Davison County, South Dakota: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Mitchell
No data center or power plant project is on record in Davison County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Construction employs 1,004, up 51.9% since 2019, and construction is 1.5 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Davison County is home to Mitchell and Prosper Township. 4 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly natural gas. Its power plants have 4 MW of capacity, 100% of it natural gas. Unemployment was 1.8% in August 2026, against 2.4% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Davison County
Davison County is home to Mitchell and Prosper Township.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Loomis.
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 Davison County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in South Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 19,960 | 20,069 | ▲ 0.5% | 10th of 66 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 12,170 | 12,474 | ▲ 2.5% | 35th of 66 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $41,415 | $57,416 | ▲ 38.6% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 661 | 1,004 | ▲ 51.9% | 5th of 31 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.4% | 1.8% | ▼ 0.6pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 4 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Employers here counted 12,474 jobs in 2025, up 2.5% from 2019. NorthWestern Energy - (SD) is the largest utility serving Davison County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.56¢/kWh in 2024. 20,069 people live here, up 0.5% since 2020, 10th of 66 South Dakota counties by population.
Who powers Davison County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +4 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Davison 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% |
| Central Electric Coop, Inc - (SD) | Cooperative | Bundled | 6,483 | 13.64¢ | 8% |
| Douglas 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | 4 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POET Bioprocessing- Mitchell | POET Bioprocessing- Mitchell | Natural gas | 4 MW | 2021 |
The Davison County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 12,474 | $57,416 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 1,004 | $74,092 | 1.52 |
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 Davison County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Davison County. South Dakota has 4 local measures on record statewide.
Davison County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Davison County, Aurora 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davison County | 20,069 | ▲ 2.5% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
| Aurora County | 2,801 | ▼ 14.1% | 20 MW | — | — | — |
| Douglas County | 2,888 | ▼ 3.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Hanson County | 3,456 | ▲ 2.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Hutchinson County | 7,413 | ▲ 4.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Sanborn County | 2,388 | ▲ 13.2% | — | — | — | — |
More of South Dakota
Davison County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Davison County, South Dakota?
4 utilities have service territory in Davison County in the EIA-861 2024 report: NorthWestern Energy - (SD), Central Electric Coop, Inc - (SD), 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 county is Mitchell, SD in?
Mitchell is in Davison County, South Dakota. About 15,756 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Davison County?
1 operating plant with 4 MW of capacity. The largest is POET Bioprocessing- Mitchell (4 MW, natural gas).
Are there data centers in Davison County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Davison County.
Is Davison County adding jobs?
Employers counted 12,474 jobs in 2025 against 12,170 in 2019 (+2.5%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 661 to 1,004.
Does Davison County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Davison County. South Dakota has 4 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.