Rapid City is a city in and the county seat of Pennington County in South Dakota, United States. It is located on the eastern slope of the Black Hills in western South Dakota and was named after Rapid Creek, where the settlement began. It is the second-most populous city in the state (after Sioux Falls) with a population of 74,703 as of the 2020 census. The Rapid City metropolitan area has 156,000 residents.

Rapid City is known as the "Gateway to the Black Hills" and the "City of Presidents" because of the life-size bronze statues of presidents downtown. The city is divided by a low mountain ridge that separates its western and eastern parts, called "The Gap." Ellsworth Air Force Base is located near the city's edge. Camp Rapid, part of the South Dakota Army National Guard, is in the city's western area.

Rapid City has many attractions, including Art Alley, Dinosaur Park, the City of Presidents walking tour, Chapel in the Hills, Storybook Island, and Main Street Square. The historic "Old West" town of Deadwood is nearby. In the neighboring Black Hills are tourist attractions such as Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, The Mammoth Site, and the museum at the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research. To the east of Rapid City is Badlands National Park.

History

In 1874, the Black Hills Expedition, led by George Armstrong Custer, discovered gold in the Black Hills. This discovery brought many European-American miners and settlers to Rapid City. In 1876, a group of miners who had not found gold started Rapid City, hoping to find new opportunities. They called the city the "Gateway to the Black Hills," and it was first known as Hay Camp. The nickname "Gateway" is also used by a nearby town called Box Elder. In February 1876, John Richard Brennan and Samuel Scott, along with a small group, planned the layout of Rapid City. The city was later named for Rapid Creek, a spring-fed river that flows through it.

Land speculators divided a square mile of land, designating the six central blocks as a business area. Committees were formed to invite merchants and their families to settle there. These merchants soon sold supplies to miners and pioneers. Rapid City's location near the Plains and Hills, along with its large river valley, made it a key hub for railroads built in the late 1880s from the south and east. By 1900, Rapid City had survived a period of rapid growth followed by decline and was becoming an important trade center in the Upper Midwest.

The Black Hills became popular in the late 1890s, but Rapid City became a more important destination in the 20th century. Local business owners promoted the area’s sights, the availability of cars, and improved roads after World War I, which brought more visitors, including President Calvin Coolidge and his wife in 1927. Coolidge announced he would not run for president again in 1928 from his summer home in Rapid City. In 1927, sculptor Gutzon Borglum began work on Mount Rushmore, and his son, Lincoln Borglum, continued the project after Gutzon’s death in 1941. Construction paused during World War II due to the need for military spending but was declared complete in 1941. However, Dinosaur Park, built in part to attract tourists to Mount Rushmore, helped transform Rapid City into a major tourist destination. Dinosaur Park opened in 1936 and was fully completed in 1938. Although tourism supported the city during the 1930s Great Depression, gasoline rationing during World War II reduced travel. However, investments in defense industries and war-related growth led to new military bases, bringing more businesses and residents.

In 1930, the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce invited Al Capone to live in the Black Hills, but South Dakota’s governor did not support the idea, and Capone refused.

In the 1940s, Rapid City grew significantly with the opening of Rapid City Army Air Base, later renamed Ellsworth Air Force Base. Between 1940 and 1948, the population nearly doubled, from about 14,000 to 27,000. Military families and civilian workers filled all available housing, and mobile home parks became common. Local businesses benefited from military paychecks.

During the Cold War, missile defense sites were built in the area. In the 1950s, Nike Air Defense sites were constructed around Ellsworth. In the early 1960s, three Titan missile launch sites were built, holding nine Titan I missiles near Rapid City. Beginning in 1963, 150 Minuteman missile silos and 15 launch command centers were built within 100 miles of the city. All were deactivated by the early 1990s.

In 1949, city officials planned for Rapid City to become a retail and wholesale trade center. They focused on building a civic center, more parking, new schools, and paved streets. A construction boom continued into the 1950s, but growth slowed in the 1960s.

