How Convienient is Rapid City? (Sioux Falls, Florence: crime, house, job market)

[jkrhodes]

Hi, all!

My wife and I are planning a trip to Rapid City this September for a vacation and possible future relocation. We would like to know if, since Rapid City is so far from any other major cities, are the stores well-stocked so that you can find the things you want or need? We live near a city of about 40,000 population in SE Arizona and frequently have to travel to Tucson (about 80 miles) to find general items such as a decent pair of shoes or whatnot. We were up in the Black Hills briefly several years ago and we both loved the area (very scenic). Also, how is the work situation up there? I work as a water treatment plant operator (drinking water) and my wife is an associate at Wal-Mart.

[AZheat]

I live in Tucson and haven't migrated to Rapid yet but in doing my research, Rapid has or will have all the major stores (big box) that we do here in Tucson. Cost of living appears to be much less than in Tucson and so is housing, utilities, etc.

According to a recent newspaper publication, some of the major future retail developments claim to have commitments from Bed Bath and Beyond, Home Depot and Sam's Club. Rushmore Crossings claims to have tenants including Dillards, Target and B&N. Some scheduled to open fall of 08. Walmart has a Supercenter and a Sam's club in town already. When I was last at the Rushmore Mall it wasn't bad.

I've been getting the paper for a month now (The Rapid City Journal) and the job market looks decent. Funny thing is pay seems as low there as it does here in Tucson only our cost of living is way higher.

May I ask what city you live in close to Tucson?

[jkrhodes]

Thanks for the information on Rapid City. I live in Hereford, just south of Sierra Vista. I know the winters are a lot colder there than here but they seem to be much milder than the surrounding country. One of the reasons we're thinking of moving up north is that we're getting tired of this out of control border situation. We live exactly 7.2 miles north of the border and hardly a day goes by without the border patrol helicopters flying over our house or their vehicles flying down our street at 80+ mph. A while back while hiking in the mountains near our home my wife and I came face to face with about 25 illegal border crossers on a narrow mountain trail. I know the illegal problem is nationwide but nowhere have I seen it more evident than down here.

[DannyBanany]

Hello jkrhodes!

I live in Rapid City and I find it to be a very convenient mid-size city with warm people and everything you need.

Some of the "big-box" stores in the area are: Target, Wal-Mart, Sams, Herbergers, JC Penney, Sears, ShopKo, Office Depot, Office Max, Menards, Lowes, K-Mart, Kohls and many more will be coming soon because we are building a new mall!

The new mall should have a Dillards, Bed Bath and Beyond, Home Depot, Cabellas, and a remodeled Scheels. We also have many specialty stores such as Hobby Lobby, Toys-R-Us, Borders, Pier One, etc....

Which restaurants do you like? We have many chain restaurants: Outback, Fridays, Chilis, Olive Garden, etc.... and we have many private ones in the downtown area that are even better!

I can always find what I need in Rapid City, but it often takes a trip to Denver or Sioux Falls to find something that you really WANT. However, it is only a 5 hour drive to either city and it is nice to get out of Rapid City every once in a while!

Take a tour when you and your family come to Rapid City and enjoy your stay in the Black Hills!

[AZheat]

JkRhodes.....yup the problems down here are getting much worse. Border patrol is now staked out north of Tucson on the way to Florence. It's become a favorite route for smuggles of illegals. Crime is getting really bad.

I'm originally from MN so the winters in Rapid will be much milder than MN. The Hills are beautiful and Rapid is a nice midwestern town. Not too big, not too small.

If you'd like more insight - one AZer to another - private message me and I'd be happy to discuss it further.

Good luck!!

[jkrhodes]

Thanks for the information, DannyBanany & AZheat. It sounds like a great, self-contained mid-sized city-not too big & not too small! And I think it's far enough from the border to suit us. I really appreciate both of your replies.

[Jammie]

JK and AZ, welcome to So. Dak!!! You'll be living in a beautiful area! As far as the things you're concerned about~you won't have any of those problems here. Incidents have occured, but I think you'll find it to be a totally different world.

One positive is that it's good to hear the border patrol is hard at work. That may be the only thing that will prevent So. Dak from some day being over run, too.

[jkrhodes]

Thanks, Jammie. I don't fault the border patrol as much as I do our leaders for the border problem. We look forward to visiting the Black Hills again this September.