Dakota County is the third-most populous

county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

in the U.S. state of

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over t ...

, located in the east central portion of the state. As of the 2020 census, the population was 439,882. The population of Dakota County was estimated to be 442,038 in 2021. The

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US ...

Hastings Hastings () is a large seaside town and borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England, east to the county town of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to the north-west ...

. Dakota County is named for the

Dakota Sioux The Dakota (pronounced , Dakota language: ''Dakȟóta/Dakhóta'') are a Native American tribe and First Nations band government in North America. They compose two of the three main subcultures of the Sioux people, and are typically divided into ...

tribal bands who inhabited the area. The name is recorded as "Dahkotah" in the United States Census records until 1851. Dakota County is included in the

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origin ...

– St. Paul– Bloomington, MN– WI

Metropolitan Statistical Area In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally incorporated as a city or tow ...

, the sixteenth largest

metropolitan area A metropolitan area or metro is a region that consists of a densely populated urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories sharing industries, commercial areas, transport network, infrastructures and housing. A metro area usually ...

in the United States with about 3.64 million residents. The largest city in Dakota County is the city of

Lakeville Lakeville may refer to: Canada *Wilmot Parish, New Brunswick#Lakeville, Lakeville, a local service district north of Woodstock, New Brunswick **Lakeville, Carleton County, New Brunswick, a community within the local service district *Lakeville, Wes ...

, the eleventh-largest city in Minnesota and sixth-largest Twin Cities suburb. The county is bordered by the

and Mississippi Rivers on the north, and the state of

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

on the east.

History

The county was the site of historical events at Mendota that defined the state's future, including providing materials for the construction of

Fort Snelling Fort Snelling is a former military fortification and National Historic Landmark in the U.S. state of Minnesota on the bluffs overlooking the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. The military site was initially named Fort Saint Anth ...

across the river and the signing of the

Treaty of Traverse des Sioux The Treaty of Traverse des Sioux () was signed on July 23, 1851, at Traverse des Sioux in Minnesota Territory between the United States government and the Upper Dakota Sioux bands. In this land cession treaty, the Sisseton and Wahpeton Dakota ban ...

which ceded land from the native Dakota nation for the Minnesota Territory. The county's history was initially tied to the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, both strategically important for United States expansion and as the convergence of the Dakota and

Ojibwe The Ojibwe, Ojibwa, Chippewa, or Saulteaux are an Anishinaabe people in what is currently southern Canada, the northern Midwestern United States, and Northern Plains. According to the U.S. census, in the United States Ojibwe people are one of ...

nations who regarded the site as sacred. Influence shifted westward during the post-World War II settlement boom when

Interstate 35 Interstate 35 (I-35) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route. It stretches from Laredo, Texas, near the Mexican borde ...

connected the western half of the county to

and

Saint Paul Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...

and bedroom communities grew. Most work outside the county but like many metro counties, Dakota continues to absorb industry and jobs from the core cities. Little Crow-cropped image

In the 1600s, Mdewakanton Dakota fled their ancestral home of Mille Lacs Lake in northern Minnesota in response to westward expansion of the

nation. According to Dakota tradition, their ancestors pushed out the

Iowa Iowa () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wiscon ...

who were found settled at the mouth of the Minnesota River. In 1680, the Mdewakanton Dakota were contacted by French explorer Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut, and the Mendota (''mdo-TE'') band of the Mdewakanton south of the Minnesota River were contacted by Joseph Nicollet in the 18th century. While Taoyateduta (a.k.a. Little Crow) led the Mendota in northern Dakota County, upstream to the southwest, Chief Black Dog established his village of 600 people around 1750 at the isthmus between

Black Dog Lake Black Dog Lake is a lake in Dakota County, Minnesota, Dakota County, in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The lake was named for Black Dog, a Sioux Indian. See also *List of lakes in Minnesota References

Lakes of Minnesota Lakes of Dakota C ...

(which is named after him) and the Minnesota River, near the present site of the Black Dog Power Plant.

