Editing Rock County, Minnesota

{{short description|County in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Rock County
 | state                = Minnesota
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = May 23, 1857 (created)<br/>March 5, 1870 (organized)
 | seat wl              = Luverne
 | largest city wl      = Luverne
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 483
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 482
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 0.3
 | area percentage      = 0.06%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 9704
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 9551 {{decrease}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 20.1
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = www.co.rock.mn.us
 | named for            = Rock outcrop on Rock River
 | ex image             = Rock County Courthouse & Jail.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Rock County Courthouse
 | district             = 1st
}}

'''Rock County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the southwestern corner of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Minnesota]]. According to the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 9,704.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/rockcountyminnesota/PST045222 |access-date=April 23, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Luverne, Minnesota|Luverne]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> It is located within the [[Sioux Falls, South Dakota metropolitan area|Sioux Falls MSA]].

==History==
The county was established on May 23, 1857, by an act of the territorial legislature, although it was not organized at that time. Originally, the area was designated as ''Pipestone County'', and the name ''Rock County'' was given to what is now [[Pipestone County, Minnesota|Pipestone]] County. However, in 1862, the Minnesota state legislature changed the designations, assigning the present names to the respective counties. On March 5, 1870, the state legislature passed an act that finalized the organization of Rock County and designated Luverne as its county seat. The county derived its name from the [[Rock River (Big Sioux River)|Rock River]], which was named after a prominent rocky outcrop referred to as "The Rock" on an 1843 map of the area. This outcrop is composed of reddish-gray quartzite and is located approximately {{convert|3|mi|km}} north of Luverne. The mound stands out dramatically amidst the surrounding low prairie.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/collections17minnuoft/page/466 Upham, Warren. ''Minnesota Geographic Names'', p. 466 (1920). Accessed March 13, 2019]</ref> Another source suggests that the county's name is attributed to its rocky soil.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chicago and North Western Railway Company |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OspBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA163 |title=A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways |year=1908 |page=163}}</ref>

==Geography==
Rock County is located at the southwestern corner of Minnesota. Its western border shares a boundary with the eastern border of [[South Dakota]], while its southern border is adjacent to the northern border of [[Iowa]]. The county is characterized by the flow of the [[Rock River (Big Sioux River)|Rock River]], which runs southward through its east central part, and Beaver Creek, which flows southward through its west central region. The landscape primarily consists of low rolling hills with various drainages. The county's predominant land use is agriculture.<ref name="RCM">[ ]</ref> The terrain gradually slopes southward, with the highest point situated near the midpoint of the county's northern boundary, reaching an elevation of {{convert|1,759|ft|m|abbr=on}} above sea level.<ref name="alt">[https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm "Find an Altitude/Rock County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 13, 2019)]</ref> Rock County spans an area of {{convert|483|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|482|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.3|sqmi}} (0.06%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060200/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |access-date=October 24, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The entire county falls within the hot summer [[humid continental climate]] zone (Dfa). [[File:Rock_Co_Pie_Chart_No_Text_Version.pdf|thumb|right|Soils of Rock County<ref>Nelson, Steven (2011) ''Savanna Soils of Minnesota''. Minnesota: Self. pp. 69-70. {{ISBN|978-0-615-50320-2}}.</ref>]]

===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.<ref>The four counties lacking a natural lake are Mower, Olmsted, Pipestone, and Rock.</ref> Rock County did host a manmade lake from 1938 until 2014: a [[Works Progress Administration|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#Cultural history|Blue Mounds State Park]]. This continued until June 2014, when the dam was damaged by rain and floodwaters, allowing the pond to drain.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luverne Dam Breaks, Drains Popular Lake |url=http://www.keloland.com/news/article/news/luverne-dam-breaks-drains-popular-lake |access-date=February 5, 2018 |website=KELOLAND News}}</ref> In June 2016 the [[Minnesota Department of Natural Resources]] announced its decision not to rebuild the dam.<ref>[http://news.dnr.state.mn.us/2016/06/22/dnr-decides-not-to-rebuild-blue-mounds-state-park-dam/ "DNR Decides Not To Rebuld Blue Mounds State Park Dam" (Minnesota Natural Resources news release dated June 22, 2016). Accessed March 13, 2019]</ref>

