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Luverne Minnesota Community Guide

Luverne is a city in Rock County, Minnesota, along the Rock River. It is the county seat of Rock County. Interstate 90 and U.S. Route 75 are two of the main routes in the city. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.69 square miles (9.56 km²), of which, 3.69 square miles (9.560 km²) of it is land and 0.01 square miles is water. The elevation is 1,467 ft (447 m) above sea level.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

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LUVERNE, a city in Luverne Township and the county seat, first settled in 1867-68, platted as a village in 1870, was incorporated by a legislative act February 14, 1877, and by vote of its people November 12, 1878. Nearly 26 years later, on September 7, 1904, it was organized as a city. This name was adopted for the post office begun in the winter of 1868, being in honor of Eva Luverne Hawes, the eldest daughter of the first settler here, Philo Hawes; Hawes's step-brother, Edward McKenzie, was postmaster. She was born at Cannon Falls in Goodhue County, November 14, 1857; accompanied her parents to the Rock River home in 1868; was married to P. F. Kelley, September 5, 1876; and died in Luverne, June 9, 1881. In the early years the name was spelled as two words, Lu Verne, "but the style was gradually replaced by the present form." The personal name was found in a novel or romance, then probably a new book or published in a magazine, which was read by Philo Hawes's cousin Lucy Cotter, of Red Wing, at whose request the baby Luverne was so named.

As her father and mother are also honored by the name of the village and city, this notice may desirably add that he was born in Danby, N.Y., December 18, 1830, and died at Luverne, August 10, 1908. He came to Minnesota in 1853; served as second lieutenant in the Eleventh Minnesota Regiment in the Civil War; was a mail carrier in 1867 between Blue Earth, Minn., and Yankton, Dakota Territory; settled on the site of Luverne in March 1868; was chairman of the board of county commissioners, 1871-73; was postmaster of Luverne, 1871-74 and 1888-93; and engaged in real estate and insurance business.

Courtesy Minnesota Historical Society

Main Street, Luverne Minnesota, 1910 LakesnWoods.com Postcard and Postcard Image Collection - click to enlarge Visit The Luverne Photo Gallery for more recent and historic area photos

Luverne City Hall 305 E Luverne Street PO Box 659 Luverne, MN 56156-0659 Phone: (507) 449-2388 Fax: (507) 449-5034 Regular Business Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm City Council Meetings: 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 5:00 pm
Title	Term Ends	Name and Address		Phone
Mayor	12/31/2024	Pat Baustian 409 N Estey Street Luverne, MN 56156		(507) 920-7406
City Administrator	appointed	John Call 305 E Luverne Street Luverne, MN 56156-0659		(507) 449-5025
Council Member - North Ward	12/31/2024	Dan Nath 1107 N Cedar Street Luverne, MN 56156		(507) 920-5509
Council Member - North Ward	12/31/2022	Caroline Thorson 510 Almar Street Luverne, MN 56156		(507) 449-8195 (507) 220-4424
Council Member - South Ward	12/31/2020	Scott Viessman 116 SE Park Luverne, MN 56156		(605) 929-7099
Council Member - South Ward	12/31/2022	Kevin Aacker 506 N Cottage Grove Avenue Luverne, MN 56156		(507) 283-8711

US Post Office 407 E Lincoln Street Luverne, MN 56156-1606 Phone: (507) 283-2186 Toll Free: (800) ASK-USPS Fax: (507) 283-4952 Regular Business Hours: Week Days        8:30 am - 4:30 pm Saturday           9:15 am - 11:15 pm

