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 »

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 »

By Brandon Ecoffey
Native Sun News Staff Writer

MITCHELL — On Oct. 12, Donald Loudner, an enrolled member of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, was once again named to the U.S. Census Bureau’s National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic and Other Populations.
The National Advisory Committee will work to help guide the Census Bureau in multiple areas including, housing, children, youth, privacy, race and ethnicity, and gay, lesbian and transgender populations. Read more »

Spearfish schools have reported that there has been an increase in student enrollment numbers, according to the BH Pioneer.

For the full article, click here.

Court documents have been filed that allege the city did not comply with state statute during the process of annexing Evans Lane in Spearfish, according the BH Pioneer. The full article can be accessed here.

For further news and information on the annexation of Evans Lane, click here.

As the twenty days allowed to gain signatures are passing, residents of Evans Lane continue to gain signatures that would require the decision for the annexation of a portion of Spearfish Lower Valley to be taken to vote, according to the BH Pioneer.

More information and news on the Spearfish Valley annexation debate can be found here.

Even with overwhelming resident opposition, the Spearfish City Council approved to bring in atleast 134 acres of Spearfish Valley into city limits, according to the BH Pioneer. Residents affected by this annexation now have a 20 day window to secure signatures of atleast 5% of registered voters to petition for the decision to go to vote. For the full story, click here.

A map showing the location of self-identified Lakota speakers in North and South Dakota indicates that almost half of them can be found on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The Rapid City Journal recently reported on efforts by one school to teach children the language. Read more »

Meade County officials believe that many residents were not counted in the 2010 U.S. Census. According to Deputy Planning Director Bill Rich, information from the board of equalization indicates that residents of the City of Summerset were missed entirely and the City of Sturgis may have been undercounted. All totaled, county officials are asking the Census Bureau to revise the population count by adding 3,305 people to the county's reported population of 25,434. Read more »