Living in Pierre? (Sioux Falls, Rapid City: rental, houses, unemployment rate)

[no8fann]

Anyone out there care to tell me the pros and cons of living in Pierre? This is not my first choice of a location in the state, but it, with a bizarre twist of irony, seems to be the most likely of the offers I have available at this point.

I have only visited there once as a small child, so I don't recall much about the area. I want to be able to make an informed decision about whether or not I would be comfortable accepting the job and living in the area, should it come to that point. I don't want to make a decision I will regret.

[Chris19]

Pierre is a town where people either like or do not care for. It depends on your personality and stage in life. It is not an easy place to life if you are right out of college and single. If you are married or with someone else, it will be easier.

If you like hunting or the outdoors, then Pierre will be a great places. For those who can get by with the basics and do not mind making the three hour drive to Sioux Falls or Rapid City once a month, then you will do fin.

The city has many good features but has some downfalls. I will list what comes to my mind.

Pros:
Good park system for size of the city.
State parks
Plenty of options for churches (and most are very welcoming)
Clean city overall
Quiet
A few good local restaurants (the chinese restaurant downtown and the steakhouses) Cannot forget Zestos.
Good hunting and fishing
Has the basics (super wal-mart, k-mart, jc penney's, couple grocery stores, fast food, etc.)
Drier climate
Low unemployment rate
With the capitol, river, and regional city status, it has potential for progress in the future.

Cons:
Can get brown and very hot in the summer
Three hours from Sioux Falls or Rapid City
Very open out in the country (not many trees)
Deer in town, have to look out for them even when driving in town
Selection of rental units (good ones go very quick and the choice is iffy at best).
Can be clicky at times (but there are great people too)

I have lived there for a year and the area was not for me, but know that Pierre was a good fit for other people I know. It is not a terrible place by any means, but its location and quirks make it a place that a newcomer either love or hate. I would recommend visiting Pierre before moving there.

[Chris19]

There is a new software company moving to Pierre and will create quite a few new and decent paying jobs that will likely attract a younger contingent to Pierre. I hope that Pierre businesses and leaders use this as an opportunity to cater to this group and enhance the community. This opportunity may open up more opportunities in the future. Many leaders are realizing this and making steps to capitalize on the opportunity. It would a good thing to have more 20 somethings in Pierre and the vibe that comes with it. The enhancement of downtown and the community as a whole will allow it to attract other prospective employers and residents.

[Jammie]

Pierre is a nice town~clean, friendly, pretty. The nice thing about it is that it's along the river. The only thing I don't like about it is that it seems so remote and isolated, but we have a lot of towns like that.

[no8fann]

Okay, thanks for the input so far!

What about being single-parent friendly? I know the demographics show that there are a fair percentage of households this way, but I know a lot of smaller communities frown on it. I don't want to live someplace that makes me and my daughter uncomfortable because of our situation. It's not like I will be sitting on welfare and collecting from the state!

Also, does anyone have any specific input about the schools? Are there any private ones? How does the program in the public schools rate overall in the state?

Is there a mall? I know shopping sounds pretty limited compared to what I am used to, but hey, that's what online shopping is for!

[debey]

There is a small mall. JCpenny's. kmart, Maurices?, are in the mall. A couple of thrift stores. One is volunteer, with procedes going to the Hospice.(My favorite thrift store, everything is clean, not much ''junk'')

Pierre School District

there is a Catholic school, thru 5th grade. St Joseph School

Ft Pierre...
Stanley County School District

[Jammie]

No one will frown on a single parent family up here anymore. They might have 30 years ago, but it's not that uncommon now.

[no8fann]

That's good to know. I figured that was the case for Rapid or SF, but I wasn't sure about Pierre.

[Chris19]

I knew of quite a few single parent families in Pierre. It is common to have quite a few in cities Pierre's size (14,000 or so).

[rjl78]

Pierre is a friendly single parent town. Also 3 hour drive to Rapid or Sioux Falls. Its not a bad town, Its not my favorite town.