Following the published expeditions of explorers, in 1805,

Zebulon Pike Zebulon Montgomery Pike (January 5, 1779 – April 27, 1813) was an American brigadier general and explorer for whom Pikes Peak in Colorado was named. As a U.S. Army officer he led two expeditions under authority of President Thomas Jefferson ...

negotiated for military territory with the Mendota band which included land in Dakota County at the Mississippi River confluences with the Minnesota and St. Croix Rivers. In 1819, on what is now Picnic Island on the south bank of the

Minnesota River The Minnesota River ( dak, Mnísota Wakpá) is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 332 miles (534 km) long, in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It drains a watershed of in Minnesota and about in South Dakota and Iowa. It ris ...

, Colonel Henry Leavenworth built a stockade fort called "St. Peter's Cantonment" or "New Hope," where materials were assembled for the construction of

to be built on the bluff on the north bank. Permanent settlement on the island was impossible due to annual flooding. Alexis Bailey built some log buildings nearby to trade in furs in 1826.

Henry Hastings Sibley Henry Hastings Sibley (February 20, 1811 – February 18, 1891) was a North American fur trade, fur trader with the American Fur Company, the first United States House of Representatives, U.S. Congressional representative for Minnesota Territor ...

later built the first stone house in Minnesota in 1836, overlooking Fort Snelling. Sibley was a partner in the

American Fur Company The American Fur Company (AFC) was founded in 1808, by John Jacob Astor, a German immigrant to the United States. During the 18th century, furs had become a major commodity in Europe, and North America became a major supplier. Several British ...

, and considerable fur trade occurred at Mendota due to the accessibility of the confluence. Ongoing

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

expansion into the then "Northwest Territory" led to government purchase of land from the Dakota people (the Mdewakanton, Wahpekute, Wahpeton, and

Sisseton Sisseton is a city in Roberts County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 2,479 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Roberts County. Sisseton is the home to a number of tourist attractions, including the Nicollet Tower, and ...

bands) via the Treaty of St. Peters, the

, and the Treaty of Mendota in 1851. After the

Minnesota Territory The Territory of Minnesota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 3, 1849, until May 11, 1858, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Minnesota and west ...

was established in 1849, Dakotah County (later Dakota County) spanned from the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest Drainage system (geomorphology), drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson B ...

to the Missouri River. By the time

achieved statehood in 1858, power and influence had shifted from Mendota, across the rivers to

and

Hastings and South St. Paul

By 1900, the hub of activity in the county was in

, the county seat, and a focal point of transportation, communication, and commerce. St. Peter's, now Mendota, had lost out to Fort Snelling. Hastings is located on the

at the confluence of the St. Croix River and on the Vermillion River, which provided ample water power. Lumber, milling, and railroads provided good incomes. During this time, the stockyards and

meat-packing The meat-packing industry (also spelled meatpacking industry or meat packing industry) handles the slaughtering, processing, packaging, and distribution of meat from animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and other livestock. Poultry is generally ...

plants in South St. Paul, Minnesota became the world's largest stockyards. Ranchers in the west shipped their livestock to St. Louis, Memphis, and

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

. These plants were worked by immigrants from

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia ( Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin and the Balkans. It shares land borders with Hu ...

, and other

Eastern European Eastern Europe is a subregion of the European continent. As a largely ambiguous term, it has a wide range of geopolitical, geographical, ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic connotations. The vast majority of the region is covered by Russia, whi ...

countries. The rest of the county remained agricultural during the boom of milling activity north of the Minnesota River due to lack of bridge connections. Rail access came in 1866 via the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Omaha Railroad which shipped grain to millers. The Minneapolis St. Paul Rochester and Dubuque Electric Traction Company line in 1905 (now the Dan Patch Corridor), was primary for passengers going to resorts in Burnsville and Lakeville.

Suburban growth

By the 1950s, population growth shifted to western Dakota county, which had been predominantly Irish and Scottish extending southward toward the Scandinavians of Southern Minnesota. As population pressures expanded south from Minneapolis and Bloomington, the completion of Interstate 35W and 35E brought about major construction in the post-World War II period, turning villages into cities within 20 years. Burnsville, Apple Valley,

Eagan Eagan may refer to: People * Daisy Eagan (born 1979), American actress * Dennis Eagan (1926–2012), British field hockey player * Eddie Eagan (1897–1967), American sportsman * James Eagan (1926-2000), American politician from Missouri * John ...

