Rock County, Minnesota

Rock County is a county at the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 9,687.[1] Its county seat is Luverne.[2]

Rock County
U.S. county
Rock County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°40′N 96°15′W
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedMay 23, 1857 (created)
March 5, 1870 (organized)
Named forRock outcrop on Rock River
SeatLuverne
Largest cityLuverne
Area
 • Total483 sq mi (1,250 km2)
 • Land482 sq mi (1,250 km2)
 • Water0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)  0.06%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total9,687
 • Estimate 
(2019)
9,315
 • Density19.7/sq mi (7.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.rock.mn.us

History

The county was formed on May 23, 1857 by act of the territorial legislature, but was not organized at that time. The area was designated Pipestone County, and the name Rock County was attached to the present Pipestone. In 1862 the Minnesota state legislature changed the designations, attaching the present names to the present counties. On March 5, 1870, the state legislature approved an act that finalized the county's organization and designated Luverne as the county seat. The county's name came from the Rock River, which in turn is named for a prominent rocky outcrop (designated "The Rock" on an 1843 map of the area) of reddish-gray quartzite, about 3 miles (5 km) north of Luverne. The mound dramatically contrasts with the low surrounding prairie.[3] Another source attributes the county name to its rocky soil.[4]

Geography

Rock County lies at Minnesota's southwest corner. Its western border abuts South Dakota's eastern border; its southern border abuts Iowa's northern border. The Rock River flows southward through the east central part of the county, and Beaver Creek flows southward through the west central part of the county. The county consists of low rolling hills carved with drainages. The area is devoted to agriculture.[5] The terrain slopes to the south, with its highest point near the midpoint of its north boundary, at 1,759' (536m) ASL.[6] The county has an 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.[7] The entire county falls in the hot summer humid continental climate zone (Dfa).

Soils of Rock County[8]

Lakes

One of Minnesota's nicknames is "Land of 10,000 Lakes", and it is speckled with bodies of water large and small. But four of the state's counties do not contain a natural lake; Rock County is one of them.[9] Rock County did host a manmade lake from 1938 until 2014: a WPA work project constructed a small dam (the "Lower Dam") on Blue Mounds Creek in 1938, creating a small lake in Blue Mounds State Park. This continued until June 2014, when the dam was damaged by rain and floodwaters, allowing the pond to drain.[10] In June 2016 the Minnesota Division of Natural Resources announced its decision not to rebuild the dam.[11]

Major highways

Adjacent counties[6]

Protected areas[5]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
186023—
1870138500.0%
18803,6692,558.7%
18906,81785.8%
19009,66841.8%
191010,2225.7%
192010,9657.3%
193010,9620.0%
194010,933−0.3%
195011,2783.2%
196011,8645.2%
197011,346−4.4%
198010,703−5.7%
19909,806−8.4%
20009,721−0.9%
20109,687−0.3%
2019 (est.)9,315[12]−3.8%
US Decennial Census[13]
1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15]
1990-2000[16] 2010-2019[1]
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census,[17] there were 9,721 people, 3,843 households, and 2,705 families in the county. The population density was 20.2/sq. mi. (7.79/km2). There were 4,137 housing units at an average density of 8.58/sqmi (3.31/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.

The county population contained 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
Rock County Administrative map (Minnesota)

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Townships

Much of the second season of Fargo is set in Luverne and Rock County.

Government and politics
County Board of Commissioners
Position Name District
Commissioner Gary Overgaard District 1
Commissioner Stan Williamson District 2
Commissioner Greg Burger District 3
Commissioner Sherri Thompson District 4
Commissioner Jody Reisch District 5
State Legislature (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
  Senate Bill Weber[18] Republican District 22
  House of Representatives Joe Schomacker[19] Republican District 22A
U.S Congress (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
  House of Representatives Jim Hagedorn[20] Republican 1st
  Senate Amy Klobuchar[21] Democrat N/A
  Senate Tina Smith[22] Democrat N/A

National politics

Rock County traditionally votes Republican. In no presidential election since 1964 has it selected the Democratic candidate. It and Pipestone County were the only Minnesota counties Amy Klobuchar did not win in her 2012 Senate race.[23]

Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[24]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 63.9% 3,091 28.4% 1,373 7.7% 375
2012 58.0% 2,810 40.2% 1,946 1.9% 90
2008 55.8% 2,775 41.8% 2,079 2.4% 121
2004 59.9% 3,111 38.5% 2,000 1.5% 80
2000 55.3% 2,772 41.5% 2,081 3.1% 157
1996 44.2% 2,169 43.7% 2,142 12.1% 593
1992 38.7% 2,065 37.6% 2,006 23.7% 1,267
1988 52.5% 2,737 46.7% 2,435 0.8% 43
1984 57.2% 2,971 42.1% 2,188 0.7% 37
1980 55.4% 3,164 36.6% 2,089 8.1% 460
1976 50.4% 2,892 48.3% 2,769 1.4% 78
1972 61.8% 3,470 37.2% 2,089 0.9% 53
1968 56.9% 3,056 38.8% 2,084 4.4% 234
1964 45.2% 2,389 54.8% 2,896 0.0% 2
1960 65.5% 3,469 34.4% 1,823 0.1% 5
1956 67.2% 3,267 32.7% 1,591 0.1% 4
1952 74.5% 3,774 25.4% 1,286 0.1% 7
1948 48.1% 2,035 50.4% 2,134 1.5% 65
1944 60.7% 2,584 38.7% 1,649 0.6% 27
1940 59.5% 2,944 40.1% 1,983 0.5% 24
1936 36.2% 1,752 60.2% 2,910 3.6% 176
1932 34.6% 1,452 64.2% 2,695 1.3% 54
1928 60.0% 2,433 39.7% 1,607 0.3% 13
1924 52.0% 2,065 6.6% 261 41.5% 1,647
1920 84.5% 3,121 12.0% 442 3.5% 129
1916 59.7% 1,196 35.2% 705 5.1% 103
1912 25.6% 463 25.8% 466 48.7% 881
1908 67.2% 1,234 28.6% 525 4.2% 77
1904 79.1% 1,243 15.3% 241 5.5% 87
1900 65.2% 1,234 30.3% 573 4.5% 86
1896 59.9% 1,209 37.9% 765 2.3% 46
1892 59.6% 940 24.3% 383 16.1% 253

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Upham, Warren. Minnesota Geographic Names, p. 466 (1920). Accessed March 13, 2019
  4. Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 163.
  5. [ ]
  6. "Find an Altitude/Rock County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 13, 2019)
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  8. Nelson, Steven (2011) Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 69-70. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  9. The four counties lacking a natural lake are Mower, Olmsted, Pipestone, and Rock.
  10. "Luverne Dam Breaks, Drains Popular Lake". KELOLAND News. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  11. "DNR Decides Not To Rebuld Blue Mounds State Park Dam" (Minnesota Natural Resources news release dated June 22, 2016). Accessed March 13, 2019
  12. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  13. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  14. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  15. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  16. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  17. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  18. "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  19. "Rep. Joe Schomacker (22A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  20. "Representative Jim Hagedorn". Representative Jim Hagedorn. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  21. "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  22. "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  23. "Minnesota 2012 senate results by county". New York Times. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  24. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.

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