Population90,037 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
Valley Back Roads And A Moving Town
Polk County, OregonDallas anchors Polk County, where Independence, Monmouth and Falls City offer other community identities. Covered bridges, vineyards, Western Oregon University and Baskett Slough provide different local themes, connecting the Willamette Valley setting with foothills and a varied network of places. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated 90,037 residents in Polk County, Oregon, on July 1, 2025. The county has approximately 741 square miles of land, according to the 2020 Census Gazetteer.
Polk County at a Glance
Population90,037 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
County SeatDallas
Largest MunicipalityDallas • Monmouth • Independence
Established1845 (organized; NACo County Explorer)
ZIP CodesWestern Willamette Valley
Total Area, Including Water744.069 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography)
Major RoutesOR 22 • OR 99W
Area Codes503 / 971
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Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
Discover Polk County
Polk County
Polk County was formed from the Yamhill district in 1845 and named for James K. Polk. The early seat, Cynthia Ann, was renamed Dallas for George M. Dallas and moved about a mile to improve its water supply. That relocation makes geography part of the county's civic history. The town's movement illustrates a practical relationship between water and public administration. The wider network of valley communities adds educational, agricultural and recreational themes to that unusually mobile civic beginning.
Begin in Dallas, then choose Monmouth's university setting, Independence or a public wildlife destination for a second perspective. Back-road routes connect agricultural land and smaller communities, but individual wineries, bridges and refuge areas each need their own visitor information. Select a particular refuge entrance or public destination before setting out. The contrast between the county-seat story and a second community can make a short route feel more informative.
What Shapes Us
Local Character
Covered bridges, vineyards, Western Oregon University and Baskett Slough provide different local themes, connecting the Willamette Valley setting with foothills and a varied network of places.
Community History
Polk County was formed from the Yamhill district in 1845 and named for James K. Polk. The early seat, Cynthia Ann, was renamed Dallas for George M.
Explore Locally
Back-road routes connect agricultural land and smaller communities, but individual wineries, bridges and refuge areas each need their own visitor information.
Follow valley roads into the stories of individual communities.
A Closer Look
Polk County
Places and perspectives from Polk County
OPB — Oregon & Regional News
In the first full day of loss, Bend learns more about Silver Rail shooting, mourns the victims
As Bend residents come together to mourn and ask what comes next, OPB journalists are in Central Oregon.…
Read the Story Oct 17, 2026 • 2 min read
Around Polk County
Stories from every corner of Polk County.
In the first full day of loss, Bend learns more about Silver Rail shooting, mourns the victims
As Bend residents come together to mourn and ask what comes next, OPB journalists are in Central Oregon.…
Oct 17, 2026 • 2 min read
OPB’s First Look: New details emerge in Bend school shooting
Multiple people tried to stop the shooter, police said. Here’s your First Look at Saturday’s news.
Oct 17, 2026 • 2 min read
Zelenskyy urges support for new US sanctions on Russia after Trump puts them on hold
Zelenskyy described the move as unfortunate, adding it would encourage Russia to continue its assault. Trump told Congress…
Oct 17, 2026 • 2 min read
Scuffles and fires break out as protesters rally across France, joining students
Demonstrators across France converged with students Saturday to protest rising living costs, as the country's fiscal crisis deepens.
Oct 17, 2026 • 2 min read
Decades after apartheid, South Africans seek justice for crimes of the past
More than three decades after the end of apartheid, families of victims of some of the worst crimes…
Oct 17, 2026 • 2 min read
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
County Resources
Find the Right Local Connection
Start with the organization responsible for the service you need. Follow its official link for current requirements, office locations and availability.
Polk County Government
County departments, public meetings, records, and services: polkcountyor.gov
County profile and official reference links: Oregon Blue Book
Population source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census. tigerweb.geo.census.gov
Schools
Public school contacts
Selected local schools from the NCES 2024-2025 directory. Contact the school or district to confirm enrollment, attendance boundaries and current services; this is not a complete school list.
Independence Elementary School – Elementary; grades KG-05. 150 S 4th St, Independence, OR 97351. 503-838-1322.
Lyle Elementary School – Elementary; grades KG-03. 185 SW Levens St, Dallas, OR 97338. 503-623-8367.
Falls City Elementary School – Elementary; grades KG-08. 177 Prospect Ave, Falls City, OR 97344. 503-787-3521.
Perrydale School – Other; grades KG-12. 7445 Perrydale Rd, Amity, OR 97101. 503-835-7575.
Brush College Elementary School – Elementary; grades KG-05. 2623 Doaks Ferry Rd NW, Salem, OR 97304. 503-399-3132.
Central High School – High; grades 09-12. 1530 Monmouth St, Independence, OR 97351. 503-838-0480.
Talmadge Middle School – Middle; grades 06-08. 51 16th Street, Independence, OR 97351. 503-606-2252.
Hospitals
Local hospital contacts
Facility contacts from the CMS Hospital General Information directory, updated July 22, 2026. Contact the facility directly to confirm current services and appointment arrangements.
Salem Health West Valley – Critical Access Hospitals. 525 Se Washington Street, Dallas, OR 97338. 503-623-8301.
Public Safety
Visit Oregon State Police at Oregon government resources. Your county sheriff and local police provide local non-emergency information.
Emergency Services
For an immediate emergency, call 911. Find preparedness resources and official updates through Oregon government resources.
