Dakota County

General

Population: 21,582
Land area (sq. mi.): 264.28
Population per square mile: 81.7

Race & Age

Race

White: 43.3%
African American: 7.4%
American Indian: 2.4%
Asian: 2.8%
Hispanic: 40.8%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.7%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 2.3%

Age

0-17: 29.3%
18-64: 56.6%
65+: 14.1%

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita: $48,756
% of Population in Poverty: 9.9%
# of Housing Units: 7,765
Owner-occupied rate: 64.5%
Median home price: $156,570

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem): 90.4%

Sources: National Association of Realtors, Nebraska Library Commission, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Census Bureau

Employment, Schools, and Child Care

Unemployment rate: 2.1% (as of September 2022)

County Employment Website: https://dakotacountyne.org/webpages/links/public_notices.html

High school graduate or higher: 77.2%

School Districts: Allen Consolidated Schools, Homer Community Schools, Ponca Public Schools, South Sioux City Community Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher: 14.7%

Community College Service Area: Northeast Community College

Countywide child care capacity: 26 providers; 592 children

Find child care: For a list of child care providers in your zip code, visit Nebraska DHHS or the Nebraska Resource and Referral System.

Dakota County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (2020): $1,660,143,000

Cattle Producers: 71

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.): $35/acre

Crop Producers: 34

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.): $254/acre

Farmers Market: Market on the Square (BrokenkBow) ( May 19 - September 8, Thursdays 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.)

Grain Co-ops and Purchasers: Siouxland Ethanol

Local Grain Market: Click for today's grain prices in Dakota County

Electricity Providers: City of Emerson, City of South Sioux City, Nebraska PPD, Northeast Nebraska PPD,  Northeast Power

Wind Turbines Operating (MW): 2 turbines (MW unknown)

Rail-served Communities: Dakota City, Homer, Jackson

Well Locations (Irrigation/Livestock), Soils, Groundwater & Surface Water

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells: 169

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation): 11

Click for real time:

Streamflow data on the Missouri River at Siouxland Veterans Mem. Bridge (US Hwy 77)

Streamflow data on Omaha Creek at Homer

Sources: National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA), Nebraska Cooperative Council, Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska Office of the CIO, Nebraska Power Review Board, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau

2022 Levies and Valuation

County levy rate: $0.3298 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $7,330,355

Total local government property taxes levied: $38,529,716

Total countywide taxable valuation: $2,222,980,115

Federal PILT payment to Dakota County (FY2022): $2,362 regarding 804 federally-owned acres

Click here for all levy rates in Dakota County

County Levy and Taxation Laws

Levy limits

Since 1996, counties and other political subdivisions have been subject to the levy limits listed in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-3442 and Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-3443.

Statutes and regulations:

Nebraska Revised Statutes (Chapter 77)

Nebraska Administrative Code (Title 350)

Local tax reductions, exemptions, and credits:

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-902(5)(a) (Deed "stamp tax" exemption): "The [stamp tax] shall not apply to: ... (5)(a) Deeds between spouses, between ex-spouses for the purpose of conveying any rights to property acquired or held during the marriage, or between parent and child, without actual consideration therefor."

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-201(2) (Valuation of agricultural land and horticultural land): "Agricultural land and horticultural land as defined in section 77-1359 shall constitute a separate and distinct class of property for purposes of property taxation, shall be subject to taxation, unless expressly exempt from taxation, and shall be valued at seventy-five percent of its actual value, except that for school district taxes levied to pay the principal and interest on bonds that are approved by a vote of the people on or after January 1, 2022, such land shall be valued at fifty percent of its actual value."

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-6703(1) (Tax credit for school district taxes paid): "(1) For taxable years beginning or deemed to begin on or after January 1, 2020, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, there shall be allowed to each eligible taxpayer a refundable credit against the income tax imposed by the Nebraska Revenue Act of 1967 or against the franchise tax imposed by sections 77-3801 to 77-3807. The credit shall be equal to the credit percentage for the taxable year, as set by the department under subsection (2) of this section, multiplied by the amount of school district taxes paid by the eligible taxpayer during such taxable year."

Sources: Nebraska Department of Revenue

State Senator: Joni Albrecht (District 17)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings): 

• Education (vice chairperson)
• Revenue

Select Committees:

• Committee on Committees (chairperson)

Special Committees: 

• State-Tribal Relations

Map and statistics for Legislative District 17

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Dakota County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 5

Year Authorized: 1855

Year Organized: 1855

Etymology: Dakota Sioux Native American tribe

     Fort Charles, a fur trading posted located along the Missouri River, stakes its claim as one of the oldest businesses in Nebraska. Remarkably, records indicate that Fort Charles was conducting business for the earliest settlers more than 70 years before Nebraska became a state. In fact, historians believe that Lewis and Clark passed through the post in 1804 (referred to as Mackay’s Trading House in Clark’s journal).

     Dakota County takes its name from the Dakota Sioux tribe, who inhabited the territory for hundreds of years prior to the arrival of European settlers. The precise meaning of the word Dakota is unknown; although some researchers have roughly translated the word to “friend,” “allies,” or “brothers,” Dakota remains an ancient word whose precise meaning has been lost through the ages. Some anthropological research has traced its origin back to the word “endakutha,” featured in a song sung by members of an ancient Omaha tribal society. The true origin of the word Dakota, taken in context with the verse, can be approximately translated as, “The Divine Power is a shield to the chosen people.”

     In 1855, Dakota County witnessed the drawing of its first county boundaries and saw Dakota City emerge as the first county seat. However, a few years later, a rival town named St. John’s attempted to wrest the honor from Dakota City, claiming its more central location merited the county seat. An election was held, and Dakota City retained the county seat by a mere three votes. 

     Several early settlers in Dakota County would later win state and national positions of public service, including Williams James, who served as Nebraska’s Secretary of State, and John Taff, who served three terms in the U.S. Congress following his service to the Nebraska Volunteer Cavalry in the Civil War.

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Local Highlights

License Plate Number: 70

Time Zone: Central

Number of Veterans: 941

Zoned County: Yes

Number of County-Owned Bridges: 46

Number of County-Owned Dams: 1

Election Data

General Election Turnout % (2022): 34.06%

Total Registered Voters (2020): 11,323

Number of Precincts (2020): 13

Number of Election Day Polling Places (2020): 12

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.) (2020): 22.02 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

Emergency Mgt. Planning, Exercise and Training (PET) Region: Northeast

Natural Resource District: Lower Elkhorn NRD, Papio-Missouri River NRD

State Lands (acres): Basswood Ridge WMA (360), Danish Alps SRA (746), Omadi Bend WMA (32.79)

Federal Lands (acres): Snyder Bend (875.12)

Sources: Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, Nebraska Legislature, Nebraska Office of the CIO, Nebraska Secretary of State, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (eCFR)