Kittson County, Minnesota: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
No data center or power plant project is on record in Kittson County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Kittson County is home to Hallock and Karlstad. Unemployment was 5.8% in August 2026, against 3.6% in 2019. Otter Tail Power Co is the largest utility serving Kittson County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 11.33¢/kWh in 2024, below the 14.36¢ median for Minnesota utilities. Employers here counted 1,494 jobs in 2025, down 1.1% from 2019. 4,031 people live here, down 3.7% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Kittson County
Kittson County is home to Hallock and Karlstad.
Residents are 2025 Census estimates for the part of each city, town or township inside this county. Census publishes no annual estimate for unincorporated communities.
What changed in Kittson County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Minnesota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 4,187 | 4,031 | ▼ 3.7% | 84th of 87 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,511 | 1,494 | ▼ 1.1% | 46th of 87 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $37,442 | $50,135 | ▲ 33.9% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 39 | 68 | ▲ 74.4% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.6% | 5.8% | ▲ 2.2pts | — |
Who powers Kittson County
Utilities with service territory in Kittson County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otter Tail Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 50,118 | 11.33¢ | 37% |
| P K M Electric Coop, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
No operating power plant is located in Kittson County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Kittson County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,494 | $50,135 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 68 | $49,563 | 0.86 |
Concentration is the BLS location quotient: 1.0 means the industry holds the same share of local jobs as it does nationally. Industry rows count private employers; cells BLS suppresses are left out.
Data centers and local rules in Kittson County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Kittson County. Minnesota has 25 local measures on record statewide.
Kittson County and its neighbors
Of the 3 counties that border Kittson County, Roseau County carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kittson County | 4,031 | ▼ 1.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Marshall County | 8,798 | ▲ 8.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Pembina County ND | 6,568 | ▼ 4.7% | 6 MW | — | — | — |
| Roseau County | 15,246 | ▼ 1.8% | 11 MW | — | — | — |
More of Minnesota
Kittson County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Kittson County, Minnesota?
2 utilities have service territory in Kittson County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Otter Tail Power Co, P K M Electric Coop, Inc. The largest, Otter Tail Power Co, charged residential customers 11.33¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Kittson County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Kittson County.
Is Kittson County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,494 jobs in 2025 against 1,511 in 2019 (-1.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 39 to 68.
Does Kittson County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Kittson County. Minnesota has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.