Dakota County
Welcome to Dakota County! Find Your Place Here.
Located to the southeast of the Twin Cities, Dakota County real estate is strategically situated to give residents easy access to everything that the metro area has to offer. The county provides recreational amenities, a fantastic county fair, and all of the services you’d expect in a big city.
One of the original nine counties created by Minnesota’s Territory Legislature, Dakota County offers a unique mixture of one third urban, one third suburban, and one third rural living. Living here gives you direct access to both the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, offering the majestic beauty of the outdoors with easy access to the convenience of city life.
To encourage a healthy environment for its citizens, Dakota County has a variety of projects underway to improve parks, lakes, and rivers and to restore woodlands. Whether you are looking to stroll down the Mississippi River Trail or hike near the McDonough Lake, you can rest assured you live in a community that takes pride in continuously finding ways to improve the outdoors and keep recreational options available.
This Minnesota county also offers several nature programs for citizens of all ages to provide fun, educational opportunities at local parks. Peruse the trails by candlelight for an interesting date night, participate in Earth Week park clean up, or lend a hand on any number of planting projects to keep the lands lush and beautiful!
Our selection of homes for sale in Dakota County offers quiet, community-centered living and safe neighborhoods for you and your family. Not only does living in Dakota County put you near the Mall of America, downtown St. Paul, and other fantastic metropolitan attractions, it also offers great schools and an amazing small town feel! Browse our selection of Dakota County real estate listings and find your home today.
Dakota County is filled with a wide variety of recreational resources for residents to take advantage of. From Lebanon Hills Regional Park, perfect for kayaking, hiking, biking, and more; to Spring Lake Park Reserve; to Whitetail Woods Regional Park; and countless local parks and trails, it’s no wonder those who love the outdoors love living in Dakota County. Whether you love swimming, skating, snow mobiling, or any other recreational activity, you’ll find it here.
If you love shopping, Dakota County is filled with a plethora of shopping areas perfect for finding whatever you’re looking for. From the high-end outlets at Twin Cities Premium Outlets in Eagan, to shopping centers like Town & Country Square in Burnsville and all of the retail along Robert Street in West St. Paul, there is truly something for everyone. Plus, the Mall of America is located just beyond the county line in Bloomington.
Dining in Dakota County offers everything you could ever want, whether you’re looking for a fast food favorite or something new and exotic. A few hotspots include Indian Zayka in Eagan, which serves mouthwatering Indian cuisine; The Valley Tap House in Apple Valley, great for amazing barbecue; and Jerseys Bar and Grill in Inver Grove Heights, featuring fantastic build-your-own-burgers just to name a few. The dining options are virtually endless in Dakota County, so you’re sure to find a new favorite.
Dakota County is dedicated to maintaining a sustainable community. Several county facilities have been built/upgraded to operate more sustainably, including: the Dakota Lodge in West St. Paul, the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center and Trailhead in Eagan, and the Robert Trail Library in Rosemount. The county continues to pursue sustainability in all of their facilities and operations.
Dakota County school districts include the following:
- Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Public Schools, ISD 191
- Cannon Falls Public Schools, ISD 252
- Farmington Public Schools, ISD 192
- Hastings Public Schools, ISD 200
- Inver Grove Heights Public Schools, ISD 199
- Lakeville Public Schools, ISD 194
- Northfield Public Schools, ISD 659
- Randolph Public Schools, ISD 195
- Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools, ISD 196
- South Saint Paul Public Schools, Special District 6
- West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Area Schools, ISD 197
The following providers support public transportation in Dakota County:
- MetroTransit
- Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA)
- DARTS
- Metro Mobility
- Rideshare Information
- TransitLink
Dakota County is governed locally by the county Board of Commissioners, which consists of seven members elected by their respective districts. This governing body is responsible for overseeing the collective county operations and budgets.
Dakota County was founded in 1849, extending hundreds of miles further west than it does today, all the way to the Missouri River. The county was reduced in size nine years later, in 1858, when Minnesota gained Statehood. Dakota County is home to the first European settlement in Minnesota – Mendota – and over the years has grown into the third-most populous county in the state with 408,500 residents.
Dakota County is filled with a wide variety of recreational resources for residents to take advantage of. From Lebanon Hills Regional Park, perfect for kayaking, hiking, biking, and more; to Spring Lake Park Reserve; to Whitetail Woods Regional Park; and countless local parks and trails, it’s no wonder those who love the outdoors love living in Dakota County. Whether you love swimming, skating, snow mobiling, or any other recreational activity, you’ll find it here.
If you love shopping, Dakota County is filled with a plethora of shopping areas perfect for finding whatever you’re looking for. From the high-end outlets at Twin Cities Premium Outlets in Eagan, to shopping centers like Town & Country Square in Burnsville and all of the retail along Robert Street in West St. Paul, there is truly something for everyone. Plus, the Mall of America is located just beyond the county line in Bloomington.
Dining in Dakota County offers everything you could ever want, whether you’re looking for a fast food favorite or something new and exotic. A few hotspots include Indian Zayka in Eagan, which serves mouthwatering Indian cuisine; The Valley Tap House in Apple Valley, great for amazing barbecue; and Jerseys Bar and Grill in Inver Grove Heights, featuring fantastic build-your-own-burgers just to name a few. The dining options are virtually endless in Dakota County, so you’re sure to find a new favorite.
Dakota County is dedicated to maintaining a sustainable community. Several county facilities have been built/upgraded to operate more sustainably, including: the Dakota Lodge in West St. Paul, the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center and Trailhead in Eagan, and the Robert Trail Library in Rosemount. The county continues to pursue sustainability in all of their facilities and operations.
Dakota County school districts include the following:
- Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Public Schools, ISD 191
- Cannon Falls Public Schools, ISD 252
- Farmington Public Schools, ISD 192
- Hastings Public Schools, ISD 200
- Inver Grove Heights Public Schools, ISD 199
- Lakeville Public Schools, ISD 194
- Northfield Public Schools, ISD 659
- Randolph Public Schools, ISD 195
- Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools, ISD 196
- South Saint Paul Public Schools, Special District 6
- West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Area Schools, ISD 197
The following providers support public transportation in Dakota County:
- MetroTransit
- Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA)
- DARTS
- Metro Mobility
- Rideshare Information
- TransitLink
Dakota County is governed locally by the county Board of Commissioners, which consists of seven members elected by their respective districts. This governing body is responsible for overseeing the collective county operations and budgets.
Dakota County was founded in 1849, extending hundreds of miles further west than it does today, all the way to the Missouri River. The county was reduced in size nine years later, in 1858, when Minnesota gained Statehood. Dakota County is home to the first European settlement in Minnesota – Mendota – and over the years has grown into the third-most populous county in the state with 408,500 residents.
