About Our County

Interesting Facts About Dakota County

  • Dakota County sits in the extreme northeastern corner of Nebraska, bordered by South Dakota to the north, Iowa to the east, Dixon County to the west, and Thurston County to the south.
  • The Missouri River forms the county’s northern and eastern boundaries and has played a major role in the area’s history, transportation, trade, and development.
  • Dakota County was named after the Dakota (Dakotah) people, one of the tribes of the Sioux Nation.
  • Agriculture has long been the backbone of the local economy and remains one of the county’s most important industries.
  • Dakota City is the county seat and the only one of the original riverfront towns established in the 1850s that still exists today.
  • The county contains two cities—Dakota City and South Sioux City—along with the villages of Homer, Hubbard, and Jackson, plus a portion of Emerson, which uniquely lies in three Nebraska counties.
  • South Sioux City is the county’s largest city and has operated under several different names throughout its history, including Harney City, Newport, Pacific City, Logan, and Covington.
  • The county experienced major Missouri River floods in 1881, 1943, 1952, and 2011, demonstrating the river’s continuing influence on local life.
  • Dakota County is home to Emanuel Lutheran Church, built in 1860 and recognized as the oldest church building constructed in the Nebraska Territory still standing.
  • Several churches established during the nineteenth century continue to serve active congregations today, preserving a direct connection to the county’s pioneer heritage.
  • The county’s population grew from approximately 16,500 residents in 1980 to more than 21,000 residents by 2010, reflecting continued growth and development.

Historical Highlights of Dakota County

  • The first known inhabitants of the area were Native American tribes, particularly the Omaha people, who lived in and traveled throughout the Missouri River valley.
  • Following early European exploration, the region became part of the Louisiana Purchase acquired by the United States from France in 1803.
  • In 1739, French trappers known as the Mallet brothers explored the area and crossed the Missouri River near present-day Dakota City.
  • In 1795, James MacKay established Fort Charles near Chief Blackbird’s village, creating one of the earliest European trading posts in the region.
  • The famous Lewis and Clark Expedition traveled through the area in August 1804 and explored nearby Native American settlements and burial grounds near present-day Homer.
  • Nearby, the expedition suffered its only death when Sergeant Charles Floyd died along the Missouri River. His memorial across the river in Iowa became the first National Historic Landmark designated by the federal government.
  • Dakota County originally became part of the Nebraska Territory in 1854.
  • Irish settlers led by Father Trecy established St. John City in 1855. Although the town later disappeared, its legacy survives through St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and local descendants.
  • The county’s earliest trading settlement, Blyberg (formerly Fort Charles), was eventually abandoned due to changes in the Missouri River’s course.
  • Dakota City was established in 1856 and became a prosperous frontier community with schools, churches, businesses, and river commerce.
  • During the nineteenth century, as many as ten towns were platted along the Missouri River in Dakota County. Most eventually disappeared because of flooding, river channel changes, economic shifts, or transportation changes.
  • South Sioux City was incorporated in 1887 after several nearby settlements merged and adapted to repeated floods, fires, and relocations.
  • The arrival of the railroad transformed the county, leading to the development of communities such as Emerson and Hubbard.
  • Reliance on river transportation gradually declined as railroads became the dominant method for moving agricultural products and commercial goods.
  • Construction of bridges across the Missouri River, beginning with the 1895 combination bridge, permanently connected South Sioux City with Sioux City, Iowa, strengthening regional commerce and transportation.
  • The twentieth century saw extensive efforts to control flooding through the construction of a series of Missouri River dams, although the historic flood of 2011 demonstrated that the river still remains a powerful force.
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