Black Hills & Badlands Region, SD Land for Sale

South Dakota's Black Hills and Badlands region covers much of the western portion of the state, bordering North Dakota to the north, Nebraska to the south and Montana and Wyoming to the west. The Black Hills are a small, isolated mountain range which stretches from the Great Plains in western South Dakota and extending into Wyoming. The Badlands feature jagged cliffs, deep canyons and sharp buttes and mixed grass prairie. The largest city in the region is Rapid City, the second largest city in the state, with other important cities being Spearfish, Belle Fourche, Lead, Sturgis, Hot Springs, Lead, White River and Deadwood.

Primary industries in the region are agriculture, tourism, mining, logging and professional services/retail. Ellsworth Air Force Base is in the region and employs a large number in the Rapid City area, the largest employer in the state. Cattle and sheep production dominate the agricultural scene in the region, with packing meat and meat byproducts and small grain production as well. Healthcare is also a strong sector, with more than 8,000 people in the Black Hills region employed at major health care organizations. Other top industries of employment are construction companies, rock quarries, steel fabrication firms and trucking firms. Additional goods produced include computer components, jewelry, cement, processed foods, steel products, printing and wood products. Rapid City is at the center of tourism in the region, within close distance to some of the most famous national park areas, offering a variety of restaurants, large annual events and attractions and more than 4,400 hotel/motel rooms and many modern campgrounds. Higher education institutions in the region include Black Hills State University, National American University ? Ellsworth AFB Extension, National American University ? Rapid City, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and Western Dakota Technical Institute.

There are around 10 protected areas in the Black Hills and Badlands region, with some of the most notable being Badlands National Park, 244,000 acres with the largest protected mixed grass prairie in the United States, and includes the 64,000-acre Badlands Wilderness Area. It also includes Badlands National Monument, where the Oglala Sioux Tribe held Ghost Dances in the 1890s. The world's richest Oligocene epoch fossil beds are located in the park, dating 23 to 35 million years ago. Black Hills National Forest, featuring hills thickly covered with pine trees, rugged rock formations, canyons and gulches, open grassland parks, streams, lakes and unique caves. There are 11 reservoirs, 30 campgrounds, 1,300 miles of streams, 13,600 acres of wilderness and 450 miles of trails. Custer State Park, also in the Black Hills, features 71,000 acres of beautiful terrain and an abundance of wildlife. Wind Cave National Park has one of the world's longest and most complex caves and 28,000 acres of mixed- grass prairie, ponderosa pine forest and a variety of wildlife including bison, elk, pronghorn, mule deer, coyotes and prairie dogs. Wind Cave is over 300 million years old, making it one of the oldest in the world. Mount Rushmore National Monument represents the first 150 years of American history, with the faces of the founding fathers carved into the mountainside. Other attractions in the region include Black Elk Peak, the highest point in the U.S. east of the Rockies, Custer State Park, the largest state park in South Dakota, the Crazy Horse Memorial, the largest sculpture in the world, Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, the world's largest mammoth research facility and Devils Tower National Monument, the first national monument.

Lawrence County is located in the west-central part of the South Dakota's Black Hills and Badlands region, and borders Wyoming to the west. It is named for John Lawrence, who was the county's first treasurer in 1877. Spearfish is the largest city and Deadwood is the county seat. Lead is another large city in the county, and there are less than 15 other cities, census-designated places and unincorporated communities. The largest employment industries in the county are construction, education services, healthcare and social assistance. Agriculture is also a top industry, with livestock being the primary product, with 70% of farmland in the county devoted to pastureland for livestock. The county ranked second in the state for vegetables, melons, potatoes and sweet potatoes, and sixth in the state for aquaculture. Black Hills State University is in the county, with 4,500 students enrolled. Part of the Black Hills National Forest is in the county. Deadwood is a National Historic Landmark, with the haunts of legendary figures such as Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. Spearfish is located at the mouth of idyllic Spearfish Canyon, a National Scenic Byway. Lead is a city in the Black Hills, surrounded by Ponderosa pine forests, trout streams and beautiful mountain meadows. The county features two major downhill ski areas, miles of cross- country and snowmobile trails, mountain climbing, hunting, fishing and golfing.

Fall River County is located in the southwestern corner of the Black Hills and Badlands region, bordering Wyoming to the west and Nebraska to the south. It is named for Fall River, which runs through the county. Hot Springs is the largest city and the county seat, and there is one other city, one town, four unincorporated communities, three townships and two unorganized territories. Top industries in the county are healthcare and social assistance, accommodations and food service, related to tourism in the county, educational services, public administration and agriculture, forestry and fishing. Livestock accounts for a large portion of the agriculture, and more than 90% of farmland in the county is devoted to pastureland. Part of Black Hills National Forest and Buffalo Gap National Grassland are located in the county. Wind Cave National Park is also a major attraction in the county. Some other points of interest in the county include the world's largest mammoth research facility with an active archeological dig site, the Wild Horse Sanctuary, Evans Plunge, an all-natural, spring-fed swimming pool, the Pioneer Museum, Southern Hills Golf Course, rated the #1 Resort Course in South Dakota by Golf Digest, and Trout Haven Ranch.

Pennington County is also in the west-central part of the Black Hills and Badlands region, bordering Wyoming to the west. It is the second most populated and the third largest county in the state. It is named for John L. Pennington, fifth Governor of Dakota Territory. Rapid City is the largest city and the county seat, other cities are Box Elder, Hill City and New Underwood, and there are around 20 other towns, census-designated places and unincorporated communities. The county is also divided into 20 townships and there are seven unorganized territories. Primary industries in the county are agriculture, tourism, mining, logging and professional services/retail. Ellsworth Air Force Base contributes greatly to the economy as well. Primary agricultural products are cattle and sheep, meat and meat products, and small grains. There are several higher education institutions in the county, including National American University - Ellsworth AFB Extension, National American University ? Rapid City, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Western Dakota Technical Institute. Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Black Elk Peak, South Dakota's highest mountain, part of Badlands National Park, Black Hills National Forest, Buffalo Gap National Grassland and Minutemen Missile National Historic Site are located in Pennington County. Some other attractions include Museum of Geology, The Journey Museum and Learning Center, Black Hills Caverns, Call of the Wild Museum, Palmer Gulch Horst Drawn Wagon Ride and Cowboy Supper, Reptile Gardens, three gaming resorts/casinos and eight golf courses.