PENNINGTON COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA

'Pennington County' is a county located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of 2000, the population was 88,565. Its county seat is at Rapid City⁶. Pennington County is the primary county for the Rapid City, South Dakota Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

Geography

Townships

Major Highways

Adjacent Counties

Demographics

Search and Rescue

Cities and towns

External links

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 7,211 km² (2,784 mi²). 7,190 km² (2,776 mi²) of it is land and 21 km² (8 mi²) of it (0.29%) is water. Harney Peak, South Dakota's highest mountain, is located in the county. At 7,242 feet it is the highest point between the Rocky Mountains and the French Alps.

Townships

The county is divided into twenty townships: Ash, Castle Butte, Cedar Butte, Conata, Crooked Creed, Fairview, Flat Butte, Huron, Imlay, Lake Creek, Lake Flat, Lake Hill, Owanka, Peno, Quinn, Rainy Creek/Cheyenne, Scenic, Shyne, Sunnyside, and Wasta; and seven areas of unorganized territory: Central Pennington, Dalzell Canyon, East Central Pennington, Mount Rushmore, Northeast Pennington, Rapid City East, and West Pennington.

Major Highways

★ Interstate 90 ★ U.S. Highway 14 ★ U.S. Highway 16 ★ U.S. Highway 16A ★ U.S. Highway 385

★ South Dakota Highway 40 ★ South Dakota Highway 44 ★ South Dakota Highway 240 ★ South Dakota Highway 244

Adjacent Counties

★ Meade County, South Dakota - north

★ Haakon County, South Dakota - northeast

★ Jackson County, South Dakota - southeast

★ Shannon County, South Dakota - south

★ Custer County, South Dakota - southwest

★ Weston County, Wyoming - west

★ Lawrence County, South Dakota - northwest

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 88,565 people, 34,641 households, and 23,278 families residing in the county. The population density was 12/km² (32/mi²). There were 37,249 housing units at an average density of 5/km² (13/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.70% White, 0.85% Black or African American, 8.09% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 2.74% from two or more races. 2.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 34,641 households out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.30% were married couples living together, 11.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.80% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.60% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.70 males.

Search and Rescue

The Pennington County Search and Rescue (PCSAR) team is a volunteer search and rescue (SAR) team based in Rapid City, South Dakota. The team was established in October, 1973, prompted by a 1972 flood in Rapid City. PCSAR trains for and performs vehicle extrication, vertical rescue, searches, communication support, Fire Department and dive team air supply support, trench rescue, mass casualty support, and emergency winter weather transportation.

Cities and towns

★ Ashland Heights

★ Colonial Pine Hills

★ Green Valley

★ Hill City

★ Keystone

★ New Underwood

★ Quinn

★ Rapid City

★ Rapid Valley

★ Wall

★ Wasta

External links

★ Pennington County, SD government website

★ Black Hills Community Portal Black Hills Area Guide & Community Portal