Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:
- That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
- We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
- On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.
By learning about Luverne (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.
As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Luverne. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Luverne is located in Rock County and is the County Seat.
To see how the shape of Minnesota's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Rock County: Lyon (IA), Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Minnehaha (SD) & Moody (SD).
Below are the counties that are near Luverne. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Luverne:
- Rock County (The home county of Luverne)
- The following are listed by their distance from Luverne, with the one closest to Luverne listed first.
- Magnolia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Magnolia is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Ash Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Ash Creek is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash Creek
- Beaver Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Beaver Creek is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 283 people
- Hardwick
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Kanaranzi
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Kenneth
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Kenneth is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenneth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 66 people
- Steen
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Steen is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
- Hills
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Manley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Manley is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manley
- Bruce
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bruce is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruce
- Murray County
- The following are listed by their distance from Luverne, with the one closest to Luverne listed first.
- Chandler
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Chandler is located in Murray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chandler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Lake Wilson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Wilson is located in Murray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Wilson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
- Iona
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hadley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hadley is located in Murray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hadley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 59 people
- Nobles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Luverne, with the one closest to Luverne listed first.
- Ellsworth
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Adrian
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Lismore
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lismore is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lismore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 218 people
- Leota
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Leota is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leota
- Rushmore
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Rushmore is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushmore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Wilmont
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Ransom
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Ransom is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ransom
- Reading
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Reading is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reading
- Bigelow
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Bigelow is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigelow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 226 people
- Org
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Org is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Org
- Pipestone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Luverne, with the one closest to Luverne listed first.
- Edgerton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Trosky
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Jasper Sunrise Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jasper
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jasper is located in Pipestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jasper
- Population from the 2020 Census: 603 people
- Ihlen
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hatfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Hatfield is located in Pipestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 52 people
- Pipestone
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Woodstock
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Airlie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Airlie is located in Pipestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Airlie
- Holland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Holland is located in Pipestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
- Lyon County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Luverne, with the one closest to Luverne listed first.
- Lester
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Lester is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
- Rock Rapids
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Larchwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Edna
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Edna is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edna
- Alvord
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Little Rock
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- George
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Klondike
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Klondike is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klondike
- Doon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Inwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Osceola County (IA)
- Sibley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lincoln County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Luverne, with the one closest to Luverne listed first.
- Shindler
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Shindler is located in Lincoln County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shindler
- Population from the 2010 Census: 584 people
- Harrisburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Canton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Minnehaha County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Luverne, with the one closest to Luverne listed first.
- Valley Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Sherman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sherman is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Garretson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Brandon
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Rowena
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Lakes Addition
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Pine Lakes Addition is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lakes Addition
- Population from the 2010 Census: 314 people
- Split Rock Heights
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Split Rock Heights is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Split Rock Heights
- Estimated population in 2014: 216 people
- Meadow View Addition
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Meadow View Addition is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow View Addition
- Population from the 2010 Census: 538 people
- Renner Corner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Renner Corner is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renner Corner
- Population from the 2010 Census: 305 people
- Renner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Midway
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Midway is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Estimated population in 2014: 123 people
- Norton Acres
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Norton Acres is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norton Acres
- Population from the 2010 Census: 342 people
- Moody County (SD)
- Trent
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Luverne, see our County-by-County Page for Luverne.
Cemeteries Near Luverne ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Luverne.
This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.
Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Luverne - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Luverne covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Luverne, with the one closest to Luverne listed first.
- Maplewood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Norwegian Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Restlawn Memorial Gardens
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- St. Catherines Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Pleasant View Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Blue Mound Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Beaver Valley Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Ash Wood Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Westside Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Kenneth Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Flowerfield Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Trinity Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Continue List (118 more) ...
- Eastside Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Springwater Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Palisades Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Luverne had a population of 1,466 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Luverne had a population of 4,524 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Luverne, with the one closest to Luverne listed first.
- Magnolia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Magnolia is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Beaver Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Beaver Creek is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 283 people
- Ash Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Ash Creek is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash Creek
- Kanaranzi
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hardwick
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Steen
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Steen is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
- Manley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Manley is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manley
- Hills
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bruce
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bruce is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruce
- Booge
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Booge is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booge
- Valley Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Ellsworth
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Adrian
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Sherman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sherman is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Garretson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Luverne. See our List of 1890's Communities around Luverne.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Luverne ...
An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).
To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.
Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 98 newspapers that have been published in the area around Luverne.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Luverne. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Luverne and those printed in the larger area surrounding Luverne.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Luverne.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Luverne:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Rock County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Murray County
- Nobles County
- Pipestone County
- Lyon County
- Osceola County
- Lincoln County
- Minnehaha County
- Moody County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Minnesota
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com. |
| <3> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Luverne, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Luverne) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |