Towner County, North Dakota: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Cando
No data center or power plant project is on record in Towner County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Towner County is home to Cando. Employers here counted 644 jobs in 2025, down 10.3% from 2019. Unemployment was 2.0% in August 2026, against 2.7% in 2019. Otter Tail Power Co is the largest utility serving Towner County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 11.38¢/kWh in 2024. 2,040 people live here, down 5.0% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Towner County
Towner County is home to Cando.
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 Towner County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in North Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 2,147 | 2,040 | ▼ 5.0% | 46th of 53 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 718 | 644 | ▼ 10.3% | 47th of 53 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $40,732 | $55,333 | ▲ 35.8% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.7% | 2.0% | ▼ 0.7pts | — |
Who powers Towner County
Utilities with service territory in Towner 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% |
| Northern Plains Electric Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 10,393 | 10.65¢ | 17% |
| 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 Towner County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Towner County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 644 | $55,333 | 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 Towner County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Towner County. North Dakota has 5 local measures on record statewide.
Towner County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Towner County, Cavalier 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Towner County | 2,040 | ▼ 10.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Benson County | 5,759 | ▲ 3.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Cavalier County | 3,497 | ▼ 6.1% | 200 MW | — | — | — |
| Pierce County | 3,838 | ▼ 2.4% | 149 MW | — | — | — |
| Ramsey County | 11,530 | ▼ 2.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Rolette County | 11,688 | ▲ 7.1% | 150 MW | — | — | — |
More of North Dakota
Towner County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Towner County, North Dakota?
3 utilities have service territory in Towner County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Otter Tail Power Co, Northern Plains Electric Coop, 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 Towner County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Towner County.
Is Towner County adding jobs?
Employers counted 644 jobs in 2025 against 718 in 2019 (-10.3%, BLS QCEW).
Does Towner County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Towner County. North Dakota has 5 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.