Empire, MN Public Records
Empire is an incorporated city in Dakota County, Minnesota, with an estimated population of 3,068 (U.S. Census Bureau, July 2024 estimate) and 30.5 square miles of land. That is down about 70 residents since the 2020 Census base.
🏢 Empire City Hall
Empire's own city government keeps its local records: council or board meeting minutes, local ordinances and resolutions, local permits and licenses, and its own budget and contracts. Requests for those records go to the city clerk under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. Birth and death certificates, marriage records, deeds and court files are generally kept by county and state offices rather than by the city; see the offices below.
Empire has no entry with a contact address in the 2022 Census of Governments listing, our source for local government offices, so we do not list a contact for its own office. Use the county offices below.
↑ Back to record types🏛️ County Courthouse & Records Office for Empire
Empire is in Dakota County. In Minnesota, deeds, mortgages and other land records are recorded by the County Recorder. Divorce cases in Minnesota are heard by the District Court in each county. Wills and estates in Minnesota are handled by the District Court in each county.
📍 Dakota County at a Glance
| County | Dakota County |
| County population (2024 est.) | 453,156 Source: www2.census.gov ↗ |
⚖️ Dakota County District Court (Dakota County Courthouse)
| Address | 1560 W. Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033 |
| Directions | Get directions ↗ |
| Phone | (651) 377-7180 |
| Hours | Not stated |
| Records available | District court case records (civil, family, probate, juvenile, criminal and traffic cases) |
| Official website | mncourts.gov |
| Sources | mncourts.gov/…/dakota ↗ |
| Last verified | October 16, 2026 |
See the full Dakota County records page →
↑ Back to record types📋 Where to Get Records for Empire
Where to get the most-requested public records for people and property in Empire, MN:
📋 Empire Records Guide
| Birth & death certificates | Minnesota Department of Health – Vital RecordsIn Minnesota, certified birth and death certificates can also be ordered from any county vital records office. |
| Deeds & property records | In Minnesota, deeds, mortgages and other land records are recorded by the County Recorder. |
| Court cases & divorce | Dakota County courthouse. Divorce cases in Minnesota are heard by the District Court in each county. |
| Wills & estates | Wills and estates in Minnesota are handled by the District Court in each county. |
| State court system | Minnesota Judicial Branch |
| Sex offender registry | Minnesota Public Registrant Search (Department of Corrections) |