Recognizing the 175th Anniversary of Dakota County, Minnesota

Floor Speech

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Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 175th anniversary of Dakota County, Minnesota. Dakota County was established as one of Minnesota Territory's original nine counties in 1849, and has played an important role in the history of Minnesota since the beginning. Even as the function and responsibilities of county government have changed over the past 175 years, Dakota County has remained one of the most important and influential counties in the state of Minnesota. It's now the third-largest county in the state and the largest in the Second Congressional District.

Indigenous people have been living in the land that is now known as Dakota County for many thousands of years. The lands of Dakota County were important for tribes to make use of the waterways for sustenance, transportation, and interaction with other tribes across the nation. The Bdote (confluence) of the two major rivers Misi zipi (Mississippi) and Mni sota (Minnesota) are also an important cultural location as the original birthplace of the Dakota people. By the time European settlers began making their way into Minnesota from the north and east, the Dakota and Ojibwe were the two main tribes, with the Kaposia band of Mdewakanton Dakota residing in this area, as well as Wahpekute and Sisseton groups nearby.

In 1851, Dakota leaders ceded millions of acres of land in Minnesota Territory to the U.S. government. This led to a marked increase in settlement in Dakota County. Dakota County was officially organized in 1853. The county seat was initially located at Kaposia (present-day South St. Paul) and then at Mendota before moving to Hastings in 1857, where it remains today.

Over the 175 years of its existence Dakota County has taken on many roles including providing public safety, keeping records, creating, maintaining, and repairing a system of county roads, assessing taxes, conducting elections, providing health care services addressing both the physical and mental health needs of its residents, operating a countywide library system and many popular county parks. Dakota County is regularly recognized on a national level for the high quality of its programs and services

I have been proud to partner with Dakota County on many important initiatives including the creation of the Veterans Memorial Greenway, and significant improvements to Interstate 35, as well as securing investments for the Dakota County Sheriff's Office with body worn cameras and their electronic crimes unit.

It is my honor and privilege to represent Dakota County. I congratulate the Dakota County government on the celebration of their 175th anniversary, and recognize them for their many contributions to local residents, the state of Minnesota, and the Nation as a whole.

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