Rapid Valley, South Dakota
Encyclopedia
Rapid Valley is a census-designated place
(CDP) and unincorporated community
in Pennington County
, South Dakota
, United States
, and a suburb
of Rapid City
. The population was 8,260 at the 2010 census. Rapid Valley has been a retreat for people living in Rapid City due to its low crime, cheap land, and views of the Black Hills
. Rapid Valley is home to many industrial and financial businesses, and is the headquarters for many corporations specializing in transport and engineering. The Rapid City Regional Airport
is located in Rapid Valley.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 10.1 square miles (26.3 km²), all of it land.
Rapid Valley is considered an unincorporated suburb of Rapid City, and is located 5 minutes east of Rapid City on the prairie. Many industrial-economic companies headquarter in Rapid Valley.
. Many subdivisions are located in Rapid Valley. Rapid City has repeatedly made attempts at annexing Rapid Valley and while sections have been annexed, most attempts fail.
of 2000, there were 7,043 people, 2,436 households, and 1,914 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 694.0 people per square mile (267.9/km²). There were 2,493 housing units at an average density of 245.7 per square mile (94.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.69% White, 0.62% African American, 4.00% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races
, and 3.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.51% of the population.
There were 2,436 households out of which 47.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples
living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.4% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 33.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $39,816, and the median income for a family was $42,956. Males had a median income of $29,170 versus $20,792 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $14,841. About 5.8% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) and unincorporated community
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Pennington County
Pennington County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 88,565 people, 34,641 households, and 23,278 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 37,249 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Rapid City
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
. The population was 8,260 at the 2010 census. Rapid Valley has been a retreat for people living in Rapid City due to its low crime, cheap land, and views of the Black Hills
Black Hills
The Black Hills are a small, isolated mountain range rising from the Great Plains of North America in western South Dakota and extending into Wyoming, USA. Set off from the main body of the Rocky Mountains, the region is something of a geological anomaly—accurately described as an "island of...
. Rapid Valley is home to many industrial and financial businesses, and is the headquarters for many corporations specializing in transport and engineering. The Rapid City Regional Airport
Rapid City Regional Airport
Rapid City Regional Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located eight nautical miles southeast of the central business district of Rapid City, in Pennington County, South Dakota, United States.- Facilities and aircraft :...
is located in Rapid Valley.
Geography
Rapid Valley is located at 44°3′55"N 103°8′51"W (44.065296, -103.147427).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 10.1 square miles (26.3 km²), all of it land.
Rapid Valley is considered an unincorporated suburb of Rapid City, and is located 5 minutes east of Rapid City on the prairie. Many industrial-economic companies headquarter in Rapid Valley.
Controversy
Rapid Valley is often portrayed as the ideal example of urban sprawlUrban sprawl
Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a multifaceted concept, which includes the spreading outwards of a city and its suburbs to its outskirts to low-density and auto-dependent development on rural land, high segregation of uses Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a...
. Many subdivisions are located in Rapid Valley. Rapid City has repeatedly made attempts at annexing Rapid Valley and while sections have been annexed, most attempts fail.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 7,043 people, 2,436 households, and 1,914 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 694.0 people per square mile (267.9/km²). There were 2,493 housing units at an average density of 245.7 per square mile (94.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.69% White, 0.62% African American, 4.00% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.51% of the population.
There were 2,436 households out of which 47.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.4% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 33.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $39,816, and the median income for a family was $42,956. Males had a median income of $29,170 versus $20,792 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $14,841. About 5.8% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.