Early settlements in the area included Swan City in 1856, Dakota City near Judson, and Eureka, which had the first post office and was later named Nicollet as a stage coach center. The arrival of the Winona, St. Peter Railroad in 1870 moved Nicollet to its present site. By 1892, the village had four churches, a school, a bank, a doctor, four general stores, furniture, hardware, implement, jewelry, boot, millinery, and drug stores, three saloons, three elevators, three blacksmiths, a creamery, two hotels, butcher, barber, and print shops, and lumber and stock yards. The village's pioneers served the county well.