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Community Corner

Dakota County Makes List of 50 Healthiest Counties for Kids

The list takes into account low birthweight, infant death rate, teen birth rate, children in poverty and injury death rate.

U.S. News and World Report has released a list of America's top 50 healthiest counties for kids, and Dakota County registered No. 41 with a score of 82.8 on a 100-point scale.

The overall score is a composite that takes into account the following statistics:

  • Low birthweight (under 5.5 lbs)
  • Infant death rate (per 100,000)
  • Teen birth rate (per 1,000)
  • Children in poverty
  • Injury death rate (ages 1-19)
Dakota County registered the following:
  • 6.2% - Low birthweight (under 5.5 lbs)
  • 350.2 - Infant death rate (per 100,000)
  • 18.6 - Teen birth rate (per 1,000)
  • 9.2% - Children in poverty
  • 8.1 - Injury death rate (ages 1-19) (per 100,000)

Nearby Washington County placed 33rd with a score of 84.

The top spot on the list went to California's Marin County with a score of 100.

SEE THE FULL U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT LIST
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