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: 76,541 742 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.03 chance of being a victim: 1 in 135 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,639

Rapid City, SD holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in South Dakota with 742 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (487), robbery (118), rape (132) and homicide (5) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 112% 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.

Aberdeen Population: 28,315 502 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.37 chance of being a victim: 1 in 199 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,192

The second most dangerous city is Aberdeen. With a population of 28,315 and a violent crime rate that is 43% higher than the South Dakota average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Aberdeen are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 502 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 199 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Pierre Population: 13,908 460 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.26 chance of being a victim: 1 in 218 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,808

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 460 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.26 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 31% higher than the South Dakota violent crime rate.

Box Elder Population: 9,937 441 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.21 chance of being a victim: 1 in 227 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,098

With a violent crime rate that is 26% higher than the South Dakota average, it's not hard to see why Box Elder made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (31), assault (310), rape (101) 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 Box Elder more vulnerable to high crime.

Sioux Falls Population: 180,927 435 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.19 chance of being a victim: 1 in 230 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,864

The ongoing battle with crime in Sioux Falls, 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 435 and a 1 in 230 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Sioux Falls has a violent crime rate that is 24% 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 Sioux Falls.

Sturgis Population: 6,914 389 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.06 chance of being a victim: 1 in 257 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,873

Sturgis, SD comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 389 per 100,000 people, which is 11% higher than the South Dakota average. Sturgis has a population of 6,914, which translates to 1.06 crimes per day and 1 in 257 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 Sturgis which are much safer than others.

Yankton Population: 14,619 353 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.97 chance of being a victim: 1 in 283 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,765

A 1 in 283 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.97 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Yankton makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 353 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 1% higher than the South Dakota average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (276), robbery (0), rape (71) and homicide (6).

Mitchell Population: 15,599 326 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.89 chance of being a victim: 1 in 307 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,491

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 326 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 224 counts of assault, 6 counts of robbery, 96 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Mitchell violent crime rate is 7% lower than the South Dakota average.

Watertown Population: 22,249 289 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.79 chance of being a victim: 1 in 346 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,966

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, Watertown, SD comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in South Dakota with a violent crime rate of 289 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.79 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 346 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Belle Fourche Population: 5,628 252 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.69 chance of being a victim: 1 in 397 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,443

Rounding out our list at #10 is Belle Fourche, SD. With a population of 5,628 and a violent crime rate of 252 per 100,000 people (28% lower than the South Dakota average), some parts of Belle Fourche are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 185 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 67 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 397 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	742	4,639
2	Aberdeen	28,315	502	2,192
3	Pierre	13,908	460	2,808
4	Box Elder	9,937	441	2,098
5	Sioux Falls	180,927	435	2,864
6	Sturgis	6,914	389	2,873
7	Yankton	14,619	353	2,765
8	Mitchell	15,599	326	2,491
9	Watertown	22,249	289	1,966
10	Belle Fourche	5,628	252	1,443
11	Vermillion	10,852	200	1,715
12	Spearfish	11,702	188	2,154
13	Huron	13,289	185	2,232
14	Madison	7,249	165	890
15	Tea	5,714	105	1,297
16	Brookings	24,479	103	1,279

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.