 of 140 in Iowa. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
One place: the Big Creek Schoolhouse (listed 2004).
4% of Polk City’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.3 points), against a typical 22% for an Iowa town; the median home was built in 2004.
What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (3), the National Register of Historic Places (1), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
2025
2025
2004