Charles Mix County, South Dakota: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Wagner and Platte
No data center or power plant project is on record in Charles Mix County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Construction employs 237, up 48.1% since 2019. Charles Mix County is home to Wagner, Platte, Highland Township and White Swan Township. Unemployment was 1.6% in August 2026, against 3.0% in 2019. Its power plants have 320 MW of capacity, 100% of it hydro, the 10th largest fleet in South Dakota. Employers here counted 3,461 jobs in 2025, up 4.4% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Charles Mix County
Charles Mix County is home to Wagner, Platte, Highland Township and White Swan Township.
And 5 smaller places.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Clearfield Colony, Lakeview Colony, Marty, Platte Colony.
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 Charles Mix County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in South Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 9,353 | 9,303 | ▼ 0.5% | 21st of 66 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,315 | 3,461 | ▲ 4.4% | 27th of 66 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $35,938 | $50,931 | ▲ 41.7% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 160 | 237 | ▲ 48.1% | 7th of 31 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 13 | 5 | ▼ 61.5% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.0% | 1.6% | ▼ 1.4pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
NorthWestern Energy - (SD) is the largest utility serving Charles Mix County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.56¢/kWh in 2024. 9,303 people live here, down 0.5% since 2020. Electrical contractors employ 5, down 61.5% since 2019 against up 38.0% statewide, at an average $68,403 a year.
Who powers Charles Mix County
Utilities with service territory in Charles Mix County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NorthWestern Energy - (SD) | Investor Owned | Bundled | 51,467 | 12.56¢ | 40% |
| Charles Mix Electric Assn, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
| Douglas Electric Coop, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
| WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration | Federal | Bundled | — | — | 99% |
| Town of Pickstown - (SD) | — | — | — | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 320 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Randall | USACE-Omaha | Hydro | 320 MW | 1954 |
The Charles Mix County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,461 | $50,931 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 237 | $66,401 | 1.29 |
| Electrical contractors | 5 | $68,403 | 0.20 |
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 Charles Mix County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Charles Mix County. South Dakota has 4 local measures on record statewide.
Charles Mix County and its neighbors
Of the 9 counties that border Charles Mix County, Knox 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Mix County | 9,303 | ▲ 4.4% | 320 MW | — | — | — |
| Aurora County | 2,801 | ▼ 14.1% | 20 MW | — | — | — |
| Bon Homme County | 7,244 | ▼ 2.9% | 80 MW | — | — | — |
| Boyd County NE | 1,674 | ▼ 9.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Brule County | 5,278 | ▲ 3.8% | 20 MW | — | — | — |
| Douglas County | 2,888 | ▼ 3.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Gregory County | 4,037 | ▲ 6.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Hutchinson County | 7,413 | ▲ 4.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Knox County NE | 8,335 | ▲ 0.3% | 121 MW | — | — | — |
| Lyman County | 3,694 | ▼ 2.2% | — | — | — | — |
More of South Dakota
Charles Mix County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Charles Mix County, South Dakota?
5 utilities have service territory in Charles Mix County in the EIA-861 2024 report: NorthWestern Energy - (SD), Charles Mix Electric Assn, Inc, Douglas Electric Coop, Inc, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration. The largest, NorthWestern Energy - (SD), charged residential customers 12.56¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Charles Mix County?
1 operating plant with 320 MW of capacity. The largest is Fort Randall (320 MW, hydro).
Are there data centers in Charles Mix County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Charles Mix County.
Is Charles Mix County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,461 jobs in 2025 against 3,315 in 2019 (+4.4%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 160 to 237.
Does Charles Mix County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Charles Mix County. South Dakota has 4 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.