Nicollet County, Minnesota

County in Minnesota, United States

U.S. county in Minnesota

Nicollet County

U.S. county

Nicollet County Courthouse

Nicollet County Courthouse

Map of Minnesota highlighting Nicollet County

Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota

Minnesota's location within the U.S.

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 km2)
• Land| 448 sq mi (1,160 km2)
• Water| 18 sq mi (50 km2)  3.9%%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 34,454
• Estimate

(2021)

| 34,332
• Density| 76.9/sq mi (29.7/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 1st
Website| www.co.nicollet.mn.us

Nicollet County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,454.[1] Its county seat is St. Peter.[2]

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

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Major highways
* 2.2 Adjacent counties
* 2.3 Protected areas
* 2.4 Lakes
* 3 Demographics
* 3.1 2000 census
* 3.2 2020 Census
* 4 Communities
* 4.1 Cities
* 4.2 Unincorporated communities
* 4.3 Ghost town
* 4.4 Townships
* 5 Government and politics
* 6 See also
* 7 References
* 8 External links

## History

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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),[3] a French explorer whose maps of the area had been instrumental in the territory's development. The county seat was established at Saint Peter.[4]

## Geography

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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.[5] The terrain slopes to the east.[6] The county has an area of 467 square miles (1,210 km2), of which 448 square miles (1,160 km2) is land and 18 square miles (47 km2) (3.9%) is water.[7]

Nicollet County's highest point is the lowest high point of all Minnesota counties, with an elevation of 1,065 feet.[8][9] The county's high point is east of Clear Lake and west of the town of Lafayette.

File:Nicollet Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdfSoils of Nicollet County[10] File:Chamberlain Woods SNA Wiki Version.JPGSoils of Chamberlain Woods SNA area

### Major highways

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* US Highway 14
* US Highway 169
* Minnesota State Highway 4
* Minnesota State Highway 15
* Minnesota State Highway 22
* Minnesota State Highway 60
* File:MN-99.svg Minnesota State Highway 99
* File:MN-111.svg Minnesota State Highway 111
* List of county roads

### Adjacent counties

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

### Protected areas

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

[5]

### Lakes

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

[5]

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1860| 3,778| | —
1870| 8,362| | 121.3%
1880| 12,333| | 47.5%
1890| 13,382| | 8.5%
1900| 14,774| | 10.4%
1910| 14,125| | −4.4%
1920| 15,036| | 6.4%
1930| 16,550| | 10.1%
1940| 18,282| | 10.5%
1950| 20,929| | 14.5%
1960| 23,196| | 10.8%
1970| 24,518| | 5.7%
1980| 26,929| | 9.8%
1990| 28,076| | 4.3%
2000| 29,771| | 6.0%
2010| 32,727| | 9.9%
2020| 34,454| | 5.3%
2021 (est.)| 34,332| [11]| −0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[1]

### 2000 census

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File:USA Nicollet County, Minnesota age pyramid.svgAge pyramid of county residents based on 2000 United States Census data

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/sqmi (25.7/km2). There were 11,240 housing units at an average density of 25.1/sqmi (9.69/km2). 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.

### 2020 Census

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Nicollet County Racial Composition[16] Race  | Num.  | Perc.

|
|

White (NH)  | 29,287  | 85%
Black or African American (NH)  | 1,672  | 4.9%
Native American (NH)  | 141  | 0.41%
Asian (NH)  | 558  | 1.62%
Pacific Islander (NH)  | 10  | 0.03%
Other/Mixed (NH)  | 986  | 2.9%
Hispanic or Latino | 1,800  | 5.22%

## Communities

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### Cities

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

### Unincorporated communities

[edit | edit source]

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

### Ghost town

[edit | edit source]

* West Newton

### Townships

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* 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

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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).

