History thumb|left|1874 map of Nobles County - Note that six townships had yet to be named Nobles County was first occupied by the Sisseton Sioux. The first white man to set foot on the land was Joseph Nicollet who came to map out the area in 1842. Nicollet named Lake Okabena (there were two Lake Okabenas at the time), Lake Ocheda, East and West Graham Lake and the Kanaranzi Creek.
History thumb|left|1874 map of Nobles County - Note that six townships had yet to be named Nobles County was first occupied by the Sisseton Sioux. The first white man to set foot on the land was Joseph Nic:ollet who came to map out the area in 1842. Nicollet named Lake Okabena (there were two Lake Okabenas at the time), Lake Ocheda, East and West Graham Lake and the Kanaranzi Creek.