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Pennington County, South Dakota (SD)

County population in 2014: 108,242 (79% urban, 21% rural); it was 88,565 in 2000
County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 17,968
County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 8,824
County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 22,931
Renter-occupied apartments: 14,459 (it was 11,710 in 2000)
% of renters here:

34%
State:

32%

Land area: 2776 sq. mi.

Water area: 8.2 sq. mi.

Population density: 39 people per square mile   (low).

Mar. 2016 cost of living index in Pennington County: 84.4 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)

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Industries providing employment: Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services (26.1%), Educational, health and social services (23.8%), Manufacturing (10.5%).

Type of workers:

  • Private wage or salary: 48%
  • Government: 4%
  • Self-employed, not incorporated: 48%
  • Unpaid family work: 0%
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Pennington County races chart

Races in Pennington County, South Dakota:

  • White Non-Hispanic Alone (81.7%)
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone (9.0%)
  • Hispanic or Latino (4.0%)
  • Two or more races (3.2%)
  • Asian alone (1.0%)
  • Black Non-Hispanic Alone (1.0%)
Median resident age:  36.0 years
South Dakota median age:  36.0 years
Males: 53,940  (49.8%)
Females: 54,302  (50.2%)
Pennington County, SD forum
Recent posts about Pennington County, South Dakota on our local forum with over 2,000,000 registered users. Pennington County is mentioned 30 times on our forum:
Property/real estate taxes?  (6 replies)
People leaving RC  (4 replies)
Rapid City isolation  (10 replies)
Good SD towns to retire to  (10 replies)
Horticulture and Gardening  (5 replies)
Real Estate Recorded Closing Date Question  (1 reply)

Pennington County,SD real estate house value trend

Average household size:
Pennington County:

2.0 people
South Dakota:

2 people
Estimated median household income in 2015: $52,611 ($37,485 in 1999)

This county:

$52,611
South Dakota:

$53,017

Median contract rent in 2015 for apartments: $715 (lower quartile is $490, upper quartile is $891)
This county:

$715
State:

$573


Estimated median house or condo value in 2015: $171,800 (it was $83,800 in 2000)
Pennington:

$171,800
South Dakota:

$152,800
Lower value quartile - upper value quartile: $116,500 - $256,900

Mean price in 2015:

Detached houses: $229,815
Here:

$229,815
State:

$198,156

Townhouses or other attached units: $187,319
Here:

$187,319
State:

$185,761

In 2-unit structures: $218,374
Here:

$218,374
State:

$146,277

In 3-to-4-unit structures: $172,687
Here:

$172,687
State:

$149,896

In 5-or-more-unit structures: $102,272
Here:

$102,272
State:

$143,042

Mobile homes: $57,587
Here:

$57,587
State:

$65,426
Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $1,304
Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $485

Institutionalized population: 1,430

Crime in 2005 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):

  • Murders: 1
  • Rapes: 44
  • Robberies: 1
  • Assaults: 29
  • Burglaries: 137
  • Thefts: 469
  • Auto thefts: 27

Crime in 2004 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):

  • Murders: 1
  • Rapes: 29
  • Robberies: 2
  • Assaults: 26
  • Burglaries: 149
  • Thefts: 317
  • Auto thefts: 22
Pennington County, SD map from a distance

Health of residents in Pennington County based on CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Questionnaires from 2003 to 2012:

General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) is 3.6. This is better than average.
77.4% of residents exercised in the past month. This is about average.
51.6% of residents smoked 100+ cigarettes in their lives. This is more than average.
74.3% of adult residents drank alcohol in the past 30 days. This is about average.
71.5% of residents visited a dentist within the past year. This is about average.
Average weight of males is 196 pounds. This is about average.
Average weight of females is 161 pounds. This is about average.
49.4% of residents keep firearms around their homes. This is more than average.

