West DSM News

Of the 479,612 citizens living in Polk County in 2019, 97.1 percent said they were only one race, while 2.9 percent said they were two or more races, according to U.S. Census Bureau data obtained in January.

Of those who said they were one race, the majority identified as white.

An agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, the Census Bureau is responsible for compiling statistical facts about the American people, places and economy. Data for this story was compiled from the bureau’s American Community Survey. Information from the survey helps to determine how federal and state funds are distributed.

Statistical data for 2020 will be released later this year.

	Estimated Total	Percent of Total Population
White	402,987	84%
African American	32,518	6.8%
American Indian or Alaskan Native	1,530	0.3%
Asian	21,909	4.6%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander	438	0.1%
Some Other Race	6,456	1.3%

Source: US Census Bureau