Rapid City looking to grow up rather than out

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - When talking about Rapid City’s population, the 2.24% increase from 2022 is an indicator that the area is still growing at a steady rate.

That rate indicates that between 2022 and 2023, the city went from 80,611 people to an estimated 82,418 people living in Rapid City.

CONTEXT: Rapid City population sees growth

City officials indicated this kind of growth is healthy, and to keep these steady numbers from highly impacting the already established city infrastructure, they say a focus on a different direction of growth can be seen.

“We just want to have smart growth. I think it’s the best way to look at it; we want to make sure we’re building in and up and not building too far out, not taxing the city’s already very large infrastructure system,” Rapid City’s long-range planner Kelly Brennan explained.

While the 2023 year didn’t break any records when talking about population increase in the area, it was however the biggest year in building permits.

RELATED: Record-breaking year for Rapid City’s 2023 building permits

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