, and

brought over 200,000 people into the county by the end of the century. The Western and Northern Service Centers were constructed in the early 1990s each with an additional courthouse location. License centers were subsequently set up in Burnsville and Lakeville. Though pressure remained since the postwar boom to move the county seat to a larger community, the Dakota County Board maintained the seat in Hastings, while providing government services across the county.

Historic sites

The history of the county is well-illustrated by the

Registered Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in the county, including the settlement at Mendota, the homes of well-heeled residents of Hastings, the ethnic gathering places in South Saint Paul, and other sites related to life on the prairie, including religion, education, transportation, commerce, and farm life.

Law and government

Dakota County is governed by the Board of Commissioners. The members of the Board as of March 1, 2017 are: * Mike Slavik, District 1 * Kathleen Gaylord, District 2 * Thomas Egan, District 3 *

Joe Atkins Joseph Atkins (born October 6, 1965) is a Minnesota attorney and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represented District 52B, which included portions of ...

, District 4 * Liz Workman, District 5 *

Mary Liz Holberg Mary Liz Holberg (born November 13, 1959) is a Minnesota politician, member of the Dakota County, Minnesota Board of Commissioners, and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, she ...

, District 6 *

Chris Gerlach Chris Gerlach (born November 17, 1964) is a Minnesota politician and former member of the Minnesota Senate representing District 37, which included portions of the cities of Apple Valley, Burnsville and Rosemount in Dakota County, which is ...

, District 7 Dakota County has an elected

Sheriff A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland that is commonly transla ...

(Tim Leslie) and an elected

County Attorney In the United States, a district attorney (DA), county attorney, state's attorney, prosecuting attorney, commonwealth's attorney, or state attorney is the chief prosecutor and/or chief law enforcement officer representing a U.S. state in a lo ...

(James Backstrom). There are appointed boards for the library system, community development agency, and several advisory boards. Dakota County is served by an elected board of the

Soil and Water Conservation District Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...

Politics

Dakota County voters tend to vote Democratic. Since 1960, the county has selected the Democratic Party candidate in 71% of national elections (as of 2020).

Geography

The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, sloping to the river valleys. Its highest point is at Buck Hill in Burnsville, at 1,168 feet. ASL."Find an Altitude/Dakota County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 7, 2019)
/ref> The county has a total area of , of which is land and (4.2%) is water.

Rivers

The northern and eastern boundaries of Dakota County are marked by the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. Management and jurisdiction of the rivers falls into multiple local, State and Federal agencies. Most of the Minnesota River bank is under the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge with fish, wildlife, and parkland managed collectively by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District assists the county's six watershed management organizations (WMO) which include the Black Dog WMO, Gun Club Lake WMO, Lower Minnesota River Watershed District, Lower Mississippi WMO, North Cannon River WMO, and the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization. *

: Adjacent to Mendota Heights, Lilydale, South St. Paul,

Inver Grove Heights Inver Grove Heights is a city in Dakota County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 35,801 at the 2020 census. The city was formed on March 9, 1965, with the merger of the village of Inver Grove and Inver Grove Township. It is one of ...

, Rosemount, and Hastings. *

: Adjacent to Burnsville,

, Mendota Heights, and Mendota. * Vermillion River: From Farmington through Empire Township to Hastings. * Cannon River: Adjacent to Randolph and through Randolph Township.

Lakes

Major highways

Interstate 35E * I-35W

Interstate 35W * I-494

Interstate 494 * US 52

US Highway 52 * US 61

US Highway 61 U.S. Route 61 or U.S. Highway 61 (U.S. 61) is a major United States highway that extends between New Orleans, Louisiana and the city of Wyoming, Minnesota. The highway generally follows the course of the Mississippi River and is design ...