Single-family new house construction building permits:

  • 2007: 537 buildings, average cost: $147,200
  • 2008: 386 buildings, average cost: $140,800
  • 2009: 322 buildings, average cost: $150,900
  • 2010: 351 buildings, average cost: $157,100
  • 2011: 247 buildings, average cost: $156,900
  • 2012: 410 buildings, average cost: $151,400
  • 2013: 390 buildings, average cost: $175,900
  • 2014: 342 buildings, average cost: $190,300

Number of permits per 10,000 residents

Average cost (in $1000s)

Presidential Elections Results

1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016

1996 Presidential Elections Results

2000 Presidential Elections Results

2004 Presidential Elections Results

2008 Presidential Elections Results

2012 Presidential Elections Results

2016 Presidential Elections Results

Graphs represent county-level data. Detailed 2008 Election Results

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2015: $2,580 (1.4%)
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2015: $2,066 (1.3%)

Pennington County household income distribution in 2009 Pennington County home values distribution Pennington County contract rent distribution in 2009
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2015: 10.6%
(8.9% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 30.3% for Black residents, 19.4% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 45.2% for American Indian residents, 9.8% for other race residents, 15.9% for two or more races residents)

Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2015: 10.6%
Pennington County:

10.6%
South Dakota:

13.7%
(8.9% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 30.3% for Black residents, 16.2% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 42.5% for American Indian residents, 9.8% for other race residents, 9.5% for two or more races residents)

Median age of residents in 2015: 38 years old
(Males: 37 years old, Females: 40 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 42 years old, Black residents: 39 years old, American Indian residents: 27 years old, Asian residents: 27 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 21 years old, Other race residents: 28 years old)

Area name: Rapid City, SD HUD Metro FMR Area
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Pennington County is $530 a month.
Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $667 a month.
Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $883 a month.

Cities in this county include: Rapid City, Rapid Valley, Box Elder, Colonial Pine Hills, Ashland Heights, Wall, Hill City, Green Valley, Johnson Siding, New Underwood.

Pennington County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level between 2 and 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Moderate Potential

2012 air pollution in Pennington County:

Nitrogen Dioxide: 0.01 ppm (standard limit: 0.053 ppm). Near U.S. average.
Particulate Matter (PM10) Annual: 31.6 µg/m3. Above U.S. average.
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Annual: 6.3 µg/m3(standard limit: 15.0 µg/m3). Below U.S. average.
Sulfur Oxides Annual: 0.000 ppm (standard limit: 0.03 ppm). Near U.S. average.

Click to draw/clear Pennington County borders

Neighboring counties: Alcona County, Michigan , Arenac County, Michigan , Clare County, Michigan , Eau Claire County, Wisconsin , Iosco County, Michigan , Kalkaska County, Michigan , Missaukee County, Michigan .

Unemployment in September 2015:
Here:

3.1%
South Dakota:

3.0%

Unemployment by year (%)

County total employment by year

County average yearly wages by year ($)

Current college students: 5,409
People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 87.8%
People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 25.0%

Number of foreign born residents: 1,899 (55% naturalized citizens)

Pennington County:

2.1%
Whole state:

1.8%

Year of entry for the foreign-born population

  • 1995 to March 2000: 442
  • 1990 to 1994: 221
  • 1985 to 1989: 124
  • 1980 to 1984: 281
  • 1975 to 1979: 237
  • 1970 to 1974: 74
  • 1970 to 1974: 131
  • 1965 to 1969: 389
Note: State values scaled to Pennington County population

Mean travel time to work (commute): 17.3 minutes

Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 95.1%

Pennington County marital status for males Pennington County marital status for females

Housing units in structures:

  • One, detached: 22,352
  • One, attached: 1,203
  • Two: 1,338
  • 3 or 4: 1,284
  • 5 to 9: 1,219
  • 10 to 19: 984
  • 20 or more: 3,213
  • Mobile homes: 5,591
  • Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 65

Housing units in Pennington County with a mortgage: 12,157 (1,422 second mortgage, 1,210 home equity loan, 77 both second mortgage and home equity loan)
Houses without a mortgage: 4,763

Here:

71.8% with mortgage
State:

60.6% with mortgage

Religion statistics for Pennington County

ReligionAdherentsCongregations
Evangelical Protestant16,33867
Mainline Protestant14,19628
Catholic7,07210
Other3,76012
Black Protestant1861
Orthodox601
None59,336-
Pennington County Religion Details
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.

Food Environment Statistics:

Number of grocery stores: 16
Pennington County:

1.66 / 10,000 pop.
State:

2.84 / 10,000 pop.

Number of supercenters and club stores: 2
Here:

0.21 / 10,000 pop.
South Dakota:

0.29 / 10,000 pop.

Number of convenience stores (no gas): 3
This county:

0.31 / 10,000 pop.
South Dakota:

0.65 / 10,000 pop.

Number of convenience stores (with gas): 54
Pennington County:

5.61 / 10,000 pop.
South Dakota:

6.68 / 10,000 pop.

Number of full-service restaurants: 82
This county:

8.52 / 10,000 pop.
State:

9.21 / 10,000 pop.

