Nicolaus was an early major stopping point on the Feather River during the California Gold Rush.

,Allen, Special Agent of the United States Government for the purpose of selecting early post offices in California as "a most beautiful country...[t]he country bordering the Feather River (near Nicolaus) is by far the most fertile and most beautiful I have seen in California."

[4] It was also home to a large mixed population of Maidu Indians and Hawaiians, or Kanakas, which has since relocated to El Dorado County, California.

The zip code is 95659 that also encompasses the communities of East Nicolaus, Trowbridge, Lee and Verona.

It is served by East Nicolaus High School that is renowned for its male and female sports teams.

The area is unique in that it has retained its rural character yet is only 20 minutes north of Sacramento, the state capital.

The town of Nicolaus is the site of an annual Labor Day parade, which attracts visitors from throughout the state.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 3.1 square miles (8.1 km2), all of it land.

There were 98 housing units at an average density of 31.2 per square mile (12.0/km2), of which 65 (70.7%) were owner-occupied, and 27 (29.3%) were occupied by renters.

Federally, Nicolaus is in California's 3rd congressional district, represented by Republican Kevin Kiley.