Between 2000 and 2010 the populaton of the Black Hills region grew by 11 percent. This growth rate exceeded the state of South Dakota, which grew by 7.9 percent and the nation, which grew by 9.7 percent. The region's growth also exceeded the average of metropolitan areas (10.8 percent) and far exceeded rural (1.8 percent) and micropolitan regions (5.9 percent). A brief from the U.S. Census provides an overall analysis of Population Distribution and Change, 2000 to 2010.

The relatively fast growth of the Black Hills region (compared to many other parts of the country) reflects the pattern of the West more than the Midwest. According the Census, the Midwest grew by 3.9 percent during the decade while the population in the West increased 13.8 percent.

Rapid City grew 14 percent between 2000 and 2010. By comparison, Sioux Falls' population increased 24 percent.

The Rapid City Metropolitan Area, which includes Pennington and Meade counties, grew 12.02 percent over the decade. Other major metropolitan areas in our region experienced similar growth: Casper, WY (13.4 percent), Cheyenne, WY (12.41 percent), Missoula, MT (14.09 percent), Bismarck, ND (14.84 percent), Billings, MT (13.78 percent), Fargo, ND (19.73 percent) and Sioux Falls, SD (22.00 percent). Wikipedia has posted a table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas using data from the U.S. Census.

Black Hills Counties

Rapid City's growth helped make Pennington County the fastest growing county in the Black Hills region between 2000 and 2010. Custer County was not far behind. Fall River County's population declined by 5.0 percent.