Adult diabetes rate:
Pennington County:

6.9%
South Dakota:

7.7%

Adult obesity rate:
Pennington County:

24.5%
State:

27.7%

Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:

14.3%
State:

14.9%

Agriculture in Pennington County:

Average size of farms: 1738 acres
Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $61,981
Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $66.74
The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 75.50%
Average total farm production expenses per farm: $59,725
Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 13.09%
Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 6.51%
Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $59,655
The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 85.78%
Average age of principal farm operators: 56 years
Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 4.85
Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 0.67%
All wheat for grain: 42340 harvested acres
Vegetables: 6 harvested acres

Earthquake activity:

Pennington County-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above South Dakota state average. It is 19% smaller than the overall U.S. average.

On 8/18/1959 at 06:37:13, a magnitude 7.7 (7.7 UK, Class: Major, Intensity: VIII - XII) earthquake occurred 375.3 miles away from Pennington County center, causing $26,000,000 total damage
On 10/18/1984 at 15:30:23, a magnitude 5.5 (5.4 MB, 5.1 MS, 5.5 ML, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 168.6 miles away from the county center
On 10/28/1983 at 14:06:06, a magnitude 7.3 (6.2 MB, 7.3 MS, 7.0 MW) earthquake occurred 531.3 miles away from the county center, causing 2 deaths (2 shaking deaths) and 3 injuries, causing $15,000,000 total damage
On 9/8/1984 at 00:59:31, a magnitude 5.1 (5.1 MB) earthquake occurred 140.5 miles away from the county center
On 5/29/1984 at 20:18:32, a magnitude 5.0 (5.0 MB) earthquake occurred 142.5 miles away from Pennington County center
On 6/30/1975 at 18:54:13, a magnitude 6.1 (5.6 MB, 5.9 MS, 6.1 UK, 6.1 ML, Class: Strong, Intensity: VII - IX) earthquake occurred 379.7 miles away from the county center
Magnitude types: body-wave magnitude (MB), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)

Most recent natural disasters:

  • South Dakota Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding, Incident Period: October 03, 2013 to October 17, 2013, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4155: November 08, 2013, FEMA Id: 4155, Natural disaster type: Snowstorm, Winter Storm, Flood
  • South Dakota Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: September 06, 2005 to October 01, 2005, Emergency Declared EM-3234: September 10, 2005, FEMA Id: 3234, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
  • South Dakota Skyline #2 Fire, Incident Period: July 16, 2005 to July 17, 2005, Fire Management Assistance Declared: July 16, 2005, FEMA Id: 2569, Natural disaster type: Fire
  • South Dakota Mill Road Fire, Incident Period: November 20, 2003 to November 21, 2003, Fire Management Assistance Declared: November 20, 2003, FEMA Id: 2513, Natural disaster type: Fire
  • South Dakota Battle Creek Fire, Incident Period: August 16, 2002 to August 29, 2002, Fire Management Assistance Declared: August 18, 2002, FEMA Id: 2458, Natural disaster type: Fire
  • South Dakota Winter Storm, Incident Period: April 18, 2000 to April 20, 2000, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1330: May 19, 2000, FEMA Id: 1330, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm
  • South Dakota Severe Storms/Flooding, Incident Period: February 03, 1997 to May 24, 1997, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1173: April 07, 1997, FEMA Id: 1173, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
  • South Dakota Severe Winter Storms/Blizzards, Incident Period: January 03, 1997 to January 31, 1997, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1156: January 10, 1997, FEMA Id: 1156, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm, Blizzard
  • South Dakota Severe Winter Storms, Incident Period: November 13, 1996 to November 26, 1996, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1161: February 28, 1997, FEMA Id: 1161, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm
  • South Dakota Severe Storms, Flooding, Incident Period: March 01, 1995 to June 20, 1995, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1052: May 26, 1995, FEMA Id: 1052, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
  • 3 other natural disasters have been reported since 1953.

The number of natural disasters in Pennington County (13) is near the US average (13).
Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 8
Emergencies Declared: 2

Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 5, Winter Storms: 4, Fires: 3, Storms: 2, Blizzard: 1, Drought: 1, Heavy Rain: 1, Hurricane: 1, Snowstorm: 1 (Note: Some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).

