Dakota County Government

 Dakota County is 587 square miles in area and has a population of about 425,000. Situated in the southeast corner of the Twin Cities Metropolitan area, it is the third-most populous county in the state of Minnesota.

Dakota County maintains a land use mixture of 1/3 urban, 1/3 suburban and 1/3 rural. This combination of land use and the confluence of two major rivers (the Mississippi and Minnesota) that form the county’s northern and eastern borders makes Dakota County a unique geographic area.

Founded in 1849, Dakota County was one of the original nine counties created by the Minnesota Territory Legislature. Thus, it was established before Minnesota was considered a state. The county seat moved to Hastings in 1857, where it has remained.

Between 1990 and 2000, Dakota County’s population grew by nearly 30 percent. In recent years, second- and third-ring communities in Dakota County (Burnsville, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, Apple Valley, Farmington, Lakeville and Rosemount) have dramatically increased in population as development continues to move outwards from the urban core of Minneapolis and St. Paul, into suburban municipalities.

County Mission Statement

The mission of the Dakota County government is to provide efficient, effective, responsive government that achieves the Board of Commissioners’ vision for Dakota County: a premier place in which to live and work.

Dakota County Website: https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/Pages/default.aspx.

Burnsville is District 5 in Dakota County and is represented by:

County Commissioner Liz Workman

Liz.workman@co.dakota.mn.us

651-438-7479

For additional information about County Commissioner Liz Workman, go to: https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/Government/Board/District5/Pages/default.aspx.

Population by District District Population

  • District 1 – Mike Slavik 61,135
  • District 2 – Kathleen A. Gaylord 53,172
  • District 3 – Thomas A. Egan 56,574
  • District 4 – Joe Atkins 56,163
  • District 5 – Liz Workman 60,306
  • District 6 – Mary Liz Holberg 55,954
  • District 7 – Chris Gerlach 55,248

Total 398,552  

We have provided this information for your reference using recent population data. Burnsville Chamber of Commerce & Dakota County are not responsible for any misuse or misrepresentation of this information. If you note any errors, please contact us at 952-891-7087 or at gis@co.dakota.mn.us.

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