# Nicollet County, Minnesota *County in Minnesota, United States* Nicollet County is a county in the U.S. state of [[Minnesota]], with its seat at St. Peter.[^1] The 2020 census counted 34,454 residents.[^1] The county lies within the Mankato–North Mankato Metropolitan Statistical Area.[^1] The territorial legislature created the county on March 5, 1853, from the southern part of Dakota County. Fighting in the 1862 Dakota War took place within its borders, including the Battle of Fort Ridgely.[^2] ## History In 1849 the legislature of the [[Minnesota Territory]] laid out the boundaries of nine prospective counties. One of them, Dakota, took in the land north of the [[Minnesota River]] at the bend where the river turns from a southeasterly to a northeasterly course.[^2] The encyclopedia account places the first homestead on the river's northeastward stretch in 1853 and the platting of Saint Peter at that site in 1854.[^2] On March 5, 1853, the territorial legislature split the southern part of Dakota County off as a new county and fixed its seat at Saint Peter.[^2] The county takes its name from Joseph Nicolas Nicollet (1786–1843), a French explorer whose mapping of the region aided the territory's development.[^2] During the 1862 Dakota War, fighting took place in the county, including the Battle of Fort Ridgely.[^2] ## Geography The Minnesota River runs east along the county's southern edge, from its northwestern corner to its northeastern corner, and marks the southern boundary.[^3] The land is low and rolling, falls toward the east, and is farmed wherever the terrain allows.[^3] Of the county's 467 square miles (1,210 km²), 448 square miles are land and 18 square miles (3.9%) are water.[^3] Its highest ground, between Clear Lake and Lafayette, reaches 1,065 feet, which is lower than the high point of any other Minnesota county.[^3] Neighboring counties are Sibley to the north, Le Sueur to the east, Blue Earth to the south, Brown to the west and Renville to the northwest.[^3] Main routes are US Highways 14 and 169 and Minnesota State Highways 4, 15, 22, 60, 99 and 111.[^3] Protected land includes parts of Fort Ridgely State Park and Minneopa State Park, together with Seven Mile Creek County Park.[^3] Lakes in the county include Annexstad, Erickson, Middle, Oak Leaf, Overson, Rice, Sand and Swan lakes.[^3] ## Demographics The 2020 census recorded 34,454 residents with a median age of 37.2 years. Residents under 18 made up 22.9% of the total and those 65 or older 16.7%.[^4] There were 99.6 males for every 100 females overall, and 98.1 males per 100 females among adults.[^4] By race, 86.3% of residents were White, 5.0% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% Asian, under 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.1% some other race, and 4.4% two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 5.2% of the population.[^4] Urban areas held 74.8% of residents and rural areas 25.2%.[^4] The census counted 12,728 households, 31.0% of them with children under 18. Married couples headed 51.6% of households, a male householder with no spouse or partner 17.7%, and a female householder with no spouse or partner 23.5%.[^4] Single individuals made up about 27.9% of households, and 11.8% had a person 65 or older living alone.[^4] Of 13,371 housing units, 4.8% stood vacant. Owners occupied 73.0% of occupied units and renters 27.0%, with vacancy rates of 1.1% for homeowner units and 4.8% for rentals.[^4] The 2000 census had counted 29,771 people in 10,642 households and 7,311 families, at a density of 66.5 persons per square mile, with 11,240 housing units.[^4] ## Communities The county's six cities are Courtland, Lafayette, [[Mankato]] and North Mankato (both partly in Blue Earth County), Nicollet, and St. Peter, the county seat.[^5] Unincorporated communities are Bernadotte, Klossner, New Sweden, Norseland, North Star, Oshawa, St. George and Traverse. West Newton is a ghost town.[^5] The thirteen townships are Belgrade, Bernadotte, Brighton, Courtland, Granby, Lafayette, Lake Prairie, New Sweden, Nicollet, Oshawa, Ridgely, Traverse and West Newton.[^5] ## Government and politics In presidential elections from 1980 through 2024, the county's vote went to Democratic and Republican candidates in equal numbers.[^6] Over that span its choice matched the national result each time except 2004. That year Democrat John Kerry, who lost nationally, carried the county over incumbent Republican George W. Bush by 108 votes, a 0.61% margin.[^6] ## In the Minnesota record ### When - 1849: The Minnesota Territory legislature laid out nine prospective counties, Dakota among them.[^2] - March 5, 1853: The territorial legislature formed Nicollet County from the southern part of Dakota County, with its seat at Saint Peter.[^2] - 1853: First homestead on the river's northeastward stretch, as given in the encyclopedia account.[^2] - 1854: Saint Peter platted.[^2] - 1862: Fighting in the county during the Dakota War, including the Battle of Fort Ridgely.[^2] ### Who - Joseph Nicolas Nicollet (1786–1843), the French explorer and mapmaker for whom the county is named.[^2] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Nicollet County, Minnesota*, lead section (revision 1375303888, retrieved 2026-10-25) — county seat, 2020 population, metropolitan statistical area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicollet_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Nicollet County, Minnesota*, History section (revision 1375303888, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 1849 boundaries, 1853 settlement, 1854 platting, March 5, 1853 formation, naming, 1862 fighting. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicollet_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Nicollet County, Minnesota*, Geography section (revision 1375303888, retrieved 2026-10-25) — boundaries, terrain, area, high point, highways, adjacent counties, protected areas, lakes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicollet_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Nicollet County, Minnesota*, Demographics section (revision 1375303888, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2020 and 2000 census figures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicollet_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Nicollet County, Minnesota*, Communities section (revision 1375303888, retrieved 2026-10-25) — cities, unincorporated communities, ghost town, townships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicollet_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Nicollet County, Minnesota*, Government and politics section (revision 1375303888, retrieved 2026-10-25) — presidential voting since 1980 and the 2004 margin. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicollet_County,_Minnesota