Class of Workers

Most common industries in 2015 (%)
Males Females
  • Health care and social assistance (24%)
  • Retail trade (10%)
  • Accommodation and food services (9%)
  • Educational services (9%)
  • Finance and insurance (7%)
  • Other services, except public administration (5%)
  • Manufacturing (4%)
  • Health care and social assistance (27%)
  • Retail trade (11%)
  • Accommodation and food services (10%)
  • Educational services (10%)
  • Finance and insurance (7%)
  • Other services, except public administration (5%)
  • Manufacturing (4%)
Most common occupations in 2015 (%)
Males Females
  • Sales and related occupations (14%)
  • Management occupations (13%)
  • Construction and extraction occupations (12%)
  • Transportation occupations (8%)
  • Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (7%)
  • Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (6%)
  • Food preparation and serving related occupations (5%)
  • Office and administrative support occupations (22%)
  • Sales and related occupations (11%)
  • Food preparation and serving related occupations (8%)
  • Healthcare support occupations (8%)
  • Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations (7%)
  • Education, training, and library occupations (7%)
  • Management occupations (6%)

Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):

  • United Kingdom (10%)
  • Mexico (10%)
  • Germany (8%)
  • Philippines (8%)
  • Canada (7%)
  • Korea (5%)
  • China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (4%)

Most common first ancestries reported in Pennington County (%):

  • German (33%)
  • Norwegian (10%)
  • Irish (9%)
  • English (7%)
  • United States or American (6%)
  • Swedish (2%)
  • French (except Basque) (2%)

Pennington County mode of transportation to work chart

Means of transportation to work:

  • Drove a car alone: 37,312 (83%)
  • Carpooled: 4,699 (10%)
  • Bus or trolley bus: 222 (0%)
  • Subway or elevated: 7 (0%)
  • Railroad: 8 (0%)
  • Taxi: 11 (0%)
  • Motorcycle: 56 (0%)
  • Bicycle: 60 (0%)
  • Walked: 1,013 (2%)
  • Other means: 200 (0%)
  • Worked at home: 1,400 (3%)

Owners and renters by unit type in %

Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders ($)


People in group quarters in Pennington County, South Dakota in 2000:

  • 757 people in college dormitories (includes college quarters off campus)
  • 569 people in nursing homes
  • 378 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
  • 260 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
  • 178 people in homes for the mentally retarded
  • 81 people in homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse
  • 79 people in other group homes
  • 41 people in religious group quarters
  • 36 people in residential treatment centers for emotionally disturbed children
  • 18 people in other workers' dormitories
  • 15 people in mental (psychiatric) hospitals or wards
  • 9 people in homes for the mentally ill
  • 4 people in other nonhousehold living situations

People in group quarters in Pennington County, South Dakota in 2010:

  • 659 people in college/university student housing
  • 628 people in correctional residential facilities
  • 538 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
  • 203 people in emergency and transitional shelters (with sleeping facilities) for people experiencing homelessness
  • 103 people in group homes intended for adults
  • 100 people in state prisons
  • 98 people in correctional facilities intended for juveniles
  • 90 people in other noninstitutional facilities
  • 52 people in residential treatment centers for juveniles (non-correctional)
  • 45 people in workers' group living quarters and job corps centers
  • 41 people in residential treatment centers for adults
  • 8 people in hospitals with patients who have no usual home elsewhere
  • 6 people in group homes for juveniles (non-correctional)
  • 4 people in military barracks and dormitories (nondisciplinary)
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2010 was $55,337.

8.14% of this county's 2011 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2010 ($37,665 average adjusted gross income)

Here:

8.14%
South Dakota average:

7.96%


0.26% of residents moved from foreign countries ($1,514 average AGI)
Pennington County:

0.26%
South Dakota average:

0.05%

3.23% relocated from other counties in South Dakota ($12,425 average AGI)
4.66% relocated from other states ($23,725 average AGI)
Pennington County:

4.66%
South Dakota average:

3.76%

Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries


Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2010 and 2011:
from Meade County, SD  1.20% ($30,702 average AGI)
from Lawrence County, SD  0.26% ($26,075)
from Minnehaha County, SD  0.26% ($27,196)
from Custer County, SD  0.16% ($34,923)
from Shannon County, SD  0.14% ($16,214)
from Campbell County, WY  0.11% ($41,156)
from Hughes County, SD  0.11% ($33,000)


9.25% of this county's 2010 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2011 ($36,867 average adjusted gross income)

Here:

9.25%
South Dakota average:

7.77%


0.22% of residents moved to foreign countries ($817 average AGI)
Pennington County:

0.22%
South Dakota average:

