Local population declines

Rock County, along with every city within its borders, has declined in population in the last five years, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The official government census is taken every 10 years, but the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program calculates changes in the populations of states, counties and cities between the official counts.
According to the Census Bureau website, the program uses current data on births, deaths and migration to calculate population changes and produce estimates of population.
The 2015 estimates — the most recent — mark the midpoint between official census counts in 2010 and 2020.
Overall, Rock County’s estimated population has declined from 9,687 in 2010 to 9,600 in 2015.
Three of Rock County’s neighboring counties saw increases in estimated population in the last five years.
Nobles County (21,378 to 21,770), Lyon County, Iowa (11,581 to 11,745) and Minnehaha County, South Dakota (169,468 to 185,197) have all grown between 2010 and 2015.
The only neighboring county to lose people, according to the estimates, is Pipestone County, which declined from 9,596 in 2010 to 9,271 in 2015.
The city of Luverne, according to the 2015 estimate, has lost 68 people in the last five years, down from 4,745 to 4,677.
“Of course, we’d rather see growth in population,” Luverne City Administrator John Call said.
Call said Luverne’s goal continues to be to reach 5,000 residents.
“Being in rural Minnesota and in the shadow of Sioux Falls, we know that is a big challenge,” he said. “But we believe we can get there.”
The city is focusing on economic development and small business growth in order to grow housing, jobs and population.
“We also continue to focus on making this a community that people want to live in with quality parks, trails, schools and other amenities,” Call said.
All of the smaller cities in Rock County have also lost population between 2010 and 2015.
Beaver Creek and Kenneth showed the smallest declines with each losing only one person (297 to 296 and 68 to 67 respectively).