General Info
Settled in the mid 1800s, Nicollet County was named after the French explorer, Joseph N. Nicollet. Attracted to the abundant farmland, forests and streams, settlers arrived to stake land claims after the signing of the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux. Townships were platted by 1855 and St. Peter was voted as the county seat in 1858. 15 school districts were organized throughout Nicollet County by 1859 and local businesses began to thrive. In 1868 the railroad arrived and communities were established near rail lines and nearby lakes and rivers. Today Nicollet County is home to approximately 32,027 residents.