0.06%

4.13% relocated to other counties in South Dakota ($16,750 average AGI)
4.90% relocated to other states ($19,299 average AGI)
Pennington County:

4.90%
South Dakota average:

3.55%

Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries


Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2010 and 2011:
to Meade County, SD  2.32% ($46,671 average AGI)
to Lawrence County, SD  0.30% ($23,298)
to Minnehaha County, SD  0.29% ($27,252)
to Maricopa County, AZ  0.17% ($46,638)
to Custer County, SD  0.14% ($30,797)
to Shannon County, SD  0.12% ($16,860)
to Hughes County, SD  0.11% ($31,711)

Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 16.6
Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 16.1
Births per 1000 population from 2007 to 2014: 1.8

Births per 1000 population in Pennington County

Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 7.0
Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 7.4
Deaths per 1000 population from 2007 to 2014: 7.3

Deaths per 1000 population in Pennington County

Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 8.9
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 7.9

Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Pennington County

Population without health insurance coverage in 2013: 13.4%
Persons under 19 years old without health insurance coverage in 2013: 5.8%
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Pennington County
All 18-64 40-64 50-64 Under 19

Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Pennington County


Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2007: 15,134 (12,477 aged, 2,657 disabled)
Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2007: 1,921 (7%)

Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)

Aged persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)

Disabled persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)

Most common underlying causes of death in Pennington County, South Dakota in 1999 - 2014:

  • Acute myocardial infarction, unspecified (1,064)
  • Bronchus or lung, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (803)
  • Atherosclerotic heart disease (776)
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified (529)
  • Alzheimer's disease, unspecified (481)
  • Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction (313)
  • Unspecified dementia (257)
  • Breast, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (211)
  • Pneumonia, unspecified (193)
  • Colon, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (178)

Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 13%
Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 9%

Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 2.16
Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 18,519
Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 435
Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 64,722

General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,632
Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 692
Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 10

Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 68
Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 118

Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 16

Suicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 143.3. This is more than state average.

Mechanisms of suicide:

Deaths per 1,000,000 population:
  • Firearm - 65.4
  • Poisoning - 42.1
  • Suffocation - 32.7
  • Other - 3.1

Household type by relationship:

Households: 98,373
  • In family households: 79,676 (18,511 male householders, 7,812 female householders)
    19,424 spouses, 27,422 children (25,074 natural, 854 adopted, 1,494 stepchildren), 1,676 grandchildren, 676 brothers or sisters, 521 parents, 736 other relatives, 2,592 non-relatives
  • In nonfamily households: 18,697 (7,367 male householders (5,551 living alone)), 7,561 female householders (6,415 living alone)), 3,769 nonrelatives
  • In group quarters: 2,575 (1,430 institutionalized population)

Size of family households: 12,588 2-persons, 5,681 3-persons, 4,708 4-persons, 2,158 5-persons, 789 6-persons, 399 7-or-more-persons.

Size of nonfamily households: 11,966 1-person, 2,424 2-persons, 350 3-persons, 132 4-persons, 43 5-persons, 9 6-persons, 4 7-or-more-persons.

15,273 married couples with children.
6,423 single-parent households (1,405 men, 5,018 women).

94.9% of residents of Pennington County speak English at home.
1.5% of residents speak Spanish at home (68% speak English very well, 17% speak English well, 15% speak English not well).
1.6% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (73% speak English very well, 18% speak English well, 7% speak English not well, 2% don't speak English at all).
0.7% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (49% speak English very well, 37% speak English well, 14% speak English not well).
1.3% of residents speak other language at home (78% speak English very well, 12% speak English well, 9% speak English not well).

In fiscal year 2004:

Federal Government expenditure: $758,251,000 ($8,186 per capita)
Department of Defense expenditure: $271,835,000
Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $270,703,000
Federal other direct payments to individuals: $79,637,000
Federal direct payments not to individuals: $7,122,000
Federal grants: $143,895,000
Federal procurement contracts: $46,937,000 ($27,646,000 Department of Defense)
Federal salaries and wages: $209,958,000 ($163,277,000 Department of Defense)
Federal Government direct loans: $6,705,000
Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $70,356,000
Federal Government insurance: $63,411,000

Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:

Births: 7,664
Here:

82 per 1000 residents
State:

72 per 1000 residents

Deaths: 3,757
Here:

40 per 1000 residents
State:

48 per 1000 residents

Net international migration: +369
Here:

+4 per 1000 residents
State:

