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Dakota County, Nebraska

22 topographic sheets cover 12 settlements here, and 4 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

4 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the county history on the Internet Archive · the National Register database, National Park Service

Nebraska within the United States
Dakota County within Nebraska

What the record shows

  • 139 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 4 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 4 buildings.
  • 1 of the 4 listings was added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 12 populated places in this county; 12 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.
  • 1 public-domain county history, 1893, supplies 3,643 words of narrative reproduced here.

Places on the National Register

4

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Ben Bonderson Farmbuilding200606000993
Emmanuel Lutheran Churchbuilding196969000129
Meisch Housebuilding198686000387
Cornelius O'Connor Housebuilding197777000826

Wildfire, 2001 to 2020

34 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 34 of them, burning about 1,271 acres. 1 started naturally and 2 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning13
Missing data/not specified/undetermined6
Equipment and vehicle use6
Smoking2
Arson/incendiarism2
Power generation/transmission/distribution2
Natural1
Recreation and ceremony1
Railroad operations and maintenance1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
19 April 2008Debris and open burning560 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
18 April 2014Missing data/not specified/undetermined130 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
31 March 2014Smoking125 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
7 November 2010Natural80 acresWinnebago AgencyKIM KNECHT
2 May 2009Equipment and vehicle use80 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
9 April 2008Debris and open burning60 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
6 May 2017Power generation/transmission/distribution30 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
9 April 2020Missing data/not specified/undetermined30 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1955 to 2025