After the Black Hills Flood of 1972, the worst natural disaster in South Dakota history, a major rebuilding effort began. On June 9, 1972, heavy rains caused severe flooding along Rapid Creek, killing 238 people and destroying over $100 million in property. In response, Rapid City received private donations and federal aid. The city completed part of its 1949 plan by clearing land along Rapid Creek and turning the floodplain into a public park. New homes and businesses were built to replace those destroyed. Rushmore Plaza Civic Center and a new Central High School were constructed in the cleared area. The high school opened in 1978, with students attending classes in both the original school and the new one.

The rebuilding efforts created construction jobs that helped Rapid City weather the drop in tourism caused by the 1974 Oil Embargo. However, tourism remained low for most of the 1970s. In 1978, Rushmore Mall was built on the city’s north edge, strengthening Rapid City’s role as a retail center.

In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians that the federal government had not fairly compensated the Sioux people for the Black Hills when it broke a treaty. The government offered a financial settlement, but the Lakota Sioux refused, believing the land should not be returned through money. The dispute remains unresolved as of 2023. Rapid City, the largest modern settlement in the Black Hills, is included in this land.

In the 1980s, tourism increased again as the city hosted the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Tourism declined again in the late 1990s. Fears that Ellsworth Air Force Base might close led to efforts to grow other industries. Growth continued, and the city expanded significantly during this time.

Today, Rapid City is South Dakota’s main city for tourism and recreation. With federal approval for a Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory at the Homestake Mine in nearby Lead, Rapid City is preparing for advances in technology, medicine, and scientific research.

On June 9–10, 1972, heavy rains in the eastern Black Hills caused record floods on Rapid Creek and other streams. Nearly 15 inches (380 mm) of rain fell in six hours near Nemo, and over 10 inches (250 mm) of rain fell across 60 square miles (160 km²). The Red Cross reported that 238 people died and 3,057 were injured. Property damage totaled over $160 million (about $964 million in 2018 dollars), including 1,335 homes and 5,000

Geography

Rapid City is located near Black Elk Peak, which is 7,242 feet (2,207 meters) tall and the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city covers an area of 55.129 square miles (142.78 square kilometers). Of this, 55.067 square miles (142.62 square kilometers) is land, and 0.062 square miles (0.16 square kilometers) is water.

Rapid City is on the eastern edge of the Black Hills and has grown on both sides of the Dakota Hogback. The city’s "Westside" is in the Red Valley, which is between the foothills of the Black Hills and the Dakota Hogback. This area is named for the red soil and the way the valley surrounds the Black Hills. In recent years, the city has expanded into the foothills, building homes and businesses on ridges and in valleys. This dry area has a higher risk of wildfires, as seen in the Westberry Trails fire in 1988.

Skyline Drive runs along the top of the Dakota Hogback, starting near Rapid Gap (where Rapid Creek flows through the Hogback) and ending at a high plateau that forms the southern edge of Rapid City. The central and eastern parts of the city are in the wide valley of Rapid Creek, outside the Hogback. This area includes several mesas that rise more than 100 feet above the floodplain.

Rapid Creek flows through Rapid City, coming from Dark Canyon above Canyon Lake and curving north of downtown. It then flows southeast as the valley widens. After flood damage in 1972, the city stopped most development in the floodplain of Rapid Creek. Instead, it created public spaces like parks, gardens, and bike trails, connecting the city to the creek.

To the north, ridges separate Rapid Creek from Box Elder Creek. Both old and new homes and businesses have developed here, along I-90. To the south, the land rises steeply into a plateau that divides Rapid Creek’s drainage from Spring Creek.

Rapid City has a climate that is between a semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSk) and a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen: Dwa). It is in USDA Hardiness zone 5b. Its location gives it a climate different from both the higher elevations of the Black Hills to the west and the Great Plains to the east. The city has long, dry summers and long, dry winters, with short but clear spring and autumn seasons. On average, it gets 17.44 inches (443 mm) of rain each year, though this has ranged from 9.12 inches (231.6 mm) in 1974 to 27.7 inches (703.6 mm) in 1946.

Winters are cold and dry, with January being the coldest month, averaging 24.3 °F (−4.3 °C). Chinook winds can warm temperatures above 50 °F (10 °C), happening about 20 times from December to February. Temperature inversions sometimes make the Black Hills warmer than the rest of the area. On average, temperatures do not rise above freezing for 43 days, and the low temperature reaches 0 °F (−17.8 °C) on 18 nights. Snow falls often but is usually light, with March and April being the snowiest months. The average seasonal snowfall is 48.5 inches (123.2 cm), though this has ranged from 16.9 inches (42.9 cm) in 1980–81 to 80.9 inches (205.5 cm) in 1985–86. Snow does not stay on the ground for long, with only nine days having 5 inches (12.7 cm) or more. Measurable snow has occurred every month except July.

