March 3, 2020

Polk City Directories Celebrates 150 Years of Recording Data Across U.S.

Helping police detectives, auto companies, real estate businesses, communities, libraries, and more

Dallas, March 3, 2020 — This year, Polk City Directories, an Infogroup product, is celebrating 150 years of serving as one of the oldest centralized sources of business and consumer data.

The company’s roots date back to 1870 as a family-owned business under Ralph Lane (R.L.) Polk. Enumerators went door-to-door collecting U.S. Census data. Then, R.L. Polk turned the information into books to sell to local businesses. Now, the directories are available in print hardcopy and digital formats.

“Polk City Directories is commonly used by police departments,” said Mike Snyder, general manager of Polk City Directories at Infogroup. “In June 2019, South Dakota police used the directories to help solve a 51-year-old cold case murder.”

The directories, which provide insight into each household, resident age, presence of children, and other critical information are also used by fire departments, 911 call centers, and other emergency communications personnel. In libraries, patrons have used them to map out family trees. The directories have also helped increase traffic and sales for local businesses.

“If the computers and computer systems of vital personnel go down, we’re here for them,” Snyder said. “Polk City Directories is a reliable source in an emergency.”

The digital directories provide businesses with quick access to information they need for daily operations. Thousands of U.S. dealerships and auto companies rely on the directories for automobile and vehicle data, conquest leads and information on boats and recreational vehicles. Real estate companies use the digital directories to find consumer information in neighborhoods, cities, metropolitan areas and more. The directories also include organized sections by alphabet, street, and wireless number.

“The longevity of this product speaks for itself; it’s helped Infogroup become the trusted choice of communities across the U.S. for accurate data,” said Michael Iaccarino, Chairman and CEO of Infogroup. “We are proud that Polk City Directories is the go-to solution for locals for in-depth knowledge of their communities and home markets.”

For more information about Polk City Directories or to order our 150th anniversary edition, please call 866.272.6134 or email [email protected].

About Infogroup

Infogroup is a leading provider of data and data-driven marketing solutions for salespeople, marketers, and professionals. The company’s solutions are powered by its proprietary business and consumer databases and supplemented by client and third party data. Clients range from Fortune 500 enterprises and local businesses to not-for-profit and political organizations. Infogroup’s cloud-based Data Axle technology allows for real-time updates to its business and consumer data files, and also provides clients with a real-time API delivery platform for the most accurate and up-to-date information to support their marketing and business needs. Infogroup has 45+ years of history creating its own data and makes 24+ million verification calls per year to ensure data quality. For more information, visit www.infogroup.com.

About Polk City Directories

Polk City Directories was founded in 1870 by Ralph Lane (R.L.) Polk. Born in Bellefontaine, Ohio, R.L. Polk saw a need for a centralized source of community information. Today, the directories provide consumer and business records, contact information, and automobile and vehicle data for millions of people across the United States. For more information, visit www.polkcitydirectories.com.