Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 15 h 31 min5:08 am – 8:39 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 8 h 52 min7:24 am – 4:16 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People12,221 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 32.14,547 householdsMedian household income $74,885Median home value $317,300Median rent $1,374 a month60% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $3,676 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting5.0% unemployment rate75% of adults are in the labour force, 5,952 employedMain industries: education and health care 29%, construction 14%, retail 12%Average commute 23 minutes79% drive alone, 11% car-pool, 7% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages26% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher92% finished high school, 6% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 97%, Spanish 2%, other languages 1%2% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 86°F, lows 59°FColdest month January: highs 35°F, lows 12°F18 in of rain a year, on about 42 dayswettest month May56 in of snow a year, on about 24 days33 days above 90°F, 166 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Hereford 12 Sw station, 9 mi away
Nearby landmarksNational American University - Ellsworth AFB Extensioncollege · 7.5 miCostello Pointcape · 7.1 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsCurlew Lakestate recreation area · 11.0 mi · 440 acresNew Underwood Damstate conservation land · 11.1 mi · 156 acresTisdale Lakestate recreation area · 15.7 mi · 159 acresBlack Hills National Forestnational forest · 18.0 mi · 1,075,125 acresBadlands National Parknational park · 38.3 mi · 111,331 acresWind Cave National Parknational park · 46.0 mi · 33,927 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes4 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19700 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 3.7 on 6 Feb 199640 mi away, near Hill City, South DakotaMost recent: magnitude 3.6 on 9 Mar 202541 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowPennington County, SD, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsHail Relatively HighWinter weather Relatively HighLightning Relatively HighIce storm Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality77% of days had good air in 2025282 of 364 days measured81 moderate, 1 unhealthy for sensitive groups daysMedian index 32, worst day 107main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, Pennington County monitors, SD
Internet at home92% of households have a broadband subscription80% have cable, fibre or DSL7% rely on a mobile data plan alone2% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterBox Elderserves 14,000 people from ground water9 health-based violations since 2021latest Jul 2025: gross alpha radiation, maximum contaminant levelSource: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the ZIP area
Elevation2,961 ft903 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalMonument Health Rapid City Hospital16.6 miPost officeBox Elder Post Office7.7 miTown hallBox Elder City Hall7.6 miPoliceBox Elder Police Department7.6 miFire stationEllsworth Air Force Base Fire Department7.7 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 miNo schools listedCollegeNational American University - Ellsworth AFB Extension7.5 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportRapid City Regional Airport RAP13 miInterstateI-908.3 miUS highwayUS 148.3 miCoachRapid CityJefferson Lines15 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 57719 ZIP area.
