Being built
Microsoft Boyd Farms data center (Maiden area)
Microsoft is building a data center off Zeb Haynes Road near Maiden. Work started in 2024 and slowed down, then picked up again in 2026.
Where things stand: Construction began April 2024; slabs were being poured in mid-2026 under a new contractor.
🕒 Latest update (May 2026): Microsoft said crews were doing electrical, utility and slab work, with Clark Construction now in charge.
What we know
- 📍 WhereOff Zeb Haynes Road, west of Maiden, unknown, Catawba County
- 🏢 CompanyMicrosoft
- 👤 Built forMicrosoft
- 🌳 Size300 acres
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromDuke Energy
- 💧 WaterCity of Hickory water. Officials say all sites together will use about 1% of Hickory's daily water capacity, with cooling that uses little water.
- 💸 Tax breaksPart of Microsoft's 2022 deal with Catawba County, Conover, Hickory and Maiden: at least $1 billion for four data centers over 10 years. Microsoft says it will pay property taxes on the full value of buildings and equipment.
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- How many megawatts will it use? 🙋 I'll find out
- Is the site inside Maiden town limits or on county land? 🙋 I'll find out
- Will it have diesel backup generators? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- Nov 2022Microsoft announced at least $1 billion for four data centers in Catawba County.
- April 1, 2024Construction began.
- May 2026Microsoft said crews were doing electrical, utility and slab work, with Clark Construction now in charge.
🛰️ See it from above
An aerial photo of the area.
Photos: USGS The National Map.
Where this comes from
- Boyd Farms datacenter construction update · Microsoft · May 2026
- Joint statement on Microsoft data center development in Catawba County · Catawba County · June 23, 2026
- Microsoft to invest at least $1 billion in North Carolina county · TechXplore (AP) · Nov 2022
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