A town was not advanced until the location was designated as county seat shortly after Dakota County was established in 1855. A town site was platted the following year. The original plat called for a town two-miles wide from east to west, with its eastern end abutting the Missouri River. Showing remarkable growth, Dakota City was incorporated on April 5, 1858. Today our town contains 21 miles of streets, of which nine miles are hard-surfaced.
Recreation focuses on the river, which is readily accessible in Cotton Wood Cove Park.
There are 16 acres of land per 1,000 population devoted to parks, playgrounds, athletic fields and courts. Schools, with a long tradition of growth, reflected the need for reorganization in the 1960s. At that time a K-4 elementary unit was retained in Dakota City, with all other grades attending classes in South Sioux City. A rich history is found in our churches. The first Lutheran Church in Nebraska was built in Dakota City in 1860.