The city name's is an amalgamation of the names of Daisy Baum, Cora Van Vorhies, and Nora Brooks, local coal mine operators.[7] Dacono was first settled in 1901, and early settlers moved there to work in the coal mines.[8] The city was incorporated in 1908.[9]
As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 3,015 people, 1,087 households, and 756 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,103.0 inhabitants per square mile (425.9/km2). There were 1,136 housing units at an average density of 415.6 per square mile (160.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 77.05% White, 0.43% African American, 0.96% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 17.98% from other races, and 2.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 32.04% of the population.
There were 1,087 households, out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.32.[citation needed]
In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.2% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,854, and the median income for a family was $42,659. Males had a median income of $29,899 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,368. About 3.6% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.