City's Population Now Estimated Over 82,400

Rapid City’s population is now estimated at 82,418, an impressive 2.24 percent increase from the previous year.

            Each year, the City’s Long Range Planning Division prepares a population estimate for Rapid City, utilizing data including approved building permits, housing demolitions, the 2020 Census occupancy rate and the 2020 Census persons per household rate for Rapid City and Pennington County.  The methodology is approved by the United States Census Bureau.

            Based on the data, City officials estimate Rapid City’s population at the end of 2023 at 82,418, an increase over the estimate of 80,611 for the City’s population at the end of 2022.  Using the population estimates, from the end of 2023, Rapid City has grown by more than 7,700 people since 2020.

            “The data reflects continued solid growth in the community,” said City Long Range Planner Kelly Brennan.  “We make these projections based on the available data and the estimates assist City leaders and department staff as we make plans for the future. The information is helpful in determining projected growth as it relates to infrastructure, community planning, transportation, housing and other areas in terms of policies, guidelines and planning.”

POPULATION ESTIMATES

2023: 82,418

2022: 80,611

2021: 78,159

2020:  74,703