Vintage Map of Luverne, MN from 1883 - 24"x36" Wall Art

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Brandenburg Gallery 213 E Luverne Street Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-1884 The Brandenburg Gallery, which opened in May 1999, is owned and operated by the Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce. The gallery contains the breath-taking photos taken by Jim Brandenburg, an internationally known nature photographer and a Luverne native. The gallery features many of the artist’s more popular prints, but the overall theme focuses on the prairie. The gallery also sells Brandenburg materials, prints, books, and artifacts. In addition to the photos on display and available for purchase, there is also a video area where visitors can enjoy the videos made by Brandenburg and about him.
Carnegie Cultural Center 205 N Freeman Avenue Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-9416 The Carnegie Cultural Center celebrated its official opening during the Buffalo Days Celebration in June of 1992 and presently hold the Cultural Center. The Carnegie Cultural Center was previously used as the Rock County Community Library until volunteers completed renovations to change the facility into the Cultural Center it is today. With new exhibits each month, the center also showcases the artwork of Luverne students. Also located in the center is the Carnegie Gift Gallery. The Gift Gallery offers music, woodcarvings, books, prints, jewelry, and original art by local artist, authors and musicians.
Hinkley House 217 N Freeman Avenue Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 449-2115 In 1892 Mr. R.B Hinkly, then the Mayor of Luverne, built a beautiful home for himself and his family. The house was constructed of Sioux Quartzite quarried and hauled on horse-drawn boats from the Blue Mound Quarry north of Luverne. In April of 1959, the home was donated to the Rock County Historical Society and opened as a museum in August of the same year. The Hinkly House was placed on the Register of the National Historic Sites on June 10, 1975. Within the last ten years, great efforts have been made towards the restoration of the museum.
Palace Theatre 104 E Main Street Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-4339 The Palace Theatre was constructed in 1915 by architect W.E.E Greene. The Palace, a 550-seat theater first owned by Herman and Maude Jochims, was built primarily for the presentation of stage plays by traveling theater troupes and for the "moving pictures," then an upcoming form of entertainment. Its focal points include the originally painted wall panels, stage curtains, the artistic wall and ceiling decor, and the pipe organ. The Geneva console pipe organ was installed in 1926 to provide accompanying music for the silent movies. The organ has recently been restored and is in the the Palace Theatre today as the oldest working theater organ of its make and model in the United States.
Rock County History Center 312 E Main Street Luverne MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-2122 In 2016, The Rock County Historical Society acquired and renovated the Herman Motors Building located at 312 E Main. They opened the doors to the Rock County History Center in October 2016. On display are 2,500 nutcrackers, photographs, tools, documents, and articles from old newspapers, and county records. Actual furnishings from the courthouse, law enforcement, rural schools, and professional offices are on display. You can visit the History Center Tuesday through Saturday between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. or by appointment.
Rock County Veterans Memorial Building 204 E Brown Street Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-5065 In July 2009 the old Rock County Jail and Sheriff's Residence officially opened following a $4 million renovation as a place of community, history, and art. Two floors feature the award-winning photographs of National Geographic nature photographer and Luverne native, Jim Brandenburg. On the fourth floor the Heritage Gallery tells the story of the families who served on the Home Front during WWII. Their stories provide pivotal tales of the sacrifice of men, women and children who were left home when their sons, daughters, fathers, and mothers went off to war.
Touch the Sky Prairie 171st Street Luverne MN 56156 The Brandenburg Prairie Foundation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have purchased over 800 acres of untilled prairie land in Rock County, Minnesota, now known as the "Touch the Sky Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge." Together, they have developed a 15-year management plan for its restoration. With time and continued effort, hundreds of native species will return--the songbirds, flora and native wildlife. The dream is to see the bison roaming "Touch the Sky Prairie" again.
Verne Drive-In Theatre 1607 S Kniss Avenue Luverne MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-0007 The Verne Drive-In Theater was built in the 1950s by Kenneth and Maude Sargent and was sold to the Walt Deutsch family that operated it until 1988. The buildings were originally constructed of top and underground circuits systems of 8,000 feet of wires that were stretched throughout the theater to link autos with sound and picture. The first movies had an admission price of 60 cents with children under age 12 admitted free.

