South Dakota is aging faster than the nation as a whole, with 14.3 percent of the state's population over age 65 compared to 13 percent nationally, according to a report from iGrow, a service of South Dakota State University Extension. (The full report is attached to this post.)
By 2035, the counties of Campbell, Custer, Fall River, Gregory, Haakon, Jerauld, McPherson, Perkins, Potter and Walworth are expected to have 1 in 10 people over the age of 85. Read more »
James LaRue, Director of Douglas County Library System in Colorado, presented at the 2013 spring workshop for the Black Hills Knowledge Network. He spoke on the changing nature of the work of librarianship and how to embed libraries into a community.
View LaRue's informative and inspirational presentation in the video record below.
Rapid City's senior citizens report trouble getting medical care, finding transportation and housing and recreation opportunities in a recent survey conducted by the University of South Dakota.
This Rapid City Journal article quotes Sandy Diegel of the John T. Vucurevich Foundation saying there is a need for centralized information that seniors can access. Read more »
Rapid City's internal population estimate is still forthcoming. According to the Rapid City Journal, possible sources of population growth include relocation and the impact of the North Dakota oil boom. After taking a dip following the 2008 economic downturn, Rapid City population statistics are once again on the rise. Read more »
Pennington County Housing and Redevelopment Commission reports rental assistance programs will be trimmed slightly by the federal sequester. Read about the impact to low-income renters in the Rapid City Journal and follow other housing issues in the archives.
In September, Rapid City's Cornerstone Rescue Mission began a hard-line approach regarding who and how long a homeless individual may stay at the mission. In that time, some beds have gone unused during the coldest of nights. Read the full article in the Rapid City Journal. Read more »
It is important to know that life in the country is different from life in the city. Pennington County Planning and Zoning has created the 'Code of the West, Living the Rugged Life' guide. The guide will aid in making an educated and informed decision to purchase rural land and covers five areas of consideration: Access, Utility Services, The Property, Mother Nature, and Agriculture. Read more »
According the US Census Bureau, South Dakota is growing faster than the nation as a whole and the Black Hills region is one of the fastest growing parts of South Dakota. In addition, South Dakota is becoming older and more racially diverse. The Rapid City Journal article reports that by 2020 South Dakotans older than 65 will exceed the number of 5-17 year-olds. In 1960 only 4 percent of South Dakotans were persons of color. Read more »
Another 6-story student housing tower is under construction on the campus of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. All units will be leased to students at the School of Mines, although the units are built to appeal to other renters should the student housing market dip. Read more »
