MEGALOPOLIS, Chapter 4

Regarding population, there is no comparison between South Dakota and Megalopolis - they are opposites. The population of Megalopolis's combined cities is in the teen millions. The entire state of South Dakota's population is 804,194. In 2000, population density in New York City, the most compacted urban area of Megalopolis. was 26,404 people per square mile. South Dakota's average population density is 5 people per square mile, with many counties less than five.

South Dakota is known for its small towns. Its largest city, situated east of the Missouri River, is Sioux Falls, with 136,696 residents. Rapid City, in the west, has 61,000 residents. The remainder of South Dakota's towns are much smaller. The 2000 census was the first one in which more people in South Dakota lived in urban areas rather than rural areas. The population distribution in 2008 was 86.1% Caucasian, 8.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, 1.1% African American, and less than 0.7% Asian.

There is one week each year when a South Dakota city resembles a mini-Megalopolis - during the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Held the first full week of August every year since 1938 (with exceptions during World War II), it was founded by the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club, who still own and operate the tracks, hillclimb, and field areas. Each year the Sturgis crowd honors the founder of the rally, Clarence "Pappy" Hoel. The main focus of the Sturgis Rally is racing and stunts, though there are also concerts, beauty contests, vendors, etc. The population of Sturgis is 5,990, but during the Rally week it swells to half a million. Attendance rivals the entire population of the state. In 2007, 507,234 people attended the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally