View source for Nicollet County, Minnesota

{{short description|County in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Nicollet County
 | state                = Minnesota
 | seal                 = 
 | founded date         = March 5
 | founded year         = 1853
 | seat wl              = St. Peter
 | largest city wl      = North Mankato
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 467
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 448
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 18
 | area percentage      = 3.9%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 34454
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 34493 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 76.9
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = www.co.nicollet.mn.us
 | named for            = [[Joseph Nicolas Nicollet]]
 | ex image             = Nicollet County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Nicollet County Courthouse
 | district             = 1st
}}

'''Nicollet County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|n|ɪ|k|ə|l|ɪ|t}} {{respell|NIH|kə|lit}})<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Pronunciation Guide |url=http://www.ap.org/minnesota/prono.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722194213/http://www.ap.org/minnesota/prono.html |archive-date=July 22, 2011 |access-date=July 4, 2011 |website=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Minnesota]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 34,454.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/nicolletcountyminnesota/PST045222 |access-date=April 8, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[St. Peter, Minnesota|St. Peter]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

Nicollet County is part of the [[Mankato–North Mankato metropolitan area|Mankato–North Mankato Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
In 1849 the [[Minnesota Territory]] legislature defined the boundaries of nine future counties. One of those, [[Dakota County, Minnesota|Dakota]], contained the area north of the [[Minnesota River]] where it altered its flow from southeast to northeast. In 1853 the first settler had homesteaded an area on the northeast run of the river, and the following year the settlement of Saint Peter was platted there. Seeing the inflow of settlers into the areas adjoining the river, on March 5, 1853, the territorial legislature partitioned off the lower portion of Dakota County to form a separate entity. It was named for [[Joseph Nicolas Nicollet]] (1786-1843),<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Nicollet County |url=http://www.co.nicollet.mn.us/352/About-Nicollet-County |access-date=April 19, 2015 |publisher=government of Nicollet County}}</ref> a French explorer whose maps of the area had been instrumental in the territory's development. The county seat was established at [[St. Peter, Minnesota|Saint Peter]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ShcLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA371 Upton, Warren. Minnesota Geographic Names (1920), pp. 371-4 (accessed April 19, 2019)]</ref>

Significant fighting occurred in the county during the [[Dakota War of 1862|1862 Dakota War]], most notably at the [[Battle of Fort Ridgely]].

==Geography==
The [[Minnesota River]] flows eastward along the southern border of Nicollet County, from its northwestern corner to its northeastern corner, defining the county's southern line. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, completely devoted to agriculture where possible.<ref name="NCM">[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Nicollet+County,+MN/@44.3055851,-94.4972723,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x87f453e37f9ab01f:0x53dd34939187783e!8m2!3d44.3572855!4d-94.2743628 Nicollet County MN Google Maps (accessed April 19, 2019)]</ref> The terrain slopes to the east.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Find an Altitude/Nicollet County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 19, 2019) |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref> The county has an area of {{convert|467|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|448|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|18|sqmi}} (3.9%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060200/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |access-date=October 24, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

Nicollet County's highest point is the lowest high point of all Minnesota counties, with an elevation of 1,065 feet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nicollet County High Point - Peakbagger.com |url=http://peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=22109 |access-date=November 28, 2016 |website=peakbagger.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nicollet County HP - 1,065' Minnesota |url=http://listsofjohn.com/peak/135349 |access-date=November 28, 2016 |website=listsofjohn.com}}</ref> The county's high point is east of Clear Lake and west of the town of [[Lafayette, Minnesota|Lafayette]].
[[File:Nicollet Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf|thumb|right|Soils of Nicollet County<ref>Nelson, Steven (2011). ''Savanna Soils of Minnesota.'' Minnesota: Self. pp. 65-67. {{ISBN|978-0-615-50320-2}}.</ref>]]
[[File:Chamberlain Woods SNA Wiki Version.JPG|thumb|Soils of Chamberlain Woods SNA area]]

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Image:US 14.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 14 in Minnesota|US Highway 14]]
* [[Image:US 169 (MN).svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 169 in Minnesota|US Highway 169]]
* [[Image:MN-4.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 4]]
* [[Image:MN-15.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 15]]
* [[Image:MN-22.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 22]]
* [[Image:MN-60.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 60]]
* [[Image:MN-99.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 99]]
* [[Image:MN-111.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 111]]
* ''[[County roads in Nicollet County, Minnesota|List of county roads]]''
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Sibley County, Minnesota|Sibley County]] - north
* [[Le Sueur County, Minnesota|Le Sueur County]] - east
* [[Blue Earth County, Minnesota|Blue Earth County]] - south
* [[Brown County, Minnesota|Brown County]] - west
* [[Renville County, Minnesota|Renville County]] - northwest
{{div col end}}

