2nd most populous of 66
With 115,979 residents in 2024, Pennington County ranks 2nd by population among South Dakota's 66 counties and is home to 12.5% of the state's residents.
Pennington County is home to 115,979 people (2024 estimate) on 2,777 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.
Key indicators
Population
115,979
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
109,229
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+6.2%
2020–2024
Land area
2,777 mi²
7,192 km²
Population density
41.8 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
1,366
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
1,108
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+258
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
−126
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$78,464
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$8.7 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$74,517
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
11.2%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
34.6%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
2.5%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$302,200
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
1.8%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–2024115,979▲ 31%
U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate | 115,979 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 100,948 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 88,872 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +30.5% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +50 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | −176 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 11.8 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 9.6 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in South Dakota | 2nd of 66 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $78,464 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $8.7 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $74,517 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 34.6% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $302,200 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $1,120/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 40.1 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 46,370 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 69.3% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Pennington County in context
Comparable indicators for Pennington County, South Dakota and the United States.
| Indicator | County | South Dakota | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | +6.2% | +4.3% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 11.8 | 12.2 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 9.6 | 9.4 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | -1.1 | 4.1 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 41.8 | 12.2 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $78,464 | $75,699 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $74,517 | $75,081 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 11.9% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 34.6% | 31.9% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.5% | 4.0% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $302,200 | $257,400 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $1,120/month | $946/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 40.1 years | 38.0 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 69.3% | 68.6% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Cities & towns
2 cities · choose how to order them
Rapid City
79,894 residents
Box Elder
13,100 residents
Did you know? Pennington County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 88,872 in 2000 to 115,979 in 2024, a change of +30.5%, compared with +22.3% for South Dakota as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 1,366 births and 1,108 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 258.
Record population
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population in 2024, at 115,979.
7th in density
Pennington County has about 41.8 residents per square mile of land, ranking 7th of 66 counties; South Dakota averages 12.2.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $74,517 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 24th of 66 South Dakota counties; the state median is $75,081.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $8.7 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 3rd largest among 66 South Dakota counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP grew 2.3% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — County population totals and components, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau — County estimates 2010–2020
- U.S. Census Bureau — Intercensal estimates 2000–2010
- U.S. Census Bureau — Gazetteer files (land area)
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional economic accounts
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — LAUS