Graham County, Arizona: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Safford, Thatcher and Pima
Graham County is one of the places the data center build-out is physically happening. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Graham County. Graham County is home to Safford, Thatcher and Pima. Employers here counted 11,084 jobs in 2025, up 17.7% from 2019 (the 2nd fastest growth of 15 Arizona counties). Electrical contractors employ 16, at an average $46,028 a year. Arizona Public Service Co is the largest utility serving Graham County, one of 7 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 16.45¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.49¢ median for Arizona utilities.
Cities and towns in Graham County
Graham County is home to Safford, Thatcher and Pima.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Bryce, Bylas, Cactus Flats, Central, Fort Thomas, Peridot, San Jose, Solomon, Swift Trail Junction.
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 Graham County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Arizona |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 38,626 | 40,157 | ▲ 4.0% | 13th of 15 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 9,420 | 11,084 | ▲ 17.7% | 2nd of 15 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $44,262 | $58,331 | ▲ 31.8% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.0% | 5.0% | ● 0.0pts | — |
40,157 people live here, up 4.0% since 2020. Unemployment was 5.0% in August 2026, against 5.0% in 2019.
Who powers Graham County
Utilities with service territory in Graham County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Public Service Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,256,120 | 16.45¢ | 48% |
| Sulphur Springs Valley E C Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 46,008 | 13.49¢ | 51% |
| USBIA-San Carlos Project | Federal | Bundled | 11,432 | 19.49¢ | 42% |
| Duncan Valley Elec Coop, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
| Graham County Electric Coop Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
| City of Safford - (AZ) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Town of Thatcher- (AZ) | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Graham County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Graham County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 11,084 | $58,331 | 1.00 |
| Electrical contractors | 16 | $46,028 | 0.20 |
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 Graham County
1 data center in Graham County is on the SAVRN Data Center Map: see them by city and operator.
Graham County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Graham County, Pinal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graham County | 40,157 | ▲ 17.7% | — | — | 1 | — |
| Apache County | 64,445 | ▼ 5.0% | 2,604 MW | — | — | — |
| Cochise County | 126,332 | ▲ 1.3% | 1,666 MW | 351 MW | 1 | — |
| Gila County | 53,801 | ▲ 3.3% | 20 MW | — | — | — |
| Greenlee County | 9,312 | ▲ 9.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Navajo County | 109,946 | ▲ 4.1% | 711 MW | 1,900 MW | — | — |
| Pima County | 1,074,685 | ▲ 3.0% | 2,075 MW | — | 13 | 1 |
| Pinal County | 539,380 | ▲ 26.7% | 4,944 MW | 2,272 MW | — | 1 |
More of Arizona
Graham County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Graham County, Arizona?
7 utilities have service territory in Graham County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Arizona Public Service Co, Sulphur Springs Valley E C Inc, USBIA-San Carlos Project, Duncan Valley Elec Coop, Inc. The largest, Arizona Public Service Co, charged residential customers 16.45¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Safford, AZ in?
Safford is in Graham County, Arizona. About 10,279 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Are there data centers in Graham County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Graham County.
Is Graham County adding jobs?
Employers counted 11,084 jobs in 2025 against 9,420 in 2019 (+17.7%, BLS QCEW).
Does Graham County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Graham County. Arizona has 6 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.