Top 10 most dangerous cities in South Dakota

South Dakota, known for its breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Sioux Falls to the scenic beauty of the Black Hills, South Dakota provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its music, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, South Dakota faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in South Dakota are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between South Dakota's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in South Dakota involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in South Dakota. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. South Dakota's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of cultural richness, natural beauty, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

Rapid City Population: 76,541 682 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.87 chance of being a victim: 1 in 147 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,267

Rapid City, SD holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in South Dakota with 682 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (468), robbery (83), rape (124) and homicide (6) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 81% higher than the South Dakota average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Sioux Falls Population: 180,927 546 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.50 chance of being a victim: 1 in 183 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,629

The second most dangerous city is Sioux Falls. With a population of 180,927 and a violent crime rate that is 45% higher than the South Dakota average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Sioux Falls are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 546 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 183 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Pierre Population: 13,908 494 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.35 chance of being a victim: 1 in 203 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,268

Home to 13,908 residents, Pierre, SD ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in South Dakota. Unfortunately for residents of Pierre, crime is widespread, with more than 494 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.35 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 31% higher than the South Dakota violent crime rate.

Sturgis Population: 6,914 435 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.19 chance of being a victim: 1 in 230 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,061

With a violent crime rate that is 15% higher than the South Dakota average, it's not hard to see why Sturgis made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (14), assault (365), rape (56) and homicide (0). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Sturgis more vulnerable to high crime.

Box Elder Population: 9,937 401 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.10 chance of being a victim: 1 in 249 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,849

The ongoing battle with crime in Box Elder, SD, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 401 and a 1 in 249 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Box Elder has a violent crime rate that is 6% higher than the South Dakota average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Box Elder.

Yankton Population: 14,619 400 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.10 chance of being a victim: 1 in 250 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,992

Yankton, SD comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 400 per 100,000 people, which is 6% higher than the South Dakota average. Yankton has a population of 14,619, which translates to 1.10 crimes per day and 1 in 250 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Yankton which are much safer than others.

Aberdeen Population: 28,315 365 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.00 chance of being a victim: 1 in 274 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,929

A 1 in 274 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.00 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Aberdeen makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 365 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 3% lower than the South Dakota average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (262), robbery (7), rape (96) and homicide (0).

Mitchell Population: 15,599 327 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.90 chance of being a victim: 1 in 305 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,811

Mitchell, SD is another one of the most dangerous cities in South Dakota and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 15,599 and a violent crime rate of 327 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 231 counts of assault, 6 counts of robbery, 90 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Mitchell violent crime rate is 13% lower than the South Dakota average.

Spearfish Population: 11,702 248 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.68 chance of being a victim: 1 in 404 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,612

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Spearfish, SD comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in South Dakota with a violent crime rate of 248 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.68 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 404 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Watertown Population: 22,249 219 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.60 chance of being a victim: 1 in 457 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,778

Rounding out our list at #10 is Watertown, SD. With a population of 22,249 and a violent crime rate of 219 per 100,000 people (42% lower than the South Dakota average), some parts of Watertown are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 123 counts of assault, 4 counts of robbery, 92 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 457 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in South Dakota

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Rapid City	76,541	682	4,267
2	Sioux Falls	180,927	546	3,629
3	Pierre	13,908	494	2,268
4	Sturgis	6,914	435	3,061
5	Box Elder	9,937	401	1,849
6	Yankton	14,619	400	2,992
7	Aberdeen	28,315	365	1,929
8	Mitchell	15,599	327	2,811
9	Spearfish	11,702	248	2,612
10	Watertown	22,249	219	1,778
11	Tea	5,714	203	1,596
12	Brookings	24,479	177	1,488
13	Madison	7,249	134	804
14	Belle Fourche	5,628	121	1,397
15	Brandon	10,030	55	669

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in South Dakota is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included South Dakota cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.