Nobles County

Nobles County is an administrative county in southwestern Minnesota with rolling hills, lakes, and broad agricultural fields. Worthington serves as its county seat and main population center.

The Minnesota Legislature established this county in 1857, naming it after William H. Nobles, a territorial representative. European settlement transformed the region from native hunting grounds into farmland.

The Sisseton Dakota people originally lived here before European farmers arrived and shaped the land with agriculture. Today, farming communities and small towns define how the landscape looks and feels.

Interstate 90 and U.S. Highway 59 provide main routes through the area. Weather conditions, especially in winter, can affect travel, so plan accordingly when visiting.

The county sits atop Buffalo Ridge, a natural divide that separates water flowing toward the Mississippi River from water flowing toward the Missouri River. This geological feature still shapes how rainfall moves through the landscape today.

Location: Minnesota

Inception: May 23, 1857

Capital city: Worthington

Shares border with: Murray County, Osceola County, Rock County, Lyon County, Jackson County, Cottonwood County

Website: https://co.nobles.mn.us

GPS coordinates: 43.67000,-95.76000

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:44