"Words cannot express our thanks for Rob's hard work and service over the past few months to help us find a new home. The process went smoother because of his help. I would highly recommend Rob as a realtor because of his investment in the customer and his professionalism. Thank you!"
- Brian & Susan
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"Rob was wonderful, efficient, understanding, helpful and helped us do everything quickly, which was our top priority."
- Jason & Pamela

"Jami was wonderful, very helpful, informative and patient. We will go to her in the future and we highly recommend her to our colleagues and friends! Thanks Jami! "
- Chris & Stacia

From it's lowly beginning in 1876 near the banks of Rapid Creek, Rapid City today is considered to be the "Shining Star of the West." Founded by John Brennan and his party of down and out prospectors, the city was begun so that miners and commerce would pass through on the way to the gold fields. Today, Rapid City is the second largest city in South Dakota.

Population: 60,262 (2004)		Pennington County: 92,500 (2004)
20	Parks	34	Tennis Courts
10	Golf Courses	16	Horseshoe Courts
36	Ball Fields	6	Basketball Courts
14	Soccer Fields	2	Hockey / Skating Rinks
4	Swiming Pools	4	State / National Parks
9	Volleyball Courts	4	Museums
13.5 mile bike/jogging trail that winds it's way through the city

Rapid City is an outdoor enthusiast's dream come true with one of the mildest climates in the mid-west. Sheltered by the Black Hills, residents enjoy low humidity and a warm, arid climate unique to the surrounding areas. Extreme temperatures of either very hot or very cold are rare.

Adding to Rapid City's high quality of life are numerous shopping centers, exciting arena football games, big name concerts, rodeos, the Black Hills Stock Show, Central States Fair, symphonies, and much more. Rapid City and the Black Hills are so situated geographically that Rapid City is the natural gateway to the great growing empire known as the West River Region. Rapid City is a regional trade center for people from five states, including parts of South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska, who look to us for the finest medical care, air transportation, shopping, higher education, sports and entertainment. Diversity of enterprises for a city of this size is a key note for the rapid growth of Rapid City. Rapid City is the center of a wide livestock and grazing area, and is now home to a number of smaller industries. For more information about city government visit www.rcgov.org.

Tourism is Rapid City's main industry. Every year hundreds of thousands of tourists pass through Rapid City en route to various sections of the beautiful Black Hills and on to Yellowstone National Park. The Mt. Rushmore Shrine to Democracy is located only 23 miles southwest of Rapid City and attracts over 2 million visitors each year. Rapid City is also the home of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, which boasts one of the finest fossil and mineral museums in the country, the South Dakota National Guard headquarters, the State Fish Hatchery, and Ellsworth Air Force Base. For more information visit Convention and Visitors Center & Tours

Carefree living takes on an even bigger meaning in Rapid City. You won't find a corporate income tax, a personal income tax, a personal property tax, or a business inventory tax. The cost of living is well below the national average. Here are some additional important points to consider about our quality of life:

South Dakota is the second lowest tax state in the country, led only by Wyoming.	Only three states in the nation rank lower in total crime rate than South Dakota.
South Dakota leads the Nation over the last decade with 58% household income growth on an annualized basis.	Our state has one of the highest high school graduations in the nation.
The Rapid City Region is ranked a stunning #2 in the nation for retail sales per household.	The Black Hills region is one of only fourteen in the country that meets all the EPA ambient air quality standards.
The Rapid City economy is ranked as a national "Pocket of Prosperity" by Business Week magazine for economic strength and low unemployment.	Our regional healthcare system is rated "four stars", surpassed in quality of care only by Johns Hopkins and the Mayo Clinic facilities.
Taken as a whole, the Black Hills economy is growing at a rate of more than 8% annually.	South Dakota ranks first in the nation for the number of community hospitals per person.
Surprisingly nearly 50¢ of every state tourism and visitor dollar is spent right here in the Black Hills Region.	Rapid City has one of the highest ratio of park and park areas to person in the nation.
The four counties, Pennington, Meade, Custer and Lawrence, of the Black Hills Region each create 2.5 times the economic activity of the average South Dakota county.	Unlike many other areas of the country Black Hills residents have enjoyed low and stable utility costs.
Rapid City leads Sioux Falls for the first time in annual percentage economic growth!	The average commute time in Rapid City and the Black Hills is 17 minutes, one of the very lowest in any state.

You will find plenty of wide open spaces to stretch out in and warm friendly people with a ready smile. Incidentally, that's what you will find all across the state of South Dakota. Whether you come for a visit or to buy a part of our Sunshine State you will have pleasant dreams here!

 

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