Nicollet County
Townships, Towns, and Villages
Nicollet County
Map of Townships
Belgrade Township
First settled in 1854, organized in 1858.
North Mankato, a
village in Belgrade township on the Minnesota River, opposite the city
of Mankato in Blue Earth County.
The History
of North Mankato
Bernadotte Township
Settled in 1859, organized in 1869.
Brighton Township
Settled in 1855, organized in 1877.
Courtland Township
Organized in 1858 and originally called Hilo from its post office established
in 1856, renamed Courtland in 1865. The village of Courtland was designated
a railway station in 1872 and platted in 1882.
Courtland History
(Thanks to Sheila Wingate for getting permission from the authors and transcribing this history.)
Granby Township
Settled in 1855, organized in 1858.
Lafayette Township
Settled in 1853 and organized in May 1858.
The railway village of Lafayette was platted in 1897.
Klossner, a railway village in Lafayette twp was platted in 1897 (named
for Jacob Klossner, original owner of the property).
Lake Prairie Township
Settled in 1853, organized in 1858.
New Sweden Township
Organized in 1864, first settled in 1855-57 by Norwegians.
Nicollet Township
First settled in 1854, organized in 1858.
The railway village of Nicollet existed from 1857-1859 and then was
incorporated in 1881.
Letter from Nicolett, Minn. 1888 (Transcribed by Connie McLaughlin)
Oshawa Township
First settled in 1852, organized in 1858.
Ridgely Township
Organized 1871, named for Fort Ridgely built in 1853-54 and used as a U.S.
military post until 1867. Originally part of West Newton township.
St. Peter, county seat
First settled in 1853, platted 1854, incorporated as a borough in 1865
and a city in 1873.
Visit St. Peter
Traverse Township
Organized 1858, took the name of its village, platted in 1852 and called
Traverse des Sioux, a place the Sioux used to cross the Minnesota River.
West Newton Township
Settled in 1856 and organized in 1858. Named partly for James Newton, one
of the first settlers and also for the steamboat West Newton that brought
the first soldiers from Fort Snelling to the site of Fort Ridgely.
Last updated 22 March 2006
