Cemeteries in Polk County, IA
Polk County, Iowa has 71 cemeteries in our directory, listed under 18 nearby cities and towns. The most listings are near Ankeny (14), Des Moines (9) and Pleasant Hill (6). Among them are 5 church cemeteries (7%), 2 memorial parks (3%) and 2 municipal cemeteries (3%).
All cemeteries in Polk County
- Resthaven Cemetery801 19th Street · West Des MoinesCemetery
- Glendale Cemetery4909 University Avenue · Des MoinesCemetery
- Kinsey-Lawson Cemetery6025 Pine Ridge Street · JohnstonCemetery
- Oak Grove CemeteryWest Des MoinesCemetery
- Ridgedale Cemetery7655 Northwest Beaver Drive · JohnstonCemetery
- Valley View Cemetery8450 Northwest Beaver Drive · JohnstonCemetery
- Keller CemeteryAnkenyCemetery
- Saint Ambrose CemeteryDes MoinesCatholic cemetery
- Avon CemeteryCarlisleCemetery
- Benjamin F. Jesse Pioneer CemeteryWest Des MoinesCemetery
- Children of Israel CemeteryDes MoinesCemetery
- Elm Grove CemeteryDes MoinesCemetery
- Laurel Hill CemeteryPleasant HillCemetery
- Masonic CemeteryUrbandaleCemetery
- Sims CemeteryPleasant HillCemetery
- Sunset Memorial GardensNorwalkMemorial park
- Woodland CemeteryDes MoinesChurch cemetery
- Emmanuel CemeteryDes MoinesJewish cemetery
- Altoona CemeteryAltoonaCemetery
- Ankeny Memorial Gardens CemeteryAnkenyMemorial park
- Beebe CemeteryPolk CityCemetery
- Berwick CemeteryDes MoinesCemetery
- Bondurant CemeteryBondurantCemetery
- Bretheran CemeteryAnkenyCemetery
- Brethren CemeteryAnkenyCemetery
- Byers CemeteryAnkenyCemetery
- Canfield CemeteryAltoonaCemetery
- Chapel Hill Gardens CemeteryUrbandaleChurch cemetery
- Church of the Brethren CemeteryAnkenyChurch cemetery
- Crocker CemeteryPolk CityCemetery
- Davis Farm CemeteryPolk CityCemetery
- Elkhart CemeteryAnkenyCemetery
- Emanuel CemeteryDes MoinesCemetery
- Enterprise CemeteryAnkenyCemetery
- Farrar CemeteryBondurantCemetery
- Fort Des Moines CemeteryDes MoinesCemetery
- Franklin CemeteryMitchellvilleCemetery
- Greenwood Friends CemeteryAnkenyCemetery
- Harvey CemeteryPleasant HillCemetery
- Highland Memory GardensSaylorvilleCemetery
- Holy Cross CemeteryBondurantCemetery
- Hopkins Grove CemeteryGrangerCemetery
- Jordan CemeteryWest Des MoinesCemetery
- Kinsey CemeteryJohnstonCemetery
- Lem Small CemeteryPolk CityCemetery
- Lincoln CemeteryAnkenyCemetery
- Lincoln CemeteryPolk CityCemetery
- Lincoln Township CemeteryAnkenyMunicipal cemetery
- Lowman CemeteryCarlisleCemetery
- Maffit CemeteryWest Des MoinesCemetery
- McDivitt Grove CemeteryUrbandaleCemetery
- Mitchellville CemeteryMitchellvilleCemetery
- Mount Zion CemeteryAnkenyCemetery
- New Altoona CemeteryAltoonaCemetery
- New Hope CemeteryUrbandaleCemetery
- Oakwood CemeteryPleasant HillCemetery
- Oralabor CemeteryAnkenyCemetery
- Pine Hill CemeterySaylorvilleCemetery
- Polk City CemeteryPolk CityMunicipal cemetery
- Rising Sun CemeteryPleasant HillCemetery
- Rittgers CemeteryJohnstonCemetery
- Sheldahl CemeterySlaterCemetery
- Spry CemeteryAltoonaCemetery
- Stuart CemeteryPleasant HillCemetery
- Sunny Hill CemeteryGrimesCemetery
- Union CemeteryAnkenyCemetery
- United Brethren CemeteryMadridCemetery
- Warren - Powers CemeteryCarlisleCemetery
- White Oak CemeteryHuxleyCemetery
- Wicker CemeteryCarlisleCemetery
- Willie Coons Farm CemeterySlaterCemetery
Cemeteries by town
Cemetery types
Neighboring counties
How Polk County compares
Polk County has 1.4 listed cemeteries per 10,000 residents, against 15.7 for Iowa, which puts it 99th of 99 Iowa counties on this measure. Census estimates count 3,991 deaths here in 2024, about 200 for each of the 20 funeral homes we know of (1st of 99 by number of funeral homes).
