June 6, 1930: Preliminary numbers are in for the 1930 Census, and Dakota County is growing. County-wide, the population increased by 5,618 over the previous 10 years, reports the West St. Paul Booster and Dakota County Globe. Most of that growth was centered in West St. Paul, South St. Paul and Hastings. Smaller towns such as Lakeville (pop. 999) Rosemount (pop. 692) and Burnsville (pop. 490) also recorded modest growth. Apple Valley was still called Lebanon, Mendota Heights had yet to be incorporated, and the village of Mendota boasted 173 residents—shockingly, only 25 fewer residents than …

June 1, 1945: In 1945, State Farm was there. Local State Farm Insurance agent Roy Harmer's ad in the Dakota County Tribune attempted to drum up business from automobile owners by mentioning the new Minnesota Motor Vehicle Responsibility law. Though the first car insurance legislation in Minnesota was passed in 1933, the 1945 law that replaced it "required a driver or owner involved in a motor vehicle accident causing personal injury, death, or property damage in excess of fifty dollars to furnish security in an amount sufficient to satisfy any judgment against the driver or owner arising from…

Feb. 2, 1917: Readers of the West St. Paul Booster and Dakota County Globe receive a dramatized glimpse into the wilds of the ocean. An excerpt from National Geographic describes in flourishing detail the characteristics of a killer whale (orca) pack, or "giant wolves of the sea." "A regularly spaced row of advancing long black fins swiftly cutting the undulating surface of the sea produces a singularly sinister effect. The evil impression is well justified, since killers are the most savage and remorseless of whales. The jaws are armed with rows of effective teeth, with which the animals …

Follow Northfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter Aug. 18, 1960: Before motocross races and demolition derbies, there was good old-fashioned horse racing at the Dakota County Fair in 1960, as you'll see in a photo published in a 1960 edition of the Dakota County Tribune. But some of the classics remain—bunnies and baked goods among them, as you'll see in our other photo snagged from that historical newspaper issue. Check out more events, exhibits and archives at the Dakota County Historical Society, 130 Third Ave. N., South St. Paul.

July 18, 1968: Grab your Ray-Bans and start your engines. It's a hot summer day, and sports cars are lining up to race in Farmington. Photos of the crowd and of course, the cars, make the front page of the Dakota County Tribune. You can check out more events, exhibits and archives at the Dakota County Historical Society, 130 Third Ave. N., South St. Paul. Follow Northfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter Check out other popular Patch articles: (UPDATED) Charge: Man Swindles $200,000 from First National Bank of Northfield Massage Business Expanding to …

Feb. 14, 1930: The times are changing, and Tokyo, Japan has a new "modernistic" city hall that looks much like a building that could be constructed one town over, rather than a continent away.   This image, printed in the West St. Paul Booster and Dakota County Globe newspaper, leads the front page. You can check out more events, exhibits and archives at the Dakota County Historical Society, 130 Third Avenue N, South St. Paul. Follow Northfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter Check out other popular Patch articles: PHOTOS: Arts a la Carte Feeds the …

April 10, 1942: World War II is underway, and northern Dakota County's West St. Paul Booster and Dakota County Tribune runs regular updates about the warfront. Among the updates on troop activity, Victory Gardens and deployments ran this editorial cartoon, touting America's industrial prowess and "the steel in our backbones." The day prior to publication, April 9, 1942 is also recognized as the first day of the Bataan Death March in the Phillipines, which resulted in the death of thousands of American and Filipino soldiers at the hands of the Japanese.  You can check out more events, exhibits…

The 2010 U.S. Census asked citizens 10 questions. They were mainly related to the names, ages, sexes and races of the people residing within a residence. In 1930, the government wanted to know a little more about you and your household, according to a March 28 article from the Dakota County Tribune. The 24 questions included inquiries into: the value of your home, and whether it's owned or rented; whether you lived on a farm; whether you could read or write; your immigration status; your occupation; and more—like whether you owned a radio set. Some of these questions were new for the 1930 …

Spring 1930: More than 80 years ago in Dakota County and the "Twin City Milk territory," the local economy was as much a focus as it is today. The staple of that economy, however, was a bit different.  Articles from April 1930 published in the Dakota County Tribune explain a movement to support local dairy farmers by buying real butter instead of butter substitutes. And it seemed to be working. April 4's "Use of Butter Increases Nearly 1000 Pounds Here" reported that the Farmington milk producers plant sold 922 more pounds of butter just one month over, with a 7,000-pound increase in the …

Spring 1930: Telephone lines have grown in popularity, and the Tri-State Telephone and Telegraph Company is offering the latest features: long distance calls and an "extension telephone."  In an advertisement Feb. 14, 1930 in the West St. Paul Booster and Dakota County Globe, the utility explains that having an additional telephone installed conveniently in your home or business can provide: "Privacy . . . . . . When the conversation requires confidence, the seclusion your extension telephone provides saves you every embarassment." Their campaign the following month hopes to persuade readers …