Todd County, South Dakota: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Mission
No data center or power plant project is on record in Todd County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Todd County is home to Mission. Employers here counted 2,837 jobs in 2025, down 4.3% from 2019. Unemployment was 7.4% in August 2026, against 6.9% in 2019. Cherry-Todd Electric Coop, Inc is the largest utility serving Todd County, one of 3 with territory here. 8,863 people live here, down 4.9% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Todd County
Todd County is home to Mission.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Antelope, Okreek, Parmelee, Rosebud, Sicangu Village, Soldier Creek, Spring Creek, Two Strike, White Horse.
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 Todd County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in South Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 9,316 | 8,863 | ▼ 4.9% | 22nd of 66 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,963 | 2,837 | ▼ 4.3% | 58th of 66 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $37,720 | $54,514 | ▲ 44.5% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 6.9% | 7.4% | ▲ 0.5pts | — |
Who powers Todd County
Utilities with service territory in Todd County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry-Todd Electric Coop, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
| LaCreek Electric Assn, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
| 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 Todd County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Todd County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,837 | $54,514 | 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 Todd County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Todd County. South Dakota has 4 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Cherry County.
Todd County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Todd County, Keya Paha 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Todd County | 8,863 | ▼ 4.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Bennett County | 3,307 | ▲ 0.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Cherry County NE | 5,561 | ▼ 1.1% | 2 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Jackson County | 2,666 | ▼ 2.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Keya Paha County NE | 792 | ▲ 2.9% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
| Mellette County | 2,137 | ▲ 3.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Tripp County | 5,708 | ▲ 3.4% | — | — | — | — |
More of South Dakota
Todd County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Todd County, South Dakota?
3 utilities have service territory in Todd County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Cherry-Todd Electric Coop, Inc, LaCreek Electric Assn, Inc, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration.
Are there data centers in Todd County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Todd County.
Is Todd County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,837 jobs in 2025 against 2,963 in 2019 (-4.3%, BLS QCEW).
Does Todd County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Todd County. South Dakota has 4 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.