Minnesota State Highway 3 Minnesota State Highway 3 (MN 3) is a state highway in Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with MN 21 in Faribault and continues north to its northern terminus at an intersection with MN 5 in downtown Saint Paul. Until ...

Minnesota State Highway 13 * MN-19

Minnesota State Highway 19 * MN-20

Minnesota State Highway 20 Minnesota State Highway 20 (MN 20) is a short highway in southeast Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with State Highway 19 in Cannon Falls (near U.S. 52) and continues north to its northern terminus at its intersection with State Hig ...

Minnesota State Highway 50 Minnesota State Highway 50 (MN 50) is a highway in Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with State Highway 3 and Dakota County Road 74 in Farmington and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with U.S. 61 and State H ...

Minnesota State Highway 55 Minnesota State Highway 55 (MN 55) is a highway in west-central, central, and east-central Minnesota, which runs from the North Dakota state line near Tenney and continues east and southeast to its eastern terminus at its intersection with U.S. Hi ...

Minnesota State Highway 56 * MN-62

Minnesota State Highway 62 Minnesota State Highway 62 can refer to two distinct state highways in Minnesota. *Minnesota State Highway 62 (Murray–Cottonwood counties) Minnesota State Highway 62 (MN 62) is a highway in southwest Minnesota, which runs from its inter ...

Minnesota State Highway 77 * MN-149

Minnesota State Highway 149 Minnesota State Highway 149 (MN 149) is a highway in Minnesota that runs from its intersection with State Highway 3 in Inver Grove Heights to its northern terminus at its intersection with State Highway 5 (W. 7th Street) in Saint Paul. Ou ...

Minnesota State Highway 156 Minnesota State Highway 156 (MN 156) is a highway in Minnesota, which runs from the Dakota–Ramsey county line to an interchange with U.S. Highway 52 (the Lafayette Freeway) near downtown Saint Paul. It had previously began at an intercha ...

Minnesota State Highway 316 * County 42 (MN)

County Road 42 * County 23 (MN)

County Road 23 * '' Other County Roads''

Adjacent counties

* Ramsey County - north * Washington County - northeast * Pierce County, Wisconsin - east * Goodhue County - southeast * Rice County - southwest * Scott County - west * Hennepin County - northwest

Protected areas

The following protected areas are within or partially within Dakota County: * Chub Lake Wildlife Management Area * Fort Snelling State Park (part) * Hastings Sand Coulee Scientific and Natural Area *

Miesville Ravine Park Reserve Miesville Ravine Park Reserve is a Dakota County, Minnesota, Dakota County park near the town of Miesville, Minnesota, United States. It preserves over of biologically diverse land in the Cannon River (Minnesota), Cannon River valley. Most of th ...

(part) * Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge (part) * Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (part) * Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve (part) * National Wildlife Refuge, Bloomington (part) *

Spring Lake Regional Park Spring Lake Regional Park is a public park in southeastern Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, United States. Centered on the Santa Rosa Creek Reservoir, the park is administered by the Sonoma County Regional Parks Department. Its coordinates ...

& Park Reserve * Vermillion Highlands * Whitetail Woods Regional Park

Parks

The following parks are located within Dakota County: *

Big Rivers Regional Trail Big Rivers Regional Trail is a paved rail trail that overlooks the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers along the northern edge of Dakota County, Minnesota, United States. It runs between the cities of Eagan and Lilydale. The tra ...

* Dakota County Bikeway System * Dakota Woods Dog Park * Lake Byllesby Regional Park * Lebanon Hills Regional Park * Thompson County Park

Economy

Since the county grew as a bedroom community of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, over half of the residents (54%) work outside the county.

Demographics

2020 census

''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.''

