RAPID CITY,
SOUTH DAKOTA
City Population:
67,956
State Population:
824,082
Calvin Coolidge Statue
Governor: Dennis
Daugaard (R)
Senator: Tim Johnson (D),
John Thune (R)
Representatives: Kristy
Noem (R) At-large
D
Rapid City is the second largest city in the state of South
Dakota. Named after the Rapid Creek on which the city
is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the
Black Hills mountain range. Rapid City is known as the
"Gateway to the Black Hills" and the "Star of the West".
The city is divided by a mountain range that splits the
western and eastern parts of the city into two. Rapid
City's "Westside" is located in the Red Valley between
the foothills of the Black Hills proper and the Dakota
Hogback. The Central and Eastern portions of Rapid
Creek lie in the wide valley of Rapid Creek outside the
Hogback, which includes a number of mesas rising a
hundred feet above the floodplain.
Rapid City’s economy is diverse, but has only a
moderate amount of industry. Heavy and medium
industrial activities include a Portland cement plant (a
chipboard manufacturing plant owned by Merillat
Industries, Black Hills Ammunition an ammunition and
reloading supplies manufacturing company, several
custom sawmills, a lime plant, a computer peripheral
component manufacturing plant, and several farm and
ranch equipment manufacturers. The largest sector of
the Rapid City economy is government services,
including local, state, and federal. Major employers
include Ellsworth Air Force Base, Army National Guard
based at Camp Rapid and various federal agencies
Cleveland
Skyline
including the National Park
Service,
US Forest Service,
and Indian Health Service.
Downtown Rapid City
RAPID CITY, SD
Accommodations:
Black Hills Cabin
Local coordinators:
Dan and Becky Schenk
Thursday, June 28
Arrivals
You will be met at the airport by Dan to then drive to his Black Hills Cabin
Friday, June 29 – Monday, July 2
Casual attire
While in South Dakota, Fellows will be staying in Dan and Becky Schenk’s beautiful, scenic Black Hills cabin, about one hour
drive from Rapid City. Once there, over the next few days, Fellows will tour the Black Hills, see Mt. Rushmore, the Shrine of
Democracy, and meet with the Native Americans. They will explore life and culture in South Dakota, agriculture, tourism, and
how government functions in a vast and sparsely populated area. Meetings with locals of all political stripes are included and
Fellows will have a chance to learn more about the American gun culture and the importance of the 2nd Amendment.
Tuesday, July 3
Departures
Please consult the flight manifest.
PLEASE COMPLETE THE ONLINE EVALUATION FOR THIS CITY!
Do you want to write about your experience for the MMF newsletter?
Send your contribution to: [email protected]