# Rock County, Minnesota *County in southwestern Minnesota* Rock County occupies the southwestern corner of [[Minnesota]]. Its county seat is Luverne, and the 2020 census counted 9,704 residents.[^1] The county forms part of the Sioux Falls metropolitan statistical area.[^1] An act of the territorial [[Legislature]] created the county on May 23, 1857, without organizing it. A state act of March 5, 1870, completed its organization and fixed the seat at Luverne.[^2] The name comes from the Rock River, which was itself named for an outcrop labeled "The Rock" on an 1843 map.[^2] The county has not backed a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964. In 2012, it and neighboring Pipestone County were the only two Minnesota counties that [[Amy Klobuchar]] did not carry in her Senate race.[^3] ## History The territorial legislature's act of May 23, 1857, established the county but left it unorganized.[^2] At first the names ran the other way. The area of the present county bore the designation Pipestone County, while the name Rock County applied to what is now Pipestone County. In 1862 the state legislature swapped the two designations, giving each county its current name.[^2] A legislative act of March 5, 1870, completed the county's organization and named Luverne the county seat.[^2] The county takes its name from the Rock River. The river's name comes from a rocky outcrop marked "The Rock" on an 1843 map of the area. That outcrop, made of reddish-gray quartzite, rises from the surrounding low prairie about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Luverne.[^2] A second explanation traces the county's name to its rocky soil.[^2] ## Geography The county sits at the state's southwestern corner. South Dakota lies along its western boundary and Iowa along its southern boundary.[^4] The Rock River runs south through the east central part of the county, and Beaver Creek runs south through the west central part.[^4] Most of the terrain is low rolling hills cut by drainages, and most of the land is farmed. The ground falls gradually toward the south. The county's highest elevation, 1,759 ft (536 m) above sea level, is near the middle of its northern line.[^4] Of the county's 483 square miles (1,250 km²), 482 square miles are land and 0.3 square miles (0.06%) are water. The whole county has a hot-summer humid continental (Dfa) climate.[^4] ### Lakes Minnesota's nickname is the "Land of 10,000 Lakes", yet Rock County is one of four counties in the state with no natural lake.[^5] In 1938 a WPA work project built the "Lower Dam" on Blue Mounds Creek. The dam formed a small lake in Blue Mounds State Park that lasted until 2014.[^5] Rain and floodwaters damaged the dam in June 2014, and the pond drained. In June 2016 the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced that it would not rebuild the dam.[^5] ### Major highways Interstate 90, U.S. Highway 75, and Minnesota State Highways 23, 269 and 270 serve the county.[^6] ### Adjacent counties Neighboring counties include Pipestone County to the north and Murray County to the northeast.[^6] ## Demographics ### 2020 census The 2020 census recorded 9,704 residents, with a median age of 41.5. Children under 18 made up 25.2% of the population, and people aged 65 or older made up 21.8%. The county had 98.2 males per 100 females overall and 96.3 males per 100 females among adults 18 and over.[^7] By race, 92.7% of residents were White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, and 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander. Another 1.1% reported some other race and 4.3% two or more races. Residents who were Hispanic or Latino, of any race, made up 3.8%.[^7] The population was split 49.5% urban and 50.5% rural.[^7] The census counted 3,892 households, and 29.7% of them included children under 18. Married couples made up 54.9% of households. A male householder with no spouse or partner headed 17.4%, and a female householder with no spouse or partner headed 22.9%. About 30.0% of households were single individuals, and in 15.5% a person 65 or older lived alone.[^7] Of the county's 4,222 housing units, 7.8% stood vacant. Owners occupied 75.4% of occupied units and renters 24.6%. The vacancy rate was 1.7% for owner housing and 7.8% for rentals.[^7] ### 2000 census The 2000 census counted 9,721 people living in 3,843 households, of which 2,705 were families. Population density was 20.2 people per square mile (7.8/km²). Housing units numbered 4,137, a density of 8.58 per square mile (3.31/km²). The racial makeup included 97.27% White and 0.53% Black or African American residents.[^8] ## Communities ### Cities Beaver Creek, Hardwick, Hills, Jasper (part), Kenneth, Luverne (county seat), Magnolia, and Steen.[^9] ### Unincorporated communities Ash Creek, Kanaranzi, and Manley.[^9] ### Ghost towns Bruce and Carnegie.[^9] ### Townships Battle Plain, Beaver Creek, Clinton, Denver, Kanaranzi, Luverne, Magnolia, Martin, Mound, Rose Dell, Springwater, and Vienna townships.[^9] ## In popular culture The second season of *Fargo* takes place largely in Luverne and Rock County.[^10] ## Government and politics ### National politics The county has a tradition of voting Republican. It has not chosen the Democratic presidential candidate in any election since 1964.[^3] In her 2012 Senate race, Klobuchar carried every Minnesota county except two: Rock County and its northern neighbor, Pipestone County.[^3] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Rock County, Minnesota*, lead section (revision 1375306846, retrieved 25 October 2026) — location, 2020 population of 9,704, county seat Luverne, Sioux Falls MSA. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Rock County, Minnesota*, History section (revision 1375306846, retrieved 25 October 2026) — 1857 establishment, 1862 exchange of names, 1870 organizing act, origin of the name. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Rock County, Minnesota*, Government and politics section (revision 1375306846, retrieved 25 October 2026) — Republican voting tradition since 1964 and the 2012 Senate result. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Rock County, Minnesota*, Geography section (revision 1375306846, retrieved 25 October 2026) — borders, waterways, terrain, elevation, area, climate. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Rock County, Minnesota*, Geography: Lakes (revision 1375306846, retrieved 25 October 2026) — absence of natural lakes, 1938 dam, 2014 drainage, 2016 DNR decision. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Rock County, Minnesota*, Geography: Major highways and Adjacent counties (revision 1375306846, retrieved 25 October 2026) — highways and neighboring counties. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Rock County, Minnesota*, Demographics: 2020 census (revision 1375306846, retrieved 25 October 2026) — 2020 population, age, race, households, housing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_County,_Minnesota [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Rock County, Minnesota*, Demographics: 2000 census (revision 1375306846, retrieved 25 October 2026) — 2000 population, households, density, housing, race. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_County,_Minnesota [^9]: Wikipedia contributors, *Rock County, Minnesota*, Communities section (revision 1375306846, retrieved 25 October 2026) — cities, unincorporated communities, ghost towns, townships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_County,_Minnesota [^10]: Wikipedia contributors, *Rock County, Minnesota*, In popular culture section (revision 1375306846, retrieved 25 October 2026) — *Fargo* season two setting. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_County,_Minnesota