Rapid Creek (South Dakota) facts for kids
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Rapid Creek is a river in South Dakota, United States. It flows into the Cheyenne River. The creek is about 86 miles (138 kilometers) long. Its name comes from the Sioux people who lived in the area. They called it "Rapid Creek" because of the many fast-moving parts, or rapids, in the water.
Where Rapid Creek Flows
Rapid Creek starts in the southwestern part of South Dakota. It begins in the Black Hills National Forest, which is in the Black Hills. This area is part of Pennington County.
The creek then flows east. Along its way, another creek called Castle Creek joins it. Rapid Creek also flows past a town called Silver City. It then goes through a large lake called Pactola Reservoir.
After leaving the Black Hills, Rapid Creek flows through Rapid City. It continues past Farmingdale. Finally, it joins the Cheyenne River. This meeting point is about 13 miles (21 kilometers) southwest of Wasta.
The 1972 Rapid Creek Flood
Rapid Creek is well-known because of a very big flood that happened in 1972. This event is called the Black Hills flood of 1972. It caused a lot of damage in Rapid City and the Black Hills. Sadly, 238 people lost their lives during this flood.
After the flood, the city made some important changes. They created a special area along the creek called a floodplain. This means that new buildings are not allowed very close to the creek's banks. This helps keep people safe and prevents damage if the creek floods again.