United States presidential election results for Nicollet County, Minnesota[17][18] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 9,018  | 47.15%  | 9,622  | 50.31% | 485  | 2.54%
2016 | 8,437  | 46.62% | 7,886  | 43.58%  | 1,774  | 9.80%
2012 | 8,214  | 44.75%  | 9,652  | 52.58% | 491  | 2.67%
2008 | 7,968  | 43.67%  | 9,887  | 54.19% | 390  | 2.14%
2004 | 8,689  | 48.98%  | 8,797  | 49.59% | 255  | 1.44%
2000 | 7,221  | 47.11% | 7,041  | 45.94%  | 1,065  | 6.95%
1996 | 5,057  | 36.53%  | 6,772  | 48.92% | 2,013  | 14.54%
1992 | 5,091  | 33.85%  | 6,055  | 40.26% | 3,893  | 25.89%
1988 | 6,878  | 49.92% | 6,786  | 49.25%  | 115  | 0.83%
1984 | 7,472  | 55.97% | 5,789  | 43.37%  | 88  | 0.66%
1980 | 6,436  | 47.25% | 5,400  | 39.64%  | 1,786  | 13.11%
1976 | 6,071  | 49.58% | 5,777  | 47.18%  | 397  | 3.24%
1972 | 6,230  | 56.28% | 4,680  | 42.28%  | 159  | 1.44%
1968 | 4,671  | 50.58% | 4,244  | 45.96%  | 319  | 3.45%
1964 | 3,605  | 41.27%  | 5,121  | 58.62% | 10  | 0.11%
1960 | 5,283  | 57.08% | 3,961  | 42.80%  | 11  | 0.12%
1956 | 5,322  | 66.81% | 2,636  | 33.09%  | 8  | 0.10%
1952 | 5,775  | 68.77% | 2,584  | 30.77%  | 39  | 0.46%
1948 | 3,576  | 48.82%  | 3,663  | 50.01% | 86  | 1.17%
1944 | 4,345  | 64.83% | 2,321  | 34.63%  | 36  | 0.54%
1940 | 4,674  | 62.01% | 2,832  | 37.57%  | 31  | 0.41%
1936 | 2,360  | 33.70%  | 4,136  | 59.06% | 507  | 7.24%
1932 | 2,217  | 35.03%  | 3,960  | 62.58% | 151  | 2.39%
1928 | 3,628  | 59.13% | 2,466  | 40.19%  | 42  | 0.68%
1924 | 2,518  | 50.05% | 287  | 5.70%  | 2,226  | 44.25%
1920 | 4,115  | 83.45% | 556  | 11.28%  | 260  | 5.27%
1916 | 1,288  | 58.44% | 814  | 36.93%  | 102  | 4.63%
1912 | 525  | 21.64%  | 929  | 38.29% | 972  | 40.07%
1908 | 1,392  | 59.28% | 832  | 35.43%  | 124  | 5.28%
1904 | 1,677  | 74.04% | 513  | 22.65%  | 75  | 3.31%
1900 | 1,684  | 64.13% | 858  | 32.67%  | 84  | 3.20%
1896 | 1,803  | 66.41% | 837  | 30.83%  | 75  | 2.76%
1892 | 1,098  | 47.70% | 937  | 40.70%  | 267  | 11.60%

County Board of Commissioners[19] Position  | Name  | District  | Next Election

|
|
|

| Commissioner  | Marie Dranttel  | District 1  | 2024
| Commissioner  | Terry Morrow  | District 2  | 2022
| Commissioner  | Denny Kemp  | District 3  | 2024
| Commissioner  | Jack Kolars  | District 4  | 2022
| Commissioner and Chairperson  | John Luepke  | District 5  | 2024
State Legislature (2021-2023)  Position  | Name  | Affiliation  | District

|
|
|

| Senate  | Nick Frentz[20] | Democrat | District 19
| House of Representatives  | Susan Akland[21] | Republican | District 19A
| House of Representatives  | Luke Frederick[22] | Democrat | District 19B
U.S Congress (2021-2023)  Position  | Name  | Affiliation  | District

|
|
|

| House of Representatives | Brad Finstad[23] | Republican | 1st
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar[24] | Democrat | N/A
| Senate | Tina Smith[25] | Democrat | N/A

## See also

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

## References

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1. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Nicollet County, Minnesota". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "About Nicollet County". government of Nicollet County. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
4. ^ Upton, Warren. Minnesota Geographic Names (1920), pp. 371-4 (accessed April 19, 2019)
5. ^ a b c Nicollet County MN Google Maps (accessed April 19, 2019)
6. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Nicollet County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 19, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
8. ^ "Nicollet County High Point - Peakbagger.com". peakbagger.com. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
9. ^ "Nicollet County HP - 1,065' Minnesota". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
10. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 65-67. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
11. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved March 31, 2022.
12. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
15. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
16. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Nicollet County, Minnesota".
17. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
18. ^ 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.
19. ^ "County Board | Nicollet County, MN - Official Website". www.co.nicollet.mn.us. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
20. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
21. ^ Rinehart, Jake. "Akland wins House District 19A following recount". www.keyc.com. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
22. ^ "Rep. Luke Frederick - Statement: Rep. Luke Frederick sworn in". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
23. ^ "Republican Rep. Brad Finstad sworn in to finish Hagedorn's House term". August 12, 2022.
24. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
25. ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

## External links

[edit | edit source]

* Nicollet County official website

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

File:Map of Minnesota highlighting Nicollet County.svgMap of Minnesota highlighting Nicollet County

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

* 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

Saint Paul (capital)

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Largest cities
pop. over 25,000|

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Counties|

* Aitkin
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* Marshall
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* Watonwan
* Wilkin
* Winona
* Wright
* Yellow Medicine

Attractions|

| Festivals|

* State Fair

|

Other|

* Mall of America

Coordinates: 44°20′N 94°15′W﻿ / ﻿44.34°N 94.25°W﻿ / 44.34; -94.25
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