Compared to areas to the east, Rapid City warms slowly in early spring, with the last snow usually melting in late April. Precipitation increases after this, and May snow occurs several times per decade. Storms often form over the Black Hills in the afternoon and move to the plains in the evening. The most rain in a single day was 3.78 inches (96 mm) on June 15, 1963, and the wettest month was May 1996 with 8.18 inches (207.8 mm). June has an average of 20 clear or partly cloudy days and 67% of possible sunshine. This is the traditional "flood" season for Rapid City and other creeks in the Eastern Hills. Temperatures rise quickly as summer approaches.

Summers in Rapid City are generally pleasant, dry, and sunny after a wet spring. July is the warmest month, with an average daily temperature of 72.4 °F (22.4 °C). On average, 32 days reach 90 °F (32.2 °C) or higher, and 5 days reach 100 °F (37.8 °C) or higher. Due to the city’s elevation and dryness, nighttime temperatures rarely stay above 70 °F (21.1 °C), and during July and August, temperatures fall to or below 50 °F (10 °C) on about 7.6 days. Rapid City has an average of nine thunderstorm days in August, but only 1.56 inches (39.6 mm) of rain in that month.

Fall is a transition season. The first freeze in Rapid City usually happens on October 4, while the Black Hills freeze earlier, in late August through September. The first snowfall in the Rapid City area is usually in October, though higher elevations may get snow in September. Cold fronts sometimes bring strong northwest winds.

The region gets a lot of sunshine, averaging 2850 hours per year, or 64% of the possible total.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, Rapid City had a population of 74,703 people, 31,261 households, and 17,755 families. The median age was 37.4 years. Twenty-one point nine percent of residents were under the age of 18, 6.2% were under 5 years old, and 18.6% were 65 years or older. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males, and for every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 98.3 males aged 18 and over.

The population density was 1,365.7 people per square mile (527.3 per square kilometer). There were 33,544 housing units, with 6.8% vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%, and the rental vacancy rate was 7.7%.

Of the households, 26.5% had children under 18 living in them. Forty percent were married-couple households, 22% had a male householder without a spouse or partner, and 29.9% had a female householder without a spouse or partner. About 35.1% of all households were single individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.

Ninety-nine point one percent of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.9% lived in rural areas.

As of the 2010 census, there were 67,956 people, 28,586 households, and 16,957 families. The population density was 1,226.5 people per square mile (473.6 per square kilometer). There were 30,254 housing units, with an average density of 546.0 per square mile (210.8 per square kilometer). The racial makeup was 80.4% White, 1.1% African American, 12.4% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people made up 4.1% of the population.

There were 28,586 households. Twenty-nine point nine percent had children under 18 living with them. Forty-one point two percent were married couples, 13.1% had a female householder without a spouse, 5.1% had a male householder without a spouse, and 40.7% were non-families. Thirty-two point nine percent of all households were single individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.29, and the average family size was 2.90.

The median age in the city was 35.6 years. Twenty-three point nine percent of residents were under 18, 10.6% were between 18 and 24, 25.7% were between 25 and 44, 25% were between 45 and 64, and 14.5% were 65 or older. The gender makeup was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

As of the 2000 census, there were 59,607 people, 23,969 households, and 15,220 families. The population density was 1,336.7 people per square mile (516.1 per square kilometer). There were 25,096 housing units, with an average density of 562.8 per square mile (217.3 per square kilometer). The racial makeup was 84.33% White, 0.97% African American, 10.14% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.73% from other races, and 2.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people made up 2.77% of the population.

There were 23,969 households. Thirty-one point two percent had children under 18 living with them. Forty-six point seven percent were married couples, 12.6% had a female householder without a spouse, and 36.5% were non-families. Twenty-nine point four percent of all households were single individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39, and the average family size was 2.96.

