Celebrating Friendship—Past, Present and Future!
Nicollet, Minnesota is named after the famous Upper Mississippi River Basin explorer, Joseph Nicollet, who surveyed the area in the 1830s. At that time, the area was covered with what the early explorers called “The Great Woods,” and it had long been home to the Sisseton Sioux Indian tribe. Nicollet befriended the tribe’s chief, Sleepy Eyes, and was able to freely explore the land that he described in his notebook as being “full of beauty.”
In 1856, the village of Nicollet was platted near Swan Lake, which is one of the most significant waterfowl breeding areas in the Upper Midwest. With a population today nearing 1,100, the town of Nicollet retains the flavor of its historic past while journeying into the future. Visitors travel from throughout the area to shop at Nicollet’s well-known meat market—the largest of its kind in Southern Minnesota—as well as to attend the annual Friendship Days Celebration that is sponsored by the Nicollet American Legion, Chamber of Commerce and area businesses. During the festival, Nicollet’s residents welcome visitors with friendly hospitality that culminates with the Grand Parade followed by music in the park.