Rapid City

History

A post office first opened in the area as Van Buren on November 22, 1892. The post office was renamed to Vanburen on January 18, 1895, and finally to Rapid City on April 30, 1898. The town is named after the Rapid River, which flows through it. The community of Rapid City was listed as a newly organized census-designated place for the 2010 census, meaning it now has officially defined boundaries and population statistics for the first time. The CDP is organized for statistical purposes only and has no legal status as an incorporated municipality.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the community has an area of , of which is land and (1.64%) is water. The community is located on the Rapid River, and is immediately adjacent Torch Lake. Rapid River is located on the Antrim County line.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  6,457
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  5,109
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  4,766
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,555
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,436
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  4,055
• White-breasted Nuthatch

  Sitta carolinensis Latham, 1790 · Aves
  3,275
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,119