Gilpin County, Colorado: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Coal Creek and Rollinsville
No data center or power plant project is on record in Gilpin County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Gilpin County is home to Central. Next door, Boulder County has 3 data centers. Unemployment was 3.9% in August 2026, against 2.3% in 2019. Employers here counted 4,789 jobs in 2025, up 2.6% from 2019. Public Service Co of Colorado is the largest utility serving Gilpin County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.05¢/kWh in 2024.
Cities and towns in Gilpin County
Gilpin County is home to Central.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Coal Creek, Rollinsville.
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 Gilpin County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Colorado |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 5,817 | 6,073 | ▲ 4.4% | 47th of 64 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 4,668 | 4,789 | ▲ 2.6% | 40th of 64 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $45,108 | $68,955 | ▲ 52.9% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 54 | 61 | ▲ 13.0% | — |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 11 | 6 | ▼ 45.5% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.3% | 3.9% | ▲ 1.6pts | — |
6,073 people live here, up 4.4% since 2020. Electrical contractors employ 6, down 45.5% since 2019 against up 9.0% statewide, at an average $49,928 a year.
Who powers Gilpin County
Utilities with service territory in Gilpin 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% |
| United Power, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 101,502 | 15.75¢ | 19% |
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 Gilpin County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Gilpin County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 4,789 | $68,955 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 61 | $69,814 | 0.24 |
| Electrical contractors | 6 | $49,928 | 0.17 |
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 Gilpin County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Gilpin County. Colorado has 25 local measures on record statewide, and 2 neighboring counties have one: Boulder County, Jefferson County.
Gilpin County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Gilpin County, Boulder 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilpin County | 6,073 | ▲ 2.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Boulder County | 328,560 | ▲ 1.6% | 266 MW | — | 3 | 1 |
| Clear Creek County | 8,994 | ▲ 5.6% | 301 MW | — | — | — |
| Grand County | 16,496 | ▲ 5.9% | 6 MW | — | — | — |
| Jefferson County | 580,451 | ▲ 1.7% | 277 MW | — | 2 | 1 |
More of Colorado
Gilpin County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Gilpin County, Colorado?
2 utilities have service territory in Gilpin County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Public Service Co of Colorado, United Power, Inc. The largest, Public Service Co of Colorado, charged residential customers 15.05¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Gilpin County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Gilpin County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Boulder County.
Is Gilpin County adding jobs?
Employers counted 4,789 jobs in 2025 against 4,668 in 2019 (+2.6%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 54 to 61.
Does Gilpin County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Gilpin County. Colorado has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.