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If you've ever read Pierre's Capital Journal Crime and Courts page, then you know what many South Dakotans already know: this Midwest state has some pretty dangerous places, too.
Do we think it's because the flatlanders are bored? Jobs are scarce? Low wages? Yes, all three and then some. So, it would be in your best interest to take a look below at RoadSnacks' list of the most dangerous places in South Dakota for 2022 before you make any life changing decisions.
How'd we determine the most dangerous places in The Mount Rushmore State? We consulted the numbers. In total, we analyzed 29 cities. We looked at the FBI's latest crime report for violent crime and property crime statistics for every place with over 2,000 residents. We discovered that South Dakota has some pretty interesting statistics when it comes to violent and property crime compared to the national average. South Dakota is winning the arson game, but losing in murder and aggravated assault. And, shockingly, the city with the most assaults and murders in the state has less than 3,000 residents.
While South Dakota was not in the top ten most dangerous states in America, it does have plenty of cities that should have made the most dangerous cities in the country's list. Maybe these cities need more police presence? We're not entirely sure. But one thing we do know is that you should check out South Dakota's most dangerous places below: there may be some surprises.
The Most Dangerous Cities In South Dakota For 2022
It's not lost on us that many of South Dakota's cheapest places are also the state's most dangerous--this is usually how it works. And this is definitely what is happening in South Dakota's number one most dangerous city: rent is cheap, jobs are scarce, and crime is high.
So, where is the most dangerous place in South Dakota for 2022? That would be, Rapid City.
If you want to know where the rest of the most dangerous places in South Dakota are located, take a look at the list below; and if you don't find what you're looking for there, head to the bottom.
Learn more about the safest places in South Dakota.
If you're looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
For more South Dakota reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In South Dakota
- Cheapest Places To Live In South Dakota
- Most Dangerous Cities In South Dakota
The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In South Dakota For 2022
Rapid City represents one of the population centers in South Dakota. With 78,492 inhabitants, it comes in at number 2.0 in terms of most people in the state. Moreover, Rapid City is well situated as a home base for some of the area's biggest attractions, with places likeMount Rushmore and Deadwood located relatively nearby.
While it might serve as a tourist spot, travelers to Rapid City should stay cautious during their trip. The city ranks as the most dangerous place to live in the state. It reported 673 violent crimes during a year, including 108 rapes and 13 murders. Put into context, that gives Rapid City the second highest violent crime rate for South Dakota.
The community also saw a significant number of non-violent crimes. With 3,137 property crimes, Rapid City had South Dakota'shighest pace in that category. This included 657 burglaries and 466 cars stolen.
/10
Population: 78,492
Rank Last Year: 3 (Up 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 857 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,996 (Most dangerous)
More on Rapid City: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Chamberlain, South Dakota, is a small community with a big history. It hosts the South Dakota Hall of Fame. But the small town has also attracted a darker kind of fame: it ranks as the number 2 most dangerous place in the state.
Over the course of the reporting year 2020, Chamberlain suffered 16 violent crimes. This included 3 rapes. Compared to its population of just 2,364, this equals a per-capita violent-crime rate of 676/100k people. That ranks it third highest in the state for that category.
Property crime is also a problem. The 76 such violations during the year gives it the fourth highest pace in South Dakota.
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Population: 2,364
Rank Last Year: 2 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 676 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,214 (Fourth most dangerous)
More on Chamberlain: | Crime Report
Ask your average fifth grader to name a city in South Dakota. If they come up with anything, they'll probably say Pierre. That's because the city serves as the state's capital, making it one of South Dakota's most high-profile communities.
With a population of 13,888, Pierre ranks as one of the smallest centers of government in the U.S. Even with its tiny size, Pierre has its share of crime. The city had 413 property crimes and 128 violent crimes during the year.
In terms of crime rate, Pierre had the sixth highest pace of property crime in South Dakota. Meanwhile, for violent crime, the city's rate ranked highest.
/10
Population: 13,888
Rank Last Year: 7 (Up 4)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 921 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,973 (Sixth most dangerous)
More on Pierre: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Yankton has great historical significance for South Dakota. Located along the Missouri River, in the southeastern part of the state, it represented an early jumping-off point for settlement of the region.
In modern times, Yankton sports a population of 14,712, putting it number 7.0 in the state. With this figure comes a noticeable crime problem, with the community suffering the fourth highest crime rate in South Dakota.