The population was spread out as follows: 25.3% under 18, 11.8% between 18 and 24, 28.7% between 25 and 44, 20.9% between 45 and 64, and 13.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

As of 2000, the median household income was $35,978, and the median family income was $44,818. Males had a median income of $30,985, and females had a median income of $21,913. The per capita income was $19,445. About 9.4% of families and 12.7% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under 18 and 6.9% of those 65 or older.

The population of the Rapid City metropolitan statistical area (Pennington and Meade Counties) was 139,074 at the 2020 census. Rapid City is also part of the Rapid City-Spearfish combined statistical area, which, with the addition of Lawrence County, had a 2020 census population of 164,842.

Economy

Rapid City's economy has many different parts, but industry is only a small part of it. Heavy and medium industrial activities include a Portland cement plant, which the State of South Dakota built and owned for 84 years before selling it in 2003 to Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua, a large company based in Mexico. Other industries include Black Hills Ammunition, a company that makes bullets and supplies for reloading guns; several custom sawmills; a lime plant; a factory that makes parts for computers; and companies that make equipment for farms and ranches. Rapid City is also famous for making Black Hills gold jewelry, which is a popular item for tourists and people who enjoy Western culture. The city is the only place in the United States that makes stamping machines used to label plywood and chipboard products.

Gold mining is no longer a major activity in the Black Hills, and it was never done near Rapid City. However, mining for sand, gravel, and materials used to make lime and Portland cement remains important. These materials include chemical-grade limestone, taconite iron ore, and gypsum.

The largest part of Rapid City's economy is government services, which include jobs at local, state, and federal levels. Major employers include Ellsworth Air Force Base, where the 28th Bomb Wing operates B-1B bombers; the Army National Guard, which trains at Camp Rapid and holds exercises in the Black Hills with troops from five to ten states; and federal agencies like the National Park Service, US Forest Service, and Indian Health Service.

Monument Health serves one of the largest areas in the United States. The healthcare industry employs more than 8,000 people in Rapid City.

Tourism is a major part of Rapid City's economy because of its location near Mount Rushmore, Sturgis (home of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally), Deadwood, and other attractions in the Black Hills. Rapid City provides most of the services needed for the Motorcycle Rally, including motel rooms and campsites. The city has the ability to host other large events, such as conventions, and can support many tourists throughout the year. Other attractions include wildlife parks, specialty shops, caves, water parks, private museums, and other businesses near the city.

Other parts of Rapid City's economy include financial services, insurance, and investment companies. The city also has a strong healthcare sector and several colleges and universities. Rapid City is the main market town for much of five states, drawing business from large parts of South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and the Nebraska Panhandle.

The actual average yearly growth rate of the gross domestic product in the Rapid City Metropolitan Statistical Area was 2.6% from 2001 to 2013.

Arts and culture

Rapid City has put money into public sculptures, especially the "City of Presidents" series, which includes life-sized bronze statues showing each former President of the United States. These statues are placed on street corners in the downtown area.

The Rapid City Public Library is an important place for learning.

Sports

• The Rapid City Rush is a minor league ice hockey team in the ECHL. It was started in 2008 and is now connected to the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League since 2022.
• American Legion Baseball includes two teams: Post 22 and Post 320.
• The Expedition League is a summer collegiate baseball league based in Rapid City. However, no teams are currently playing there.

• The Black Hills Posse was a professional basketball team that played in the International Basketball Association starting in the 1995–96 season.
• The Black Hills Gold was a professional basketball team that played in the International Basketball Association during the 1999–2000 season.
• The Rapid City Flying Aces were an indoor football team that played between 2000 and 2006 in the Indoor Football League, United Indoor Football, and National Indoor Football League. They changed their names each season.
• The Rapid City Thrillers were a professional basketball team that played in the Continental Basketball Association from the 1987–88 season through the 1996–97 season.
• The Rapid City Marshals were an indoor football team that played in the Champions Indoor Football league from 2022 to 2024.

• Rapid City has two public high schools that have teams competing in the SDHSAA, as well as two private schools.
• The South Dakota Mines Hardrockers have 13 total varsity sports teams that compete at the NCAA Division II level in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
• The Lakota Nation Invitational has been held every year at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center since 1979.

