Rapid City is the county seat of Pennington County South Dakota, which was founded by gold miners in 1876. The county was created in 1875 during the gold rush and was named for John L. Pennington, governor of the Dakota Territory from January 1874 to May 1878. Historians tell us that in February 1876, Mr. John Brennan and a group of unsuccessful miners left the gold fields and headed for the eastern edge of the Black Hills. They stopped in the area where Rapid Creek spilled down out of the hills. Their combined goal was to "mine the miners", by serving their need for supplies and feed for their livestock. Life was perilous during the early months because the local Indians were not happy with the new settlement and raided it several times. The mountainous portion of Pennington County lies within the Black Hills National Forest. There you will find fine scenic highways and beautiful places to camp, hike, fish, climb, ski and snowmobile. The Black Hills National Forest is in a portion of five western counties - the largest portion being in Pennington County. Harney Peak, located in the Black Hills is the highest mountain between the Rocky Mountains and the Alps at 7,242 feet. Eighteen other peaks in the Black Hills rise above 7000 feet. In this area miners found most of the gold, silver, copper, feldspar, tin and quartz (South Dakota's state gem) that brought the first settlers. In 1874 General George Armstrong Custer led his expedition to the Black Hills (called Paha Sapa by the Indians) to keep trespassers out of the Sioux reservation. However, the soldiers found traces of gold that precipitated the Gold Rush of 1875-76. Out of the gold fever rush of 1876 grew the oldest town in Pennington County, Hill City.
Public transportation: Crime:- The number of violent crimes recorded by the FBI in 2003 was 242.
- The number of murders and homicides was 0.
- The violent crime rate was 4 per 1,000 people.
Rapid City Police
Pennington County
Equal Housing Opportunity.
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