2010 census

According to the 2010 census, Dakota County had a population of 398,552, of which 195,661 (49.1%) were male and 202,891 (50.9%) were female. In terms of age, 76.7% of the population were 16 years and over, 73.6% were 18 years and over, 70.5% were 21 years and over, 12.8% were 62 years and over, and 10.0% were 65 years and over. The median age was 36.8 years. The median age for males was 35.7; the median age for females was 37.9. In terms of race and ethnicity, the county was 85.2% White (82.3% Non-Hispanic White), 4.7% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 2.4% from some other race, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race made up 6.0% of the population. In terms of households, 69.5% were family households and 30.5% were non-family households. Approximately 55.2% were husband-wife family households; 26% had children under 18 years of age. Approximately 36.6% of households had children under 18 years of age living in them; 18.6% had people over the age of 65 living in them. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.12. In terms of housing occupancy, 95.3% of households were occupied and 4.7% were vacant. Of the vacant housing units, 2.0% were for rent, 0.1% were rented but not occupied, 1.2% were for sale only, 0.2% were sold but not occupied, 0.5% were for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use, and 0.8% were all other vacants. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.1%. Of all occupied housing units, 76.5% were owner-occupied and 23.5% were renter-occupied. The population in owner-occupied units was 314,833; the average household size was 2.71. The population in renter-occupied units was 80,866; the average household size was 2.26.

Education

Dakota County is home to the state's largest school districts and some of the highest paid Superintendents. Nationally recognized

Independent School District 196 Independent School District 196 is a K-12 public school district located in the south suburban Twin Cities, near both Minneapolis and St. Paul in Minnesota. Also known as the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District, District 196 serves appr ...

(Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan) houses 28,000 and is the fourth largest school district in the state. Other districts include Independent School District 191 ( Burnsville–Eagan–Savage School District), Independent School District 194 (Lakeville–Elko–New Market), Independent School District 197 (West St. Paul–Mendota Heights–Eagan) and Independent School District 200 (Hastings).

Schools

High school

* Apple Valley High School (ISD 196) * Burnsville Senior High School (ISD 191) * Burnsville Alternative High School (ISD 191) *

Eagan High School Eagan High School (EHS) is a public high school in east-central Eagan, Minnesota, United States. The school opened in fall 1989 for ninth-grade students and for grades ten through twelve the following year. It is particularly noted for its fine a ...

(ISD 196) *

Eastview High School Eastview High School is a comprehensive and college preparatory public high school in Apple Valley, Minnesota, United States. Established in 1997, Eastview is the newest of the four high schools serving Independent School District 196. ''Newsweek' ...

(ISD 196) * Farmington Senior High School (ISD 192) * Hastings Area Alternative School & Learning Center (ISD 200) * Hastings High School (ISD 200) * Two Rivers High School (ISD 197) *

Lakeville North High School Lakeville North High School (LNHS) is a public high school in northern Lakeville, Minnesota, United States. Formerly Lakeville High School, LNHS received its current name when a second high school, Lakeville South High School, was built. Grades ...

(ISD 194) *

Lakeville South High School Lakeville South High School (LSHS) is a high school located Lakeville, Minnesota Lakeville is an exurb of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, and the largest city in Dakota County, Minnesota, United States. It is approximately south of both downtown ...

(ISD 194) *

Rosemount High School Rosemount High School is a public four-year high school in Rosemount, Minnesota, United States, founded in 1918. The school is one of four four-year high schools in Independent School District 196 (Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District). T ...

(ISD 196) * School of Environmental Studies (ISD 196) * Simley High School (ISD 199) * South Saint Paul High School (SSD 6)

Junior high school

* Black Hawk Middle School (ISD 196) * Boeckman Middle School (ISD 192) * Century Middle School (ISD 194) * Dakota Hills Middle (ISD 196) * Dodge Middle School (ISD 192) * Friendly Hills Middle School (ISD 197) * Gateway Academy (ISD 192) * Hastings Middle School (ISD 200) * Heritage E-STEM Magnet School (ISD 197) * John Metcalf Junior High School (ISD 191) * Joseph Nicollet Junior High School (ISD 191) * Kenwood Trail Middle School (ISD 194) * Levi P. Dodge Middle School (ISD 192) * McGuire Middle School (ISD 194) * Robert Boeckman Middle School (ISD 192) * Rosemount Middle School (ISD 196) * Scott Highlands Middle School (ISD 196) * South Saint Paul Secondary (SSD 6) * Valley Middle School (ISD 196)

