Hill City, South Dakota

Hill City
Hill City, South Dakota
Motto: 
The Heart of the Hills
Location in Pennington County and the state of South Dakota
Location in Pennington County and the state of South Dakota
Coordinates: 43°56′01″N 103°34′10″W / 43.93361°N 103.56944°W / 43.93361; -103.56944
CountryUnited States
StateSouth Dakota
CountyPennington
Established1876
Incorporated1945[1]
Government
 • TypeMayor-Council
 • MayorKathy Skorzewski
 • Council PresidentSteve Jarvis
Area
 • Total
1.32 sq mi (3.42 km2)
 • Land1.31 sq mi (3.40 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation5,013 ft (1,528 m)
Population
 • Total
872
 • Density664.63/sq mi (256.63/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Zip Code
57745
Area code(s)605, NXX Exchange 574
FIPS code46-29100[5]
GNIS feature ID1267423[3]
WebsiteCity of Hill City

Hill City is the oldest existing city in Pennington County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 872 at the 2020 census.[6] Hill City is located 26 miles (42 km) southwest of Rapid City on U.S. Highway 16 and on U.S. Route 385 that connects Deadwood to Hot Springs. Hill City is known as the "Heart of the Hills", a distinction derived from its proximity to both the geographical center of the Black Hills, and the local tourist destinations.

The city has its roots in the Black Hills mining rush of the late 19th century. Tin mining was dominant in the 1880s and led to an influx of capital and people into the area. As the mining industry waned, tourism and timber became increasingly important industries to the area. With the establishment of Mount Rushmore in the 1940s, Custer State Park and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the Black Hills became known as a tourist destination, from which Hill City benefited. In recent years, the city has diversified to become a center for the arts in the area, featuring several art studios and festivals.[7]

  1. ^ "SD Towns" (PDF). South Dakota State Historical Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 10, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2010.
  2. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  3. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hill City, South Dakota
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau: Hill City city, South Dakota". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  7. ^ "Hill City". Black Hills Visitor Magazine. Retrieved May 20, 2007.