Luverne, Minnesota
Luverne is a city in Rock County, Minnesota, United States, along the Rock River. The population was 4,745 at the 2010 census.[1] It is the county seat of Rock County[4]. It is one of four towns profiled in the 2007 Ken Burns documentary The War.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.9 km²), of which, 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²) of it is land and 0.29% is water.
Interstate 90 and U.S. Route 75 are two of the main routes in the city. Iowa borders to the south and South Dakota to the west. The regional center of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is a convenient 30-minute drive on Interstate 90.
Rock County holds the distinction of being one of four counties in the state of Minnesota without a natural lake.
Demographics
| Historical populations |
| Census |
Pop. |
|
%± |
| 1880 |
679 |
|
—
|
| 1890 |
1,466 |
|
115.9% |
| 1900 |
2,223 |
|
51.6% |
| 1910 |
2,540 |
|
14.3% |
| 1920 |
2,782 |
|
9.5% |
| 1930 |
2,644 |
|
−5.0% |
| 1940 |
3,114 |
|
17.8% |
| 1950 |
3,650 |
|
17.2% |
| 1960 |
4,249 |
|
16.4% |
| 1970 |
4,703 |
|
10.7% |
| 1980 |
4,568 |
|
−2.9% |
| 1990 |
4,382 |
|
−4.1% |
| 2000 |
4,617 |
|
5.4% |
| 2010 |
4,745 |
|
2.8% |
|
U.S. Decennial Census
|
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 4,617 people, 1,968 households, and 1,247 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,356.1 people per square mile (524.3/km²). There were 2,161 housing units at an average density of 634.7 per square mile (245.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.27% White, 0.67% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.58% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.56% of the population.
There were 1,968 households out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 26.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males The median income for a household in the city was $36,271, and the median income for a family was $46,745. Males had a median income of $30,549 versus $22,660 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,692. About 5.7% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
Local attractions
- Blue Mounds State Park is north of Luverne. A foraging bison herd is among the beautiful park's unique attractions. Camping, hiking, rock climbing, swimming and birdwatching are among the park's most popular activities. As once posted on the following website, writer Chris Welsch vividly describes key aspects of Blue Mounds State Park: "...this fragment of prairie—about 1,800 acres—is a small oasis in what used to be a sea of grasses and flowers that stretched from the Rockies to Indiana, from Manitoba to Texas...Most of Blue Mounds State Park resides on a plateau of bedrock, rising about 100 feet above the fertile farmland around it...The Sioux quartzite—a remnant of an ancient seabed more than 1.5 billion years old...Ephemeral flowers grow on ancient stone. On close examination, endless vistas expose intricate ecology. Overwhelming and intimate at the same time, these former hunting grounds of the Dakota people remain awe-inspiring today." Blue Mounds State Park listing by Department of Natural Resources
- The Blue Mound Biking & Hiking Trail is a six-mile (10 km) path that stretches from Main Street in downtown Luverne to the lower lake parking lot at Blue Mounds State Park. Along the path visitors can see open scenery and agricultural fields, tree-lined shade, and a beautiful view of the Blue Mound cliff line. A portion of the trail branches off and goes to the top of the 90-foot (27 m) cliff line for a panoramic view of the community.
- In addition to the large City Park beside the Rock River, Luverne maintains 10 neighborhood parks.
- Luverne Area Aquatics and Fitness Center
- Quentin Aanenson Field – Luverne's Airport placed a lengthened runway and expanded facilities into service in 2009. The Airport is named after WWII flying hero Quentin Aanenson whose narrative was a pivotal focus of the Ken Burns PBS Series, The War.
- Ice Arena
- The Palace Theater on Main Street underwent a $1 million renovation. Then on September 6, 2007, the historic movie theater hosted the world premiere of Ken Burns' epic 15-hour PBS documentary, The War—first aired on PBS September 23, 2007. Luverne is one of four U.S. cities that serve as anchor points for The War. The series tells the story of World War II from the perspective of "so-called ordinary Americans" who fought and lived through the global cataclysm. The six-year project by Florentine Films was acclaimed as the best work to date from legendary filmmaker Ken Burns—who attended the Luverne premiere and a special showing for veterans, both held at the Palace Theater. The Palace Theater hosted a dazzling screening of Casablanca at the extensive 2009 Luverne All-School Reunion.
- Green Earth Players presents two productions yearly and a children's summer theater at the historic Palace Theater. The troupe has become a leading area attraction drawing its ensemble from a 50-mile radius.
- Verne Drive-in Movie Theater features latest films for viewing under the stars—one of a limited number of such drive-ins remaining in the country. Movies in season begin at dusk. The Verne is located less than half a mile south of Luverne on Highway 75.
- Rock County Veterans Memorial, dedicated May 28, 2007, is located on the south lawn of the historic and refurbished Rock County Courthouse. Many have likened the quality of the Memorial to what would be seen in Washington, D.C. The Memorial was built by KA.H.R.—a family foundation. Supplementing the Memorial are individual paver stones that honor by name Rock County veterans of all services. A dynamic design allows future Rock County veterans to be added to the site. Many surviving WWII honorees were aboard an Honor Flight sent to the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. on May 1, 2010. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and the state's First Lady took a personal interest in the Rock County group by being present at the send-off and previously hosting a group of Rock County WWII veterans at the Governor's Mansion. Among the veterans on the Honor Flight was long-serving former State Representative Wendell O. Erickson.
