Grand Forks County, North Dakota: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Grand Forks, Mekinock Township and Larimore
The data center boom is not abstract in Grand Forks County: it is on the ground here. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 3 data centers in Grand Forks County, 12% of North Dakota's total. Grand Forks County is home to Grand Forks, Mekinock Township, Larimore and Thompson. Construction employs 2,564, up 10.9% since 2019. Employers here counted 41,078 jobs in 2025, up 3.1% from 2019. Electrical contractors employ 301, at an average $73,207 a year.
Cities and towns in Grand Forks County
Grand Forks County is home to Grand Forks, Mekinock Township, Larimore and Thompson.
And 16 smaller places.
- Reynolds also extends into Traill County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Grand Forks AFB.
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 Grand Forks County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in North Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 73,142 | 74,501 | ▲ 1.9% | 3rd of 53 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 39,845 | 41,078 | ▲ 3.1% | 15th of 53 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $47,802 | $61,512 | ▲ 28.7% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,313 | 2,564 | ▲ 10.9% | 12th of 20 by growth |
| Data processing and hosting jobs (2019 → 2025) | 7 | 18 | ▲ 157.1% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 1.9% | 1.9% | ● 0.0pts | — |
Northern States Power Co - Minnesota is the largest utility serving Grand Forks County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.11¢/kWh in 2024, above the 11.38¢ median for North Dakota utilities. Unemployment was 1.9% in August 2026, against 1.9% in 2019. 74,501 people live here, up 1.9% since 2020, 3rd of 53 North Dakota counties by population.
Who powers Grand Forks County
Utilities with service territory in Grand Forks County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern States Power Co - Minnesota | Investor Owned | Bundled | 82,987 | 12.11¢ | 47% |
| Otter Tail Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 45,467 | 11.38¢ | 77% |
| Nodak Electric Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 20,803 | 12.08¢ | 42% |
| City of Northwood - (ND) | — | — | — | — | — |
| WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration | Federal | Bundled | — | — | 97% |
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 Grand Forks County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Grand Forks County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 41,078 | $61,512 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 2,564 | $76,844 | 1.18 |
| Electrical contractors | 301 | $73,207 | 1.02 |
| Data processing and hosting | 18 | $77,467 | 0.14 |
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 Grand Forks County
3 data centers in Grand Forks County are on the SAVRN Data Center Map: see them by city and operator.
Grand Forks County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Grand Forks County, Polk 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks County | 74,501 | ▲ 3.1% | — | — | 3 | — |
| Marshall County MN | 8,798 | ▲ 8.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Nelson County | 2,963 | ▲ 5.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Polk County MN | 30,545 | ▼ 1.2% | 14 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Steele County | 1,797 | ▼ 9.1% | 170 MW | — | — | — |
| Traill County | 7,920 | ▲ 4.9% | 17 MW | — | — | — |
| Walsh County | 10,179 | ▼ 2.9% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
More of North Dakota
Grand Forks County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Grand Forks County, North Dakota?
5 utilities have service territory in Grand Forks County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Northern States Power Co - Minnesota, Otter Tail Power Co, Nodak Electric Coop Inc, City of Northwood - (ND). The largest, Northern States Power Co - Minnesota, charged residential customers 12.11¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Grand Forks, ND in?
Grand Forks is in Grand Forks County, North Dakota. About 60,365 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Are there data centers in Grand Forks County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 3 data centers in Grand Forks County.
Is Grand Forks County adding jobs?
Employers counted 41,078 jobs in 2025 against 39,845 in 2019 (+3.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 2,313 to 2,564.
Does Grand Forks County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Grand Forks County. North Dakota has 5 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.