| Measure | Polk County | Iowa | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cemeteries per 10,000 residents | 1.4 | 15.7 | 99th of 99 |
| Cemeteries per 100 square miles | 12.4 | 9.1 | 20th of 99 |
| Deaths in 2024 (estimate) | 3,991 | 32,472 | 1st of 99 |
| Deaths in 2024 per listed cemetery | 56.2 | 6.4 | 1st of 99 |
| Funeral homes | 20 | 369 | 1st of 99 |
| Deaths in 2024 per funeral home | 200 | 88 | 6th of 99 |
| Cremation providers | 11 | 83 | 1st of 99 |
| Monument dealers | 1 | 32 | 7th of 99 |
| Notable burials | 89 | 748 | 1st of 99 |
Population and deaths: US Census Bureau Vintage 2024 estimates. Land area: 2020 Census Gazetteer. Funeral homes, cremation providers and monument dealers come from our sister directory, Funeral Home Directory USA. Ranks run from the highest value down, among Iowa counties with the figure available. Compare Polk County with other places.
Funeral homes and monument dealers in Polk County
- Arnold's Highland Park Funeral HomeFuneral home · Des Moines · (515) 288-6551
- Brooks Funeral CareFuneral home · Clive · (515) 277-8700
- Fredregill Funeral Home and CremationFuneral home · Polk City · (515) 984-7000
- Hamilton's Altoona Funeral HomeFuneral home · Altoona · (515) 967-4272
- Hamilton's Funeral HomeFuneral home · Des Moines · (515) 243-5221
- Hamilton's Funeral HomeFuneral home · West Des Moines · (515) 224-0078
- Hamilton's Southtown Funeral HomeFuneral home · Des Moines · (515) 285-3911
- Iles Dunn's Funeral HomeFuneral home · Des Moines · (515) 244-2121
- Iles Funeral HomeFuneral home · Urbandale
- Iles Grandview Park Funeral HomeFuneral home · Des Moines · (515) 265-1652
- Iles Westover Funeral HomeFuneral home · Des Moines · (515) 276-4567
- Iowa Funeral DirectorsFuneral home · Urbandale · (515) 270-2008
- Iowa Funeral PlanningFuneral home · Des Moines · (515) 218-8103
- McLarens Resthaven Chapel & MortuaryMortuary · West Des Moines · (515) 225-7225
- Memorial Services Of IowaFuneral home · Ankeny · (515) 964-0592
- Merle Hay Funeral HomeFuneral home · Des Moines · (515) 278-4633
- Simplify Cremations & FuneralsFuneral home · Des Moines · (515) 207-3244
- Sunset Memorial ChapelFuneral chapel · Des Moines · (515) 285-4600
- Tonini ChapelFuneral home · Des Moines · (515) 282-7311
- eFuneralFuneral home · Des Moines · (515) 305-2500
- Ankeny Cremation & Funeral CareCremation provider · Ankeny · (515) 964-4433
- Ankeny Funeral Home & CrematoryCremation provider · Ankeny · (515) 964-4674
- Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & CrematoryCremation provider · Urbandale · (515) 276-0551
- Caldwell-Raddatz Funeral Home & CrematoryCremation provider · Clive
Showing 24 of 32. Listings from our sister site, Funeral Home Directory USA. Call ahead: services, prices and hours are not shown here.
Frequently asked questions
How many cemeteries are in Polk County?
We list 71 cemeteries in Polk County, Iowa. Small family burial grounds recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey are included, so the count is higher than the number of cemeteries with an office or staff.
Where are burial records for Polk County kept?
Death certificates are held by the Iowa vital records office and often the county clerk or health department. Individual cemeteries keep their own interment records; church cemeteries may keep them at the parish office. County historical and genealogical societies often have transcriptions of older cemeteries.
Can I visit family cemeteries in Polk County?
Many family cemeteries sit on private land. Ask the landowner before visiting. Iowa law may give descendants a right of reasonable access, but the rules and process vary by state.
Related guides
- How Much Does a Cemetery Plot Cost?What drives plot prices in the US, typical ranges by cemetery type and region, and the fees that come on top of the plot itself.
- Religious Burial Customs in the USHow Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, Orthodox and Latter-day Saint traditions shape burial, timing and cemetery choice.
- How to Write an ObituaryWhat to include, a fill-in template, where to publish, what newspapers charge by, and how to protect the family from identity theft.
- How Much Does a Burial Cost?A line-by-line look at the cost of a traditional burial: plot, opening and closing, vault, casket, marker and funeral home fees.