[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 118 (Monday, July 22, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E746-E747]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE 175TH ANNIVERSARY OF DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ANGIE CRAIG

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 22, 2024

  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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