Dakota County
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Location

Dakota County is the third most populous county in Minnesota, with an estimated population of 370,098 in 2002. Most of the population is concentrated in the northern one-third of the county (suburbs of the Minneapolis–St. Paul Metropolitan Area), while the southern two-thirds of the county remain largely rural.

Population

During the last decade, the state of Minnesota grew 12.4%, from 4,375,099 people to 4,919,479. The seven-county metropolitan area grew at a faster rate (15.4%) over the same period, demonstrating a continued shift from greater Minnesota to the metropolitan area - including Dakota County. The metropolitan area population rose from 2,288,721 in 1990 to 2,642,056 in 2000, an addition of 353,335 people - or just less than a city the size of Minneapolis - over the decade. The metropolitan area now makes up 53.7% of the state’s population, up from 52.3% in 1990.

Facts About Dakota County

Population (2003 Estimate): 374,000
Population (2000): 355,904
Population (1990): 275,227
Population Increase (1990-2000): 29.3%
Population Density (2000) 618 people per square mile
Median Age (2000): 33.7 years
Racial and Ethnic Diversity (2000):
White: 91.4%
Black/African American: 2.3%
Asian 2.9%
American Indian 0.4%
Hispanic/Latino Ethnicity: 2.9%
Average Household Income (1999): $65,000
Per Capita Income (2002 Estimate): $36,000
Land Area: 576 square miles
Land Use: One-third suburban, two-thirds rural