Founding and History of Luverne, MN
The site that would become Luverne was started as a stop on the mail route from Blue Earth, MN to Yankton, SD in 1867 by Philo Hawes. The John Leitze family and Miss Miranda Skinner maintained a “half way” house there for the first winter. Philo Hawes returned with his family the next year and built a log cabin which served as a post office, city hall, church and community center. The post office was named Luverne after his daugher Eva Luverne.
In 1871 Governor Austin named Luverne as the county seat of Rock County. The townsite was platted in 1872. The first school was built in 1871 but was replaced in 1875 when the first building burned. Central School was built in 1882.
The first newspaper, the Rock County Herald, was established in 1873. Hard times fell on the community in the 1870s with blizzards, prairie fires, epidemics and grasshoppers. The community faltered but revived with better weather and the arrival of the first railroad in 1876. The community was incorporated in 1877.
The first church was the Methodist church established in 1873. Other early churches were Baptist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Norwegian Lutheran (Synod), Norwegian Lutheran (United), Unitarian, Episcopal, German Lutheran, Norwegian Lutheran (Free) and Christian Science.
The library started in the old post office building. In 1903 Andrew Carnegie donated $10,000 to build a library and it was dedicated in 1904.
The first bank was First National Bank founded in 1876. Other early banks were the Rock County Bank, the Farmers National Bank and the National Bank of Luverne.
Early industries were the Luverne Automobile company, Luverne Brick & Tile company, Luverne Pressed Brick company, and Luverne Concrete company.
Luverne, MN Today
Luverne is the county seat of Rock County, Minnesota. It had a population of 4745 in the 2010 census. Luverne was one of four towns profiled in the 2007 Ken Burns documentary The War.
The Luverne Public Schools provide education for K-12. A campus of Minnesota West Community and Technical College is located in Luverne. There is an active chapter of Dollars for Scholars with an endowment of over $8 million. The Rock County Community Library is a member of the Plum Creek library system consisting of 26 libraries with access to items anywhere in the state of Minnesota.
Recreation opportunities include the Blue Mound Biking and Hiking Trail, the Luverne Loop Trail, the City Park, neighborhood parks, The Lake, the Luverne Country Club golf course, the Blue Mound Ice Arena and the Rock County Sportsman’s Club. Blue Mounds State Park and Touch the Sky Prairie are nearby.
For entertainment one can visit the historic Palace Theater, the Rock County Veterans Memorial, the Brandenburg Gallery, the Lord Grizzly Gallery, the Herreid Military Museum, the Verne Drive-In movie theater, one of the many fine restaurants, the Take 16 Brewery, the Hinkly House and the Rock County History Center. Several hotels are available for visitors.
Shopping opportunities abound in the downtown area and along Highway 75. Many industries are based in Luverne. See the Luverne Chamber of Commerce website for more information.
Luverne Sanford is part of the regional Sanford Health Care System based in Sioux Falls, SD. The Good Samaritan campus consists of the Mary Jane Brown skilled nursing facility, the Poplar Creek Estates assisted living and the Oaks senior housing. The Minnesota Veterans Home is a skilled nursing facility providing care to Minnesota veterans.