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Image:I-90.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 90 in Minnesota|Interstate 90]]
* [[Image:US 75.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 75#Minnesota|U.S. Highway 75]]
* [[Image:MN-23.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 23]]
* [[Image:MN-269.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 269]]
* [[Image:MN-270.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 270]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties<ref name=alt/>===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Pipestone County, Minnesota|Pipestone County]] – north
* [[Murray County, Minnesota|Murray County]] – northeast
* [[Nobles County, Minnesota|Nobles County]] – east
* [[Lyon County, Iowa]] – south
* [[Minnehaha County, South Dakota]] – west
* [[Moody County, South Dakota]] – northwest
{{div col end}}

===Protected areas<ref name=RCM/>===
* [[Blue Mounds State Park]]
* [[Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 23
|1870= 138
|1880= 3669
|1890= 6817
|1900= 9668
|1910= 10222
|1920= 10965
|1930= 10962
|1940= 10933
|1950= 11278
|1960= 11864
|1970= 11346
|1980= 10703
|1990= 9806
|2000= 9721
|2010= 9687
|2020= 9704
|estyear=2023
|estimate=9551
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 18, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=October 24, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=October 24, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt |access-date=October 24, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br/>1990-2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=October 24, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Rock County, Minnesota - Demographic Profile'''<br> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')
!Race / Ethnicity
!Pop 2010<ref name="2010CensusP2">{{Cite web |title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Rock County, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US27133&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref name="2020CensusP2">{{Cite web |title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Rock County, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US27133&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|9,239
|8,886
|95.38%
|91.57%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|58
|50
|0.60%
|0.51%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|31
|48
|0.32%
|0.50%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|53
|62
|0.55%
|0.64%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|1
|10
|0.01%
|0.10%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|4
|0
|0.04%
|0.00%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|284
|3,889
|0.11%
|0.29%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|197
|364
|2.03%
|3.75%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''9,687'''
|'''9,704'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|}
''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.''

===2000 census===
[[File:RockCountyMn2022PopPyr.png|thumb|right|2022 US Census [[population pyramid]] for Rock County, from [[American Community Survey|ACS]] 5-year estimates]]
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 9,721 people, 3,843 households, and 2,705 families in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|20.2|/mi2|/km2}}. There were 4,137 housing units at an average density of {{convert|8.58|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.27% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.53% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.43% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.62% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.53% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.59% from two or more races. 1.28% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 41.4% were of [[German Americans|German]], 23.8% [[Dutch Americans|Dutch]] and 16.5% [[Norwegian Americans|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 [[Marriage|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==
[[File:Rock County Administrative map (Minnesota).svg|thumb|Rock County Administrative map (Minnesota)]]

===Cities===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Beaver Creek, Minnesota|Beaver Creek]]
* [[Hardwick, Minnesota|Hardwick]]
* [[Hills, Minnesota|Hills]]
* [[Jasper, Minnesota|Jasper]] (part)
* [[Kenneth, Minnesota|Kenneth]]
* [[Luverne, Minnesota|Luverne]] (county seat)
* [[Magnolia, Minnesota|Magnolia]]
* [[Steen, Minnesota|Steen]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Ash Creek, Minnesota|Ash Creek]]
* [[Kanaranzi, Minnesota|Kanaranzi]]
* [[Manley, Minnesota|Manley]]

===Ghost towns===
* [[Bruce, Minnesota|Bruce]]
* [[Carnegie, Minnesota|Carnegie]]

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Battle Plain Township, Rock County, Minnesota|Battle Plain Township]]
* [[Beaver Creek Township, Rock County, Minnesota|Beaver Creek Township]]
* [[Clinton Township, Rock County, Minnesota|Clinton Township]]
* [[Denver Township, Rock County, Minnesota|Denver Township]]
* [[Kanaranzi Township, Rock County, Minnesota|Kanaranzi Township]]
* [[Luverne Township, Rock County, Minnesota|Luverne Township]]
* [[Magnolia Township, Rock County, Minnesota|Magnolia Township]]
* [[Martin Township, Rock County, Minnesota|Martin Township]]
* [[Mound Township, Rock County, Minnesota|Mound Township]]
* [[Rose Dell Township, Rock County, Minnesota|Rose Dell Township]]
* [[Springwater Township, Rock County, Minnesota|Springwater Township]]
* [[Vienna Township, Rock County, Minnesota|Vienna Township]]
{{div col end}}

==In popular culture==
Much of the second season of ''[[Fargo (TV series)|Fargo]]'' is set in Luverne and Rock County.

