Spearfish, Belle Fourche Or? (Sioux Falls, Rapid City: buying, school, university)

[rando321]

Hello! My wife and I are planning to relocate within the year to the Spearfish, Belle Fourche area. We both grew up on the East Coast but it doesn't suit us - we like peace and quiet and are conservative/republican. Visited South Dakota and really felt at home. My wife works a remote job, I'm semi-retired, so we can really live anywhere with a good internet connection. My folks would probably be joining us - at least in the same town; they are 80-something but pretty spry. All of us are pretty much homebodies - need a supermarket, dog park would be great, go out to eat maybe 2x a month.

Belle Fourche seemed like a great town - was happy to see kids playing outside like I did in the 1980s - riding bikes, roving around (not done in my current city). For our purposes, Rapid City and Sioux Falls are bigger than we would like. Haven't explored the middle of the state but seems like winters are colder the more east you go.

Are there any negatives we are missing? Towns we should take a look at? Appreciate the help!

[ejisme]

Both towns are very nice. Spearfish is booming by South Dakota standards. Belle Fouche probably not so much since it's off the interstate. Both would be nice towns. Spearfish has more going on in town, and it's building more new entertainment/dining/shopping infrastructure. Spearfish also has a university in town for a bit more events, and attracts more tourists in the summer months as a good spot to stay while exploring the Hills. Being off the freeway might make Belle Fouche a bit more isolated, and likely the roads won't get the same level of winter support, but I don't think you'd be stuck in town more than once or twice a year in the middle of an actual storm. I don't have school kids anymore, so if you do, I don't have any info on the local school systems. Hopefully you have visited both towns. If not they would both be worth an extended visit. Not sure about healthcare in either town. I'm sure the basics are covered, but specialty care is likely in Rapid City, or if VA eligible at Ft Meade in Sturgis.

[SDbp]

If I were moving my 80 something parents with me, I'd take a hard look at the healthcare in the immediate area that you are looking at. I suspect both towns are probably adequate for primary care, but I'd be looking at Rapid City for specialists. I know first hand how fast an elderly parent can decline, so I'd keep that in mind. There are other smaller towns you might look at that are in between Rapid City and Spearfish. And also up in the Black Hills (Custer, Hill City, Lead, Deadwood etc) but I'd look carefully at internet speed and the like.

Also you might want to consider the relative "remoteness" of that area. If you want to do anything not in say Rapid City, it's a long trip to everywhere in contrast to many areas on the East Coast.

The weather is warmer out west in the winter than Sioux Falls (where I am at), but it is also hotter in the summer. The winters aren't necessarily mild out there. In the past years, that area has been hit with some big snows that missed us in east of state. I'd consider making a trip there in the winter and staying for a week to make sure it's to your liking (I'm sure everyone likes that area in the summer!).

[ejisme]

Yes, medical and internet access will be your biggest concerns to check out. The in-laws lived in Piedmont, about three miles east of the freeway. They had DSL internet, but it was the slowest internet I ever experienced since I gave up dial-up in the early 2000's. You couldn't do much more than stream an HD movie (not 4K) and internet searches. My son was able to stream teams and zoom meetings for work. Not sure if they just had the slowest internet package and if anything faster was available, but certainly that would be something to investigate before buying.