Campbell County, South Dakota: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
No data center or power plant project is on record in Campbell County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Campbell County is home to Herreid, Pollock and Mound City. Unemployment was 4.4% in August 2026, against 3.2% in 2019. Employers here counted 411 jobs in 2025, down 5.3% from 2019. Its power plants have 94 MW of capacity, 100% of it wind. Montana-Dakota Utilities Co is the largest utility serving Campbell County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.59¢/kWh in 2024, above the 12.48¢ median for South Dakota utilities.
Cities and towns in Campbell County
Campbell County is home to Herreid, Pollock and Mound City.
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 Campbell County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in South Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 1,378 | 1,377 | ▼ 0.1% | 63rd of 66 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 434 | 411 | ▼ 5.3% | 62nd of 66 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $36,482 | $47,027 | ▲ 28.9% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.2% | 4.4% | ▲ 1.2pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
1,377 people live here, down 0.1% since 2020.
Who powers Campbell County
Utilities with service territory in Campbell County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana-Dakota Utilities Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 6,367 | 14.59¢ | 48% |
| Cam Wal Electric Coop, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
| WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration | Federal | Bundled | — | — | 99% |
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 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Wind | 94 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campbell County Wind Farm | RWE Clean Energy | Wind | 94 MW | 2015 |
The Campbell County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 411 | $47,027 | 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 Campbell County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Campbell County. South Dakota has 4 local measures on record statewide.
Campbell County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Campbell County, Emmons 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campbell County | 1,377 | ▼ 5.3% | 94 MW | — | — | — |
| Corson County | 3,781 | ▼ 4.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Emmons County ND | 3,215 | ▼ 0.3% | 200 MW | 140 MW | — | — |
| McIntosh County ND | 2,451 | ▼ 3.2% | 400 MW | — | — | — |
| McPherson County | 2,347 | ▼ 2.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Walworth County | 5,217 | ▲ 0.7% | — | — | — | — |
More of South Dakota
Campbell County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Campbell County, South Dakota?
3 utilities have service territory in Campbell County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Montana-Dakota Utilities Co, Cam Wal Electric Coop, Inc, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration. The largest, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co, charged residential customers 14.59¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Campbell County?
1 operating plant with 94 MW of capacity. The largest is Campbell County Wind Farm (94 MW, wind).
Are there data centers in Campbell County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Campbell County.
Is Campbell County adding jobs?
Employers counted 411 jobs in 2025 against 434 in 2019 (-5.3%, BLS QCEW).
Does Campbell County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Campbell County. South Dakota has 4 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.