Name: Rapid City, SD
Rating: 0.0

( 22 Ratings )

Living in Rapid City, SD

Ranks better than 75% of areas Follow

Population

76,541

Median Age

37.2 Years

Rapid City Area Facts

Rapid City has a Livability Score of 75_/100, which is considered excellent
Rapid City crime rates are 102% higher than the South Dakota average
Cost of living in Rapid City is 11% higher than the South Dakota average

What do the locals think about Rapid City?

37%

Family friendly

32%

Public transit is accessible

26%

Walkable to grocery stores

37%

Yards are well-kept

47%

Lots of parks

53%

Walkable to restaurants

Friendly neighbors

Safe at night

Pet friendly

Streets have sidewalks

58%

A quiet area

58%

Sense of community

Based on 19 votes from AreaVibes users. Take the poll

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Rapid City Reviews

Write a review about Rapid City Tell people what you like or don't like about Rapid City…

If you go from home, from work to the mall, back home, this is your place 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Apr 10, 2022) Where are the trees? Why is there is no shade walking on the sidewalks around Rapid? Why is the air quality so bad when I look it up on Accuweather? (There are two rock quarries and one cement factory - or vice versa). Why are there so few affordable decent rental options? Why i ...Read More s the weather report always way off for Rapid? Why are there so many cell phone towers everywhere? Why did I see a native woman peeing where she sat on a stone bench at the park? Why are there so few white locals walking downtown or spending time regularly in the park (overrun with aggressive native people, that is why) . Why do most places close at 3 or 5 pm downtown? Why do people steal bike seats, and damage locked bicycles downtown? Why are many of the sidewalks in Rapid missing ADA ramps for wheelchairs at corners? Why are there large one or two inch rectangular pop ups on Rapid City sidewalks that is another trip hazard at nearly every newer sidewalk? Why are the newer street gutters where the street parking and sidewalk meet, have such extreme hazardous angles causing the unsuspecting to trip and injure themselves? Why are many of Rapids' sidewalks so unaccommodating for the blind, elderly and those in wheelchairs? Why are there so few COVERED bus shelters or even bus signage to help people know where to wait for a bus? How about benches at all bus stops? Why, throughout the year, are there so many drivers that want to kill pedestrians crossing when the pedestrian has the light to cross here in Rapid?

There is an alley that runs through downtown; I saw a lady in a pickup with a lead foot going fast through the alley that let out on the sidewalk and nearly hit a mother and her son as they were hurrying on the sidewalk that met the alley driveway. I myself nearly was run over by a person backing up onto the sidewalk and a wall was blocking the rv from my view.

Once people get into their cars, those same drivers assume there are no other pedestrians or bicyclists on the sidewalk or crosswalks; further, checking to make sure and then waiting one full second is too much effort; it seems more efficient to drivers that to run into and over people is better than to be patient and safely allow legitimate traffic to pass patiently.

For me, as an outdoorsy person that likes to walk and ride my bike, relocating here to Rapid City South Dakota was the worst relocation of my entire life. I have been accosted countless times by the aggressive native people that are three sheets to the wind and stumble, stagger, holler, lurch at passers' by, begging for attention or money, in large groups. Because of my skin color, I am told that I am "walking on their land" and that I owe reparations. This has happened more than once to me. Clearly, it is easy to pick on the solo white lady rather than the group of tourists that clearly have more money. The combination combined with high winds, icy sidewalks and then a homeless native person waiting for you to pass in front of them as you are occupied trying to remain upright on ice, with wind blasting at you, trying to navigate the gauntlet, is unpleasant and a regular event.

I have learned to look for the single pedestrian or more walking a block or so away and planning my course of action. I notice other white people that are also solo, tracking me, because we all are wary, it seems to me. Once one steps downtown, the homeless are watching for those to ask for money; across the street I see them size me up and begin walking and hollering for attention.. literally 20 or 30 feet away.... I imagine that tactic must work well for them. It is an abomination as an American that I have to face such a hassle to merely walk in an American city; shame on Rapid that the norm is expecting monstrous behavior. Locals here in Rapid should be ashamed, including both the aggressive native people commuting from reservations to panhandle and the locals of South Dakota that allow this way of life be imposed upon those that have to walk on the sidewalks.

