| Dakota County, Minnesota | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of Minnesota | |
 Minnesota's location in the USA | |
| Statistics | |
| Founded | October 27, 1849 [1] |
|---|---|
| Seat | Hastings |
| Largest City | Eagan |
| Area - Total - Land - Water | 586 sq mi (1,519 km²) 570 sq mi (1,475 km²) 17 sq mi (43 km²), 2.86% |
| Population - (2000) - Density | 355,904 625/sq mi (241/km²) |
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
| Website: www.dakotacounty.us | |
| Named for: Named after the Dakota people. | |
Dakota County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2000, the population was 355,904. Its county seat is Hastings6. It is part of the Seven County Metro Area of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Contents |
History
The Dakota people ceded land in 1851 at the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux and Treaty of Mendota.
Law and government
Dakota County is governed by the Board of Commissioners. The members of the Board as of 2007 are:
- Joseph Harris, District 1
- Kathleen Gaylord, District 2
- Thomas Egan, District 3
- Nancy Schouweiler, District 4
- Michael Turner, District 5
- Paul Krause, District 6
- Willis Braning, District 7
Dakota County also has an elected Sheriff (Don Gudmundson) and an elected County Attorney (James Backstrom). Additionally there are appointed boards for the library system, community development agency, and several advisory boards. Dakota County is also served by an elected board of their Soil and Water Conservation District. Principal employees of Dakota County include (but are not limited to) County Administrator Brandt Richardson, Community Services Director Dave Rooney, Parks Director Steve Sullivan, and Court Administrator Van Bostrom.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 586 square miles (1,519 km²), of which, 570 square miles (1,475 km²) of it is land and 17 square miles (43 km²) of it (2.86%) is water.
Lakes and rivers
The major lakes are in the northern portion of the county with creeks and rivers running through the southern portion.
- Chub Lake: in Eureka Township
- Crystal Lake in Burnsville
- Lake Byllesby: northern half is in Randolph Township; southern half is in Goodhue County
- Lake Marion in Lakeville
- Mud Hen Lakes: in Ravenna Township
- Thomas Lake in Eagan
- Thompson Lake in West St. Paul
- Lake Rebecca in Hastings
- Lake Isabelle in Hastings
- Spring Lake in Hastings
- Bullfrog Pond in Hastings
- Pickerel Lake in Lilydale
- Fish Lake in Eagan
- Blackhawk Lake in Eagan
- Holland Lake in Eagan
- Jensen Lake in Eagan
The northern and eastern border of Dakota County is marked by the Minnesota and Mississippi river. Many smaller rivers and creeks in the southern portion are tributaries for the Mississippi.
- Mississippi River: Adjacent to South St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, Rosemount, and Hastings.
- Minnesota River: Adjacent to Mendota Heights, Mendota, and Burnsville.
- Vermillion River: From Farmington through Eureka Township to Hastings.
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Ramsey County (north)
- Washington County (northeast)
- Pierce County, Wisconsin (east, across the Mississippi River)
- Goodhue County (southeast)
- Rice County (southwest)
- Scott County (west)
- Hennepin County (northwest)
Economy
Since the county grew as a bedroom community of Minneapolis and St. Paul, just over half of the residents (54%) work outside the county.[1]
Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 355,904 people, 131,151 households, and 94,035 families residing in the county. The population density was 625 people per square mile (241/km²). There were 133,750 housing units at an average density of 235 per square mile (91/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.36% White, 2.27% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 2.89% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.29% from other races, and 1.75% from two or more races. 2.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.0% were of German, 13.0% Norwegian, 9.7% Irish and 5.9% Swedish ancestry according to Census 2000. About two thirds of the county's residents live in a cluster of large suburbs in the northwestern corner of the county: Burnsville, Lakeville, Apple Valley, Rosemount and Eagan.
There were 131,151 households out of which 40.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 21.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.19. In the county the population was spread out with 29.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 34.30% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 7.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males. The median income for a household in the county was $61,863, and the median income for a family was $71,062. Males had a median income of $46,827 versus $32,189 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,008. About 2.40% of families and 3.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.90% of those under age 18 and 5.50% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
| Cities | Townships | ||
|---|---|---|---|
† Hastings is in Dakota County; a part of the city extends into Washington County.
