Data center construction is booming across US, specifically in rural areas

Data center construction is booming across US, specifically in rural areas

News ClipBaltimore Sun·MD·4/20/2026

A new analysis by the Pew Research Center reveals a significant boom in data center construction across the US, with over 1,500 facilities currently in development. This analysis highlights a notable shift, as 67% of these new data centers are being built in rural areas, contrasting sharply with the 87% of existing data centers located in urban areas.

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New analysis from the Pew Research Center revealed more than 1,500 are in development, with 67% being built outside urban areas. The analysis showed 87% of existing data centers are located in urban areas. But well over half of the new ones…