That unfortunate ranking comes about in large part as a result of the 83 violent crimes reported during 2020 -- the reporting year. That includes 24 rapes. In addition, Yankton had 474 property crimes over a 12-month period. Putting those figures in terms of population, the city had the sixth highest pace of violent crimes and the third highest rate of property violations.
/10
Population: 14,712
Rank Last Year: 4 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 564 (Sixth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,221 (Third most dangerous)
More on Yankton: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Sioux Falls stands as the number 1.0 most populous city in South Dakota. With 187,370 inhabitants, the city might seem miniscule compared to places like Los Angeles, Houston, or New York City. But the area still counts as a massive metropolis for South Dakota.
As with any large city, Sioux Falls has its share of crime. It suffered 1,120 violent crimes during a year, including 13 murders and 97 rapes. In terms of raw numbers, those are high for South Dakota. But on a per-capita basis, Sioux Falls only ranks as the fourth most violent spot in the state.
For property crime, Sioux Falls sees the fifth highest rate in South Dakota. This comes with 4,259 larcenies, 684 burglaries, and 924 stolen cars reported in 2020.
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Population: 187,370
Rank Last Year: 6 (Up 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 597 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,131 (Fifth most dangerous)
More on Sioux Falls: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Mitchell is one of the most well-known spots in South Dakota. The town acts as a secondary tourist destination for the state. It might not live up to the level of top attractions, like Mount Rushmore, but the Corn Palace brings in its share of curious guests.
The influx of visitors creates an unfortunate temptation for thieves, however. Mitchell ranks second highest in the state for property crime. It had 520 such violations in a year, with 379 larcenies and 75 car thefts.
For violent crime, Mitchell is better off. In a city of 15,726 people, it reported 73 violent crimes. That puts it eighth highest in South Dakota in that category.
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Population: 15,726
Rank Last Year: 5 (Down 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 464 (Eighth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,306 (Second most dangerous)
More on Mitchell: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Located near the western border of South Dakota, Box Elder is home to the Ellsworth Air Force Base. Maybe the presence of all those airmen and airwomen provide a tempting target for criminals. Whatever the reason, the relatively low-population community counts as the number 7 most dangerous spots in the state.
Box Elder reported 59 violent crimes during a year, with 40 aggravated assaults. Those numbers might seem pretty small. But put them in terms of population and the community has fifth highest rate of violent crimes in the state.
The town also reported 292 property crimes during the year. This gave Box Elder South Dakota's seventh highest pace for the category.
/10
Population: 10,402
Rank Last Year: 10 (Up 3)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 567 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,807 (Seventh most dangerous)
More on Box Elder: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
With a population of 28,494 inhabitants, Aberdeen would count as a small community in many states. However, in South Dakota, it ranks as the number 3.0 most populous cities. Originally built as a railroad stop, Aberdeen has a rich business history. For example, it served as the founding location for the Super 8 chain of motels.
Unfortunately, the city is home to some more illicit business as well. Aberdeen ranks as the seventh most violent spot in South Dakota. That comes as a result of 122 aggravated assaults and 31 rapes in a year. That gives it a per-capita violent-crime rate of 558/100k people.
Looking at property crimes, Aberdeen seems a little safer. Despite being the 3rd biggest city in South Dakota, it has only the 11th highest pace of property crimes.
/10
Population: 28,494
Rank Last Year: 8 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 558 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,337 (11th most dangerous)
More on Aberdeen: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Spearfish was built on gold. No, not built out of gold. But the community grew out of a gold rush that took place in the region during the late 19th century. If you've ever seen the TV show Deadwood, Spearfish gets a shoutout there every so often.
Is Spearfish still a golden spot to live? It has its charms, especially if you want to explore the nearby Black Hills National Forest. But it also its share of crime, maybe an outgrowth of its Wild West history. Whatever the case, the town suffers high rates of violations like robbery and arson.
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Population: 11,902
Rank Last Year: 13 (Up 4)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 294 (12th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,579 (Ninth most dangerous)
More on Spearfish: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Centrally located in South Dakota, Huron once vied for the position of state's capital and currently hosts the South Dakota State Fair. It also boasts "The World's Largest Pheasant" - a 28-foot-tall statue along Highway 14, meant to advertise the area's ample pheasant hunting.
Gamebirds aren't the only thing in danger in the area, however. For a relatively small town, Huron has its share of crime trouble. The community suffered 43 violent crimes during a year, including 2 rapes. That puts the city 11th highest in the state in terms of highest violent crime rate.
