For Larissa Schwenk, Montevideo has always felt like home. Born in Granite Falls and raised in Montevideo, she left the area for a time to pursue her master’s degree — and wasn’t sure she’d return. But when it came time to think about the future and raising a family, the decision became clear. “When I was looking long term at having a family, I knew that Montevideo would be somewhere to start,” she says.
As a librarian managing five libraries across the region, Larissa enjoys the variety and energy her job brings. “It keeps me on my toes and keeps me from dreading work,” she says. But it’s not just the work that keeps her here — it’s the deep sense of community that only a town like Montevideo can offer.
She appreciates that the schools are the right size to give every child attention, with support staff available in each classroom. “I see the teachers around the community, and I don’t feel like there is a high turnover rate like I did in one of my last communities,” she explains. In larger towns where she lived before, teachers seemed to come and go every couple of years — something she didn’t want for her own kids.
Larissa also values the safety, sense of belonging, and the chance to truly make an impact here. In Montevideo, she feels her volunteer efforts matter more. “I felt like I could be on committees and see a difference in my community committee work a lot quicker than when I was on community committees in larger towns,” she says.
When not working, Larissa enjoys walking the area’s trails with her kids and browsing the unique shops downtown. Favorite local spots include The Rivers and Java River for a meal, and the Millennium Theater for affordable family movie nights. For weekend fun, her family often camps in the nearby county parks — places she calls “serenely beautiful.”
For anyone considering a move to western Minnesota, Larissa sums it up simply: Montevideo offers “small town charm at its finest — with excellent schools, local healthcare, and dozens of river valley parks and trails just steps from your door.”
And when asked to describe life here in just one word? “Rooted,” she says — a perfect reflection of the deep connection she feels to this place and its people.