In the Nebraska license plate system, Dakota County was represented by the prefix "70" (as it had the 70th-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922). In August 2009, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners reversed a decision to abandon this system for alphanumeric plates upon introduction of new license plates in 2011.[6]Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy Counties remain the only counties with alphanumeric plates in the state.[7]
Succeeding cultures of indigenous peoples lived along the Missouri River for millennia. By 1775, the Omaha people had migrated west of the Missouri, where they established a major settlement, Ton-wa-tonga, (the Big Village). It had some 1100 residents. From here, the Omaha controlled fur trading on the upper Missouri River with other tribes and with French-Canadian traders, often called voyageurs. The Omaha were the first of the Northern Plains tribes to have adopted an equestrian culture.[8]
Dakota County was formed by European-American settlers in 1855.[9] They named it after the Dakota Sioux tribe, who were powerful in the area of Nebraska and South Dakota at the time.[10] By this time, the Omaha were concentrated further south in what became the state of Nebraska.
As of May 2020, the county had the second-highest per capita COVID-19 infection rate of any American county. About one of every 14 residents has tested positive, mostly at Tyson's large meat packing plant in Dakota City. There were 1452 cases reported as of May 11, 2020.[11] This had increased by July 4, 2020, to 1634 cases, and 38 deaths, giving Dakota County the highest per capita death rate to that date.[12]
Dakota County lies on the northeast line of the Nebraska state line. Its northeast boundary line abuts the southwest boundary lines of the states of South Dakota and Iowa, across the Missouri River. The county terrain consists of rolling prairies and bottom lands.[13]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 267.421 square miles (692.62 km2), of which 264.431 square miles (684.87 km2) is land and 2.990 square miles (7.74 km2) (1.12%) is water.[14] It is the second-smallest county in Nebraska by total area.[15]
U.S. Decennial Census[18] 1790–1960[19] 1900–1990[20] 1990–2000[21] 2010–2020[4]
As of the third quarter of 2025, the median home value in Dakota County was $184,986.[22]
As of the 2024 American Community Survey, there are 7,459 estimated households in Dakota County with an average of 2.84 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $70,329. Approximately 11.5% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Dakota County has an estimated 67.9% employment rate, with 14.6% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 78.7% holding a high school diploma.[4] There were 7,808 housing units at an average density of 29.53 per square mile (11.4/km2).
The top five reported languages (people were allowed to report up to two languages, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (59.4%), Spanish (31.4%), Indo-European (0.2%), Asian and Pacific Islander (3.1%), and Other (5.8%).
The median age in the county was 32.5 years.
Dakota County, Nebraska – racial and ethnic composition 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 may be of any race.
As of the 2024 estimate, there were 21,335 people, 7,459 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was 80.68 inhabitants per square mile (31.2/km2). There were 7,808 housing units at an average density of 29.53 per square mile (11.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 79.4% White (40.5% NH White), 9.3% African American, 4.4% Native American, 3.4% Asian, 0.9% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 42.7% of the population.
As of the 2020 census, there were 21,582 people, 7,400 households, and 5,203 families residing in the county.[28] The population density was 81.62 inhabitants per square mile (31.5/km2). There were 7,765 housing units at an average density of 29.36 per square mile (11.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 51.10% White, 7.47% African American, 3.29% Native American, 2.82% Asian, 0.71% Pacific Islander, 19.35% from some other races and 15.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 40.83% of the population.[29]
The median age was 33.4 years. 29.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.2 males age 18 and over.[30][31]
79.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 20.6% lived in rural areas.[32]
There were 7,400 households in the county, of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[30]
There were 7,765 housing units, of which 4.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 64.5% were owner-occupied and 35.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.5%.[30]
As of the 2010 census, there were 21,006 people, 7,218 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was 79.44 inhabitants per square mile (30.7/km2). There were 7,631 housing units at an average density of 28.86 per square mile (11.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 70.50% White, 3.14% African American, 2.69% Native American, 3.00% Asian, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 18.15% from some other races and 2.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 35.32% of the population.
As of the 2000 census, there were 20,253 people, 7,095 households, and 5,087 families residing in the county. The population density was 76.59 inhabitants per square mile (29.6/km2). There were 7,528 housing units at an average density of 28.47 per square mile (11.0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 78.84% White, 0.62% African American, 1.86% Native American, 3.08% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 12.91% from some other races and 2.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 22.62% of the population. 28.0% were of German and 10.5% Irish ancestry.
There were 7,095 households, out of which 39.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.30.
The county population contained 30.50% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 20.10% from 45 to 64, and 9.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,834, and the median income for a family was $43,702. Males had a median income of $28,341 versus $22,035 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,125. About 9.20% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.
Dakota County voters have leaned Republican for several decades. From 1952, the county has selected the Republican Party candidate in over 80% of national elections, but the significant Hispanic population has led to the margins of victory not being as wide as those in most rural counties in the state.
United States presidential election results for Dakota County, Nebraska[33]
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Interstate 129
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Nebraska Highway 9
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