Lookup Public Records in Polk County, Iowa. Including Vital Birth and Death Records, Deeds, Probate, Property Records, Mortgages, Liens, Judgments, Marriage Licenses, Voter Registrar, Payroll, Military Discharges.
Polk County, Iowa
Polk County is located in the state of Iowa. The county was formed on January 13, 1846, and named after President James K. Polk. The county seat is Des Moines, which is also the capital city of Iowa. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a population of approximately 430,640 people, making it the most populous county in Iowa. It covers a total area of 592 square miles, of which 18 square miles is water and 574 square miles is land. Polk County borders the following counties: Boone County to the northwest, Story County to the north, Jasper County to the east, Marion County to the southeast, Warren County to the south, Madison County to the southwest, and Dallas County to the west.
The Polk County Recorder’s Office contains valuable information concerning the county residents’ families, homes and recreation. The office is responsible for maintaining all real estate documents and provides retrieval of these records for the public and businesses. Other records maintained by the recorder’s office include deeds, contracts, mortgages, assignments, releases, plats, surveys, state & federal tax liens, trade names, vital records (birth, death, and marriage records), and military records. It is important to note that the recorder’s office does not maintain divorce records; they are handled by the Clerk of Court.
Records maintained by the recorder’s office can be obtained by doing a background check online or by visiting the recorder’s office in person during office hours. To do a public records search online, you will have to visit the Polk County Recorder Website. The recorder’s office has the following data available for the public online:
- Search Index Records: 1992 – present
- View/Print Documents: 1/1/1992 – present
- No vital record or military information is available online.
When obtaining records in person, you will be required to submit a completed Records Request Form to the recorder’s office at Polk County Administrative Building, 111 Court Avenue, Suite 250, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2251.
| Polk, IA Genealogy and Ancestry Records | |
|---|---|
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, USA Counties Data File Downloads | |
| Total Ancestries Reported 2005-2009 | 500,660 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - United States or American - 2005-2009 | 19,853 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Arab - 2005-2009 | 960 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - British - 2005-2009 | 1,448 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Czech - 2005-2009 | 4,728 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Danish - 2005-2009 | 6,671 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Dutch - 2005-2009 | 19,360 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - English - 2005-2009 | 45,982 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - European - 2005-2009 | 5,299 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - French (except Basque) - 2005-2009 | 10,884 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - French Canadian - 2005-2009 | 1,082 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - German - 2005-2009 | 129,760 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Greek - 2005-2009 | 1,215 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Hungarian - 2005-2009 | 595 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Irish - 2005-2009 | 66,041 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Italian - 2005-2009 | 17,778 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Lithuanian - 2005-2009 | 677 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Norwegian - 2005-2009 | 21,882 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Polish - 2005-2009 | 6,014 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Portuguese - 2005-2009 | 365 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Russian - 2005-2009 | 1,863 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Scotch-Irish - 2005-2009 | 6,923 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Scottish - 2005-2009 | 7,785 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Slovak - 2005-2009 | 416 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Subsaharan African - 2005-2009 | 2,940 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Swedish - 2005-2009 | 14,571 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Swiss - 2005-2009 | 1,469 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Ukrainian - 2005-2009 | 508 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Welsh - 2005-2009 | 4,219 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - West Indian (excluding Hispanic groups) - 2005-2009 | 407 |
| Persons Reporting Total Ancestry As - Other Groups - 2005-2009 | 85,038 |
Polk County Recorder’s Office
Address: 111 Court Ave #250, Des Moines, IA 50309, United States
Phone: 515-286-3160