Minnesota

Dakota

439,882
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Dakota

Dakota, Minnesota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 584. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 439,882.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Treaty of Mendota (August 5, 1851), and 37 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020439,882
2010398,552
2000355,904
1990275,227
1980194,279
1970139,808
196078,303
195049,019
194039,660
193034,592
192028,967
191025,171
190021,733
189020,240
188017,391
187016,312
18609,093
1850584
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Dakota

Military engagements that took place in Dakota, Minnesota.

Treaty of Mendota (August 5, 1851)
1851

Historic places in Dakota

National Register of Historic Places listings in Dakota, Minnesota.

Fort Snelling
St. Paul
Sibley, Henry H., House
Mendota
First Presbyterian Church
Hastings
Waterford Bridge
Minnesota
Fort Snelling-Mendota Bridge
Mendota
Latto, Rudolph, House
Hastings
MacDonald-Todd House
Hastings
Le Duc, William G., House
Hastings
Dakota County Courthouse
Hastings
Thompson-Fasbender House
Hastings
Eckert, Ignatius, House
Hastings
Hastings Methodist Episcopal Church
Hastings
Oheyawahe-Pilot Knob
Mendota Heights
VanDyke-Libby House
Hastings
East Second Street Commercial Historic District
Hastings
Minneapolis St. Paul Rochester & Dubuque Electric Traction Company Depot
Burnsville
Wentworth, George W., House
West St. Paul
Stockyards Exchange
South St. Paul
St. Stefan's Romanian Orthodox Church (Additional Documentation)
South St. Paul
Church of St Mary's-Catholic
New Trier
Oberhoffer, Emil J., House
Lakeville
Hastings Foundry-Star Iron Works
Hastings
Ramsey Mill and Old Mill Park
Hastings
Christiania Lutheran Free Church
Eureka
Browse all Minnesotahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Minnesota

Explore census history and historic records for more Minnesota counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Dakota County, Minnesota

This page charts the census history of Dakota County, Minnesota. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Dakota

When does Dakota first appear in the US census?
Dakota, Minnesota first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 584.
What is the population of Dakota?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Dakota had a recorded population of 439,882.
Were any battles fought in Dakota?
1 documented military engagement took place in Dakota, including Treaty of Mendota (August 5, 1851).
How many historic places are in Dakota?
37 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Dakota, Minnesota.
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