HISTORY
Polk county was formed in 1856 and organized in 1870. It was named after President James K. Polk. Current population is approximately 5400.
Osceola in the county seat, although Stromsburg is the largest town. The county has a large Swedish heritage, especially around Stromsburg. Far less Swedish and more German around Shelby. This is reflected in the churches as Shelby has a large Catholic population.
COURTHOUSE
Located in Osceola on the square, 400 Hawkeye Street. Hours are 8 am to 5 pm except holidays.
County Clerk
PO Box 276, Osceola NE 68651
Phone: 402-747-5431
Fax: 402-747-2656
Email: clerk@polk.nacone.org
Second floor of the courthouse
County Clerk has marriage licenses from about 1870 to present. A partial index is on the Polk County GenWeb page. Part of these are on FamilySearch.
County Clerk has land records (but no index)
County Court
PO Box 506, Osceola, NE 68651
Phone: 402-747-5371
Fax: 402-747-8299
Third floor of the courthouse, closed over noon hour.
County Court has naturalization records; some are digitized and on ArkivDigital. A subscription is required for that site.
Courty Court also has probate records and court records (including divorces). These will be on FamilySearch.
PLACE NAMES
Arcade
Belleville
Beulah
Conkling
Cyclone
Durant
Economy
Edna
Glade
LaClede
Mahlon
Osceola*
Pleasant Home
Polk*
Prairie
Redville
Rochon
Seberger
Shank
Shelby*
Stromsburg*
Swede Home
Thornton
Wayland
The * indicates towns that still exist with post offices.
CEMETERIES
All cemeteries are on Findagrave and BillionGraves. They are nearly completely photographed.
Beulah Cemetery
Blue Ridge Cemetery
Fairvew Cemetery (not active)
Graceland Cemetery (Shelby)
Hoffer (Wayland)
LaClede (north of Polk)
Osceola
Pleasant Home (Doremus)
Polk
Sacred Heart (Shelby Catholic)
St. Andrew's Catholic #1 (not active, in middle of cow pasture)
St. Andrew's Catholic #2
St. John's Lutheran
St. Mary's (Pilzno)
Stromsburg
Swede Home
Swede Plain
Union (Thelen)
Valley German Methodist
Wesley Chapel (not active, maintained by county)
CHURCHES
Many church records in Polk county are digitized by Arkiv Digital and are located on their web site (for a fee).
Evangelical Free Church, Stromsburg, NE 68666 Email: sefcsecretary@gmail.com They are on Facebook
High Prairie Community Church, Polk NE (E. Free and Baptist church merged circa 2018)
Living Word Church, Stromsburg, NE They are on Facebook
Osceola United Methodist Church, Osceola, NE They are on Facebook
Polk United Methodist Church, Polk NE
Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Shelby NE
Salem Lutheran Church, Stromsburg, NE 68666 Email: salemsecretary@eaglecom.net
Shelby United Methodist Church, Shelby, NE 68662 (same pastor as Osceola)
Stromsburg United Methodist Church, Stromsburg, NE 68666
St. Mary's Pilzno Catholic Church, 1740 140th Rd, rural Osceola, NE
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Osceola, NE 68651 THey are on Facebook
St. Vincents Ferrer Catholic Church, Osceola, NE 68651, 402-747-3491
Swede Home (Calvary) Lutheran Church, rural Stromsburg, NE 68666
Swede Plain Methodist Church, rural Polk/Stromsburg (no longer holds services)
Trinity Lutheran ELCA Church of Polk, Polk NE
FUNERAL HOMES
Dubas Funeral Home of Stromsburg & Osceola (2003/5 to present)
Victor Anderson Funeral Home of Stromsburg (no longer in operation), Doug Dodds, 214 Commercial in Stromsburg
Kepner Funeral Home of Osceola (no longer in operation), then Kepner-Roberts Funeral Home, then Roberts-Dubas Funeral Home
Palmer Funeral Home of Stromsburg (no longer in operation, ceased in 2005)
LIBRARIES
MUSEUMS
Polk County Historical Museum
415 Beebe St
Osceola, NE 68651
402-764-5993
NEWSPAPERS
Stromsburg Headlight
Osceola Record
Shelby Sun
Polk Progress
Polk County News
SCHOOL RECORDS
SOCIETIES
Polk County Historical Society
Polk County Genealogy Club
WEB SITES
Polk County Historical Society on Facebook:
Polk County Genealogy Club on Facebook:
