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Nicollet County
County
Nicollet County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°20′N 94°15′W / 44.34°N 94.25°W / 44.34; -94.25
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Founded	March 5, 1853
Named for	Joseph Nicolas Nicollet
Seat	St. Peter
Largest city	North Mankato
Area
• Total	467 sq mi (1,210 km)
• Land	448 sq mi (1,160 km)
• Water	18 sq mi (50 km)  3.9%
Population
• Total	34,454
• Estimate	34,242
• Density	76.9/sq mi (29.7/km)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.co.nicollet.mn.us

Nicollet County (/ˈnɪkəlɪt/ NIH-kə-lit) is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,454. Its county seat is St. Peter.

Nicollet County is part of the Mankato – North Mankato Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

In 1849 the Minnesota Territory legislature defined the boundaries of nine future counties. One of those, 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), a French explorer whose maps of the area had been instrumental in the territory's development. The county seat was established at Saint Peter.

Significant fighting occurred in the county during the 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. The terrain slopes to the east. The county has an area of 467 square miles (1,210 km), of which 448 square miles (1,160 km) is land and 18 square miles (47 km) (3.9%) is water.

Nicollet County's highest point is the lowest high point of all Minnesota counties, with an elevation of 1,065 feet. The county's high point is east of Clear Lake and west of the town of Lafayette.

Major highways

• US Highway 14
• US Highway 169
• Minnesota State Highway 4
• Minnesota State Highway 15
• Minnesota State Highway 22
• Minnesota State Highway 60
• Minnesota State Highway 99
• Minnesota State Highway 111
• List of county roads

Adjacent counties

• Sibley County - north
• Le Sueur County - east
• Blue Earth County - (southeast)
• Brown County - southwest
• Renville County - northwest

Protected areas

• Fort Ridgely State Park (part)
• Minneopa State Park (part)
• Seven Mile Creek County Park

Lakes

• Annexstad Lake
• Erickson Lake
• Middle Lake
• Oak Leaf Lake
• Overson Lake
• Rice Lake
• Sand Lake
• Swan Lake

Demographics

2020 Census

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 29,771 people, 10,642 households, and 7,311 families in the county. The population density was 66.5 per square mile (25.7/km). There were 11,240 housing units at an average density of 25.1 per square mile (9.7/km). The racial makeup of the county was 96.37% White, 0.80% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.14% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 1.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 49.2% were of German, 13.3% Norwegian, 6.8% Swedish and 5.4% 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

• Courtland
• Lafayette
• Mankato (partly in Blue Earth County)
• Nicollet
• North Mankato (partly in Blue Earth County)
• St. Peter (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Bernadotte
• Klossner
• New Sweden
• Norseland
• North Star
• Oshawa
• St. George
• Traverse

Ghost town

• West Newton

Townships

• Belgrade Township
• Bernadotte Township
• Brighton Township
• Courtland Township
• Granby Township
• Lafayette Township
• Lake Prairie Township
• New Sweden Township
• Nicollet Township
• Oshawa Township
• Ridgely Township
• Traverse Township
• West Newton Township

Government and politics

Nicollet County has been politically balanced in past decades. Since 1976 the county has selected the Democratic and Republican Party candidates in equal measure in national elections (as of 2020). 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.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Nicollet County, Minnesota

References

1. "Minnesota Pronunciation Guide". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
2. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. "About Nicollet County". government of Nicollet County. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
5. Upton, Warren. Minnesota Geographic Names (1920), pp. 371-4 (accessed April 19, 2019)
6. ^ Nicollet County MN Google Maps (accessed April 19, 2019)
7. ""Find an Altitude/Nicollet County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 19, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
9. "Nicollet County High Point - Peakbagger.com". peakbagger.com. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
10. "Nicollet County HP - 1,065' Minnesota". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
11. Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 65-67. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
12. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved March 18, 2024.
13. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
14. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
15. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
16. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
17. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Nicollet County, Minnesota".
18. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
19. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 825 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 70 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 53 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 24 votes.
20. "County Board | Nicollet County, MN - Official Website". www.co.nicollet.mn.us. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
21. "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
22. Rinehart, Jake. "Akland wins House District 19A following recount". www.keyc.com. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
23. "Rep. Luke Frederick - Statement: Rep. Luke Frederick sworn in". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
24. "Republican Rep. Brad Finstad sworn in to finish Hagedorn's House term". August 12, 2022.
25. "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
26. "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

External links

• Nicollet County official website

v t e Places adjacent to Nicollet County, Minnesota
Renville County Sibley County Nicollet County, Minnesota Le Sueur County Brown County Blue Earth County

v t e Municipalities and communities of Nicollet County, Minnesota, United States
County seat: St. Peter
Cities	Courtland Lafayette Mankato‡ Nicollet North Mankato‡ St. Peter
Townships	Belgrade Bernadotte Brighton Courtland Granby Lafayette Lake Prairie New Sweden Nicollet Oshawa Ridgely Traverse West Newton
Unincorporated communities	Bernadotte Klossner New Sweden Norseland North Star Oshawa St. George Traverse
Ghost town	West Newton
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Minnesota portal United States portal

v t e Mankato – North Mankato, Minnesota Metropolitan Area
Core Cities	Mankato North Mankato
Incorporated Places	(over 1,000) Eagle Lake Lake Crystal Madison Lake Mapleton Nicollet St. Peter (under 1,000) Amboy Courtland Good Thunder Lafayette Minnesota Lake Pemberton St. Clair Skyline Vernon Center
Counties	Blue Earth Nicollet
indicates a county seat. indicates that it is partially in the metropolitan area.

v t e State of Minnesota
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44°20′N 94°15′W / 44.34°N 94.25°W / 44.34; -94.25

• Minnesota counties
• Nicollet County, Minnesota
• Mankato – North Mankato metropolitan area
• 1853 establishments in Minnesota Territory
• Populated places established in 1853