McCook County, South Dakota: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Salem
McCook 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. McCook County is home to Salem, Canistota and Bridgewater. 99 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by Geronimo Power (solar), the 3rd largest pipeline among South Dakota's counties. Next door, Minnehaha County has 6 data centers. Employers here counted 1,404 jobs in 2025, up 8.9% from 2019. Unemployment was 1.8% in August 2026, against 2.5% in 2019.
Cities and towns in McCook County
McCook County is home to Salem, Canistota and Bridgewater.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Golden View Colony, Orland 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 McCook County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in South Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 5,671 | 5,964 | ▲ 5.2% | 30th of 66 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,289 | 1,404 | ▲ 8.9% | 13th of 66 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $36,347 | $53,838 | ▲ 48.1% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.5% | 1.8% | ▼ 0.7pts | — |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 99 MW | no fleet today | 3rd of 5 by size |
Northern States Power Co - Minnesota is the largest utility serving McCook County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 13.87¢/kWh in 2024, above the 12.48¢ median for South Dakota utilities. 5,964 people live here, up 5.2% since 2020.
Who powers McCook County
Utilities with service territory in McCook 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% |
| Sioux Valley SW Elec Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 22,213 | 12.94¢ | 6% |
| Southeastern Electric Coop Inc - (SD) | Cooperative | Bundled | 20,160 | 12.41¢ | 26% |
| 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 McCook County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant Solar, LLC | Solar Photovoltaic | 99 MW | Approvals pending | 2027 | Geronimo Power |
The McCook County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,404 | $53,838 | 1.00 |
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 McCook County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in McCook County. South Dakota has 4 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Minnehaha County.
McCook County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border McCook County, Minnehaha 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McCook County | 5,964 | ▲ 8.9% | — | 99 MW | — | — |
| Hanson County | 3,456 | ▲ 2.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Hutchinson County | 7,413 | ▲ 4.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Lake County | 10,993 | ▲ 2.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Miner County | 2,281 | ▲ 5.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Minnehaha County | 212,691 | ▲ 8.7% | 406 MW | — | 6 | 1 |
| Turner County | 9,314 | ▲ 17.0% | 5 MW | — | — | — |
More of South Dakota
McCook County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in McCook County, South Dakota?
4 utilities have service territory in McCook County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Northern States Power Co - Minnesota, Sioux Valley SW Elec Coop, Southeastern Electric Coop Inc - (SD), WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration. The largest, Northern States Power Co - Minnesota, charged residential customers 13.87¢/kWh on average in 2024.
How much new power is planned in McCook County?
99 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Geronimo Power.
Are there data centers in McCook County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in McCook County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Minnehaha County.
Is McCook County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,404 jobs in 2025 against 1,289 in 2019 (+8.9%, BLS QCEW).
Does McCook County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for McCook County. South Dakota has 4 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.