Property crime is an issue as well. Huron had 242 larcenies and 29 burglaries during the year. That gives the town the 13th highest pace of property crime in South Dakota.
/10
Population: 13,469
Rank Last Year: 9 (Down 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 319 (11th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,138 (13th most dangerous)
More on Huron: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in South Dakota for 2022?
Every year the FBI release two crime datasets, a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in the country, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.
For our analysis, we focused on the JUST released 2020 data, specifically the 2020 Crime In The United States Report. We will update the results when data becomes available in September 2022.
So what criteria did we use? Have a look:
- Violent Crimes Per Capita
- Property Crimes Per Capita
In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered South Dakota cities over 2,000 in population. That left us with 29 cities in South Dakota.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 29 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.
Next, we averaged the two rankings into one "Dangerous Index".
Finally, we ranked every city on the "Dangerous Index" with the lowest index being the most dangerous in South Dakota -- Rapid City. Any ties went to the smaller city. You can download the data here.
Most Dangerous Places To Live In South Dakota FAQs
Is South Dakota a dangerous state?
Yes, South Dakota is a dangerous state as it ranks as the #14 most dangerous state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in south dakota ranks eighth highest in the United States -- 29.29% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Mount Rushmore State ranks 26th highest in the United States -- 0.08% better than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020.
Is Sioux Falls, SD a dangerous city?
Yes, Sioux Falls is a dangerous city. Sioux Falls ranks as the #105 most dangerous out of 320 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Sioux Falls might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Sioux Falls ranks 113th highest in America -- 8.9% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 10highest in the United States -- 17.9% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020 and that no city in America is 'dangerous'. Despite the uptick in murders, it's nothing like you'd see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In South Dakota
Summary: Locking It All Up In South Dakota
So what is the most dangerous city in South Dakota? After analyzing 29 cities in South Dakota, Rapid City takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in South Dakota based on the most recently reported FBI data -- 2020.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Rapid City ranks as the most dangerous city in South Dakota for 2022.
We want to point out again that there's still safes places in Rapid City and that this isn't a comment on the people that live there. So please don't beat us up.
It's not lost on us that many of South Dakota's cheapest places are also the state's most dangerous--this is usually how it works. And this is definitely what is happening in South Dakota's number one most dangerous city: rent is cheap, jobs are scarce, and crime is high.
So, where is the most dangerous place in South Dakota for 2022? That would be, Rapid City.
If you want to know where the rest of the most dangerous places in South Dakota are located, take a look at the list below; and if you don't find what you're looking for there, head to the bottom.
Learn more about the safest places in South Dakota.
If you're looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
Here are the safest cities in South Dakota:
- Tea (Pop. 6,340)
- North Sioux City (Pop. 2,975)
- Beresford (Pop. 2,028)
- Summerset (Pop. 2,769)
- Lead (Pop. 2,923)
- Brookings (Pop. 24,682)
- Lennox (Pop. 2,520)
- Madison (Pop. 7,357)
- Sisseton (Pop. 2,392)
- Brandon (Pop. 10,205)
For more South Dakota reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In South Dakota
- Cheapest Places To Live In South Dakota
- Most Dangerous Cities In South Dakota
- Best Places To Raise A Family In South Dakota
- Safest Places In South Dakota
- Worst Places To Live In South Dakota
Crime By City In South Dakota
Rank | City | Population |
---|---|---|
1 | Rapid City | 78,492 |
2 | Chamberlain | 2,364 |
3 | Pierre | 13,888 |
4 | Yankton | 14,712 |
5 | Sioux Falls | 187,370 |
6 | Mitchell | 15,726 |
7 | Box Elder | 10,402 |
8 | Aberdeen | 28,494 |
9 | Spearfish | 11,902 |
10 | Huron | 13,469 |
11 | Flandreau | 2,314 |
12 | Winner | 2,813 |
13 | Sturgis | 6,955 |
14 | Watertown | 22,248 |
15 | Mobridge | 3,442 |
16 | Canton | 3,615 |
17 | Hot Springs | 3,477 |
18 | Belle Fourche | 5,712 |
19 | Vermillion | 10,969 |
20 | Tea | 6,340 |
21 | North Sioux City | 2,975 |
22 | Beresford | 2,028 |
23 | Summerset | 2,769 |
24 | Lead | 2,923 |
25 | Brookings | 24,682 |
26 | Lennox | 2,520 |
27 | Madison | 7,357 |
28 | Sisseton | 2,392 |
29 | Brandon | 10,205 |