Polk Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

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Village · Polk County · Population 346 (2020 census) · ZIP 68654 · Founded 1906 · Peak population 561 (1920)

About Polk

Polk is a village of 346 people (2020) in southwestern Polk County, at 1,742 feet on NE 66, about 10 miles west-southwest of Stromsburg and 5 miles east of Hordville. It is home to the junior-senior high school of High Plains Community Schools, whose elementary is in Clarks, and a state historical marker stands at Railroad Avenue and Main Street. Polk is on Central Time.

History

Polk was the last town founded in the county. In 1906, as the Union Pacific built a branch from Stromsburg toward Central City, J. Wesley Wilson, his brothers Nathan and Victor, and his brother-in-law C. C. McCune formed the City Improvement Company, bought the land and laid out the town. More than 1,000 people came to the lot sale on September 11, 1906, and houses and stores were moved in from Arborville and Stark. By 1907 four passenger and two freight trains stopped each day, and the town had four churches, five groceries, three banks, two hotels, a school and a newspaper. Water and electric systems were in place by 1914, and the population peaked at 561 in 1920. Like the county, the village is named for President James K. Polk.

Highways and trails through Polk

Route	One way	Other way
NE 66Through the village	West to Hordville	East to US 81 south of Stromsburg

Nearby towns

Hordville	about 6 mi west	NE 66
Durant	about 6 mi east	County roads
Swedehome	about 9 mi northeast	County roads
Clarks	about 10 mi north-northwest	County roads
Benedict	about 10 mi east-southeast	County roads
Stromsburg	about 10 mi east-northeast	NE 66
Central City	about 12 mi west-northwest	County roads
Osceola	about 14 mi east-northeast	NE 66 and US 81
York	about 17 mi southeast	County roads and US 81

Things to see

the Village of Polk historical marker, Railroad Ave. and Main St. · the Polk Public Library, 180 N. Main St.

Schools and health care

Schools: High Plains Community Schools: junior-senior high (7–12), 345 S. Pine St., (402) 765-3331; elementary (PK–6) in Clarks; district office 260 S. Pine St., (402) 765-2271

Health care: Nearest hospital: Annie Jeffrey Memorial County Health Center, Osceola, about 14 mi

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); Who’s Who in Nebraska (1940), Polk County; NEGenWeb Polk County; History Nebraska markers; National Register; Nebraska Department of Transportation; Nebraska Game and Parks; Polk County; City of Osceola; Stromsburg Public Library; Shelby Community Library; Nebraska DHHS; Nebraska Life; Census Bureau centers of population. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.