Prairie County, Arkansas: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Des Arc and Hazen
No data center or power plant project is on record in Prairie County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Prairie County is home to Des Arc and Hazen. 10 MW of new generation is planned here across 2 units, led by SR Des Arc, LLC (solar). 5 MW of it is already under construction or built. Next door, White County has 1 data center. Unemployment was 3.5% in August 2026, against 4.2% in 2019. Employers here counted 1,437 jobs in 2025, down 1.9% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Prairie County
Prairie County is home to Des Arc and Hazen.
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 Prairie County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Arkansas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 8,247 | 7,923 | ▼ 3.9% | 67th of 75 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,465 | 1,437 | ▼ 1.9% | 44th of 75 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $33,553 | $46,199 | ▲ 37.7% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.2% | 3.5% | ▼ 0.7pts | — |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 10 MW | no fleet today | 11th of 14 by size |
Entergy Arkansas LLC is the largest utility serving Prairie County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.97¢/kWh in 2024, above the 12.11¢ median for Arkansas utilities. 7,923 people live here, down 3.9% since 2020.
Who powers Prairie County
Utilities with service territory in Prairie County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entergy Arkansas LLC | Investor Owned | Bundled | 608,362 | 12.97¢ | 25% |
| First Electric Coop Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 95,175 | 12.27¢ | 11% |
| Woodruff Electric Coop Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 12,125 | 11.40¢ | 34% |
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 Prairie County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Planned generation 2
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SR Des Arc | Solar Photovoltaic | 5 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2026 | SR Des Arc, LLC |
| SR Ulm | Solar Photovoltaic | 5 MW | Approvals received | 2027 | SR Ulm, LLC |
The Prairie County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,437 | $46,199 | 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 Prairie County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Prairie County. Arkansas has 13 local measures on record statewide.
Prairie County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Prairie County, Arkansas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie County | 7,923 | ▼ 1.9% | — | 10 MW | — | — |
| Arkansas County | 15,836 | ▼ 11.7% | 81 MW | 155 MW | — | — |
| Lonoke County | 76,664 | ▲ 14.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Monroe County | 6,244 | ▼ 14.4% | — | — | — | — |
| White County | 80,085 | ▲ 11.2% | 209 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Woodruff County | 5,710 | ▲ 18.7% | 122 MW | — | — | — |
More of Arkansas
Prairie County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Prairie County, Arkansas?
3 utilities have service territory in Prairie County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Entergy Arkansas LLC, First Electric Coop Corp, Woodruff Electric Coop Corp. The largest, Entergy Arkansas LLC, charged residential customers 12.97¢/kWh on average in 2024.
How much new power is planned in Prairie County?
10 MW across 2 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 5 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is SR Des Arc, LLC.
Are there data centers in Prairie County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Prairie County. The nearest activity on record is next door in White County.
Is Prairie County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,437 jobs in 2025 against 1,465 in 2019 (-1.9%, BLS QCEW).
Does Prairie County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Prairie County. Arkansas has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.