+5 per 1000 residents

Net internal migration: +878
Here:  +9 per 1000 residents
State:  -1 per 1000 residents

Population growth in Pennington County

Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 13.35 millions of gallons per day (all from ground)

Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:

6.2
State:

6.3

Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:

3.9
State:

4.1

Year house built

  • 2014 or later: 221
  • 2010 to 2013: 2,468
  • 2000 to 2009: 7,976
  • 1990 to 1999: 6,461
  • 1980 to 1989: 5,816
  • 1970 to 1979: 9,985
  • 1960 to 1969: 4,091
  • 1950 to 1959: 5,569
  • 1940 to 1949: 1,120
  • 1939 or earlier: 3,484
Note: State values scaled to Pennington population
Rooms in houses/apartments in Pennington County, South Dakota
Owner-occupied Renter-occupied
Note: State values scaled to Pennington County population
  • 1 room: 36
  • 2 rooms: 171
  • 3 rooms: 757
  • 4 rooms: 2,594
  • 5 rooms: 5,010
  • 6 rooms: 4,124
  • 7 rooms: 3,728
  • 8 rooms: 3,176
  • 9+ rooms: 3,335
  • 1 room: 461
  • 2 rooms: 1,539
  • 3 rooms: 2,528
  • 4 rooms: 3,153
  • 5 rooms: 2,070
  • 6 rooms: 931
  • 7 rooms: 497
  • 8 rooms: 335
  • 9+ rooms: 196
Bedrooms in houses/apartments in Pennington County, South Dakota
Owner-occupied Renter-occupied
Note: State values scaled to Pennington County population
  • no bedroom: 41
  • 1 bedroom: 671
  • 2 bedrooms: 5,031
  • 3 bedrooms: 11,094
  • 4 bedrooms: 4,790
  • 5+ bedrooms: 1,304
  • no bedroom: 633
  • 1 bedroom: 3,382
  • 2 bedrooms: 4,839
  • 3 bedrooms: 2,111
  • 4 bedrooms: 648
  • 5+ bedrooms: 97
Cars and other vehicles available in Pennington County, South Dakota in houses/condos/apartments
Owner-occupied Renter-occupied
Note: State values scaled to Pennington County population
  • no vehicle: 608
  • 1 vehicle: 5,019
  • 2 vehicles: 10,125
  • 3 vehicles: 4,975
  • 4 vehicles: 1,537
  • 5+ vehicles: 667
  • no vehicle: 1,494
  • 1 vehicle: 5,539
  • 2 vehicles: 3,445
  • 3 vehicles: 908
  • 4 vehicles: 232
  • 5+ vehicles: 92

48% of Pennington County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago.
   Out of people who lived in different houses, 53% lived in this county.
   Out of people who lived in different counties, 41% lived in South Dakota.

Pennington County:

48.3%
State average:

56.2%

Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:

  • This state: 50,864
  • Northeast: 2,582
  • Midwest: 17,119
  • South: 4,574
  • West: 10,506

Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $73,800


Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 1%

Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 2%

Year Householders Moved Into Unit

Most commonly used house heating fuel in Pennington County
Houses and condos Apartments
  • Utility gas (69.7%)
  • Electricity (15.4%)
  • Bottled, tank, or LP gas (10.5%)
  • Wood (2.7%)
  • Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (1.1%)
  • Utility gas (57.8%)
  • Electricity (30.8%)
  • Bottled, tank, or LP gas (5.4%)
  • Other fuel (2.9%)
  • No fuel used (1.2%)
  • Wood (1.1%)
  • Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (0.6%)

Private vs. public school enrollment:


Students in private schools in grades 1 to 8 (elementary and middle school): 826
Here:

7.7%
South Dakota:

8.0%

Students in private schools in grades 9 to 12 (high school): 454
Here:

8.5%
South Dakota:

5.6%

Students in private undergraduate colleges: 751
Here:

16.3%
South Dakota:

17.8%

Educational Attainment (%)

School Enrollment by Level of School (%)

Age and Sex of Sensory-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)

Age and Sex of Physically-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)

Age and Sex of Mentally-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)

Age and Sex of Self-Care Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)

Age and Sex of Go-Outside-Home Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)

Age and Sex of Residents with Employment Disability (Noninstitutionalized)

Pennington County government finances - Expenditure in 2006:

