Rock County, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rock County
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![]() Rock County Courthouse
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![]() Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
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![]() Minnesota's location within the U.S. |
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Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | May 23, 1857 (created) March 5, 1870 (organized) |
Named for | Rock outcrop on Rock River |
Seat | Luverne |
Largest city | Luverne |
Area | |
• Total | 483 sq mi (1,250 km2) |
• Land | 482 sq mi (1,250 km2) |
• Water | 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2) 0.06%% |
Population
(2020)
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• Total | 9,704 |
• Estimate
(2021)
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9,680 ![]() |
• Density | 20.1/sq mi (7.8/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 1st |
Rock County is a county at the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,704. Its county seat is Luverne.
Contents
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 483 square miles (1,250 km2), of which 482 square miles (1,250 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (0.06%) is water.
Lakes
Despite Rock County not containing any natural lakes (the other three being Mower, Olmsted, and Pipestone), it does have a small lake created by a dam in Blue Mounds State Park.
Major highways
Interstate 90
U.S. Highway 75
Minnesota State Highway 23
Minnesota State Highway 269
Minnesota State Highway 270
Adjacent counties
- Pipestone County (north)
- Murray County (northeast)
- Nobles County (east)
- Lyon County, Iowa (south)
- Minnehaha County, South Dakota (west)
- Moody County, South Dakota (northwest)
Demographics
Historical population | |||
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Census | Pop. | %± | |
1860 | 23 | — | |
1870 | 138 | 500.0% | |
1880 | 3,669 | 2,558.7% | |
1890 | 6,817 | 85.8% | |
1900 | 9,668 | 41.8% | |
1910 | 10,222 | 5.7% | |
1920 | 10,965 | 7.3% | |
1930 | 10,962 | 0.0% | |
1940 | 10,933 | −0.3% | |
1950 | 11,278 | 3.2% | |
1960 | 11,864 | 5.2% | |
1970 | 11,346 | −4.4% | |
1980 | 10,703 | −5.7% | |
1990 | 9,806 | −8.4% | |
2000 | 9,721 | −0.9% | |
2010 | 9,687 | −0.3% | |
2015 (est.) | 9,600 | −0.9% | |
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2015 |
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,721 people, 3,843 households, and 2,705 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 4,137 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.27% White, 0.53% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. 1.28% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.4% were of German, 23.8% Dutch and 16.5% Norwegian ancestry.
There were 3,843 households out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.10% were married couples living together, 5.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.30% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 24.10% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 20.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,102, and the median income for a family was $44,296. Males had a median income of $28,776 versus $22,166 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,411. About 5.50% of families and 8.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.10% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
- Beaver Creek
- Hardwick
- Hills
- Jasper (partly in Pipestone County)
- Kenneth
- Luverne (county seat)
- Magnolia
- Steen
Townships
- Battle Plain Township
- Beaver Creek Township
- Clinton Township
- Denver Township
- Kanaranzi Township
- Luverne Township
- Magnolia Township
- Martin Township
- Mound Township
- Rose Dell Township
- Springwater Township
- Vienna Township
Unincorporated communities
Ghost towns
In popular culture
Much of the second season of Fargo is set in Luverne and Rock County.
![]() | Hypatia |
![]() | Agnodice |
![]() | Aglaonice |
![]() | Mary the Jewess |