Dakota County

General

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

Race & Age

Race  2020

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  2020

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

Households

Total households:  7,400  2020
With one child:  1,300  2022
With 2+ children:  1,760  2022
With seniors (65+):  1,420  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita:  $52,218  2021
% of Population in Poverty:  11.7%  2022
# of Housing Units:  7,765  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  38
Owner-occupied rate:  64.5%  2020
Median home price:  $182,940  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem):  90.4%  2021

Sources: National Association of Realtors, Nebraska Department of Revenue, Nebraska Legislature, Nebraska Library Commission, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Census Bureau (building permits), U.S. Census Bureau (demographics), U.S. Census Bureau (municipalities)

Employment, Schools, and Child Care

Unemployment rate:  2.4%  Sept. 2024

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

High school graduate or higher:  77.2%  2020

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

Bachelor's degree or higher:  14.7%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Northeast Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  24 providers; 618 children  2024

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 (GDP):  $2,152,583,000  2022

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $337,759,403  2021

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $439,872,000  2022

• Nonfarm small business receipts are reported by partnerships & sole proprietorships and do not include receipts reported by cooperative associations. Nonfarm wage income may include wages earned from Dakota County businesses by commuters or teleworkers residing outside of Nebraska.

Farm & Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $134,568,000  2022

Farm & Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $10,225,000  2022

• Farm & ranch receipt totals for commodity sales and operations are reported by producers operating principally in Dakota County and include those producers' receipts from production in other counties. The totals do not include receipts from sales and operations in Dakota County reported by producers operating principally in other counties.

Cattle Producers:  71

Crop Producers:  34

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.):  $280/acre  2024

Ethanol Plants (annual production capacity):  Siouxland Ethanol (90 million gallons)

Grain Elevators by Location (bushels capacity):

• Dakota City: J. E. Mueret (1,498,143)
• South Sioux City: Richardson Milling (3,174,867)
• (1 bushel = 56 lbs. corn/sorghum, 60 lbs. soybeans/wheat; % max. moisture = 18% beans, 15.5% corn, 14% sorghum/soybeans, 13.5% wheat)

Railroad Miles:  35.34 main, 8.06 side

• Places with Railroad Service:  Dakota City, Homer, Jackson

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

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)

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells:  178  2024

Irrigation/Livestock Wells per Square Mile:  0.67  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):  11  2024

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

2023 Levies and Valuation

County levy rate:  $0.3011 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied:  $7,265,173

Total local government property taxes levied:  $38,623,715

Total countywide taxable valuation:  $2,413,018,069

Federal PILT payment to Dakota County (FY2022):  $2,691 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-Elect: Glen Meyer

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.

Highlight an important program in your county in this space! Send an email to:

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Local Highlights

License Plate Number:  70

Time Zone:  Central

Number of Veterans:  856  2023

Zoned County:  Yes

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  46

Number of County-Owned Dams:  1

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  59.75%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  10,550  2024

Number of Precincts:  12  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  12  2022

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.):  22.29 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. Election Assistance Commission, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (eCFR)