==Government and politics==
{| class="wikitable"
|+County Board of Commissioners<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rock County, Minnesota |url=https://www.co.rock.mn.us/county_board/board_of_commissioners.php |access-date=April 25, 2023 |website=www.co.rock.mn.us}}</ref>
!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
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+State Legislature (2025-2027)
! colspan="2" |Position
!Name
!Affiliation
!District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|[[Minnesota Senate|Senate]]
|[[Bill Weber (Minnesota politician)|Bill Weber]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Index - Election Results |url=https://electionresults.sos.mn.gov/results/Index?ErsElectionId=149&scenario=StateSenate&DistrictId=509&show=Go |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=electionresults.sos.mn.gov}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|21
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|[[Minnesota House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
|[[Joe Schomacker]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-15 |title=Schomacker sworn in for eighth term |url=https://www.dglobe.com/news/local/schomacker-sworn-in-for-eighth-term |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Worthington Globe |language=en}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|21A
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+U.S Congress (2025-2027)
! colspan="2" |Position
!Name
!Affiliation
!District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|[[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
|[[Brad Finstad]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frey |first=Josh |date=2024-11-07 |title=Brad Finstad wins re-election for Minnesota U.S. House District 1 |url=https://www.kaaltv.com/news/brad-finstad-wins-re-election-for-minnesota-u-s-house-district-1/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=ABC 6 News - kaaltv.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|[[Minnesota's 1st congressional district|1st]]
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
|[[United States Senate|Senate]]
|[[Amy Klobuchar]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar |url=https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/ |access-date=June 24, 2020 |website=www.klobuchar.senate.gov}}</ref>
|[[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|Democrat]]
|N/A
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
|[[United States Senate|Senate]]
|[[Tina Smith]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.smith.senate.gov/ |access-date=June 24, 2020 |website=Senator Tina Smith |language=en}}</ref>
|[[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|Democrat]]
|N/A
|}

===National politics===
Rock County traditionally votes Republican. In no presidential election since 1964 has it selected the Democratic candidate. Along with its northern neighbor [[Pipestone County, Minnesota|Pipestone County]], it was one of only two Minnesota counties [[Amy Klobuchar]] did not win in her [[2012 United States Senate election in Minnesota|2012 Senate race]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota 2012 senate results by county |url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2012/results/states/minnesota.html?mtrref=www.google.com&gwh=8F6156AC279F9036111C7CBB392BFFD7&gwt=regi&assetType=REGIWALL |access-date=November 19, 2020 |website=New York Times}}</ref>
{{PresHead|place=Rock County, Minnesota|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=October 10, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|3,690|1,585|98|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,583|1,556|101|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,091|1,373|375|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,810|1,946|90|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,775|2,079|121|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,111|2,000|80|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,772|2,081|157|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|2,169|2,142|593|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|2,065|2,006|1,267|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,737|2,435|43|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,971|2,188|37|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,164|2,089|460|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|2,892|2,769|78|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,470|2,089|53|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,056|2,084|234|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,389|2,896|2|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,469|1,823|5|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,267|1,591|4|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,774|1,286|7|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,035|2,134|65|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,584|1,649|27|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|2,944|1,983|24|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,752|2,910|176|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,452|2,695|54|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,433|1,607|13|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,065|261|1,647|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,121|442|129|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,196|705|103|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|463|466|881|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,234|525|77|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,243|241|87|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,234|573|86|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|1,209|765|46|Minnesota}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|940|383|253|Minnesota}}

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Rock County, Minnesota]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.co.rock.mn.us/ Rock County government website]
* [http://www.star-herald.com/ The Rock County Star Herald newspaper website]
* [https://rockcountyhistorical.com/communities/vanished-towns/ Vanished Towns of Rock County]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Rock County, Minnesota
|North     = [[Pipestone County, Minnesota|Pipestone County]]
|Northeast = [[Murray County, Minnesota|Murray County]]
|East      = [[Nobles County, Minnesota|Nobles County]]
|South     = [[Lyon County, Iowa]]
|West      = [[Minnehaha County, South Dakota]]
|Northwest = [[Moody County, South Dakota]]
}}

{{Rock County, Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|43.67|-96.25|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MN_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Rock County, Minnesota| ]]
[[Category:Minnesota counties]]
[[Category:1870 establishments in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1870]]
[[Category:Minnesota placenames of Native American origin]]