Honest view of Rapid City needed! (Brookings, Spearfish: motel, job market, transfer)

[Posey35]

I'm just trying to get some information about Rapid City, SD. How clean is it? In other words, do people know how to use trash cans or is it like it is here in Pensacola, Fl and they just throw it out the window? Good cops or criminals with a badge? We had a sheriff here for 8 years that had a criminal record. I've had enough of dirty cops. Do you have "Sunday Chistians" or people who are christains 7 days a week? I'm talking about people who treat others like they want to be treated, not pretend religious nuts like we have here in Pensacola, FL. They drag their families to church on Sunday to impress others, but that's where it ends. I'd like to live among people who have common sense. Here in Pensacola they have no idea what common sense is. It seems like a society based on violence here. I guess if you don't have the education to talk about problems you turn to violence. I'm tired of it. I'm tired of having to deadbolt my doors when I'm home. Tired of having to carry a gun damn near everywhere I go. I'm just looking for an honest view of Rapid City, good or bad. I would just like to hear the truth.

[Jammie]

Posey, the frustration with your area shows through your posts and I'm sorry things aren't going well there.

Here's my take on RC and I'm actually an outsider. I live 3 and a half hours away from there, but I'm a lifelong South Dakotan so take it for what it's worth.

Rapid City is in a beautiful area. Their job market used to be horrible, but it's improved greatly, but they're feeling a bit of the slump now. We're used to VERY low unemployment rates in our state, but we've climbed and I'm still talking about half of what Fla. is.

RC isn't the cleanest city in the state. It's not dirty by any means either. It's more of a western-type city in some ways. I have been to several parts of Fla. and a few areas of the South and I'll just say there is NO comparison as far as cleanliness is concerned. I cringe at some of the roadsides and some of the moldy, dirty motel rooms in areas we've visited in your direction. The rivers, lakes, waterfalls, streams are crystal clear in the Hills~very unlike the dirtier waters you'll find in several areas of the country. I've often seen workers picking up trash along roadsides and that's rare here because MOST people don't litter. You asked and I answered and now for the barrage of insults from people who live in other areas of the country. But it's an honest evaluation.

As far as religion~many of us are religious and go to church. Our state is considered to be very religious statistically. But I also think many of us classify ourselves as Spiritual. We may not make it to church every Sunday, but we do care about how we treat others and try to show respect toward people. Of course, that can't be said for 100% of our population and RC would be no different.

Many of the people here are very down to earth and I know several people who are quite well to do, but you'll rarely pick them out because many aren't pretentious or haughty. I know you catch my drift.

As far as law enforcement~very rarely is there a case where someone who is a state trooper, county sheriff, police officer, etc. are labeled as corrupt. Again, I think the majority of them are honest, hard-working people who have a conscience.

There is a HUGE difference between our areas. Don't misunderstand me~I think the beach and the palm trees of Fla. are just beautiful, but I do understand a bit about what you are asking.

[DannyBanany]

Posey, I've lived in Rapid City all my life and I've never heard of a "bad cop". I think most cops here are just normal average Joes just trying to keep order and safety. The last "bad cop" I heard about was some trooper that got a DUI but then quietly resigned. I've never heard of a cop being a drug lord or anything like that!

Rapid City is pretty clean too. I've heard that it used to be really dirty back in the late 80s and early 90s but I was too young to really remember. Compared to many places I've visited, it's downright immaculate! However, it has dirty parts too. The Northside has some sketchy areas and then there are a couple industrial parks here and there. Nothing like a "ghetto" though. I'd say the prettiest cities in SD are Spearfish, Hot Springs, Brookings, then Rapid City. It's VERY scenic here. Just browse some pics I've posted and you'll see that.

