Nelson County, North Dakota: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Dahlen
No data center or power plant project is on record in Nelson County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Nelson County is home to Lakota. Next door, Grand Forks County has 3 data centers. Employers here counted 1,019 jobs in 2025, up 5.5% from 2019 (the 8th fastest growth of 53 North Dakota counties). Unemployment was 1.8% in August 2026, against 2.6% in 2019. Otter Tail Power Co is the largest utility serving Nelson County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 11.38¢/kWh in 2024.
Cities and towns in Nelson County
Nelson County is home to Lakota.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Dahlen.
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 Nelson County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in North Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 2,993 | 2,963 | ▼ 1.0% | 34th of 53 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 966 | 1,019 | ▲ 5.5% | 8th of 53 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $35,528 | $49,777 | ▲ 40.1% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 31 | 66 | ▲ 112.9% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.6% | 1.8% | ▼ 0.8pts | — |
2,963 people live here, down 1.0% since 2020.
Who powers Nelson County
Utilities with service territory in Nelson County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Lakota - (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 Nelson County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Nelson County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,019 | $49,777 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 66 | $64,927 | 1.22 |
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 Nelson County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Nelson County. North Dakota has 5 local measures on record statewide.
Nelson County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Nelson County, Grand Forks 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson County | 2,963 | ▲ 5.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Benson County | 5,759 | ▲ 3.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Eddy County | 2,329 | ▼ 3.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Grand Forks County | 74,501 | ▲ 3.1% | — | — | 3 | — |
| Griggs County | 2,239 | ▼ 7.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Ramsey County | 11,530 | ▼ 2.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Steele County | 1,797 | ▼ 9.1% | 170 MW | — | — | — |
| Walsh County | 10,179 | ▼ 2.9% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
More of North Dakota
Nelson County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Nelson County, North Dakota?
4 utilities have service territory in Nelson County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Otter Tail Power Co, Nodak Electric Coop Inc, City of Lakota - (ND), WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration. The largest, Otter Tail Power Co, charged residential customers 11.38¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Nelson County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Nelson County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Grand Forks County.
Is Nelson County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,019 jobs in 2025 against 966 in 2019 (+5.5%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 31 to 66.
Does Nelson County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Nelson County. North Dakota has 5 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.