Hanson County, South Dakota: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Millbrook Colony and Oak Lane Colony
No data center or power plant project is on record in Hanson County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Hanson County is home to Alexandria. Unemployment was 2.9% in August 2026, against 3.9% in 2019. Employers here counted 623 jobs in 2025, up 2.1% from 2019. Northern States Power Co - Minnesota is the largest utility serving Hanson County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 13.87¢/kWh in 2024, above the 12.48¢ median for South Dakota utilities. 3,456 people live here, down 0.3% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Hanson County
Hanson County is home to Alexandria.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Millbrook Colony, Oak Lane Colony, Rockport Colony, Rosedale 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 Hanson County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in South Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 3,466 | 3,456 | ▼ 0.3% | 44th of 66 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 610 | 623 | ▲ 2.1% | 38th of 66 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,684 | $49,714 | ▲ 25.3% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 60 | 87 | ▲ 45.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.9% | 2.9% | ▼ 1.0pts | — |
Who powers Hanson County
Utilities with service territory in Hanson County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern States Power Co - Minnesota | Investor Owned | Bundled | 92,204 | 13.87¢ | 45% |
| NorthWestern Energy - (SD) | Investor Owned | Bundled | 51,467 | 12.56¢ | 40% |
| Southeastern Electric Coop Inc - (SD) | Cooperative | Bundled | 20,160 | 12.41¢ | 26% |
| Central Electric Coop, Inc - (SD) | Cooperative | Bundled | 6,483 | 13.64¢ | 8% |
| 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 Hanson County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Hanson County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 623 | $49,714 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 87 | $60,685 | 2.64 |
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 Hanson County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Hanson County. South Dakota has 4 local measures on record statewide.
Hanson County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Hanson County, McCook 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanson County | 3,456 | ▲ 2.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Davison County | 20,069 | ▲ 2.5% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
| Hutchinson County | 7,413 | ▲ 4.4% | — | — | — | — |
| McCook County | 5,964 | ▲ 8.9% | — | 99 MW | — | — |
| Miner County | 2,281 | ▲ 5.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Sanborn County | 2,388 | ▲ 13.2% | — | — | — | — |
More of South Dakota
Hanson County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Hanson County, South Dakota?
5 utilities have service territory in Hanson County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Northern States Power Co - Minnesota, NorthWestern Energy - (SD), Southeastern Electric Coop Inc - (SD), Central Electric Coop, Inc - (SD). The largest, Northern States Power Co - Minnesota, charged residential customers 13.87¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Hanson County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Hanson County.
Is Hanson County adding jobs?
Employers counted 623 jobs in 2025 against 610 in 2019 (+2.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 60 to 87.
Does Hanson County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Hanson County. South Dakota has 4 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.