Religion is kind of a live-and-let-live thing here. If you're religious/spiritual I'm fine with that. If not, that's fine too. I grew up Catholic and went to Catholic school and I didn't turn out to be a Bible hugger or even a very spiritual person. I never feel uncomfortable discussing religion or politics with anyone I meet here either. Keep in mind, most South Dakotans are Conservative Christians. It's easy to find an Agnostic, Athiest, Liberal, or Socialist too. Rapid City also has a fairly sizeable gay population and alternative vibe. We're more Western but I think we take art, history, and culture very seriously because our area has so much of each.

All in all, most people are very down to earth and no one really buys the "keeping up with the Jones's" lifestyle. I always joke that a tee shirt and jeans flies just about anywhere out here!

[AJTucson]

Hi Posey! I can't really comment now on how RC looks, but I can relate (sadly) to your post on another note. I've written posts asking if common decency exists in SD, a graffiti question post, and really any other question prompted by the continuous rude/ridiculous things that happen here (AZ). So you can see that I really do feel your pain.

I don't know if you are being transferred or what, but if you are like us and just looking for a good clean place to live with people who know how to behave and have respect for themselves and others (AND their property AND the property of others), I can tell you that after months of reading this forum and the few weeks we have posted, we are going to take a trip up and visit and just confirm these things ourselves. Not that I don't believe the people posting, I do, but nothing like seeing for yourself (plus, I need a break from this insanity here!!) Anyway, I am sure you thought of that yourself as well - just wanted to mention that your post is very easy to relate to.

[tommyp1]

Posey: I just left RC earlier in the year. I travel and thus used it as a 'base camp.' My take: Hyped as the "West river" of SD and 2nd by census in the state. Mostly a lot of farmers/ranchers (many old), so not much communicating with city types. Politics: redneck, guns, pu trucks. Alcohol: lots (mostly American Indian) and the jail is always full (so they say). Not much leadership from Mayor Hanks and his gang except for the man who lost to him in the runoff: Sam Koecker (Quaker). It's not bicycle friendly (but I think it's trying to be), esp. since someone threw their chinese dinner out of their car at me on East Blvd. Weather: can fluctuate as much as 40-50 degrees due to the "chinooks." Otherwise very cold in Winter, and yes it blows a whole lot all year! The Black Hills, being the oldest mtns. in the U.S. are beautiful, but the Indians still own them, and wouldn't give a speck of "dust" to the Feds in exchange for the billion with interest offered to them. Tim Giagos thinks however they should take the money and enhance their lives in RC. I ditto that. After 3 years, I became bored, along with the beginning 'sprawl': a Cabello added East of RC out on I90--now how are the minimum wage people (employees) gonna get out there? Another 'car dependent' debacle! Good luck and thanks.

[Jammie]

The Black Hills National Forest is owned by the Federal Govt.

[DannyBanany]

Indians own the Black Hills??? Rapid City's not bicycle friendly??? We have very cold winters???

I think you're confused. The Black Hills National Forest is not owned by any Native American tribe. They haven't been since reservations were set up in the 1800s.

Very cold winters? Aren't you from Austin, MN? I think you guys have got us beat there. Rapid City has pretty mild winters as a matter of fact. Not warm by any means, but definitely not frigid.

Not bicycle friendly? There's an entire greenway that goes through the entire city. It's faster to take the bike path to work than drive in your car. 5th Street also has a bike path running along it. As does Kansas City Street. Cowboy Hills is now a terrain of bike and jogging paths that was donated to the city. I see tons of cyclists everyday. East Boulevard probably isn't the best spot in town to ride a bike either... there are no sidewalks and it's busy.

No city types? Rapid City has more museums, and theater showings than any other city in the Dakotas. It's definitely easy to find culture in Rapid City. What do you do in Austin, MN???

Sprawl??? I thought you had to be a city to have sprawl. According to you, Rapid City's a ranch hand truck stop in the middle of Indian-owned country.

