Dakota, county (586 sq mi/1,518 sq km; 1990 pop. 275,227), SE Minn.; Hastings; 44°40'N 93°03'W. Bounded NE and N (in part) by Mississippi R., and NW by Minnesota R.; drained by Vermilion and Cannon (forms part of S boundary) rivers. Agr. area (hay, alfalfa, oats, corn, soybeans, peas; sheep, cattle, hogs, poultry; dairying); sand and gravel. Food processing and mfg. at Hastings, Burnsville, Eagan, other municipalities. N part of co. is adjacent to St. Paul (N) and Minneapolis (NW) and is highly urbanized. Part of Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest in SE; part of Gores Pool No. 3 Wildlife Area in SE; part of Fort Snelling State Park in NW; numerous small lakes in NW part of co. Formed 1859.
Capital city or county seat is shown by the symbol
Hastings; 44°40'N 93°03'W. Bounded NE and N (in part) by Mississippi R., and NW by Minnesota R.; drained by Vermilion and Cannon (forms part of S boundary) rivers. Agr. area (hay, alfalfa, oats, corn, soybeans, peas; sheep, cattle, hogs, poultry; dairying); sand and gravel. Food processing and mfg. at Hastings, Burnsville, Eagan, other municipalities. N part of co. is adjacent to St. Paul (N) and Minneapolis (NW) and is highly urbanized. Part of Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest in SE; part of Gores Pool No. 3 Wildlife Area in SE; part of Fort Snelling State Park in NW; numerous small lakes in NW part of co. Formed 1859.