Elementary school

* Akin Road Elementary (ISD 192) * Cedar Park Elementary School (ISD 196) * Cherry View Elementary School (ISD 194) * Christa McAuliffe Elementary (ISD 200) * Christina Huddleston Elementary School (ISD 194) * Cooper Elementary (ISD 200) * Deerwood Elementary (ISD 196) * Diamond Path Elementary (ISD 196) * East Lake Elementary (ISD 196) * Eastview Elementary School (ISD 194) * Echo Park Elementary (ISD 196) * Edward D. Neill Elementary (ISD 191) * Farmington Elementary (ISD 192) * Garlough Environmental Magnet School (ISD 197) * Gideon Pond Elementary (ISD 191) * Glacier Hills Elementary (ISD 196) * Greenleaf Elementary (ISD 196) * Highland Elementary (ISD 196) * John F. Kennedy Elementary (ISD 194) * Kaposia Education Center (SSD 6) * Lake Marion Elementary School (ISD 194) * Lakeview Elementary School (ISD 194) * Lincoln Center Elementary (SSD 6) * Meadowview Elementary (ISD 192) * Mendota Elementary School (ISD 197) * Moreland Arts & Health Sciences Magnet School (ISD 197) * North Trail Elementary (ISD 192) * Northview Elementary (ISD 196) * Oak Hills Elementary School (ISD 194) * Oak Ridge Elementary (ISD 196) * Orchard Lake Elementary (ISD 194) * Parkview Elementary (ISD 196) * Pilot Knob STEM Magnet School (ISD 197) * Pinecrest Elementary (ISD 200) * Pinewood Elementary (ISD 196) * Rahn Elementary (ISD 191) * Red Pine Elementary (ISD 196) * Riverview Elementary (ISD 192) * Rosemount Elementary (ISD 196) * Shannon Park (ISD 196) * Sioux Trail Elementary (ISD 191) * Sky Oaks Elementary (ISD 191) * Somerset Elementary School (ISD 197) * Southview Elementary (ISD 196) * Thomas Lake Elementary (ISD 196) * Tilden Elementary (ISD 200) * Vista View Elementary (ISD 191) * William Byrne Elementary (ISD 191) * Westview Elementary (ISD 196) * Woodland Elementary (ISD 196)

Other schools

* Saint Joseph Catholic School (pre-kindergarten–8th grade) * St. Croix Lutheran High School and Middle School * Holy Trinity Catholic School (pre-kindergarten–8th grade) * Faithful Shepherd Catholic School (pre-kindergarten-8th grade)

Colleges and universities

Dakota County Technical College Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) is a public, two-year technical college in Rosemount, Minnesota, United States. It is located in Dakota County inside the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. DCTC belongs to the Minnesota State Coll ...

* Inver Hills Community College

Libraries

* Burnhaven Library in Burnsville * Farmington Library in Farmington * Galaxie Library in Apple Valley * Heritage Library in

* Inver Glen Library in

* Pleasant Hill Library in

* Robert Trail Library in Rosemount * City of South St. Paul Library in South St. Paul * Wentworth Library in West St. Paul * Wescott Library in

Communities

Dakota County is home to sites significant in the state's early history. At Mendota, the Treaty of Mendota was signed, opening Southern Minnesota to settlement, and prominent Saint Paul businessmen built their mansions there. Though linked with the state's capital for much of history via rail, Dakota County owes much of its current growth to the expansion of Minneapolis' population which accelerated during the post-World War II boom era of the 1960s. This demand for housing along with two major interstate highways linking Minneapolis (I-35W) and St. Paul (I-35E) to the county, concentrated major growth and demand along the northern end. Today, the cities of Burnsville, Eagan, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Rosemount, Hastings, Inver Grove Heights, Mendota Heights, West St. Paul, and South St. Paul are synonymous with the Twin Cities, as being part of "the Cities." Both Burnsville and Eagan are nearly developed and have become more like independent cities attracting major development than mere residential bedroom suburbs. Lakevillestores

