Dakota County, Nebraska

Dakota County, Nebraska
Dakota County courthouse in Dakota City
Location in the state of Nebraska
Nebraska's location in the U.S.
Founded	1855
Seat	Dakota City
Largest city	South Sioux City
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	267 sq mi (692 km²) 264 sq mi (684 km²) 4 sq mi (10 km²), 1.35%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	21,006 78/sq mi (30/km²)
Website	www.dakotacountyne.org

Dakota County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is part of the Sioux City, IA–NE–SD Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 21,006.^[1] Its county seat is Dakota City^[2].

In the Nebraska license plate system, Dakota County is represented by the prefix 70 (it had the seventieth-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922). In August 2009, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners reversed an earlier decision to abandon this system for alphanumeric plates upon introduction of new license plates in 2011.^[3] Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy Counties remain the only counties with alphanumeric plates in the state.^[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 267 square miles (691.5 km²), of which 264 square miles (683.8 km²) is land and 4 square miles (10.4 km²) (1.35%) is water.

Major highways

• Interstate 129
• U.S. Highway 20
• U.S. Highway 75
• U.S. Highway 77
• Nebraska Highway 9
• Nebraska Highway 12
• Nebraska Highway 35
• Nebraska Highway 110

Adjacent counties

• Union County, South Dakota - north
• Woodbury County, Iowa - east
• Thurston County, Nebraska - south
• Dixon County, Nebraska - west

History

Dakota County was formed in 1855. It was named after the Dakota Sioux tribe.^[5]

Demographics

Dakota County Population by decade

1860 - 819 1870 - 2,040 1880 - 3,213 1890 - 5,386 1900 - 6,286 1910 - 6,564 1920 - 7,694 1930 - 9,505 1940 - 9,836 1950 - 10,401 1960 - 12,168 1970 - 13,137 1980 - 16,573 1990 - 16,742 2000 - 20,253 2010 - 21,006

As of the census^[6] of 2000, there were 20,253 people, 7,095 households, and 5,087 families residing in the county. The population density was 77 people per square mile (30/km²). There were 7,528 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 78.84% White, 0.62% Black or African American, 1.86% Native American, 3.08% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 12.91% from other races, and 2.62% from two or more races. 22.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.0% were of German and 10.5% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

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.

In the county the population was spread out with 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.

Communities

Cities

• Dakota City
• South Sioux City

Villages

• Emerson (partial)
• Homer
• Hubbard
• Jackson

Unincorporated community

• Willis

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Dakota County, Nebraska

References

1. ^ http://www.yankton.net/articles/2011/03/03/community/doc4d6f181b374f9967268554.txt
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
3. ^ Dakota County license plates to keep No.70 Sioux City Journal August 18, 2009
4. ^ Plate math: 70 follows 1, 2, 59 Omaha World-Herald June 8, 2009
5. ^ [1] Retrieved on March 14, 2008.
6. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

Coordinates: 42°23′N 96°34′W / 42.39°N 96.56°W / 42.39; -96.56