Rock County is a county in Minnesota, United States, on the South Dakota and Iowa borders in the southwestern corner of the state. It had a population of 9,704 at the 2020 census and covers 483 square miles (1,250 km2) centred near 43°40′N 96°15′W.
Luverne is the county seat, and its postal code is 56156. The county has eight incorporated cities, three unincorporated communities, and twelve civil townships, and it observes Central time.
Towns & Villages in Rock County
Rock County has eleven named places on record: eight incorporated cities and three unincorporated communities. Luverne, the seat, is by far the largest, holding well over half the county’s population; the rest are small farm towns spaced along the rail lines and county roads that cross the prairie.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luverne | City · seat | Luverne | — | 56156 |
| Hills | City | Vienna | — | 56138 |
| Beaver Creek | City | Beaver Creek | — | 56116 |
| Hardwick | City | Springwater | — | 56134 |
| Jasper | City | Battle Plain | — | 56144 |
| Kenneth | City | Denver | — | 56147 |
| Magnolia | City | Magnolia | — | 56158 |
| Steen | City | Rose Dell | — | 56173 |
| Ash Creek | Unincorp. | Battle Plain | — | — |
| Kanaranzi | Unincorp. | Kanaranzi | — | — |
| Manley | Unincorp. | Mound | — | — |
Jasper straddles the Rock–Pipestone county line, with most of the built-up town on the Pipestone County side; the Rock County portion is listed here because its post office ZIP serves both sides.
Townships
Rock County is organized into twelve civil townships, most named for early settlers or for towns they surround.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Luverne | — | Luverne |
| Springwater | — | Hardwick |
| Battle Plain | — | Jasper, Ash Creek |
| Beaver Creek | — | Beaver Creek |
| Vienna | — | Hills |
| Denver | — | Kenneth |
| Magnolia | — | Magnolia |
| Rose Dell | — | Steen |
| Kanaranzi | — | Kanaranzi |
| Mound | — | Manley |
| Clinton | — | rural |
| Martin | — | rural |
ZIP Codes
- 56156 — Luverne (the county’s principal ZIP, also serves the surrounding township)
- 56144 — Jasper (also serves the Rock County side of the town)
- 56138 — Hills
- 56116 — Beaver Creek
- 56134 — Hardwick
- 56158 — Magnolia
- 56173 — Steen
- 56147 — Kenneth
Ash Creek, Kanaranzi, and Manley have no post office of their own; mail there is handled through Luverne or the nearest incorporated town.
Geography
Rock County sits on the Coteau des Prairies, a gently rolling upland of glacial till broken by outcrops of Sioux quartzite — the “rock” the county and its namesake river were named for. The Rock River flows south through the county on its way to the Big Sioux, and most of the land is drained, tiled farmland with little natural woodland left along the creek bottoms.
Rock County borders Pipestone County to the north, Murray County to the northeast, Nobles County to the east, Lyon County, Iowa, to the south, and Minnehaha County and Moody County, South Dakota, to the west and northwest. Of these, only Murray County currently has a live profile on this site; the others are named here without a link.
Demographics
The county’s population was 9,704 at the 2020 census, giving a density of about 20 people per square mile. Luverne is by far the largest community, followed by Hills; together the two account for most of the county’s residents, with the balance spread across the six smaller cities and the open townships. Median household income in Rock County runs close to the Minnesota median of $85,086, reflecting a stable farm-owner and small-town economic base rather than the lower figures typical of more sparsely populated prairie counties.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture is the backbone of Rock County’s economy — corn, soybeans, and hog and cattle operations dominate the township land, supported by grain elevators and implement dealers based in Luverne and the smaller towns. Luverne is also home to Sanford Luverne Medical Center and Blue Mound State Park just east of town, which draws visitors for its bison herd and quartzite bluff overlooking the Rock River valley. Wind energy has become a growing secondary industry, with turbine rows visible across the county’s ridgelines.
History
Rock County was created by the Minnesota territorial legislature on May 23, 1857, though it was not formally organized until 1870s settlement filled in the townships. An early surveying mix-up briefly reversed the names of Rock and neighboring Pipestone counties before the boundaries and names were settled as they stand today. Luverne was platted in 1873 along the new rail line and quickly became the county’s commercial center, a position it has held ever since.
Getting There
Interstate 90 crosses the county east–west through Luverne, with U.S. Route 75 running north–south and Minnesota Highways 23, 269, and 270 linking the smaller towns.
- Sioux Falls, South Dakota — 30 miles west
- Worthington — 30 miles east
- Pipestone — 20 miles north
- Sioux City, Iowa — 60 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Sioux Falls Regional Airport, about 30 miles west of Luverne via I-90.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Rock County, Minnesota?
It is in the southwestern corner of the state, bordering both South Dakota and Iowa.
What is the population of Rock County?
9,704 residents as of the 2020 census.
How big is Rock County?
483 square miles (1,250 km2), almost entirely land.
What is the county seat of Rock County?
Luverne is the county seat.
How many towns are in Rock County?
Eight incorporated cities and three unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Rock County?
Eight ZIPs, led by 56156 for Luverne, plus 56144, 56138, 56116, 56134, 56158, 56173, and 56147 for the smaller towns.
What state park is in Rock County?
Blue Mound State Park, just east of Luverne, known for its quartzite cliff and bison herd.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Minnesota.