Blue Mound Bike Trail Luverne, MN 56156 The paved trail starts on Blue Mound Avenue and continues north going out of town, wrapping around the Blue Mounds State Park and the Quarry. This very scenic trail has a distance of approximately 6 miles and is a great spot for biking, skating, jogging or walking.
Blue Mound Ice Arena 601 W Hatting Street Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 449-9138 The Luverne Hockey Club completed an ice arena in fall of 1991. The $800,000 project was partially funded by donations and fund-raisers sponsored by the Luverne Hockey Club. Throughout the winter months the ice arena is used for Luverne Cardinal hockey games, open skating, ice skating lessons, and other special activities. In the summer, the building is used for off-ice hockey camps and a variety of other events. The building can also be rented for a variety of activities.
Blue Mounds State Park 1410 161st Street Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-1307 Blue Mounds State Park is located 4 miles north of Luverne on Highway 75 and 1 mile east on County Road 20. Blue Mounds State Park is full of natural surprises! Start with the Sioux quartzite cliff, rising 100 feet from the plains. A bison herd grazes on the prairie. Prickly pear cacti bloom in June and July. A sea of prairie grasses and flowers sway in the wind. The park is also a favorite for birdwatchers who want to see nesting blue grosbeaks and other birds. Enjoy camping, hiking, climbing, biking, as well as the unique sights and wonderful aromas of a beautiful prairie.
Luverne Area Aquatic & Fitness 802 N Blue Mound Avenue Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 449-5036 The City of Luverne provides the community with this state-of-the-art recreation facility. The pool and fitness center is open seven days a week and can be rented for special events by reservations. The center contains an Olympic size pool, large wading pool, and hot tub. The fitness area has the latest in exercise equipment and a complete weight room. There are annual membership fees as well as monthly fees for the pool, fitness center or both.
Luverne City Park 700 E Main Street Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-1 The Luverne City Park is located on 19 acres at the east end of Main Street. The beautiful wooded area boasts several playground areas with new, brightly colored equipment, an enclosed shelter with water and electricity, 2 open picnic shelters, a softball diamond, volleyball courts, a full basketball court, and horseshoe pits. Picnic tables and grills are located throughout the park, and a full restroom facility is centrally located. Tennis courts, a skate park, and Redbird field (the City of Luverne's premier ball diamond facility) are located on the west end of the City Park and across the Rock River.
Luverne Country Club 1520 111th Street Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-4383 The Luverne Country Club is a semi-private course located two miles east and one mile south of Luverne. LCC is a Par 36 course with green fairways, abundant trees, a driving range, and water hazards all set in a beautiful location overlooking Luverne. Come for a round or join a league.
Rock County Sportsman's Club 107 E Lincoln Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-9619 The Rock County Sportsman's Club offers handicap trap league, 16 yd trap league, 25 yd trap league, doubles trap league, and member/non member trap practice on Tuesday nights from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. The club and league open at the end of April through early September. You DO NOT need to be a member to come out and shoot practice rounds. If you don't have 5 friends to fill a league team, come out to the club and we will find you a team to shoot on.
Schoneman County Park 940 US Highway 75 Luverne MN 56156 In addition to the beautiful parks within the city, just south of Luverne on Highway 75, you will find Schoneman County Park. There are picnic areas, fishing, and nature walks around this area. Recently the park has become home to a large flock of Canadian geese that return annually to the area to nest.

Sanford Clinic Luverne 1601 Sioux Valley Drive Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-4476 Web:  www.sanfordhealth.org/locations/sanford-luverne-clinic Sanford Luverne Clinic is a primary care clinic with locations in Luverne, Adrian and Edgerton. Sanford Luverne's Family Medicine clinics provide care for the whole family - from babies to grandparents. We get to know you and your family and treat a variety of illnesses and injuries as part of your medical home. From annual physicals, regular check-ups, baby wellness, vaccinations, school and athletic physicals our family medicine providers serve families and communities throughout the region with the latest in care. As part of the Sanford Health system, Sanford Luverne Clinic also provides on-site access to pediatric and adult outreach specialists.

Sanford Luverne Medical Center 1600 N Kniss Avenue Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 449-1229 Web:  www.sanfordhealth.org/community/sanford-luverne Sanford Luverne Medical Center is located in the southwest corner of Minnesota, in the progressive city of Luverne. We provide healthcare close to home by offering quality general and specialty services in a caring, compassionate environment. Our mission, "Dedicated to the Work of Health and Healing," is an evident goal of the professional staff who strive to provide exceptional care to all they serve.

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Luverne Public Schools Independent School District #2184 709 N Kniss Avenue Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-8088 Web:  www.isd2184.net Grades:  PK-12 Students:  n/a
Luverne High School 709 N Kniss Avenue Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-4491 Grades:  6-12 Students:  640
Luverne Elementary School 709 N Kniss Avenue Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-4497 Grades:  PK-5 Students:  559

