Editing Rapid City, South Dakota (section)

==Economy==
Rapid City's economy is diverse, but industry is a small portion. Heavy and medium industrial activities include a [[Portland cement]] plant (constructed and owned for 84 years<ref>Created by SD Constitutional Amendment, 1919.</ref> by the State of South Dakota and sold in 2003 to Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua, or GCC, a Mexican-based conglomerate); [[Black Hills Ammunition]], an ammunition and reloading supplies manufacturing company; several custom sawmills, a lime plant, a computer peripheral component manufacturing plant, and several farm and ranch equipment manufacturers. Of particular note, this city is the center for the manufacture of [[Black Hills gold jewelry]], a popular product with tourists and Westerners in general. The city is the site of the only American manufacturer of stamping machines used for the labeling of plywood and chipboard products.

Most gold mining has ceased in the Black Hills and was never conducted in or near Rapid City. Regional mining operations include for sand and gravel, as well as the raw materials for [[Lime (mineral)|lime]] and Portland cement (including chemical-grade [[limestone]], taconite iron ore, and gypsum) remains an important part of the economy.

The largest sector of the Rapid City economy is government services, including local, state, and federal. Major employers include [[Ellsworth Air Force Base]],<ref name=Economy>{{cite web | title =Rapid City: Economy | publisher =City-Data.com | url =http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-Midwest/Rapid-City-Economy.html | access-date=October 16, 2008 }}</ref> home of the [[28th Bomb Wing]] flying the [[B-1B]] long-range bomber; the [[Army National Guard]] based at [[Camp Rapid]] and hosting annual exercises in the Black Hills, drawing troops from five to ten states; and various federal agencies, including the [[National Park Service]], [[US Forest Service]], and [[Indian Health Service]].

Monument Health covers one of the largest geographic service areas in the United States. The health care sector employs more than 8,000 persons in the Rapid City area.<ref name=Economy/>

Tourism constitutes a major portion of the Rapid City economy,<ref name=Economy/> due to the proximity of [[Mount Rushmore]], Sturgis, home of the [[Sturgis Motorcycle Rally]]; [[Deadwood, South Dakota|Deadwood]], and other attractions in the Black Hills. This city provides most services for the Motorcycle Rally. Prepared to satisfy the Rally's demand for motel rooms, camp sites, and other services for tourists during the first week of August, Rapid City has the capacity to host other large events, such as conventions, and numerous associated tourists year-round. Various minor tourist attractions, including wildlife parks, specialty shops, caves, water parks, private museums, and other businesses are found in and near Rapid City.

Other economic sectors include financial service, insurance and investing companies. As noted, the city has a strong medical services sector, and several institutions of higher education. Rapid City is also the major market town for much of five states, drawing commerce from more than half of South Dakota, and large portions of [[North Dakota]], [[Montana]], [[Wyoming]], and the [[Nebraska Panhandle]].

The real compound annual growth rate of the [[gross domestic product]] of the [[Rapid City Metropolitan Statistical Area]] was 2.6% for 2001–2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Economic Output (GDP)|url=http://southdakotadashboard.org/economy/economic-output-gdp#0-7138-d|publisher=South Dakota Dashboard|access-date=November 14, 2014|archive-date=November 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141128183557/http://southdakotadashboard.org/economy/economic-output-gdp#0-7138-d|url-status=dead}}</ref><!-- And how does that compare to similar cities? -->