60 of 225 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 225 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 4 injuries and about $36,715,500 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail99
Thunderstorm Wind83
Flood20
Flash Flood14
Tornado8
Lightning1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
August 2001Tornado (F2)Jackson3 hurt, $3,000,000A tornado completely destroyed at least ten houses and heavily damaged several others. The tornado heavily damaged the town school, including taking most of the roof off the school. The only church in town and a telephone company building were also heavily damaged. Power lines, poles, and trees were blown down, and electricity and water service were knocked out. Three empty box cars on the southeast side of Jackson were toppled. Three injuries included a woman with a broken leg and cuts rescued from the rubble of a house, and two children with minor injuries.
July 1986Tornado (F4)not stated1 hurt, $25,000,000no account filed
July 1996Thunderstorm WindSouth Sioux City$3,000,000no account filed
March 2019FloodEmerson$1,500,000Nebraska Highway 26E Spur was closed due to flooding, with water reaching into portions of Ponca. In addition, flooding resulted in extensive damage to public infrastructure including numerous county and township roads, culverts, and some bridges.
June 2024FloodEmerson$1,180,000Rainfall amounts across Dakota County from June 20-22 were generally a half inch or less. However, farther north and upstream 6 to 10 plus inches fell across portions of southeast South Dakota and northwest Iowa. Record flood waters along the Vermillion and Big Sioux Rivers emptied into the Missouri River, pushing river levels into minor flooding. ||Missouri River flooding resulted in the evacuation of the Lower Scenic Park Campground and damage to parts of the park, including the soccer fields and some campground electrical pedestals. The police shooting range was also damaged. Preliminary damage assessments estimate loss to public infrastructure to be nearly 1.18 million dollars. ||For additional information on river flooding, please see other flood entries for Dakota County.
July 1996Flash FloodJackson$1,000,000no account filed
July 2002Thunderstorm WindJackson$500,000Thunderstorm winds caused widespread damage to trees and structures. The worst structural damage was on a farm just south of Jackson where two barns and a windmill were totally destroyed, shingles on the roof of the house were blown off, an air conditioner was destroyed, five horses were injured, and electricity was cut off. In Jackson, shingles were blown off the roofs of buildings, siding was damaged from wind blown debris, and a few homes suffered damage when large branches fell. Major tree damage in Jackson included a few large trees blown over. Power lines and poles were blown down or damaged by falling trees, resulting in power outages.
July 1996HailSouth Sioux City$500,000no account filed
July 1996Thunderstorm WindWillis$300,000no account filed
July 1999HailSouth Sioux City$200,000no account filed
August 2011HailHubbard$100,000Large hail caused widespread damage to crops, vehicles, and windows.
July 2002HailJackson$100,000Large hail, driven by severe winds, damaged siding on homes, and also dented vehicles.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindSouth Sioux City$50,000Thunderstorm winds blew down numerous trees and power lines, and caused other widespread tree damage. At least one house and a camper were damaged by falling trees. A few street lights were also knocked down.
June 2003HailJackson$50,000Large hail damaged vehicles and cracked windows.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindSouth Sioux City$50,000Thunderstorm winds cause tree and power line damage, including numerous trees blown down.
July 1996Tornado (F0)Jackson$50,000no account filed
June 2003Thunderstorm WindJackson$20,000Thunderstorm winds caused widespread tree damage, including several trees blown down. There was also damage to power lines, and at least two buildings received minor damage from wind blown debris.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindHomer$20,000Thunderstorm winds severely damaged grain elevators on a farm, and caused tree damage.
May 2011Thunderstorm WindEmerson$10,000Thunderstorm winds blew over a large semi truck.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindJackson$10,000Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage including large limbs blown down. A house was damaged by tree debris.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindDakota City$10,000Thunderstorm winds caused widespread tree damage, including several large trees uprooted or blown down. A flagpole was also blown down.
August 2003Thunderstorm WindHomer$10,000Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several trees down. One tree fell on and damaged a house.
June 2000Thunderstorm WindJackson$10,000Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage.
October 2019FloodWillis$5,000A continuation from September, the Missouri River at Ponca (gage site MRPN1) started the month at 0.55 feet above flood stage on October 1, and fell below flood stage on October 4. Property damage costs are rough estimates.
September 2019FloodWillis$5,000Runoff from heavy rainfall (4.59 inches at Hurley, 4.24 inches at Menno, and 8.14 inches at Clayton) brought the Missouri River at Ponca (gage site MRPN1) to a crest 3.06 feet above flood stage on September 15. The river remained in minor flood stage at the end of the month.
May 2011Thunderstorm WindSouth Sioux City$5,000Thunderstorm winds blew down light poles.
August 2009Thunderstorm WindJackson$5,000Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage. A large tree on the west side of the town of Jackson was blown down across a road, and trees up to 5 inches in diameter were broken off in the town.
July 1995Thunderstorm WindHomer$5,000Thunderstorm winds blew down some small trees.
July 1996LightningSouth Sioux City$5,000no account filed
July 1996HailDakota City$5,000no account filed
July 1996Thunderstorm WindDakota City$5,000no account filed
May 1995Thunderstorm WindS. Sioux City$3,000,,,,,,,,(G60) Thunderstorm winds blew the roof off of a horse stable.
June 1987Tornado (F0)not stated$2,500no account filed
July 2024Flash FloodSouth Sioux City-A car was stalled in flood waters along South Ridge Drive near U.S. Highway 77.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindSouth Sioux City-Several large tree limbs were downed around South Sioux City, some on top of vehicles or residential structures.
June 2024FloodWillis-The Missouri River near Ponca rose above flood stage the morning of June 24th, cresting around 0.93 feet above flood stage (20.93 feet) on June 26th. The river then fell below flood stage on the morning of June 27th. For a more comprehensive description of flood damage, please see other entries for Dakota County.
June 2024FloodWillis-The Missouri River at Sioux City rose above flood stage the evening of June 24th, cresting around 2.23 feet above flood stage (32.23 feet) on June 25th. The river then fell below flood stage on the morning of June 27th. For a more comprehensive description of flood damage, please see other entries for Dakota County.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindHomer-Thunderstorm winds snapped several large trees and caused minor roof damage to a couple of houses.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindJackson-Thunderstorm winds downed a tree roughly 30 feet tall and 12 inches in diameter, which blocked the westbound lane of U.S. Highway 20 in Jackson.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindJackson-Thunderstorm winds downed several tree limbs up to 3 inches in diameter.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindHomer-A brief gustnado developed along the storm outflow, but no damage was noted.
June 2020HailWillis-Hail was found and measured three hours after occurrence.
June 2020HailWillis-The hail was accompanied by winds strong enough to break 2 inch diameter branches from trees.
October 2020Thunderstorm WindNacora-Wind gusts occurred within the heavy rain core, but there was no hail. Crops appeared undamaged by the wind.
June 2019FloodWillis-A continuation of flooding from May, the Missouri River near Ponca (gage site MRPN1) crested 2.47 feet above flood stage on June 1. High water closed numerous recreational boat ramps.
June 2019FloodWillis-A continuation of flooding from May, the Missouri River at Sioux City (gage site SSCN1) crested 0.27 feet above flood stage on June 1. Some minor flooding of Sioux City parks near the river occurred, along with water briefly onto portions of Hamilton Boulevard near Interstate 29.
June 2019FloodEmerson-During crop planting season, prolonged flooding led to the loss of or inability to plant crops across the area. Crop loss estimates provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.
March 2019FloodSouth Sioux City-Multiple road closures in South Sioux City. Reports received via social media.
March 2019FloodLaketon-Highway 75 closed between Dakota City and Winnebago due to flooding.
May 2019FloodWillis-Increased releases from upstream Gavins Point Dam along with runoff from heavy rainfall over the preceding week produced moderate flooding on the Missouri River near Ponca (gage site MRPN1). Agricultural areas near the river were inundated as the river rose to 2.46 feet above flood stage on May 31. The river remained in moderate flood stage at the end of the month.
May 2019FloodWillis-Increased releases from upstream Gavins Point Dam along with runoff from heavy rainfall over the preceding week produced minor flooding on the Missouri River at Sioux City (gage site SSCN1). Hamilton Boulevard and a few park areas along the river near Interstate 29 were flooded as the river rose to 0.22 feet above flood stage on May 31. The river remained in minor flood stage at the end of the month.
March 2019FloodHomer-Snow melt and heavy rainfall (measured 1.70 inches 3 miles southwest of Hubbard and 1.63 inches at Emerson) resulted in significant flooding of agricultural lands, as Omaha Creek at Homer (gage site HMRN1) crested at 3.46 feet above flood stage on March 13.
June 2017HailSouth Sioux City Arp-Several tree branches were also downed.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindSouth Sioux City-A few branches were downed.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindSouth Sioux City-Tree branches downed.
August 2016Thunderstorm WindHomer-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including at least one tree blown down.
August 2016Thunderstorm WindHomer-Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines.
July 2015Thunderstorm WindSouth Sioux City-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including two 18 inch diameter trees and numerous smaller branches blown down.
August 2014Thunderstorm WindCoburn-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several branches blown down.
August 2014Thunderstorm WindDakota City-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including a few large trees blown down.

