According to Kip Harrington with the City of Rapid City, the significance of the numbers is that it shows not just growth, but an increasing rate of growth.

Harrington says, "Our population has grown over the last few years, but this year, we saw an increase in the rate of growth. It's a higher percentage of the overall total than in previous years."

Other data from the Census Bureau shows that the most dramatic factor in population trends on the upper Great Plains is the developing oil and gas boom. And it shows that a decades-long out-migration of population from the Great Plains is finally being reversed because of the boom. It's also having an effect on Black Hills communities.

Harrington says, "We're seeing some new businesses come to town that are involved in manufacturing for that area."

Williston and Dickinson, North Dakota are in first and third place among the fastest-growing communities on the Great Plains. Gillette, Wyoming is in the top twenty. All of them are communities involved in the oil industry.

Al Van Zee