  • Construction - General - Other: $5,372,000
    Police Protection: $1,100,000
    Regular Highways: $309,000
  • Current Operations - Correctional Institutions: $9,920,000
    Regular Highways: $5,765,000
    Police Protection: $5,217,000
    Judicial and Legal Services: $3,981,000
    General - Other: $3,963,000
    Health - Other: $3,068,000
    General Public Buildings: $2,591,000
    Financial Administration: $2,458,000
    Public Welfare - Other: $1,139,000
    Central Staff Services: $1,137,000
    Natural Resources - Other: $526,000
    Libraries: $317,000
    Local Fire Protection: $272,000
  • General - Interest on Debt: $4,837,000
  • Total Salaries and Wages: $18,975,000

Pennington County government finances - Revenue in 2006:

  • Charges - All Other: $8,917,000
    Natural Resources - Other: $80,000
  • Federal Intergovernmental - All Other: $2,402,000
    General Local Government Support: $1,256,000
  • Miscellaneous - Interest Earnings: $4,612,000
    General Revenue, NEC: $305,000
    Fines and Forfeits: $83,000
    Donations From Private Sources: $12,000
    Sale of Property: $5,000
    Rents: $1,000
  • State Intergovernmental - Highways: $3,310,000
    All Other: $2,189,000
    General Local Government Support: $375,000
  • Tax - Property: $25,179,000
    Public Utilities Sales: $1,264,000
    Other License: $555,000
    Motor Vehicle License: $268,000
    Death and Gift: $18,000

Pennington County government finances - Debt in 2006:

  • Long Term Debt - Beginning Outstanding - Public Debt for Private Purpose: $55,309,000
    Outstanding Nonguaranteed - Industrial Revenue: $55,309,000
    Beginning Outstanding - Unspecified Public Purpose: $19,297,000
    Outstanding Unspecified Public Purpose: $17,759,000
    Retired Unspecified Public Purpose: $1,538,000

Pennington County government finances - Cash and Securities in 2006:

  • Bond Funds - Cash and Securities: $1,283,000
  • Other Funds - Cash and Securities: $21,592,000
  • Sinking Funds - Cash and Securities: $55,309,000

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in 2006:

  • Total number of recipients: 1,639
  • Number of aged recipients: 84
  • Number of blind and disabled recipients: 1,555
  • Number of recipients under 18: 264
  • Number of recipients between 18 and 64: 1,148
  • Number of recipients older than 64: 227
  • Number of recipients also receiving OASDI: 667
  • Amount of payments (thousands of dollars): 677
Pennington County Fatal accident statistics for 1975 - 1994
Count Vehicles DUI Fatalities Persons Pedestrians

Fatal accident count (per 100,000 population)

Pennington County Fatal accident statistics for 1995 - 2014
Count Vehicles DUI Fatalities Persons Pedestrians

Fatal accident count (per 100,000 population)

Home Mortgage Disclosure Act Aggregated Statistics For Year 2009
(Based on 20 full tracts)
A) FHA, FSA/RHS & VA
Home Purchase Loans		B) Conventional
Home Purchase Loans		C) Refinancings
D) Home Improvement Loans
E) Loans on Dwellings For 5+ Families
F) Non-occupant Loans on
< 5 Family Dwellings (A B C & D)		G) Loans On Manufactured
Home Dwelling (A B C & D)
NumberAverage ValueNumberAverage ValueNumberAverage ValueNumberAverage ValueNumberAverage ValueNumberAverage ValueNumberAverage Value
LOANS ORIGINATED567$154,153632$151,9642,551$153,461292$67,21610$984,400246$177,537158$65,956
APPLICATIONS APPROVED, NOT ACCEPTED19$174,47446$151,652238$163,36121$33,0950$017$176,64718$93,944
APPLICATIONS DENIED84$141,11972$147,375555$151,526119$32,3454$190,75035$134,28685$56,012
APPLICATIONS WITHDRAWN47$154,29853$169,623488$167,75650$73,5400$033$156,30331$85,968
FILES CLOSED FOR INCOMPLETENESS3$171,0002$85,00061$159,7213$55,0000$07$143,7140$0
Choose year:  2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999
Private Mortgage Insurance Companies Aggregated Statistics For Year 2009
(Based on 19 full tracts)
A) Conventional
Home Purchase Loans		B) Refinancings
C) Non-occupant Loans on
< 5 Family Dwellings (A & B)		D) Loans On Manufactured
Home Dwelling (A & B)
NumberAverage ValueNumberAverage ValueNumberAverage ValueNumberAverage Value
LOANS ORIGINATED75$171,52095$175,6424$109,5000$0
APPLICATIONS APPROVED, NOT ACCEPTED16$173,06321$177,3810$01$146,000
APPLICATIONS DENIED4$162,25013$169,7691$90,0000$0
APPLICATIONS WITHDRAWN2$209,0006$154,5000$00$0
FILES CLOSED FOR INCOMPLETENESS2$193,0001$144,0000$00$0
Choose year:  2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999

