Dakota County turns 160

Wednesday, 28 October 2009

by Laura Adelmann Thisweek Newspapers This week marks Dakota County’s 160th year in existence, one milestone among many in the county’s history, which includes: PHOTO: Dakota County Commissioner Joe Harris looks through an exhibit of historical materials on display while on break from the county board’s Oct. 20 meeting. The display had been set up by the Dakota County Historical Society to recognize the county’s 160th anniversary. Photo by Laura Adelmann • The establishment of Dakota County government in 1853. Appointed officials included three commissioners, a judge, treasurer, sheriff and register of deeds. • An unusual type of public auction held by the county in the wake of the real estate market collapse of 1857 to sell off thousands of parcels to collect back taxes and avoid economic collapse. • In the 1900s, electric railcars ran through the county’s east side. But, perpetually unprofitable, the venture closed in 1928, and  some of the trolley cars were used as chicken coops, others were trashed. • With the invention of the automobile, roads and bridges began to be developed in Dakota County, including the Mendota Bridge, built in 1926.  Farmers complained of lost crop land for the roads, impatient drivers trying to pass their horse-drawn equipment, and high taxes. • In 1939, Dakota County and Goodhue County electric cooperatives sponsored a two-day exhibit to demonstrate how electricity could be used on the farm and in the home, including lectures on how to wash clothes and use electrical appliances. • During World War II, the federal government displaced many farmers to build a munitions plant in Rosemount; it was never finished, and the land was later turned over to the University of Minnesota. The property is now planned to be cleaned up and developed into a community designed with sustainable development principles. Over the years, the county’s population has grown in size and diversity. According to the Dakota County Historical Society, the county’s population was 8,556 in 1860 and 39,660 in 1940. County staff estimate it at 400,000 this year. Laura Adelmann is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment Name Email Comment smaller | bigger Subscribe via email (Registered users only) I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage. Write the displayed characters Add Comment

 

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