Dakota County, Nebraska: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to South Sioux City and Dakota City
Dakota County is not a build-out site today. It feels the boom through the grid it shares, the utilities that serve it and the work nearby. Dakota County is home to South Sioux City, Dakota City and Homer. Next door, Woodbury County, Iowa, has 2 data centers. Employers here counted 13,970 jobs in 2025, up 11.9% from 2019 (the 6th fastest growth of 93 Nebraska counties). Unemployment was 2.9% in August 2026, against 3.9% in 2019. 2 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly battery storage.
Cities and towns in Dakota County
Dakota County is home to South Sioux City, Dakota City and Homer.
- Emerson also extends into Dixon County, Thurston County.
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 Dakota County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Nebraska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 21,544 | 21,687 | ▲ 0.7% | 16th of 93 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 12,479 | 13,970 | ▲ 11.9% | 6th of 93 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $49,866 | $59,038 | ▲ 18.4% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.9% | 2.9% | ▼ 1.0pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 2 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Its power plants have 4 MW of capacity, 61% of it solar. Nebraska Public Power District is the largest utility serving Dakota County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 10.63¢/kWh in 2024. 21,687 people live here, up 0.7% since 2020.
Who powers Dakota County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +2 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Dakota County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Public Power District | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 73,650 | 10.63¢ | 28% |
| Northeast Power | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 6,846 | 9.73¢ | 61% |
| City of South Sioux City | Municipal | Bundled | 5,217 | 12.90¢ | 79% |
| City of Emerson - (NE) | — | — | — | — | — |
| WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration | Federal | Bundled | — | — | 98% |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
Operating power plants 2
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 2 MW | 61% |
| Battery storage | 2 MW | 39% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Sioux City Solar | Tesla Inc. | Solar | 2 MW | 2016 |
| South Sioux City Energy Storage | DG Nebraska Energy Storage, LLC | Battery storage | 2 MW | 2020 |
The Dakota County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 13,970 | $59,038 | 1.00 |
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 Dakota County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Dakota County. Nebraska has 23 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Woodbury County.
Dakota County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Dakota County, Woodbury 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota County | 21,687 | ▲ 11.9% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
| Dixon County | 5,602 | ▼ 3.1% | 324 MW | — | — | — |
| Thurston County | 6,752 | ▲ 9.7% | 5 MW | — | — | — |
| Union County SD | 17,402 | ▼ 3.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Woodbury County IA | 106,649 | ▼ 1.7% | 1,284 MW | — | 2 | 1 |
More of Nebraska
Dakota County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Dakota County, Nebraska?
5 utilities have service territory in Dakota County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Nebraska Public Power District, Northeast Power, City of South Sioux City, City of Emerson - (NE). The largest, Nebraska Public Power District, charged residential customers 10.63¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is South Sioux City, NE in?
South Sioux City is in Dakota County, Nebraska. About 14,158 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Dakota County?
2 operating plants with 4 MW of capacity. The largest is South Sioux City Solar (2 MW, solar).
Are there data centers in Dakota County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Dakota County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Woodbury County.
Is Dakota County adding jobs?
Employers counted 13,970 jobs in 2025 against 12,479 in 2019 (+11.9%, BLS QCEW).
Does Dakota County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Dakota County. Nebraska has 23 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.