Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 15 h 29 min5:09 am – 8:38 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 8 h 53 min7:23 am – 4:17 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 86°F, lows 59°FColdest month January: highs 36°F, lows 13°F17 in of rain a year, on about 41 dayswettest month May49 in of snow a year, on about 33 days32 days above 90°F, 174 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Rapid City Rgnl Ap station, 3 mi away
Nearby landmarksBrennan Hillpeak · 5.2 miRapid City Branch Black Hills State Universitycollege · 8.2 miWestern Dakota Technical Collegecollege · 8.4 miThompson Buttepeak · 6.6 miFarmingdale Reservoirreservoir · 9.0 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsStar Of The West Sports Complexrecreation area · 8.1 mi · 57 acresMinnesota Street Parkpark · 8.3 miBlack Hills National Forestnational forest · 11.6 mi · 1,075,125 acresNew Underwood Damstate conservation land · 11.9 mi · 156 acresBuffalo Gap National Grasslandnational grassland · 15.9 mi · 586,971 acresCuster State Parkstate park · 20.7 mi · 70,462 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes6 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19700 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 3.7 on 6 Feb 199634 mi away, near Hill City, South DakotaMost recent: magnitude 3.6 on 9 Mar 202526 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
Drinking waterRapid Cityserves 72,009 people from surface waterNo health-based violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation2,961 ft903 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalMonument Health Rapid City Hospital9.8 miPost officeCaputa Post Office3.2 miTown hallBox Elder City Hall9.0 miPoliceBox Elder Police Department9.0 miFire stationRapid City Fire Department - Station 82.6 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 miNo schools listedCollegeRapid City Branch Black Hills State University8.2 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportRapid City Regional Airport RAP2.9 miInterstateI-908.0 miUS highwayUS 16 Byp6.9 miCoachRapid CityJefferson Lines11 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 57709 ZIP area.
