Somehow, the Black Hills region of western South Dakota and north eastern Wyoming continues to enjoy a quality of life thought to have vanished in the US. This highly rated area (see Joel Skousen's STRATEGIC RELOCATION) has a lot going for it, with a few minor drawbacks.
High on the plus side are the people, who are both friendly and rather conservative and liberty-minded. The natural beauty is outstanding, the population density is low, the climate in the Hills is very similar to that found in the Denver-Metro or Salt-Lake/Provo areas, and except for some fairly heavy motorcycle traffic for two weeks every August, the traffic is practically non-existent. The weather drastically changes to blizzard-capable/windy plains/humidity as you exit the Black Hills and move eastward towards the Missouri River.
It is amazing to me that this area of such tremendous natural beauty has not been completely developed and over-populated. Sales taxes are not overwhelming, there is no state income tax but a moderate (a relative term for a low-cost housing market) real estate tax, which supplies ample dollars for legislated services.
The area is serviced by a top-notch regional airport (Delta to Salt Lake City, United to Denver, and Northwestern to Minneapolis), a respected Regional hospital, and has ample access to a growing number of retail stores. For those persons with a second-amendment concern, a South Dakota Concealed Pistol Permit is just a form away (local sherrif, then cleared at the state level, takes about a week.) Hunting is plentiful (deer elk, turkey, pheasant), and trout fishing is abundant.
The only possible "ground-zero" target is Ellsworth Air Force Base, however, ALL of the missile silos in South Dakota have been decommissioned and destroyed, and the B-1B bombers based at EAFB are now totally conventional-weapons based (no nukes.) The base is about 10 miles east (downwind) of Rapid City, which sits at the northeast edge of the Black Hills.
On the downside, the job market is an employers market for those seeking local employment. Agriculture, tourism, defense (EAFB), and customer services (Conseco, United Mileage Plus, Spiegel...) are some examples of local economy's employment opportunities. Consultants, artists, writers, self-employed, and health industry professionals have the most flexibility and can benefit most from the small economy the Black Hills affords.
Recent crime figures prove to be low in most areas, with the notable exception of rape... which is unique in being higher than other areas. The official explanation is that western South Dakota, is highly successful in prosecuting and convicting reported instances of this crime - thus victims are more apt to report it, and justice is served.
Home prices are moderately low compared to larger metropolitan areas, with some bargain areas available. Land in the Black Hills is limited in availability (due to federal ownership of millions of acres), with private land representing those parcels homesteaded in the past centuries. Still, plenty of secluded yet accessable property is available for very reasonable prices.
Home schooling is not a problem. (for example: children must receive a form of education until at least 16 years of age; the school board grants permission for home schooling on an annual review basis; parent-led internet-based enrollment in a school or university-type High School transcript program is highly supported; sports and extra-curricular activities and part-time enrollment in local school classes a la carte is allowed.)
As a traveling consultant (nearly weekly to Washington, DC) with a family, and a choice of anywhere to live (near a fully-functional airport, of course), our family chose the Black Hills for the above reasons. We have lived in the Black Hills twice(1974-1975; 1998 to present), with past experience living in California's Silicon Valley, Denver-Metro area, Northern Virginia, and Texas.
Thanks for the great report on the Black Hills of SD. We live about 65 miles northeast of Rapid City in the middle of ranch country. We have also lived in Colorado and Nebraska but have never found a place we like better than Union Center, SD. It's not really a town. Sturgis or Rapid City are town to us. It's a great place to homeschool and raise a family.
My husband and I live in a small town at the southen edge of the Black Hills. It is beautiful country, but there is no water here.
People who live in the Black Hills can't even drill a well because of the caves under the hills.
Most people have to haul water from Newcastle, WY.
If road travel was prohibited, there would be no way to get your water.
Survival would be difficult in the hills.