Dakota County Demographics

A map of Dakota County's Population by Race

Dakota County, Nebraska has an estimated population of 21,354, a slight decrease from the 21,582 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 42.3% White, 41.6% Hispanic, 8.7% Black, 3.0% Asian, 2.3% Multiracial, and 2.1% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Dakota County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Dakota is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is considerably more diverse than Nebraska overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Dakota County, that probability was 63.8% in 2020 and 63.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Dakota County is ranked the 16th most populous county in Nebraska, out of 93 counties. Dakota County was ranked the 16th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Dakota County's White Population

9,031 residents of Dakota County, or 42.3% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Dakota County is significantly lower than in Nebraska overall, where 75.3% of the population is White. Dakota County ranks 92nd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 93 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dakota County's White population has declined by an estimated 3.4%. White residents' share of Dakota County's population has decreased from 43.3% to 42.3%.

Dakota County is more White than neighboring Thurston County (36.2% White). Dakota County is less White than neighboring Dixon County (80.9% White), Union County (88.4% White), Plymouth County (88% White), and Woodbury County (67.1% White).

Dakota County's Black Population

1,852 residents of Dakota County, or 8.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Dakota County is slightly higher than in Nebraska overall, where 4.6% of the population is Black. Dakota County ranks 2nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 93 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dakota County's Black population has grown by an estimated 15.5%. Black residents' share of Dakota County's population has increased from 7.4% to 8.7%.

Dakota County is more Black than neighboring Thurston County (0.3% Black), Dixon County (0% Black), Union County (0.9% Black), Plymouth County (2.4% Black), and Woodbury County (4.9% Black).

Dakota County's Asian Population

646 residents of Dakota County, or 3.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Dakota County is comparable to the share in Nebraska overall, where 2.6% of the population is Asian. Dakota County ranks 3rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 93 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dakota County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 7.3%. Asian residents' share of Dakota County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.0%.

Dakota County is more Asian than neighboring Thurston County (1.4% Asian), Dixon County (0.1% Asian), Union County (1.1% Asian), Plymouth County (0.5% Asian), and Woodbury County (2.3% Asian).

Dakota County's Hispanic Population

8,878 residents of Dakota County, or 41.6% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Dakota County is significantly higher than in Nebraska overall, where 12.7% of the population is Hispanic. Dakota County ranks 2nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 93 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dakota County's Hispanic population has remained roughly the same. Hispanic residents' share of Dakota County's population has increased from 40.8% to 41.6%.

Dakota County is more Hispanic than neighboring Thurston County (4.9% Hispanic), Dixon County (15.8% Hispanic), Union County (4.8% Hispanic), Plymouth County (6.4% Hispanic), and Woodbury County (19.1% Hispanic).

Dakota County's Native American/Other Population

455 residents of Dakota County, or 2.1% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Dakota County is comparable to the share in Nebraska overall, where 1% of the population is Native American/Other. Dakota County ranks 6th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 93 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dakota County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 36.2%. Native American/Other residents' share of Dakota County's population has decreased from 3.3% to 2.1%.

Dakota County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Dixon County (0.7% Native American/Other), Union County (1% Native American/Other), and Plymouth County (0.7% Native American/Other). Dakota County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Thurston County (53.8% Native American/Other), and Woodbury County (2.3% Native American/Other).

Dakota County's Multiracial Population

492 residents of Dakota County, or 2.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Dakota County is comparable to the share in Nebraska overall, where 3.8% of the population is Multiracial. Dakota County ranks 56th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 93 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dakota County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 2.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Dakota County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.3%.

Dakota County is more Multiracial than neighboring Plymouth County (2% Multiracial). Dakota County is less Multiracial than neighboring Thurston County (3.5% Multiracial), Dixon County (2.5% Multiracial), Union County (3.7% Multiracial), and Woodbury County (4.3% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.