Via Northern Plains News, the Black Hills Knowledge Network reports Census data showing increased racial diversity in South Dakota's population. The Native American population is holding at 8.9% of the population, while Hispanics and blacks are increasing their population shares. The latter minorities are increasing notably in the Black Hills:
The black population in Meade County accounts for 2 percent of its population, one of the largest in the state. Nearly all of the counties in the Black Hills have a Hispanic population that exceeds 3 percent of the total population [Black Hills Knowledge Network, "Census: South Dakota's Racial Diversity on the Rise," Northern Plains News, 2014.07.02].
Local readers will appreciate the irony of more black folks around Sturgis: Meade County was once (?) a hotbed of Ku Klux Klan activity. Of course, 90 years ago, our Black Hills Klansmen were raising a ruckus about Catholics and prostitutes. Let's hope their descendants can reconcile with the growing numbers of non-whites on their block at least as well as they've learned to tolerate the folks following the Pope.
This was a couple of months ago...Easter weekend. I did not see this story anywhere else but KSFY.
http://www.ksfy.com/story/25319938/klu-klux-klan-hands-out-flyers-in-hill-city
I think that most of the African American population of Meade County is likely in base housing at Elsworth, most of which is north of the Pennington/Meade line.
There are more black airmen than Mr. Rhoden has black rancher neighbors indeed.
I personally know a number of young Mexican fellows who run a tree cutting business in the woods and they have a lot of workers. And there is a large population employed in the hospitality industry in Custer.
huh: protestant v. catholic in south dakota? what a shocker.