RANK #557 / 996 · POP 110,386 · SD
PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.5%
Pennington County, South Dakota, is defined by its dramatic landscapes, from the rugged Black Hills in the west, home to Mount Rushmore, to the rolling prairies eastward. Rapid City, the county seat, serves as a central hub, approximately 130 miles west of Pierre. The community offers a blend of urban amenities and access to extensive outdoor recreation, including hiking, biking, fishing, and wildlife viewing in areas like Black Hills National Forest and Badlands National Park. Public transportation, like RapidRide in Rapid City, offers fixed routes, and Eastern Pennington County Transit provides services to smaller towns like Wall, Quinn, and Wasta, including shuttles to Rapid City. Life in Pennington County attracts families and young professionals, with public schools generally performing above average. The economy is supported by diverse sectors, including tourism, healthcare, and manufacturing. Recent economic trends indicate population growth, particularly in areas like Rapid City and Box Elder, partly due to the expansion of Ellsworth Air Force Base. This growth has created demand for more housing across the county. The area also sees ongoing development in technology and engineering, with local universities collaborating to create opportunities for graduates.
Below national median (4.7x)
Below national median
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 4.3x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Philip Wind Project
Philip Wind Partners (Invenergy subsidiary)
|
$750M | Planned |
|
Data Center Development (Black Hills Industrial Center)
Various (e.g., Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Open AI)
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Cheyenne River Ranch Wind and Solar Farm
Unknown
|
$227M | Proposed |
|
Wild Springs Solar Project
National Grid Renewables
|
$128M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Pennington County has a Boom Town Index score of 44/100, ranking #557 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.2% and a median household income of $67,823, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Pennington County is $247,800 with median rent at $996/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2737, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +1.5% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.2%. Home values changed +1.8% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 3.63% of Pennington County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.