===Protected areas===
* [[Fort Ridgely State Park]] (part)
* [[Minneopa State Park]] (part)
* Seven Mile Creek County Park
<ref name=NCM/>

===Lakes===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* Annexstad Lake
* Erickson Lake
* Middle Lake
* Oak Leaf Lake
* Overson Lake
* Rice Lake
* Sand Lake
* Swan Lake
{{div col end}}<ref name=NCM/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 3778
|1870= 8362
|1880= 12333
|1890= 13382
|1900= 14774
|1910= 14125
|1920= 15036
|1930= 16550
|1940= 18282
|1950= 20929
|1960= 23196
|1970= 24518
|1980= 26929
|1990= 28076
|2000= 29771
|2010= 32727
|2020= 34454
|estyear=2024
|estimate=34493
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates Tables|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 24, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html |access-date=October 24, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br/>1790-1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=October 24, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt |access-date=October 24, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br/>1990-2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=October 24, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Nicollet County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web |title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Nicollet County, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Nicollet%20County,%20Minnesota&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|29,287
|85%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|1,672
|4.9%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|141
|0.41%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|558
|1.62%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|10
|0.03%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|986
|2.9%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|1,800
|5.22%
|}

===2000 census===
[[File:NicolletCountyMn2022PopPyr.png|thumb|right|2022 US Census [[population pyramid]] for Nicollet County, from [[American Community Survey|ACS]] 5-year estimates]]
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 29,771 people, 10,642 households, and 7,311 families in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|66.5|/mi2|/km2}}. There were 11,240 housing units at an average density of {{convert|25.1|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.37% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.80% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.26% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.14% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.65% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.75% from two or more races. 1.80% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 49.2% were of [[German people|German]], 13.3% [[norwegian people|Norwegian]], 6.8% [[swedish people|Swedish]] and 5.4% [[Irish people|Irish]] ancestry.

There were 10,642 households, out of which 35.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.30% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.05.

The county population contained 24.70% under the age of 18, 16.40% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,170, and the median income for a family was $55,694. Males had a median income of $36,236 versus $25,344 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $20,517. About 4.30% of families and 7.50% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.70% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===Cities===
{{div col}}
* [[Courtland, Minnesota|Courtland]]
* [[Lafayette, Minnesota|Lafayette]]
* [[Mankato, Minnesota|Mankato]] (partly in [[Blue Earth County, Minnesota|Blue Earth County]])
* [[Nicollet, Minnesota|Nicollet]]
* [[North Mankato, Minnesota|North Mankato]] (partly in [[Blue Earth County, Minnesota|Blue Earth County]])
* [[St. Peter, Minnesota|St. Peter]] (county seat)
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Bernadotte, Minnesota|Bernadotte]]
* [[Klossner, Minnesota|Klossner]]
* [[New Sweden, Minnesota|New Sweden]]
* [[Norseland, Minnesota|Norseland]]
* [[North Star, Minnesota|North Star]]
* [[Oshawa, Nicollet County, Minnesota|Oshawa]]
* [[St. George, Minnesota|St. George]]
* [[Traverse, Minnesota|Traverse]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost town===
* [[West Newton, Minnesota|West Newton]]

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Belgrade Township, Nicollet County, Minnesota|Belgrade Township]]
* [[Bernadotte Township, Nicollet County, Minnesota|Bernadotte Township]]
* [[Brighton Township, Nicollet County, Minnesota|Brighton Township]]
* [[Courtland Township, Nicollet County, Minnesota|Courtland Township]]
* [[Granby Township, Nicollet County, Minnesota|Granby Township]]
* [[Lafayette Township, Nicollet County, Minnesota|Lafayette Township]]
* [[Lake Prairie Township, Nicollet County, Minnesota|Lake Prairie Township]]
* [[New Sweden Township, Nicollet County, Minnesota|New Sweden Township]]
* [[Nicollet Township, Nicollet County, Minnesota|Nicollet Township]]
* [[Oshawa Township, Nicollet County, Minnesota|Oshawa Township]]
* [[Ridgely Township, Nicollet County, Minnesota|Ridgely Township]]
* [[Traverse Township, Nicollet County, Minnesota|Traverse Township]]
* [[West Newton Township, Nicollet County, Minnesota|West Newton Township]]
{{div col end}}