Conventional Home Purchase Loans

Conventional Home Purchase Loans - Value

Most common first names in Pennington County, SD among deceased individuals
NameCountLived (average)
John40676.2 years
William33074.9 years
Robert31770.2 years
Mary31679.1 years
James24772.5 years
George21976.9 years
Charles21474.7 years
Helen17379.9 years
Donald16771.3 years
Richard15666.5 years
Most common last names in Pennington County, SD among deceased individuals
Last nameCountLived (average)
Johnson19677.5 years
Anderson16277.5 years
Smith12077.8 years
Brown8374.2 years
Nelson7675.6 years
Olson7480.4 years
Miller6874.3 years
Peterson6577.6 years
Williams6577.4 years
Wilson6372.9 years
Businesses in Pennington County, SD
NameCountNameCount
Ace Hardware3Lowe's1
Aeropostale1Marriott1
AmericInn1MasterBrand Cabinets8
American Eagle Outfitters1Maurices1
Applebee's1McDonald's4
Arby's4Men's Wearhouse1
Ashley Furniture1Menards1
AutoZone1Microtel1
Bath & Body Works1Motel 62
Bed Bath & Beyond1Motherhood Maternity2
Best Western5New Balance5
Blockbuster2Nike12
Budget Car Rental1Nissan1
Burger King3Office Depot1
Caribou Coffee1OfficeMax1
Carson Pirie Scott1Olive Garden1
Charlotte Russe1On The Border1
Chuck E. Cheese's1Outback1
Curves1Outback Steakhouse1
Dairy Queen7Pac Sun1
Days Inn2Papa John's Pizza2
Deb1Payless1
Decora Cabinetry1PetSmart1
Dennys1Pier 1 Imports1
DressBarn1Pizza Hut2
Dressbarn1Qdoba Mexican Grill1
Eddie Bauer1Quiznos1
Famous Footwear1RadioShack1
FedEx8Ramada1
Firestone Complete Auto Care1Red Lobster1
Foot Locker1Ruby Tuesday1
Ford1SAS Shoes1
GNC1SONIC Drive-In1
GameStop2Safeway2
Gap1Sam's Club1
Goodwill1Sears2
Gymboree1Shoe Carnival1
H&R Block3Slumberland1
Hardee's3Spencer Gifts1
Haworth1Starbucks4
Hilton1Subaru1
Hobby Lobby1Super 85
Holiday Inn5T.G.I. Driday's1
Honda1T.J.Maxx1
Hot Topic1Taco Bell2
Howard Johnson1Target1
IHOP1The Room Place1
JCPenney1Toyota1
Jimmy John's2Toys"R"Us1
Jones New York4Travelodge2
Journeys1U-Haul4
Justice1UPS12
KFC1Vans2
Kincaid1Verizon Wireless3
Kmart1Victoria's Secret1
Kohl's1Volkswagen1
Kroger3Vons2
La Quinta1Walgreens2
La-Z-Boy1Walmart1
LensCrafters1Wendy's4
Little Caesars Pizza2Wet Seal1
Long John Silver's1YMCA1

Pennington County on our top lists:

  • #2 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest Sulfur Oxides Annual air pollution readings in 2012 (µg/m3)"
  • #13 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest percentage of residents that keep firearms around their homes"
  • #16 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest Particulate Matter (PM10) Annual air pollution readings in 2012 (µg/m3)"
  • #53 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest percentage of residents that smoked 100+ cigarettes in their lives"
  • #61 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest percentage of residents relocating from foreign countries between 2010 and 2011 (pop. 50,000+)"
  • #66 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Annual air pollution readings in 2012 (µg/m3)"
  • #68 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest percentage of residents relocating to foreign countries in 2011 (pop. 50,000+)"
  • #80 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest percentage of residents that drank alcohol in the past 30 days"
  • #88 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest percentage of residents relocating to other counties in 2011 (pop. 50,000+)"
  • #89 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest percentage of residents relocating from foreign countries between 2010 and 2011"
  • #101 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the best general health status score of residents (1-5), 3 years of data"
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