State Parks
Explore Oregon State Parks, park notices, and reservation information at stateparks.oregon.gov. Check the individual park before traveling.
Trails
Find walking and hiking destinations through stateparks.oregon.gov and fs.usda.gov. Check the managing agency for current trail access.
Utilities
Identify the provider serving your address before arranging service. Oregon utility consumer information is available at Oregon government resources.
Libraries
Local library contacts
Locations and public phone numbers are from the IMLS FY2024 Public Libraries Survey. Call the branch to confirm current hours and services before visiting.
Dallas Public Library – 950 Main St, Dallas, OR 97338. 503-623-2633.
Independence Public Library – 175 Monmouth St, Independence, OR 97351. 503-838-1811.
Monmouth Public Library – 168 S Ecols St, Monmouth, OR 97361. 503-838-1932.
West Salem Branch Library – 395 Glen Creek Road Nw, Salem, OR 97304. 503-588-6301.
Courts
Find Oregon circuit courts, court locations, and public information at courts.oregon.gov.
DMV
Oregon — Schedule, Cancel or Change an Appointment
Oregon — Driver license applications for adults
Transportation
Find road conditions and travel alerts at Oregon road conditions. Oregon transportation information is available at Oregon government resources.
Postal Services
USPS location finder — Search by street address, city or ZIP Code for nearby post offices, collection boxes and available services.
USPS ZIP Code lookup — Find the mailing ZIP Code for a specific street address.
USPS Hold Mail — Arrange a temporary mail hold and review identity-verification requirements.
USPS change of address and forwarding — Review forwarding options and submit an address-change request through USPS.
USPS package pickup — Check pickup availability for your address and schedule eligible shipments.
Veterans
National services available to local residents
VA accredited representatives — Find help with VA claims and benefit applications.
VA health care applications — Review application options and supporting information.
VA disability claims — Find the official steps for submitting a disability claim.
GI Bill and education benefits — Review how to apply for VA education benefits.
Veteran career and employment support — Explore VA employment, training and career assistance.
Employment
National services available to local residents
USAJOBS federal employment — Search federal openings by location and occupation.
Apprenticeship Finder — Search apprenticeship opportunities by location and occupation.
My Next Move career exploration — Explore occupations, industries and career interests.
Government job-training resources — Find routes to state training programs and support for different job seekers.
Unemployment benefit guidance — Find your state program and its application and eligibility information.
Get to Know Polk County
Useful answers for residents, visitors and anyone planning their next step.
Local Questions
Polk County Questions, Answered
Explore practical details about the county and the organizations that serve it.
90,037 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate). This is a dated Census Bureau estimate, rather than a live resident count.
744.069 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography). The total combines land and water area.
Start with these official Oregon resources: Schedule, Cancel or Change an Appointment; Driver license applications for adults; Offices. Choose the page for the service you need, then check its office or online instructions before making a trip. These links cover state services; they do not establish that every transaction is available at a county office.
Use USPS ZIP Code Lookup for the mailing ZIP Code of a specific street address. Use the USPS location finder to search for nearby postal facilities and available services. An address lookup is more useful for mailing than assuming the entire county shares one ZIP Code.
The VA explains how to find and appoint an accredited representative for benefit claims. Contact a representative to confirm availability before appointing them. For education benefits, use the GI Bill application guidance. These are national VA services available to eligible local residents, rather than a listing of county offices.
Search USAJOBS for federal positions and the Apprenticeship Finder for apprenticeship opportunities, using location filters to narrow the results. USAGov job-training guidance points to training programs and state resources. Check each listing for current availability, eligibility and application instructions; a search result does not guarantee an opening in the county.
Polk County was formed from the Yamhill district in 1845 and named for James K. Polk. The early seat, Cynthia Ann, was renamed Dallas for George M. Dallas and moved about a mile to improve its water supply. That relocation makes geography part of the county’s civic history. The town’s movement illustrates a practical relationship between water and public administration. The wider network of valley communities adds educational, agricultural and recreational themes to that unusually mobile civic beginning.
Begin in Dallas, then choose Monmouth’s university setting, Independence or a public wildlife destination for a second perspective. Back-road routes connect agricultural land and smaller communities, but individual wineries, bridges and refuge areas each need their own visitor information. Select a particular refuge entrance or public destination before setting out. The contrast between the county-seat story and a second community can make a short route feel more informative.
The 2020 Census geography figures record 740.924 square miles of land and 3.145 square miles of water in Polk County. The county’s total area includes both. These are geographic measurements for that Census vintage, not a measurement of current water levels or public recreation access.
In the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate series, Polk County had an estimated 87,983 residents on July 1, 2020, and 90,037 on July 1, 2025. Over that interval, the estimated population increased by 2,054 residents, or about 2.3%. Both figures come from the same estimate vintage, which revises earlier years for a consistent comparison.
Dallas is the county seat listed for Polk County by the National Association of Counties. For an office visit, confirm the specific department’s address before traveling. NACo county profile.
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
My Local Guide
Explore Polk County
Places to visitStart with these local landmarks, outdoor destinations and community places in Polk County.
- Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge
- Western Oregon University
- Fort Yamhill State Heritage Area
- covered bridges
- Independence riverfront
Explore the Polk County profile in the Oregon Blue Book
County photograph: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives. County profile and map: Oregon Secretary of State.
Plan your visitCheck current access and hours before heading out.