Rapid City is one of the top destinations in the United States because of its scenic beauty, quality of life, and proximity to a variety of recreational opportunities. Some of the highlights of living in Rapid City include.

• Five national parks in close proximity: Mount Rushmore, Badlands, Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Devil’s Tower
  
• 17 area golf courses, tennis facilities in town
  
• 14 mountain lakes, more than 300 miles of streams and reservoirs for water sports and fishing
• Rapid City bike trail measuring 13.5 miles along Rapid Creek
• Two area ski resorts
• 400 miles of nature walks and hiking systems in the Black Hills
• Diverse religious community, with more than 80 area churches representing various denominations and congregations of all sizes.
• 75 hotels/motels with 4,400 available sleeping rooms and six convention
  properties.
  
• Western South Dakota’s largest shopping center, specialty shops, boutiques, and antiques stores. Downtown Rapid City’s business district contains some 400 businesses.
• Rushmore Plaza Civic Center is a modern facility for conventions, entertainment and athletic events. Complete convention complex includes an 11,500 seat arena, 120,000 square feet of exhibit space, 1,774
  seat theater, meeting rooms and catering facilities, conveniently located in downtown Rapid City.

Rapid City Statistics

Rapid City Health Care

Rapid City is a regional center for healthcare for a five-state area.

Rapid City Regional Hospital (www.rcrh.org)
Black Hills Regional Eye Institute (www.bhrei.org)
Rapid City Community Health Center
Sioux San Hospital
Black Hills Surgery Center (www.bhsc.com)

Rapid City Education

When it comes to education, South Dakota is wired for success. Not only does South Dakota have the highest percent of high school graduates in the nation, we are also the only state to have virtually every school wired for Internet access. And when it comes to computers, South Dakota has the highest computer to student ratio.

Rapid City School District
Ranking: 2005 ACT Scores
  National Average 20.9
  South Dakota Average 21.5
  Rapid City Schools Average 22.0
2005-2006 Schools Grades Enrolled
  Elementary 16 K-5 5,850
  Middle School 5 6-8 3,035
  High School 3 9-12 4,047
  Private & Parochial 12 K-12 1,500
  Student/Staff Ratio 16.6
  Annual Enrollment 12,932
Graduates 846
  www.state.sd.us/deca/data/01digest/index.htm
  www.act.org/news/data
Rapid   City Area School District www.rcas.org

Post Secondary Education
Educational facilities in the area are considered above average. Rapid City is home of the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (sdsmt.edu), a 4-year
degree college specializing in engineering and related fields. National American University (nationalcollege.edu) provides 2- and 4– year degrees in business. Western Dakota Technical Institute (westerndakotatech.org) provides
vocational training in areas such as drafting and computers. Sixty-five miles to the north, in Spearfish, is Black Hills State University (bhsu.edu) specializing in
education and tourism. Other educational facilities include:
Oglala Lakota College (www.sdstate.edu/~whum/http
Career Learning Center (www.state.sd.us/dol/jtpa/clc.htm)
SDSU College of Nursing
USD Department of Nursing
SDSU, West River Graduate Center
New Horizons (www.nhsf.com)

Rapid City Real Estate Information

Rapid City Area Home Sales (As of 04/06)

Avg. Days on Market SF-80 NC-93 TH-75 MH-92
#Units for Sale SF-764 NC-171 TH-149 MH-59le Price

Rental rates
1 bedroom $511
2 bedrooms $639
3 bedrooms $809

Rapid City Building Permits (February 2006)
Residential 86
Value Amount $10,672,911
Commercial 127
Value Amount $4,933,623