==Government and politics==
Nicollet County has been politically balanced in past decades. Since 1980, the county has selected Democratic and Republican presidential candidates an equal number of times (as of 2024). It has backed the nationwide winner in every election since 1980 except for 2004, and even then, losing Democrat [[John Kerry]] only beat incumbent Republican [[George W. Bush]] in the county by just 108 votes and a 0.61% margin.
{{PresHead|place=Nicollet County, Minnesota|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=October 10, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>|source2=<ref>The leading "other" candidate, [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Progressive]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]], received 825 votes, while Socialist candidate [[Eugene V. Debs|Eugene Debs]] received 70 votes, [[Prohibition Party|Prohibition]] candidate [[Eugene W. Chafin|Eugene Chafin]] received 53 votes, and [[Socialist Labor Party of America|Socialist Labor]] candidate [[Arthur Reimer]] received 24 votes.</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|1,098|937|267|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|1,803|837|75|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,684|858|84|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,677|513|75|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,392|832|124|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|525|929|972|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,288|814|102|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,115|556|260|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,518|287|2,226|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,628|2,466|42|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,217|3,960|151|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,360|4,136|507|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|4,674|2,832|31|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|4,345|2,321|36|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|3,576|3,663|86|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|5,775|2,584|39|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|5,322|2,636|8|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|5,283|3,961|11|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,605|5,121|10|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|4,671|4,244|319|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|6,230|4,680|159|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|6,071|5,777|397|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|6,436|5,400|1,786|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|7,472|5,789|88|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|6,878|6,786|115|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|5,091|6,055|3,893|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|5,057|6,772|2,013|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|7,221|7,041|1,065|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|8,689|8,797|255|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|7,968|9,887|390|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|8,214|9,652|491|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|8,437|7,886|1,774|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|9,018|9,622|485|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|9,540|9,441|436|Minnesota}}
{{PresFoot}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+County Board of Commissioners<ref>{{Cite web |title=County Board {{!}} Nicollet County, MN - Official Website |url=https://www.co.nicollet.mn.us/370/County-Board |access-date=April 25, 2023 |website=www.co.nicollet.mn.us}}</ref>
!Position
!Name
!District
!Next election
|-
|Commissioner and chairperson 
|Marie Dranttel
|District 1
|2028
|-
|Commissioner
|Nicole Helget
|District 2
|2026
|-
|Commissioner
|Jack Kolars
|District 3
|2028
|-
|Commissioner
|Mark Dehen
|District 4
|2026
|-
|Commissioner
|Kurt Zins
|District 5
|2028
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+State Legislature (2025-2027)
! colspan="2" |Position
!Name
!Affiliation
!District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
|[[Minnesota Senate|Senate]]
|[[Nick Frentz]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Press |first=The Free |date=2022-11-08 |title=Frentz reelected for state Senate seat |url=https://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/elections/frentz-reelected-for-state-senate-seat/article_69934418-5e0e-11ed-8110-0b210b5bebb6.html |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Mankato Free Press |language=en}}</ref>
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
|18
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|[[Minnesota House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
|[[Erica Schwartz (politician)|Erica Schwartz]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Arola|first=Brian|date=2024-11-05 |title=Schwartz defeats Brand in MN House District 18A seat |url=https://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/local_news/schwartz-defeats-brand-in-mn-house-district-18a-seat/article_8a4211b6-9bfc-11ef-899f-27c36d2c2739.html |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Mankato Free Press |language=en}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party of Minnesota|Republican]]
|18A
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
|[[Minnesota House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
|[[Luke Frederick]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rep. Luke Frederick - Statement: Rep. Luke Frederick sworn in |url=https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/Profile/News/15542/30843 |access-date=April 18, 2021 |website=www.house.leg.state.mn.us |language=en}}</ref>
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
|18B
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+U.S Congress (2025-2027)
! colspan="2" |Position
!Name
!Affiliation
!District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|[[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
|[[Brad Finstad]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frey |first=Josh |date=2024-11-07 |title=Brad Finstad wins re-election for Minnesota U.S. House District 1 |url=https://www.kaaltv.com/news/brad-finstad-wins-re-election-for-minnesota-u-s-house-district-1/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=ABC 6 News - kaaltv.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|[[Minnesota's 1st congressional district|1st]]
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
|[[United States Senate|Senate]]
|[[Amy Klobuchar]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar |url=https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/ |access-date=June 24, 2020 |website=www.klobuchar.senate.gov}}</ref>
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
|N/A
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
|[[United States Senate|Senate]]
|[[Tina Smith]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.smith.senate.gov/ |access-date=June 24, 2020 |website=Senator Tina Smith |language=en}}</ref>
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
|N/A
|}

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Nicollet County, Minnesota]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.co.nicollet.mn.us/ Nicollet County official website]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Nicollet County, Minnesota
|North     = [[Sibley County, Minnesota|Sibley County]]
|East      = [[Le Sueur County, Minnesota|Le Sueur County]]
|Southeast = [[Blue Earth County, Minnesota|Blue Earth County]]
|Southwest = [[Brown County, Minnesota|Brown County]]
|Northwest = [[Renville County, Minnesota|Renville County]]
}}

{{Nicollet County, Minnesota}}
{{Mankato North Mankato MSA}}
{{Minnesota}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|44.34|-94.25|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MN_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Nicollet County, Minnesota| ]]
[[Category:Minnesota counties]]
[[Category:Mankato – North Mankato metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1853 establishments in Minnesota Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1853]]