Moody County, South Dakota: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Flandreau
No data center or power plant project is on record in Moody County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Moody County is home to Flandreau and Colman. Construction employs 248, up 17.5% since 2019, and construction is 1.8 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Next door, Minnehaha County has 6 data centers. Unemployment was 2.0% in August 2026, against 3.6% in 2019. Employers here counted 2,552 jobs in 2025, down 6.0% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Moody County
Moody County is home to Flandreau and Colman.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Pleasant Valley 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 Moody County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in South Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 6,346 | 6,632 | ▲ 4.5% | 28th of 66 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,716 | 2,552 | ▼ 6.0% | 63rd of 66 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $40,266 | $55,560 | ▲ 38.0% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 211 | 248 | ▲ 17.5% | 18th of 31 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.6% | 2.0% | ▼ 1.6pts | — |
Northern States Power Co - Minnesota is the largest utility serving Moody County, one of 6 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 13.87¢/kWh in 2024, above the 12.48¢ median for South Dakota utilities. 6,632 people live here, up 4.5% since 2020.
Who powers Moody County
Utilities with service territory in Moody 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% |
| Otter Tail Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 9,048 | 10.93¢ | 78% |
| City of Colman - (SD) | — | — | — | — | — |
| City of Flandreau | — | — | — | — | — |
| 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 Moody County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Moody County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,552 | $55,560 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 248 | $67,077 | 1.83 |
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 Moody County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Moody County. South Dakota has 4 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Minnehaha County.
Moody County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Moody 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moody County | 6,632 | ▼ 6.0% | — | — | — | — |
| Brookings County | 37,635 | ▲ 5.2% | 682 MW | 5 MW | — | — |
| Lake County | 10,993 | ▲ 2.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Lincoln County MN | 5,583 | ▲ 0.2% | 1,052 MW | — | — | — |
| Minnehaha County | 212,691 | ▲ 8.7% | 406 MW | — | 6 | 1 |
| Pipestone County MN | 9,260 | ▼ 5.3% | 385 MW | — | — | — |
| Rock County MN | 9,524 | ▲ 17.3% | 328 MW | — | — | — |
More of South Dakota
Moody County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Moody County, South Dakota?
6 utilities have service territory in Moody County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Northern States Power Co - Minnesota, Sioux Valley SW Elec Coop, Otter Tail Power Co, City of Colman - (SD). The largest, Northern States Power Co - Minnesota, charged residential customers 13.87¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Moody County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Moody County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Minnehaha County.
Is Moody County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,552 jobs in 2025 against 2,716 in 2019 (-6.0%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 211 to 248.
Does Moody County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Moody County. South Dakota has 4 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.