If you are always in your car and going to the mall you won't encounter that abuse as much. Some locals are surprised when I tell them my experience. Police do nothing. Locals do little. When there is a festival you see the police finally. On a pleasant day one might observe the so called community ambassador that supposedly is there. You see the community ambassador pick up truck yet never on the cold windy overcast day when there is the crowd of native people waiting for you at the corner of the street waiting for you to cross at the light .. If you are standing too long in one place to lock or unlock your bike, or wait at for the street light to change, prepare to be asked for something or listen to something obscene. If you are white, walking downtown or on the sidewalks in Rapid, "everything bad is your fault" according to the demanding, needy, and accusing native people. I suspect white marxists told the natives this victim narrative along with facilitating the marxist native Land Back movement where the marxists expect to own the real estate that the South Dakotans bought, worse the naïve liberals in Rapid support Land Back marxism, at their peril.

I have met nice people around town, and at different churches and bible studies. It is especially encouraging to meet people that believe in Lord Jesus Christ. What I don't understand is why it seems the majority of christians are fundraising for missionaries and the lost, thousands of miles away, when there are hundreds in our own back yard that are possibly worse off than folks on other continents?

For the first time I applied to try Christian counseling; the intake form was shockingly invasive; every possible thing that could be used to blackmail a person is on that intake form; including topics I had never thought of. I wonder if people in South Dakota might be too mild mannered for their own good?

Speaking of the marxists that have infiltrated Rapid; some teachers seem either brainwashed or they want their retirement more than anything; whatever the marxist school board wants, the nearly retired teachers willingly do... all for the pension, it seems, to hell, literally , with the children.

By the way the governor of South Dakota did the same thing as Gavin Newsom, giving the state over to the health department , Governor Noam just did it with much better spin.

Housing options are really limited in Rapid. I have met many people that have not been able to find a decent place within their budget for months, years. It seems that landlords here have been advised by "experts" to increase the price of rent to to be like a first tier city instead of what the place in Rapid is really worth, which is like living in a third world backwater city.

It seems to me new people relocating are overpaying double or three times what the place is worth; the sucker pays a combination of, maybe $400 of what the place is worth, and the mortgage of about $250 and if sharing an apartment, paying the original leaseholders rent $350 ... I understand the landlord has to replace a water heater or plumbing yet in my decades of renting, things have to be about to explode for a landlord to actually take care of anything so they are profiting scandalously. This racket/scam for housing seems to be going on nationwide. How do landlords and leaseholder con artists' sleep at night? Lord help us all. It seems like one is forced to buy a home, yet then consider, will the property taxes be spent on marxist and pedo-grooming trans gender "safe spaces" that brainwash children and grandchildren to lie to their parents, hate them and hate God and Jesus?

The MacArthur foundation and China has its' talons in this state; Gates might have purchased farm land here, too.

From what I can tell conservatives want real estate prices high and discourage new construction of affordable housing options. So what Rapid will get, are more people relocating from liberal California, Portland, Oregon and other democratic locations that don't mind overpriced housing. Serves you right, Rapid.

Downtown, there are high priced hotels, a Starbucks, chocolate shop, restaurants, a couple boutiques and a couple other stores. There are two overpriced health food stores near downtown. Many places downtown close at 5 pm if not earlier. Despite being a hub for tourists there is no convenience store yet there is a gun shop and antique store. There is a Main square area that I wonder if there are actors paid to go skating or play at the main square since there are so few locals out and about, generally, from what I observe. Maybe genuine locals are all at the mall on a nice day on the weekend?

Public transportation is terrible and the taxis gauge you for a five minute ride. Rapid is a pit stop on the way to see Mount Rushmore and Sturgis. Sturgis is loud and in my opinion a bad vibes motorcycle rally. People ride very loud machines in large groups and from what I understand landlords in the area rent a room out for $100, $200 or $300 a day. Landlords have little reason to rent year-round to tenants that need a place to live, because landlords make heaps of money in a few months from the motorcycle cult rally. Just because God blessed you with abundant real estate does not give permission for unbridled greed.

The weather can be rough, up to 60 mile per hour winds days in a row, icy streets and sidewalks complete with impatient drivers angry you are crossing the street. Summer time it is 100 degrees and there is no shade for a mile. Guys in huge pick up trucks have rolled coal by me many times when I am waiting to cross the street, as if I was doing something wrong for standing there.

Monument hospital is known to medically kidnap people and administers remdesivir, maim and disable patients because the cv incentive money is more compelling than ethics. The urgent care clinics fail to really do much from my experience other than insist you wear a mask AFTER you fill out the insurance paperwork, of course. When I broke my foot, I was not given a boot, nor put in a cast, nor offered crutches or a kneeling scooter. It was a new injury to me. I had to self treat and get aid on my own. And no, I insisted I was going to breathe oxygen while I was waiting at the politically correct woke clinic of the mask cult.

