15 surprise facts you may not know about Dakota County

15 surprise facts you may not know about Dakota County
By Joe Atkins | Dakota County Commissioner | September 2025

Every month, I hear from readers of this column or my e-newsletter who say, “I had no idea that happened here!” or “I had no idea Dakota County did that.” So I started keeping track of the things that surprise people the most. From space exploration to gangsters, from national firsts to record-setting achievements, here are 15 fascinating facts about Dakota County that might just surprise you.

The first step toward the moon happened in South St. Paul. On June 2, 1957, at 6:23 a.m., a giant high-altitude balloon lifted off from Fleming Field Airport. Air Force Captain Joe Kittinger piloted “Manhigh I” on a mission that climbed to 96,784 feet – over 18 miles – marking the first tests of the equipment and human limits that would later make space travel possible. With failing oxygen and radio problems, Kittinger still stayed aloft for six hours. Ordered to come down, yet defiant because he wanted to reach 100,000 feet, he famously tapped back in Morse code: “Come up and get me.”
Best in the state. Our Dakota County Library, with its 10 branches, is the only one ever to be twice named the best public library in Minnesota, in 2024 and 2025.
Best in the nation. Of over 3,000 U.S. counties, Dakota County is the only one ever to be named the nation’s best in four areas: public safety, public health, transportation, and infrastructure/sustainability – all since 2018.
Gangsters on Robert Street. In 1933, Ma Barker and her gang hid in a modest house at 1031 Robert St. in West St. Paul after kidnapping the owner of Hamm’s Brewery for a $100,000 ransom (about $1.9 million today). They later robbed banks in South St. Paul and kidnapped banker Edward Bremer, demanding a $200,000 ransom. Their stay ended when a neighbor spotted Ma Barker’s photo in a detective magazine and tipped off police. A 10-year-old girl who lived next door said the gang always carried violin cases. “We thought they played in an orchestra,” she said.
Dillinger’s escape. In 1934, John Dillinger, atop the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list, raced across the Rock Island Swing Bridge in Inver Grove to escape a high-speed chase that began in Hastings. Later that same day, his gang kidnapped the Francis family of South St. Paul, treated them kindly, bought them sodas, and dropped them off safely in Mendota, but nonetheless drove off in their car.
Dakota County spends less and taxes less. Dakota County spends less per person than any metro county, about $872 annually. Our property taxes per person are the lowest of all 87 Minnesota counties, while providing vital services like public safety, 911 dispatch, roads, libraries, public health and veterans services.
Meteorite strike. The newest confirmed meteor impact site on Earth was identified here recently. University of Minnesota geologist Julie Steenberg says she has never found anything like it in her 13 years of geological work.
History made in Minnesota: Dred Scott. In 1857, the location of Dred and Harriet Scott’s marriage in Mendota became a key argument in their Supreme Court case against slavery, since they had been married in free territory. Although they lost their case, the decision galvanized the country, contributed to Abraham Lincoln’s election, and paved the way for the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments.
James Gang on the run. After getting off the train in Mendota, half the Jesse James gang passed through Dakota County in 1876 on their way to the famous Northfield bank robbery. It went badly for them; brave local citizens refused to run, coming after the gang instead.
First women to vote in America were from South St. Paul. On August 27, 1920, just one day after the 19th Amendment became law, women in South St. Paul cast ballots in a local election, the first in the nation to do so under the new national law.
Saving money, land and water. Since 2016, Dakota County has saved millions in interest by being debt-free. Since 2003, more than 12,000 acres of woodlands, wetlands and farmlands have been permanently protected. In 2020, with risks of water shortages here, the county stepped in to help prevent a railroad from pumping and shipping 500 million gallons of our groundwater to Arizona.
Safety first. The Dakota 911 partnership between Dakota County and all our local cities has saved taxpayers $17 million and provides faster response to emergencies. With top-ranked schools, good jobs, strong neighborhoods and partnerships between law enforcement and residents that keep our communities safe, Dakota County is in the top nine percent for low crime nationwide, with violent crime continuing to drop in the most recent report.
The NFL draft was invented because of a Packer. South St. Paul High School grad and U of M running back Stan Kostka caused such a bidding war between NFL teams in 1935 that the league created the draft the following year to prevent it from ever happening again. His high school jersey hangs proudly at South St. Paul Secondary.
Gumby was born here. In the 1950s and 60s, more than seven million Gumby and Pokey toys were produced in Dakota County, making our area the home of one of television’s most beloved characters.
The first McDonaldland. If you grew up here in the ’70s, you probably remember the train ride up the hill to Minnesota’s very first McDonald’s Playland, which opened in 1975 on Robert Street in West St. Paul.

dakota county joe atkins — Dakota County Commissioner Joe Atkins

Commissioner Joe Atkins represents South St. Paul, West St. Paul, and Inver Grove Heights on the Dakota County board of commissioners. He welcomes questions and feedback at Joe.Atkins@co.dakota.mn.us or 651-438-4430.

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Dakota County: Looking Back, Looking Ahead (May 2025)
Dakota County libraries named best in Minnesota (April 2025)
Dakota County challenges and opportunities in 2025 (March 2025)
10 lessons from a year using AI in Dakota County (February 2025)
Dakota County: Looking Back, Looking Ahead (January 2025)

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