Douglas County, South Dakota: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Greenwood Colony and Harrison
No data center or power plant project is on record in Douglas County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Douglas County is home to Armour and Corsica. Employers here counted 1,050 jobs in 2025, down 3.1% from 2019. NorthWestern Energy - (SD) is the largest utility serving Douglas County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.56¢/kWh in 2024. Unemployment was 2.5% in August 2026, against 2.6% in 2019. 2,888 people live here, up 1.9% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Douglas County
Douglas County is home to Armour and Corsica.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Greenwood Colony, Harrison, New Holland.
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 Douglas County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in South Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 2,834 | 2,888 | ▲ 1.9% | 48th of 66 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,084 | 1,050 | ▼ 3.1% | 55th of 66 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $35,659 | $47,141 | ▲ 32.2% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 69 | 86 | ▲ 24.6% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.6% | 2.5% | ▼ 0.1pts | — |
Who powers Douglas County
Utilities with service territory in Douglas 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% |
| Southeastern Electric Coop Inc - (SD) | Cooperative | Bundled | 20,160 | 12.41¢ | 26% |
| Charles Mix Electric Assn, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
| 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.
No operating power plant is located in Douglas County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Douglas County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,050 | $47,141 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 86 | $68,618 | 1.55 |
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 Douglas County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Douglas County. South Dakota has 4 local measures on record statewide.
Douglas County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Douglas County, Charles Mix 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | 2,888 | ▼ 3.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Aurora County | 2,801 | ▼ 14.1% | 20 MW | — | — | — |
| Charles Mix County | 9,303 | ▲ 4.4% | 320 MW | — | — | — |
| Davison County | 20,069 | ▲ 2.5% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
| Hutchinson County | 7,413 | ▲ 4.4% | — | — | — | — |
More of South Dakota
Douglas County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Douglas County, South Dakota?
5 utilities have service territory in Douglas County in the EIA-861 2024 report: NorthWestern Energy - (SD), Southeastern Electric Coop Inc - (SD), Charles Mix Electric Assn, Inc, Douglas Electric Coop, Inc. The largest, NorthWestern Energy - (SD), charged residential customers 12.56¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Douglas County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Douglas County.
Is Douglas County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,050 jobs in 2025 against 1,084 in 2019 (-3.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 69 to 86.
Does Douglas County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Douglas County. South Dakota has 4 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.