Maybe it happens at dinner one night. Someone asks a question. No one knows for sure. Someone else tries Google. Maybe you have your answer in seconds. Or maybe not. If it’s a question about your neighborhood or your community, you might not find anything at all. In the age of Google, the most elusive information is local.
So the Black Hills Area Community Foundation got together with a team of librarians to create the Black Hills Knowledge Network, an online resource for everything local in the Black Hills. Our librarians are organizing news stories, city council minutes and research reports to give you the history of an issue. Visit our virtual community archives to see historic photographs or find data on issues. We have information on how to start a business, train for a new career or get involved with volunteers doing good work in your community. The document library for the history of this project can be accessed to view the mission statement, presentations about the project, and more.
Our new data visualization tracks health rankings over the last three years for each of our seven Black HIlls counties as measured by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin's Population Health Institute.
From "A Nation at Risk" to "No Child Left Behind," the decades of debate over education reform in the United States are about to bear fruit in the form of overhauled assessment tests and a nationalized "core curriculum," said a former South Dakota education secretary at the recent Data Matters Forum on Education.
Pennington County experienced one of the highest rates of West Nile Virus in South Dakota between 2002 and 2006. The number of incidents has dropped dramatically in the last few years, but there are good reasons to stay informed.
A new data map created by the Black Hills Knowledge Network shows that the highest household incomes in the Black Hills region are concentrated in southwest Rapid City. Residents in the area referred to as Colonial Pine Hills on Google maps have median household incomes of $90,203, more than any other area in the region, according to U.S. Census data.
The Rapid City School Board is negotiating the 2012-2012 school year budget and the $4 Million budget cuts. Use this resource guide to get background information and provide feedback at the citizen meetings about the proposed budget and cuts.
City, county and state officials are working to help keep people and property safe from wildfires. Black Hills residents who live near open grasslands or forests can learn more about how to be safe by checking out these various resources compiled by the Rapid City Public Library.
Elected officials, policymakers and nonprofit leaders in the Black Hills will hear about what's working and what could be improved in the areas of education, health and wellness and the economy in three upcoming Data Matters leadership forums.
Median household income differences are greatest in the Rapid City metropolitan area compared to more rural parts of the Black Hills. A new interactive map allows users to view this data by census tract.
Want to know which Black Hills county had the highest number of fast food restaurants per capita in 2008? Or which county had the lowest number of students elgible for the free lunch program at school? Check out the Food Environment Atlas created by the Economic Research Service in cooperation with various federal agencies.
March 11-17 was Sunshine Week, meant to raise awareness about the laws that govern what information local, state and national governmental entities provide to the public upon request. This resource list provides the link to information from a variety of sources on the laws in South Dakota that govern meetings and public information.
South Dakota ranks sixth in the nation for federal spending on preventative healthcare spending according to a new report issued by the Trust for America's Health. Based on data assembled by the federal Centers for Disease Control, the report looks at overall spending as well as efforts to prevent specific diseases and health conditions.
Scores on the ACT test provide an indication of how well school districts are preparing students for college. In general, students in larger districts in the region are beating state and national averages, but smaller, rural districts are struggling.
What is the name of the Rapid City mayor who served three separate terms? Which mayor created a band and taught each band member to play? Compiled by Kay Rippentrop, all mayors of Rapid City from 1889 until present times are featured with a one-page biography and picture. Answers to above: Wood and Emrick respectively.
With western South Dakota home to the three counties with the highest povety rates in the country, maps developed by the U.S. Census help put these numbers in a national context.
As the South Dakota Legislature begins its 2012 session, you can find the information you need to understand what laws are being proposed and to learn how you can make sure your voice is heard.
Agriculture plays a huge role in the economy and culture of many Black Hills communities. Every five years the U.S. Department of Agriculture conducts the national Census of Agriculture. We have posted summaries from the 2007 census for each Black Hills county.
The South Dakota legislature convenes Tuesday, January 10, 2012. View our legislative page for information on your Black Hills legislators, the bills they are sponsoring, upcoming Cracker Barrel sessions and more.
Looking for a church or synagogue in the Rapid City area? Check out our listings. Looking for information on religion in the Black Hills? Read our overview for the region or look at the data provided under Civic Life & History for each county.
