They're probably not very common in the dry flat lands of the plains.
We have one in Clifton, Ohio (birthplace of Woody Hayes!) that was built in the mid-19th century (after the original mill in that location burned down). It has always had a vertical shaft water turbine for power. It was turned into a tourist attraction a few decades ago. So many people asked where the water wheel was that the owner gave up trying to explain what a water turbine was and built an electric motor-powered wooden wheel with a water pump that pumps enough water up to it to make it look authentic.
You can see the phony sluice and the "water wheel" in the upper right of this picture.
https://www.findingohio.com/2021/12/clifton-mill-lights/