Clay County, South Dakota: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Vermillion
No data center or power plant project is on record in Clay County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Clay County is home to Vermillion and Fairview Township. Next door, Yankton County has 2 data centers. Construction employs 159, up 1.9% since 2019. Its power plants have 135 MW of capacity, 100% of it petroleum. Unemployment was 2.1% in August 2026, against 2.6% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Clay County
Clay County is home to Vermillion and Fairview Township.
- Irene also extends into Turner County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Burbank, Meckling.
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 Clay County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in South Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 15,004 | 15,031 | ▲ 0.2% | 14th of 66 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 6,101 | 6,112 | ▲ 0.2% | 44th of 66 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $38,370 | $50,529 | ▲ 31.7% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 156 | 159 | ▲ 1.9% | 26th of 31 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 16 | 15 | ▼ 6.2% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.6% | 2.1% | ▼ 0.5pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Southeastern Electric Coop Inc - (SD) is the largest utility serving Clay County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.41¢/kWh in 2024. Electrical contractors employ 15, down 6.2% since 2019 against up 38.0% statewide, at an average $57,570 a year. Employers here counted 6,112 jobs in 2025, up 0.2% from 2019. 15,031 people live here, up 0.2% since 2020.
Who powers Clay County
Utilities with service territory in Clay County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeastern Electric Coop Inc - (SD) | Cooperative | Bundled | 20,160 | 12.41¢ | 26% |
| Clay-Union Electric Corp | — | — | — | — | — |
| City of Vermillion - (SD) | — | — | — | — | — |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Petroleum | 135 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Mound | Basin Electric Power Coop | Petroleum | 135 MW | 1978 |
The Clay County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 6,112 | $50,529 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 159 | $58,124 | 0.49 |
| Electrical contractors | 15 | $57,570 | 0.34 |
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 Clay County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Clay County. South Dakota has 4 local measures on record statewide, and 2 neighboring counties have one: Lincoln County, Yankton County.
Clay County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Clay County, Yankton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | 15,031 | ▲ 0.2% | 135 MW | — | — | — |
| Cedar County NE | 8,373 | ▲ 2.3% | 136 MW | — | — | — |
| Dixon County NE | 5,602 | ▼ 3.1% | 324 MW | — | — | — |
| Lincoln County | 77,145 | ▲ 27.9% | 4 MW | — | 1 | 1 |
| Turner County | 9,314 | ▲ 17.0% | 5 MW | — | — | — |
| Union County | 17,402 | ▼ 3.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Yankton County | 23,635 | ▼ 0.2% | 233 MW | — | 2 | 2 |
More of South Dakota
Clay County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Clay County, South Dakota?
4 utilities have service territory in Clay County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Southeastern Electric Coop Inc - (SD), Clay-Union Electric Corp, City of Vermillion - (SD), WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration. The largest, Southeastern Electric Coop Inc - (SD), charged residential customers 12.41¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Vermillion, SD in?
Vermillion is in Clay County, South Dakota. About 11,720 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Clay County?
1 operating plant with 135 MW of capacity. The largest is Spirit Mound (135 MW, petroleum).
Are there data centers in Clay County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Clay County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Yankton County.
Is Clay County adding jobs?
Employers counted 6,112 jobs in 2025 against 6,101 in 2019 (+0.2%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 156 to 159.
Does Clay County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Clay County. South Dakota has 4 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.