Dakota County

General

Population: 21,241
Land area (sq. mi.): 264.28
Population per square mile: 81.7

Race

White: 44.3%
African American: 7.9%
American Indian: 4.5%
Asian: 3.8%
Hispanic: 39.8%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.7%

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: 7,793
Owner-occupied rate: 66.4%
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%

Bachelor's degree or higher: 14.7%

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

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

Ag. Producers (Cattle): 71

Ag. Producers (Crop): 34

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

Rail-served Communities: Dakota City, Homer, Jackson

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

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)
Committees: Agriculture, Business and Labor, Government, Military and Veterans Affairs

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 Founded: 1855

Etymology: Dakota Sioux Native American tribe

Historical records of Dakota County officially begin in 1862 when the area was separated from Burt County and this new county's boundaries were defined by members of the Territorial Legislature. But this area along the Missouri River in the northeast corner of Nebraska actually can be traced back to the late 18th century.

According to historical accounts, a fur trading post known as Fort Charles was established along the river in 1795, long before the area would become Dakota County. Some historians claim this trading post was the first business to be located within the area that would become the State of Nebraska a full 72 years later.

Dakota County derives its name from the Dakota Sioux tribe. The most common interpretation of the word Dakota means allies or brothers.

Roughly 50 years before the first county boundaries were established, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark passed through the area during their journey up the Missouri River. At the time the area was primarily known only to members of the Dakota tribe.

The original county boundaries in this area of the state were actually created in 1855. The following year the Territorial Legislature named the Missouri River settlement of Dakota City as the county seat. In 1858 some settlers in the area sought to relocate the county seat to a more central location. An election was held, with St. John's challenging Dakota City for the honor. When the votes were counted the final tally read 263 for St. John's and 260 for Dakota City. Since a majority to relocate the county seat was not achieved, it remained in Dakota City.

Early settlers included William James, who in 1871 became Secretary of State, and John Taffe, who would later go on to serve in Congress.

The first courthouse was built in Dakota City in 1870. Seventeen years later the townsite of South Sioux City was incorporated several miles to the north. In the years that followed, South Sioux City made several attempts to become the county seat but each time Dakota City prevailed.

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License Plate Number: 70

Time Zone: Central

Zoned County: Yes

Number of Veterans: 941

Voter Turnout (2022): 34.06%

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

Number of County-Owned Bridges: 46

Number of County-Owned Dams: 1

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)