‡ Northfield is mainly in Rice County; a part of the city extends into Dakota County.
Education
Independent school districts
Independent School District 191 and Independent School District 196
Colleges and universities
Dakota County Technical College
Libraries
- Burnhaven Library in Burnsville
- Farmington Library in Farmington
- Galaxie Library in Apple Valley
- Heritage Library in Lakeville
- Inver Glen Library in Inver Grove Heights
- Pleasant Hill Library in Hastings
- City of South St. Paul Library in South St. Paul
- Wentworth Library in West St. Paul
- Wescott Library in Eagan
Recreation
Parks
- Big Rivers Regional Trail in Mendota Heights
- Lake Byllesby Regional Park in Cannon Falls
- Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan/Apple Valley
- Miesville Ravine Park Reserve in Miesville
- Dakota Woods Dog Park in Empire Township
- Spring Lake Park Reserve in Hastings/Rosemount
- Thompson County Park in West St. Paul
- Dakota County Bikeway System
Notable people
- Pierce Butler, U.S. Supreme Court justice
- Harold Stassen (R), Former Governor of Minnesota, Aide to Adm. Bull Halsey, Aide to President Dwight Eisenhower, Participant/Drafter of the United Nations Charter
- Ignatius Donnelly, Politician
- Henry Hastings Sibley, Politician, Indian agent
External links
References
- ^ Kevin Monroe, Dawn Thongsavath, Heidi Welsch (May 2006). Public Assistance Caseload, Increase Analysis. Dakota County Employment and Economic Assistance. Retrieved on September 12 2007.
Features of Dakota County, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
| Cities | Apple Valley | Burnsville | Coates | Eagan | Farmington | Hampton | Hastings† | Inver Grove Heights | Lakeville | Lilydale | Mendota | Mendota Heights | Miesville | New Trier | Northfield‡ | Randolph | Rosemount | South St. Paul | Sunfish Lake | Vermillion | West St. Paul
|
| People | Pierce Butler, U.S. Supreme Court justice | Natalie Darwitz, Olympic Silver Medalist | Ignatius Donnelly, Minnesota's 2nd Lt. Governor | Craig Kilborn, comedian | John Kline, U.S. Representative from Minnesota's 2nd congressional district | Paul James Krause, NFL Hall of Famer | Joan Kroc, philanthropist | Laura Osnes, actress | Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota's 39th Governor | Alexander Ramsey, Minnesota's 2nd Governor | Coleen Rowley, former FBI agent | Henry Hastings Sibley, Minnesota's 1st Governor | Harold Stassen, Minnesota's 25th Governor |
| Geography | Mississippi River: Adjacent to South St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, Rosemount, and Hastings | Minnesota River: Adjacent to Mendota Heights, Mendota, and Burnsville | Vermillion River: From Farmington through Eureka Township to Hastings |
| Historical Sites | Byron Howes House | Church of St Mary's-Catholic | Church of the Advent | Dakota County Courthouse | Daniel F. Akin House | District No. 72 School | East Second Street Commercial Historic District | Emil J. Oberhoffer House | Exchange Bank Building | Fasbender Clinic | First Presbyterian Church, Hastings | Fort Snelling | Fort Snelling-Mendota Bridge | George W. Wentworth House | Good Templars Hall | Hastings Foundry-Star Iron Works | Hastings Methodist Episcopal Church | Henry H. Sibley House | Holz Family Farmstead | Ignatius Eckert House | MacDonald-Todd House | Mendota Historic District | Minneapolis St. Paul Rochester & Dubuque Electric Traction Company Depot | Ramsey Mill and Old Mill Park (See Vermillion River (Minnesota)) | Reuben Freeman House | Rudolph Latto House | Serbian Home | St. Stefan's Romanian Orthodox Church | Stockyards Exchange | Thompson-Fasbender House | VanDyke-Libby House | West Second Street Residential Historic District | William G. LeDuc House |
| Industry | |
| Attractions | Big Rivers Regional Trail | Fort Snelling State Park | Lake Byllesby Regional Park | Lebanon Hills Regional Park | Miesville Ravine Park Reserve | |
