Archuleta County, Colorado: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Pagosa Springs
Local rules on data centers are on the record in Archuleta County. Construction employs 503, up 50.1% since 2019, and construction is 1.9 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Archuleta County is home to Pagosa Springs. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “County moratorium on data centers through December 16, 2026”. Employers here counted 4,904 jobs in 2025, up 14.4% from 2019 (the 6th fastest growth of 64 Colorado counties). Unemployment was 4.3% in August 2026, against 3.2% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Archuleta County
Archuleta County is home to Pagosa Springs.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Arboles.
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 Archuleta County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Colorado |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 13,426 | 14,306 | ▲ 6.6% | 34th of 64 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 4,285 | 4,904 | ▲ 14.4% | 6th of 64 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $36,668 | $51,449 | ▲ 40.3% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 335 | 503 | ▲ 50.1% | 4th of 38 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 41 | 42 | ▲ 2.4% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.2% | 4.3% | ▲ 1.1pts | — |
Electrical contractors employ 42, up 2.4% since 2019 against up 9.0% statewide, at an average $86,192 a year. Public Service Co of Colorado is the largest utility serving Archuleta County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.05¢/kWh in 2024. 14,306 people live here, up 6.6% since 2020.
Who powers Archuleta County
Utilities with service territory in Archuleta County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Service Co of Colorado | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,365,053 | 15.05¢ | 44% |
| La Plata Electric Assn, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 39,931 | 16.71¢ | 29% |
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 Archuleta County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Archuleta County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 4,904 | $51,449 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 503 | $66,047 | 1.94 |
| Electrical contractors | 42 | $86,192 | 1.19 |
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 Archuleta County
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| County moratorium on data centers through December 16, 2026 | In force | 2026-01 |
Archuleta County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Archuleta County, San Juan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archuleta County | 14,306 | ▲ 14.4% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Conejos County | 7,529 | ▲ 7.9% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
| Hinsdale County | 753 | ▲ 10.6% | — | — | — | — |
| La Plata County | 56,898 | ▲ 4.5% | 18 MW | — | — | — |
| Mineral County | 910 | ▼ 1.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Rio Arriba County NM | 39,832 | ▼ 2.8% | 338 MW | — | — | — |
| Rio Grande County | 11,087 | ▲ 6.7% | 2 MW | — | — | — |
| San Juan County NM | 120,340 | ▲ 2.4% | 2,052 MW | 1,729 MW | — | — |
More of Colorado
Archuleta County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Archuleta County, Colorado?
2 utilities have service territory in Archuleta County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Public Service Co of Colorado, La Plata Electric Assn, Inc. The largest, Public Service Co of Colorado, charged residential customers 15.05¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Archuleta County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Archuleta County. The nearest activity on record is next door in San Juan County.
Is Archuleta County adding jobs?
Employers counted 4,904 jobs in 2025 against 4,285 in 2019 (+14.4%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 335 to 503.
Does Archuleta County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Archuleta County, 1 in force.