The townships, in 1893

3,643 words

Warner's History of Dakota County, Nebraska, from the Days of the Pioneers and First Settlers to the Present Time, with Biographical Sketches, and Anecdotes of Ye Olden Times devotes a chapter to each township: its boundaries and streams, who settled it and when, the mills, the schools and the churches. All 2 are reproduced here in full. Each row shows the township's own shape and where it lies in the county, drawn from the Census Bureau's boundary. Which settlements belong to which township is computed from that same boundary, not taken from the book.

Shape and position in the county TownshipSettlements in it LengthSections
Dakota City CityDakota City2,805 words2
South Sioux City CityCovington, South Sioux City838 words2

The county's history books

78,764 words

One book written about this county, cut here where the book itself is cut, at its printed chapters: 18 chapters in all. Every chapter is public domain, machine-read from the scan and reproduced complete. A chapter already given under one of the county's towns is not repeated in this list.

Warner's History of Dakota County, Nebraska, from the Days of the Pioneers and First Settlers to the Present Time, with Biographical Sketches, and Anecdotes of Ye Olden Times (1893)

ChapterLength
Chapter 12,687 words
Chapter 2790 words
Chapter 3846 words
Chapter 4508 words
Chapter 5: Extinct Towns1,826 words
Chapter 6: Dakota County Towns9,649 words
Chapter 71,558 words
Chapter 81,216 words
Chapter 10700 words
Chapter 11713 words
Chapter 12698 words
Chapter 151,289 words
Chapter 162,478 words
Chapter 1739,450 words in 3 parts
Chapter 188,134 words
Chapter 194,806 words
Chapter 20528 words
Chapter 22888 words

Every populated place in the county

12

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

The vanished settlements of Dakota County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.