Pennington County, South Dakota
Pennington County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 109,222, making it the second most populous county in South Dakota. Its county seat is Rapid City. The county was created in 1875, and was organized in 1877. It is named for John L. Pennington, fifth Governor of Dakota Territory, who held office in 1875 when the county was formed.
Pennington County Courthouse in Rapid City
Extinct Mesohippus horse, found in Pennington County, on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science
Rapid City is the second most populous city in South Dakota after Sioux Falls and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek, where the settlement developed, it is in western South Dakota, on the Black Hills' eastern slope. The population was 74,703 as of the 2020 census.
Image: Rapid City Skyline (2022)
Image: Journey Museum and Learning Center
Image: Dahl Arts Center Rapid City
Image: Rapid City Public Library (2022)