Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Kyle and Manderson-White Horse Creek
No data center or power plant project is on record in Oglala Lakota County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Oglala Lakota County is home to Batesland. Unemployment was 5.3% in August 2026, against 7.4% in 2019. Next door, Pennington County has 2 data centers. Employers here counted 3,808 jobs in 2025, up 3.3% from 2019. West River Electric Assn Inc is the largest utility serving Oglala Lakota County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.25¢/kWh in 2024, above the 12.48¢ median for South Dakota utilities.
Cities and towns in Oglala Lakota County
Oglala Lakota County is home to Batesland.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Kyle, Manderson-White Horse Creek, Oglala, Pine Ridge, Porcupine, Wounded Knee.
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 Oglala Lakota County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in South Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 13,647 | 13,338 | ▼ 2.3% | 15th of 66 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,688 | 3,808 | ▲ 3.3% | 33rd of 66 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $42,058 | $52,383 | ▲ 24.5% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 43 | 83 | ▲ 93.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 7.4% | 5.3% | ▼ 2.1pts | — |
13,338 people live here, down 2.3% since 2020.
Who powers Oglala Lakota County
Utilities with service territory in Oglala Lakota County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West River Electric Assn Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 18,423 | 14.25¢ | 30% |
| Black Hills Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 9,227 | 14.76¢ | 22% |
| Nebraska Public Power District | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 1,044 | 9.73¢ | 57% |
| LaCreek Electric Assn, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Oglala Lakota County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Oglala Lakota County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,808 | $52,383 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 83 | $45,599 | 0.41 |
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 Oglala Lakota County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Oglala Lakota County. South Dakota has 4 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Cherry County.
Oglala Lakota County and its neighbors
Of the 8 counties that border Oglala Lakota County, Pennington 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oglala Lakota County | 13,338 | ▲ 3.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Bennett County | 3,307 | ▲ 0.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Cherry County NE | 5,561 | ▼ 1.1% | 2 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Custer County | 9,431 | ▲ 10.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Dawes County NE | 7,858 | ▲ 1.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Fall River County | 7,467 | ▲ 2.2% | 80 MW | — | — | — |
| Jackson County | 2,666 | ▼ 2.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Pennington County | 116,792 | ▲ 8.8% | 278 MW | 100 MW | 2 | — |
| Sheridan County NE | 4,809 | ▲ 2.8% | — | — | — | — |
More of South Dakota
Oglala Lakota County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota?
4 utilities have service territory in Oglala Lakota County in the EIA-861 2024 report: West River Electric Assn Inc, Black Hills Electric Coop, Inc, Nebraska Public Power District, LaCreek Electric Assn, Inc. The largest, West River Electric Assn Inc, charged residential customers 14.25¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Oglala Lakota County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Oglala Lakota County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Pennington County.
Is Oglala Lakota County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,808 jobs in 2025 against 3,688 in 2019 (+3.3%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 43 to 83.
Does Oglala Lakota County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Oglala Lakota County. South Dakota has 4 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.