Speaking of breathing: what appear to be the majority of the staff at the local library still are of the politically correct mask cult; they wear masks as what appears to me a political statement. It seems the woke agenda is big at the Rapid Library and the political correctness cult seems to involve masks. Masks are black magic tools, masks are occult so it is no surprise. Just think about Halloween.

There are more professional, capable, intelligent, hardworking, honest, affordable, honorable, high quality of life cities out there with more integrity. There has to be. Rapid has left me worse off than when I first moved to Rapid. I believe in Lord Jesus Christ; I am guided by the King James Bible. I buy local, I am not a regular Amazon user so my dollars stay in Rapid, I pay my bills on time and I am good person to have around, clean, sober, quiet, health conscious. I love to walk and you get to have that parking spot that I don't need because I walk or ride my bike. I had no idea there was a midwestern city that could be so indifferent and hard on my demographic. I am going to find another place challenging issues and ordinary people yet, at least I will finally feel safe again walking on the sidewalks, ideally where there are trees, decent air, and conservative Christians that actually value a pedestrian following the traffic signs waiting to cross the street. Deuteronomy 11:24 "Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be." Read Less

Mixed Feelings 3 rating By observer ( May 28, 2015) While there is much to love about this city as the previous reviewer indicated, being able to afford attractions and the natural beauty is not possible for many of the residents who live here--probably 50% or more. Wages are below average for many professions, yet housing costs a ...Read More re too high for the average worker, which explains the higher percentage of people renting rather than owning. The near north side has crime as high as many major cities with many people living in cramped living quarters (trailer parks abound within the city as do prefab and basic houses with less than 900 or less sf of living space and typically no garage or basement). Many houses have substandard construction.

Like most cities, the substandard housing is primarily confined to the low-wage earners living closer to the center and north of downtown - those in fast food and tourist industries, but also some fire fighters, police, and teachers. A new business that sought to come to Rapid wanted to start workers' pay at twice minimum wage, but they were advised to decrease that wage because other local business wanted to keep wages at a minimum and didn't want their workers to be disgruntled and demand higher wages.

Many streets need repair, there are an abundance of casinos, pawn stores, and liquor stores, and the number of inebriated homeless are higher than average.

You will only get the best of both worlds, as the previous reviewer mentioned, if you know for certain you can come here and earn a higher than average wage which will allow you to live in the more beautiful areas of town and indulge yourself in all the area has to offer. For the rest of you, expect to work two jobs to make ends meet. Read Less

Rapid City, SD - The Excitment Never Dies 5 rating By Anonymous ( Jul 19, 2011) I have lived in Rapid City, SD for over 10 years now and I can't imagine living anywhere else. I always thought I would have to choose between the appeal of big cities or the appeal of country living. I never thought I would find a place that has both but Rapid City does have the ...Read More best of both worlds.

One of the most appealing things about Rapid City is the parks and monuments. With Mt. Rushmore, Devils tower and countless caves, there is always an adventure. Also, Rapid City has Bad Lands National Park which is by far my favorite place in the entire United States. No matter how many times you visit there, you will never be bored.

In addition to the amazing landscape, Rapid City is rich in arts and culture, history, and entertainment. Downtown contains many museums, art walks, galleries, theaters and a very entertaining history walk. I also am an avid sports fan. While no professional teams lie around the city, minor league baseball is available and my personal favorite, Rush Hockey.

All of these features of Rapid City are reasons to not only consider visit but reasons to live in Rapid City. You will never tire of the entertainment and the cost of living is considerably lower in this region. I give my city a perfect 10 for anyone who will come here soon.
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Rapid City, SD - The Excitment Never Dies 5 rating By Anonymous ( Jul 19, 2011) I have lived in Rapid City, SD for over 10 years now and I can't imagine living anywhere else. I always thought I would have to choose between the appeal of big cities or the appeal of country living. I never thought I would find a place that has both but Rapid City does have the ...Read More best of both worlds.

One of the most appealing things about Rapid City is the parks and monuments. With Mt. Rushmore, Devils tower and countless caves, there is always an adventure. Also, Rapid City has Bad Lands National Park which is by far my favorite place in the entire United States. No matter how many times you visit there, you will never be bored.

In addition to the amazing landscape, Rapid City is rich in arts and culture, history, and entertainment. Downtown contains many museums, art walks, galleries, theaters and a very entertaining history walk. I also am an avid sports fan. While no professional teams lie around the city, minor league baseball is available and my personal favorite, Rush Hockey.

All of these features of Rapid City are reasons to not only consider visit but reasons to live in Rapid City. You will never tire of the entertainment and the cost of living is considerably lower in this region. I give my city a perfect 10 for anyone who will come here soon.
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