Education

Rapid City has several colleges and universities, including the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Oglala Lakota College's He Sapa College Center, Black Hills State University – Rapid City University Center (which offers classes and degrees from five other South Dakota schools), National American University, Western Dakota Technical Institute, Black Hills Beauty College, John Witherspoon College, and small religious schools that train preachers.

Black Hills State University is located in Spearfish but offers classes in Rapid City. A nurse training program from South Dakota State University is based in Rapid City.

In 2013, 26.6% of Rapid City residents aged 25 or older had earned a bachelor's degree or higher. This percentage is similar to the average in the United States. The highest levels of education in South Dakota are found in Rapid City and Sioux Falls.

Most of Rapid City is part of the Rapid City Area Schools district, except for the airport area. The district includes three high schools: Rapid City Central High School, Stevens High School, and Rapid City High School (which also has a Performing Arts Center). Middle schools in the district are East, North, South, Southwest, and West. There are 16 elementary schools: Black Hawk, Canyon Lake, Corral Drive, General Beadle, Grandview, Horace Mann, Kibben Kuster, Knollwood Heights, Meadowbrook, Pinedale, Rapid Valley, Robbinsdale, South Canyon, South Park, Valley View, and Woodrow Wilson. The airport area is in Douglas School District 51-1.

Rapid City also has private schools. Four Christian high schools are located there: Saint Thomas More, Rapid City Christian High School, Liberty Baptist Academy, and Open Bible Christian School. Other private schools include St. Paul's Lutheran School of the WELS.

Infrastructure

Rapid City is served by Rapid City Rapid Ride, which offers fixed route and demand response service to the region.

Rapid City has a bus service owned by the city, with multiple bus stops and a headquarters located in the city. It provides limited bus service between cities along I-90. Charter bus services operate in the area, connecting Rapid City and Deadwood to cities in Colorado, Nebraska, and Iowa.

Intercity bus service to Rapid City is provided by Jefferson Lines.

Major roads in Rapid City include:
• Interstate 90
• Interstate 190
• US Highway 16
• South Dakota Highway 44
• South Dakota Highway 79

Rapid City Regional Airport offers flights to major airline hub cities and supports general aviation activities, such as wildfire fighting and medical flights to local hospitals and Indian Health Service facilities.

Historically, Rapid City was served by two railroads: the Chicago & North Western Railway and the Milwaukee Road. After major changes in the railroad industry during the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the city is now served only by the Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern Railroad (RCP&E). Rapid City does not have passenger train service. The last passenger train to the city was the C&NW's Dakota 400, which ran daily from Chicago to Rapid City via Rochester until 1960.

Rapid City is located where the Western and Eastern power grids meet. The city receives electricity from hydroelectric plants at the Missouri River’s Mainstem dams and from coal power plants in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. Rapid City once had its own coal-fired power plant, but it closed due to inability to meet environmental standards. Similar closures occurred at coal plants near Gillette, Wyoming. The Ben French power station in Rapid City shut down in September 2012, earlier than planned. Now, the city relies more on electricity from the Missouri River dams and imported power from other areas. After closing coal-dependent plants, electricity costs have risen, and the city spends more to bring power over longer distances.

Rapid City’s main water sources are Rapid Creek and alluvial aquifers connected to the creek. The city owns water rights in Pactola Reservoir, located about 15 miles west of the city. Additional water comes from nearby springs, and the city can draw water from deep underground formations in the Black Hills where water naturally flows into the ground. Planners are concerned about the city’s heavy reliance on shallow aquifers, as many suburbs use septic systems for sewage treatment. However, water supplies remain sufficient for future growth.

Key healthcare facilities in Rapid City include:
• Monument Health Rapid City Hospital, a level 2 Trauma Center and South Dakota’s busiest emergency department, with 57,000 annual visits.
• Black Hills Surgical Hospital
• The Indian Health Service’s Oyate Health Center, which provides care to Native American communities.

Emergency medical services are provided by the Rapid City Fire Department. Emergency medical transportation by helicopter and airplane is offered by Black Hills Life Flight and MARC (Medical Air Rescue Company).

Sister cities

Rapid City has three sister cities, which are recognized by Sister Cities International:

• Apolda, Thuringia, Germany
• Nikkō, Tochigi, Japan