Rock County is named for the prominent outcrop of quartzite north of Luverne.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Pipestone County
E – Nobles County
S – Lyon County, Iowa
W – Minnehaha County, South Dakota
Created: May 23, 1857 
County Seat:
Luverne 1857 – present
County Courthouse – Luverne
Location: 204 East Brown Street / Cedar Street
Built: 1887– 1888
Style: Richardsonian Romanesque Revival
Architect: T D Allen of Minneapolis
Contractor: A Tollefson of Luverne
Description: The building faces southwest and is a four story stone structure. The buildimng is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Luverne. The building is constructed with red colored Sioux quartzite. The quartzite is rough-faced, along with the Kasota stone of the arches, string courses and window hoods of the two stories, as well as the high basement and attic. The dominant feature is the four story round tower on the southwest corner, with the main entrance through the arches at its base. The tower is capped with an open balustraded gazebo-like observation area with a conical roof. The windows are narrow, vertical and single, except in the central bays of the second story, where triple windows are topped by a curve extending into the gable. The interior has oak woodwork. The second story is devoted to a large County District Court courtroom with auxiliary chambers for judge and jury. The courtroom has been recently redecorated and is presently in excellent condition. Original woodwork, furnishings and hardware have been retained where possible on the second story as on the first story. The building houses the County District Court of the 7th Judicial District. On the east side is the old Jail and Sheriff Residence built in 1890.
See: The architect Truman Dudley Allen of Minneapolis, Minnesota also designed courthouses in Franklin County and Hardin County, Iowa. Blue Earth County and Steele County, Minnesota, Medina County, Ohio and Richland County. Wisconsin.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Rock County Courthouse and Jail
See: The 5th Judicial District includes Blue Earth County, Brown County, Cottonwood County, Faribault County, Jackson County, Lincoln County, Lyon County, Martin County, Murray County, Nicolett County, Nobles County, Pipestone County, Redwood County and Watonwan County.
History: The county was created in 1857 and Luvern was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a frame structure built in 1875 and a brick vault was added in 1879. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1887 to 1888 at a cost of $23,500.
County Courthouse – Luverne
County District Court courtroom
Old Sheriff Residence / Jail – Luverne
Photos taken 2007 and 2017