Hyde County, South Dakota: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Stephan
Hyde County is not a build-out site today. It feels the boom through the grid it shares, the utilities that serve it and the work nearby. Hyde County is home to Highmore. Unemployment was 1.3% in August 2026, against 2.7% in 2019. 450 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly wind. Its power plants have 491 MW of capacity, 100% of it wind, the 6th largest fleet in South Dakota. Employers here counted 546 jobs in 2025, down 2.7% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Hyde County
Hyde County is home to Highmore.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Stephan.
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 Hyde County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in South Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 1,248 | 1,191 | ▼ 4.6% | 65th of 66 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 561 | 546 | ▼ 2.7% | 51st of 66 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,794 | $55,388 | ▲ 39.2% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.7% | 1.3% | ▼ 1.4pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 450 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
NorthWestern Energy - (SD) is the largest utility serving Hyde County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.56¢/kWh in 2024. 1,191 people live here, down 4.6% since 2020.
Who powers Hyde County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +450 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Hyde 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% |
| Dakota Energy Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 3,224 | 15.30¢ | 18% |
| 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 3
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Wind | 491 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triple H Wind Project | Engie North America | Wind | 250 MW | 2020 |
| North Bend Wind Project, LLC | North Bend Wind Project, LLC | Wind | 200 MW | 2023 |
| South Dakota Wind Energy Cente | FPL Energy South Dakota Wind LLC | Wind | 40 MW | 2003 |
The Hyde County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 546 | $55,388 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 23 | $54,878 | 0.80 |
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 Hyde County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Hyde County. South Dakota has 4 local measures on record statewide.
Hyde County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Hyde County, Hughes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyde County | 1,191 | ▼ 2.7% | 491 MW | — | — | — |
| Buffalo County | 1,802 | ▲ 8.2% | 538 MW | — | — | — |
| Faulk County | 2,178 | ▲ 11.3% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
| Hand County | 3,121 | ▲ 4.7% | 226 MW | — | — | — |
| Hughes County | 17,570 | ▲ 0.7% | 787 MW | — | — | — |
| Lyman County | 3,694 | ▼ 2.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Potter County | 2,377 | ▲ 2.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Sully County | 1,479 | ▼ 9.1% | — | — | — | — |
More of South Dakota
Hyde County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Hyde County, South Dakota?
3 utilities have service territory in Hyde County in the EIA-861 2024 report: NorthWestern Energy - (SD), Dakota Energy 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 Hyde County?
3 operating plants with 491 MW of capacity. The largest is Triple H Wind Project (250 MW, wind).
Are there data centers in Hyde County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Hyde County.
Is Hyde County adding jobs?
Employers counted 546 jobs in 2025 against 561 in 2019 (-2.7%, BLS QCEW).
Does Hyde County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Hyde County. South Dakota has 4 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.