[rjl78]

Originally Posted by tommyp1

Posey: I just left RC earlier in the year. I travel and thus used it as a 'base camp.' My take: Hyped as the "West river" of SD and 2nd by census in the state. Mostly a lot of farmers/ranchers (many old), so not much communicating with city types. Politics: redneck, guns, pu trucks. Alcohol: lots (mostly American Indian) and the jail is always full (so they say). Not much leadership from Mayor Hanks and his gang except for the man who lost to him in the runoff: Sam Koecker (Quaker). It's not bicycle friendly (but I think it's trying to be), esp. since someone threw their chinese dinner out of their car at me on East Blvd. Weather: can fluctuate as much as 40-50 degrees due to the "chinooks." Otherwise very cold in Winter, and yes it blows a whole lot all year! The Black Hills, being the oldest mtns. in the U.S. are beautiful, but the Indians still own them, and wouldn't give a speck of "dust" to the Feds in exchange for the billion with interest offered to them. Tim Giagos thinks however they should take the money and enhance their lives in RC. I ditto that. After 3 years, I became bored, along with the beginning 'sprawl': a Cabello added East of RC out on I90--now how are the minimum wage people (employees) gonna get out there? Another 'car dependent' debacle! Good luck and thanks.

Do you utter "I reject your reality and substitute my own?"

Lets see how many miles of bike path are in Rapid City? - its not bike friendly.

The Black Hills, - wait, the government in 1979 via a supreme court ruling could pay the Sioux Tribes for the land. They have refused payment. While we are on the topic of Sioux they were in the country after white man stepped onto this country. They forced the Arikara out who were here for many generations.

Umm. Farming and Ranching are a major part of the economy in the state. Its the number one industry in this state.

Sorry Rapid was not your thing, and that is fine. But your assessment seems to be a bit off.

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by DannyBanany

Indians own the Black Hills??? Rapid City's not bicycle friendly??? We have very cold winters???

I think you're confused. The Black Hills National Forest is not owned by any Native American tribe. They haven't been since reservations were set up in the 1800s.

Very cold winters? Aren't you from Austin, MN? I think you guys have got us beat there. Rapid City has pretty mild winters as a matter of fact. Not warm by any means, but definitely not frigid.

Not bicycle friendly? There's an entire greenway that goes through the entire city. It's faster to take the bike path to work than drive in your car. 5th Street also has a bike path running along it. As does Kansas City Street. Cowboy Hills is now a terrain of bike and jogging paths that was donated to the city. I see tons of cyclists everyday. East Boulevard probably isn't the best spot in town to ride a bike either... there are no sidewalks and it's busy.

No city types? Rapid City has more museums, and theater showings than any other city in the Dakotas. It's definitely easy to find culture in Rapid City. What do you do in Austin, MN???

Sprawl??? I thought you had to be a city to have sprawl. According to you, Rapid City's a ranch hand truck stop in the middle of Indian-owned country.

**** me off to no end. Tried to give you a point or two, didn't happen.

Danny, you are so write. I grew up in Rapid. Way before your time. But it really hasn't faltered through the years.

Let's talk about the Baha Sapa. Woops, the soiux coming out in me. The Black hills have provided the most beautiful area for people to come visit. If you don't believe so, try the "Black Hills Ralley". If it don't do it for you, nothing will. Jammie will chomp me for this. But that's ok. The Black Hill's have provided the best entertainment that the hills have ever Know. I lived in the Bh for years. Had every endevour. I loved them. I was borned and raised just 3 miles from the faces. Never went to see them. They was just hill's behind the house. But I've learned that they were more. Much more. But it took years to learn that.

EH

[ashnat]

Just have one thing to add, as far as cleanliness goes....

What do you think of trailers? If you find them "dirty" there are thousands of them in the RC area. I do find them "dirty" and can't stand them. I think it brings down the beauty of the area. After 5 years I am "used to" them now, but still can't stand them. Where I come from, they're surrounded by 8 feet tall wooden fences, here they're just all over the place.

Other than that, the RC area is well kept and beautified, nobody does anything about the Valley tho.