In contrast, the southern part of Dakota County reflects the rural past with small towns such as Farmington, Coates, Vermillion, Hampton, Randolph, and Miesville where street grids and housing dating from the early 20th century can be found. Much of the county is self-contained except for two examples. The City of Hastings, the county seat, lies on both banks of the Mississippi River and was linked historically and physically by rail to the growing influence of the state's capital, Saint Paul. On the south border, the City of Northfield, technically in Rice County, has expanded north into Dakota however the city itself is allowed into the municipal sewer boundary. Though all of Dakota County is considered part of the metropolitan area and open to major development, the county government has steadily preserved farmland and continues to acquire new permanent natural lands in the southern townships. This has further defined the boundaries between urbanized and rural which is starkly visible in the outskirts of the developed cities. While the center of population still lies north with more cosmopolitan residents, culturally Dakota County is a rural community and the

Dakota County Fair The Horticulture Building was a building at the Dakota County Fairgrounds in Farmington, Minnesota, United States. It was built in 1918 and demolished in 1988. Dakota County Fair The Dakota County Fair began in 1858 when the Dakota County Agricu ...

is still a largely agricultural event, held annually in Farmington. Most of northern Dakota County is referred to as "South of the River" for its location being south of the Minnesota River.

Cities (2020 population estimate)

* Apple Valley 55,059 * Burnsville 61,461 * Coates 161 *

67,097 * Farmington 23,901 * Hampton 689 *

(partly in Washington County) 22,849 *

36,025 *

69,295 * Lilydale 623 * Mendota 198 * Mendota Heights 11,492 * Miesville 125 * New Trier 112 *

Northfield Northfield may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Northfield, Aberdeen, Scotland * Northfield, Edinburgh, Scotland * Northfield, Birmingham, England * Northfield (Kettering BC Ward), Northamptonshire, England United States * Northfield, Connect ...

(mostly in Rice County) 20,774 * Randolph 436 * Rosemount 25,441 * South St. Paul 20,165 * Sunfish Lake 521 * Vermillion 419 * West St. Paul 19,738

Unincorporated communities

* Castle Rock * Etter * Eureka Center *

Waterford "Waterford remains the untaken city" , mapsize = 220px , pushpin_map = Ireland#Europe , pushpin_map_caption = Location within Ireland##Location within Europe , pushpin_relief = 1 , coordinates ...

* Rosemount

Ghost towns

* Lewiston *

Nininger Nininger can refer to: ;People * Alexander R. Nininger, recipient of the Medal of Honor * Harvey H. Nininger, meteorite collector ;Place names In the United States: * Nininger, Minnesota Nininger is a ghost town in section 18 of Nininger To ...

Townships

* Castle Rock Township * Douglas Township * Empire Township * Eureka Township * Greenvale Township * Hampton Township * Marshan Township * Nininger Township * Randolph Township * Ravenna Township * Sciota Township * Vermillion Township * Waterford Township

Notable people

* Pierce Butler, United States Supreme Court justice * Ignatius Donnelly, politician * Steven Engler, politician * David Knutson, Minnesota State Senator of District 37, 2003-2004 *

, first Governor of Minnesota * Harold Stassen

(R) The registered trademark symbol, , is a typographic symbol that provides notice that the preceding word or symbol is a trademark or service mark that has been registered with a national trademark office. A trademark is a symbol, word, or wor ...

, Former Governor of Minnesota, Aide to Adm.

Bull Halsey William Frederick "Bull" Halsey Jr. (October 30, 1882 – August 16, 1959) was an American Navy admiral during World War II. He is one of four officers to have attained the rank of five-star fleet admiral of the United States Navy, the other ...

, Aide to President

Dwight Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; ; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was an American military officer and statesman who served as the 34th president of the United States from 1953 to 1961. During World War I ...

, Participant/Drafter of the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoni ...

Charter

References

External links

Dakota County Historical Society

Dakota County government's website

Dakota County Parks

Dakota County Community Development Agency

{{authority control Minneapolis–Saint Paul Minnesota counties Minnesota counties on the Mississippi River Minnesota placenames of Native American origin 1849 establishments in Minnesota Territory Populated places established in 1849