- Sanford Luverne Medical Center opened its doors in July, 2005, near the equally new regional Veterans Home in north Luverne. The 25-bed hospital is supported by 200 employees and nine family physicians as part of the regional Sanford Health System based in nearby Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Speciality physicians provide outreach clinics on a regular basis. Sanford Luverne patients, including those from surrounding counties, are afforded state-of-the-art medical care as well as at the regional medical center of Sioux Falls. The Sioux Falls hospitals include those of the Sanford Health campus established by a 2007 $400 million original gift. In 2010 Sanford Luverne installed digital mammography equipment and upgraded its CT scan and ultrasound equipment. Patient records are now computerized and accessible across the entire Sanford Health System as well as in each patient room.
- Those Blasted Things – a small rock shop with natural items from all over the globe, including fossils and meteorites.
- Touch the Sky Prairie – a Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of Luverne. The Brandenburg Prairie Foundation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have jointly acquired over 800 acres (3.2 km2) of native prairie. A 15-year management plan in progress seeks to restore hundreds of native species. Touch the Sky Prairie was included in the BBC television documentary, Life—a sequel to the award-winning Planet Earth series.
- Brandenburg Gallery – Award-winning photography from Luverne native and National Geographic photographer Jim Brandenburg is located on the first two floors of the Rock County Veterans Memorial Building dedicated in July 2009 on Luverne Street at Courthouse Square. Featured subjects include wildlife, the outdoors and a focus on the vanishing prairie. Profits from the Gallery go to support the mission of the Brandenburg Prairie Foundation.
- Herreid Military Museum and the Heritage Gallery occupy two upper floors of the Rock County Veterans Memorial Building. Dedicated in 2009, the new galleries building adjoins the new Kahler Terrace providing an outdoor setting for community events. An underground tunnel connects the building to the Rock County Courthouse, itself beautifully renovated in 1987–88. Both structures were built from locally-quarried Sioux quartzite. The Memorial Building's transformation from the former county jail and Sheriff's residence to a museum complex was driven by the KA.H.R. Foundation of Warren Herreid II and Jeannine Rivet. Visitors will find time spent at Rock County Courthouse Square rewarding and stimulating.
- Luverne Public Schools – A large, modern educational plant bordered by many acres of athletic fields and room for expansion is situated in the northwest portion of Luverne beside Highway 75. The community long has taken pride in the quality of its educational system, opening a new elementary school addition on December 1, 1998. Another indicator is Luverne Dollars for Scholars. Its several million dollars in endowment provide scholarships for graduating high school students. The Luverne chapter's endowment is the nation's second-largest among 1,100 local chapters ranking only behind founding chapter Wakefield, Massachusetts. Founded in 1983, the Luverne chapter is non-profit and volunteer-driven.
Notable residents
- Quentin C. Aanenson, World War II ace, was born in Luverne. Aanenson heroically completed 75 flying missions earning numerous medals. While overseas in Europe, he wrote to his future wife, Jackie Greer of Baton Rouge, La., describing the human toll of combat. He later became a successful insurance executive and devoted family man. In retirement, he further articulated the horrors he had seen for a nationwide audience on Ken Burns' The War series on PBS. His home community honored him by naming its airfield after him.
- Jim Brandenburg – Award-winning nature photographer for National Geographic and other leading publications, filmmaker and environmentalist. Twice named Magazine Photographer of the Year and in 1988 Wildlife Photographer of the Year by Great Britain's Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife. Co-founder of Brandenburg Prairie Foundation. The non-profit Brandenburg Gallery at Courthouse Square displays some of his striking photographs and books.Jim Brandenburg Blog
- Jerilyn Britz – U.S. Women's Open Golf Champion in 1979. Winner of the 1980 LPGA Mary Kay Classic. Finished second-place at two other major championships. Played on LPGA tour 1974–1999. First played golf at age 17 at Luverne Country Club course. She turned pro at age 30 scoring 43 top ten finishes. Jerilyn Britz LPGA Profile
- Al McIntosh – Editor and publisher of The Rock County Star Herald, president of (forerunner to) the National Newspaper Association and the Minnesota Newspaper Association. The Al McIntosh Distinguished Service to Journalism Award is presented by the Minnesota Newspaper Association. Stirring excerpts from his "More or Less Personal Chaff" weekly columns during World War II were voiced by actor Tom Hanks in The War. McIntosh's wartime columns were published September, 2007, in Zenith Press' Selected Chaff. Filmmaker Ken Burns said the columns were his greatest archival discovery in over 30 years of filmmaking.
- Frederick Manfred was a prolific author whose significant body of work includes 18 novels set in the American West and Upper Midwest often located in the Iowa-Minnesota-South Dakota tri-state area he named "Siouxland". Frederick Manfred USD Information Page
- Shantel VanSanten - Model and actor, born in Luverne and most known for her role in the TV series One Tree Hill.
- James Russell Wiggins – Executive editor of The Washington Post. Ambassador to the United Nations, appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. President of the American Society of Newspaper Editors 1959–60. Published The Ellsworth American in Maine until retirement at age 95. He began his career by publishing a Luverne newspaper and then edited the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Politics
Luverne is located in Minnesota's 1st congressional district, represented by Mankato educator Tim Walz, a Democrat. At the state level, Luverne is located in Senate District 22, represented by Republican Doug Magnus, and in House District 22A, represented by Republican Joe Schomacker.
References
External links