All right, I’m cheating a little. This is only quasi-travel related, but it’s too interesting to pass up. Besides, when all you first-time visitors come out here to the Black Hills and don’t have the heart to leave, this information will come in handy as you’re trying to figure out how to move here.

It’s no secret that the economy is a big deal right now. Financial-sector doom is all over in the news media, and “recession” seems to be the new mot-du-jour for politicians of all flavors. That isn’t bothering people in the Black Hills very much. In fact, one of the local newspapers carried a headline not too long ago that called us “recession-proof.”

Here’s an example: South Dakota recorded the lowest unemployment rate in the United States during January, coming in at a measly 2.6%. Our neighbors just across the border into Wyoming ranked second, with 2.7%.

That’s good news if you can’t bear to leave the area and decide you need to move here. (Hey, it happens more often than you’d think.) If you find yourself in this group, you’ve got some great resources available for you as you search for a job in the Black Hills. One of the better programs is Dakota Roots, which is specifically designed to help people relocate to South Dakota as they search for employment. Then there are the ubiquitous newspaper want ads, of course: the Sioux Falls Argus Leader and the Rapid City Journal carry most major job openings in the state.

Another good relocation resource are local chambers of commerce. They usually have staff or materials specifically devoted to helping people move to their community. Chambers are happy to mail you information, but you can access some of it online. For instance, there’s some basic info about relocating to Deadwood on its chamber website, Rapid City has put some of its relocation package online, and Custer has some tips, too.