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American Reformed Church 304 N Fairview Drive Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-8600 Web:  www.arcluverne.org Pastor:  Mike Altena Sunday Worship:  9:30 am
Bethany Lutheran Church - ELS 720 N Kniss Street Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-4571 Web:  n/a Pastor:  n/a Sunday Worship:  10:15 am
First Assembly of God Church 1075 110th Avenue Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-9070 Web:  n/a Pastor:  n/a Sunday Worship:  9:00 am
First Baptist Church 1033 N Jackson Street Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-4091 Web:  www.fbcluverne.org Pastor:  Walt Moser Sunday Worship: 10:30 am
First Presbyterian Church 302 Central Lane Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-4787 Web:  www.fpcluverne.com Pastor:  Rev. Jason Cunningham Sunday Worship: 10:15 am  (9:30 am Summer)
Grace Lutheran Church - ELCA 500 N Kniss Avenue Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-4431 Web:  www.graceluverne.org Pastor:  Ron Nichols Sunday Worship:  9:00 am
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church 220 E Cedar Street Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 449-5893 Web:  n/a Church closed 10/16/2016
Luverne Christian Reformed Church 605 N Estey Street Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 449-5982 Web:  www.luvernecrc.com Pastor:  Rev. Roger Sparks Sunday Worship:  9:30 am and 6:30 pm
New Life Celebration Church 110 N Oakley Street Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 449-6522 Web:  www.luvnewlife.org Pastor:  n/a Sunday Worship:  9:30 am
Living Rock Church 500 E Main Street Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 449-0057 Web:  www.livingrockswmn.org Pastor:  Billy Skaggs Sunday Worship:  10:30 am
St. Catherine Catholic Church 203 E Brown Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-8502 Web:  www.stcatherineluverne.org Pastor:  Fr. Tom Jennings Saturday Mass:  5:30 pm Sunday Mass: 10:30 am
St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church 803 N Cedar Street Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-2316 Web:  www.stjohnlutheranluverne.org Pastor:  Rev. Gary Klatt Sunday Worship:  9:00 am
United Methodist Church 109 N Freeman Avenue Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-4529 Web:  www.umcluverne.com Pastor:  Rev. Theodora K Hall Sunday Worship:  9:00 am and 11:00 am

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Rock County Star Herald 117 W Main Street Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-2333 Fax: (507) 283-2335 Web:  www.star-herald.com

Cozy Rest Motel 116 S Kniss Avenue Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-4461
Grandstay Hotel & Suites 908 S Kniss Avenue Luverne, MN 56156 Toll Free: (877) 388-7829 Web:  www.grandstayhospitality.com GrandStay Hotel & Suites is the perfect choice for anyone looking for hotels in Luverne, MN. Winner of Trip Advisor's 2017 Certificate of Excellence, this beautiful, new hotel near Rock Rapids, IA and Adrian, MN has a range of modern accommodations and amenities ideal for leisure and business trips. Guests can upgrade to a relaxing whirlpool king suite or affordable one-bedroom suite with a fully equipped kitchen, which is great for families and extended stays. Our convenient location makes it easy to explore many attractions in the area, including the spectacular scenery of Blue Mounds State Park and numerous outdoor recreation opportunities.
Hillcrest Motel 210 W Virginia Street Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-2363 Web: www.hillcrestmotel.com
Super 8 Motel 1202 S. Kniss Avenue Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-9541 Web:  www.wyndhamhotels.com/super-8 With value and convenience you can rely on, our Super 8 Luverne hotel near Blue Mound State Park offers quick access to I-90. Our ideal location was designed with your comfort in mind, and we feature thoughtful amenities to brighten your stay.
Quality Inn 801 S Kniss Avenue Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507)-283-9488 Web:  www.choicehotels.com The Quality Inn® hotel in Luverne near Blue Mounds State Park lets you relax and focus on the people and experiences you came for. Conveniently located north of Interstate 90 in southwest Minnesota, this pet-friendly hotel in Luverne is near other local sites, activities and attractions like: Rock County Historical Society Hinkly House Museum Maplewood Chapel Our Value Qs deliver professional, responsive and friendly service, as well as amenities that give you more for your hard-earned money such as an indoor pool, guest laundry facilities, a hot tub and copy, print and fax machines.

Blue Mounds State Park 1410 161st Street Luverne, MN 56156 Phone: (507) 283-1307 Blue Mounds State Park is located 4 miles north of Luverne on Highway 75 and 1 mile east on County Road 20. Blue Mounds State Park is full of natural surprises! Start with the Sioux quartzite cliff, rising 100 feet from the plains. A bison herd grazes on the prairie. Prickly pear cacti bloom in June and July. A sea of prairie grasses and flowers sway in the wind. The park is also a favorite for birdwatchers who want to see nesting blue grosbeaks and other birds. Enjoy camping, hiking, climbing, biking, as well as the unique sights and wonderful aromas of a beautiful prairie.

Topographic map is courtesy of the Minnesota DNR - click map to zoom or enlarge

 
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