Nebraska

Dakota

21,582
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Dakota

Dakota, Nebraska, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 819. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 21,582.

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

On the ground today, 5 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202021,582
201021,006
200020,253
199016,742
198016,573
197013,137
196012,168
195010,401
19409,836
19309,505
19207,694
19106,564
19006,286
18905,386
18803,213
18702,040
1860819
Source

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

Historic places in Dakota

National Register of Historic Places listings in Dakota, Nebraska.

Bonderson, Ben, Farm
Emerson
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Dakota City
Browse all Nebraskahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Nebraska

Explore census history and historic records for more Nebraska counties.

HallHamiltonHarlanHarrisonHayesHitchcockHoltHookerHowardJacksonJeffersonJohnsonJonesKearneyKeithKeya PahaKimballKnoxLancasterLincoln
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Everything a full report reveals about Dakota County, Nebraska

This page charts the census history of Dakota County, Nebraska. 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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Explore Nebraska records

Nebraskahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Nebraska›

Frequently asked about Dakota

When does Dakota first appear in the US census?
Dakota, Nebraska first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 819.
What is the population of Dakota?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Dakota had a recorded population of 21,582.
How many historic places are in Dakota?
5 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Dakota, Nebraska.
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