Forum News Service
STURGIS, S.D. -- Although the 75th anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally didn’t break the anticipated 1 million mark, the official count released Monday said it was still the largest crowds in the history of the event in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
What will go down in the books is an official estimate of 739,000 visitors. That beats the previous record during the 60th anniversary of 633,000 people in 2000.
The number is based on South Dakota sales tax collections, Main Street photo counts, Department of Transportation vehicle counts, Mount Rushmore traffic counts, tons of garbage hauled by the city and sanitation fees collected.
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The South Dakota Department of Revenue reported a record $413,763 in sales taxes collected within the city limits by temporary vendors, nearly double the amount in 2014. The department also said it was a record year for sales.
“In reality, an exact number of attendees for a widespread event … can never be calculated,” said Christina Steele, public information officer for the city. “However, considering the entire length of the event and the reported sales that took place during the rally period, the 75th was the largest rally to date.”
