# How does one go about obtaining a Polk Directory?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-go-about-obtaining-a-polk-directory/187521>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 10, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-go-about-obtaining-a-polk-directory/187521 "2003-07-10T18:05:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-go-about-obtaining-a-polk-directory/187521/1 "2003-07-10T18:05:37Z")

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How does one go about obtaining a Polk Directory?

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-go-about-obtaining-a-polk-directory/187521/2 "2003-07-10T18:35:15Z")

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If you’re referring to the Reverse Telephone Directory, there’s several online, like [this one.](http://www.reversephonedirectory.com/).

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**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-go-about-obtaining-a-polk-directory/187521/3 "2003-07-10T18:51:33Z")

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For what city? Current or historical?

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**Author:** ![lauramarlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a5b964/32.png) [@lauramarlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lauramarlane)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-go-about-obtaining-a-polk-directory/187521/4 "2003-07-10T18:58:41Z")

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Ask your local public library–they usually purchase the directories for their town (either on CD or paper.) But be prepared to spend a couple of hundred bucks. These things are very expensive. What kind of info do you want it for, if you don’t mind my asking?

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**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-go-about-obtaining-a-polk-directory/187521/5 "2003-07-10T19:05:58Z")

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I’m working for a township office and mentioned it to the Clerk and she was wondering. I figured they’d be expensive, probably not cost effective–especially with the link that Q.E.D. provided.

Walloon, it’s Acme Township and current would be what we want. But with the reverse directories on the internet (which I didn’t know about), I’m betting that we’ll be fine without one.

Thanks for the help!