Mineral County, Colorado: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
No data center or power plant project is on record in Mineral County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Mineral County is home to City of Creede. Unemployment was 4.6% in August 2026, against 3.0% in 2019. Employers here counted 607 jobs in 2025, down 1.8% from 2019. Public Service Co of Colorado is the largest utility serving Mineral County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.05¢/kWh in 2024. 910 people live here, up 4.6% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Mineral County
Mineral County is home to City of Creede.
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 Mineral County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Colorado |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 870 | 910 | ▲ 4.6% | 62nd of 64 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 618 | 607 | ▼ 1.8% | 54th of 64 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $29,340 | $47,005 | ▲ 60.2% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.0% | 4.6% | ▲ 1.6pts | — |
Who powers Mineral County
Utilities with service territory in Mineral 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% |
| San Luis Valley R E C, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 9,115 | 18.38¢ | 26% |
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 Mineral County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Mineral County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 607 | $47,005 | 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 Mineral County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Mineral County. Colorado has 25 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Archuleta County.
Mineral County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Mineral County, Saguache 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mineral County | 910 | ▼ 1.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Archuleta County | 14,306 | ▲ 14.4% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Hinsdale County | 753 | ▲ 10.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Rio Grande County | 11,087 | ▲ 6.7% | 2 MW | — | — | — |
| Saguache County | 6,732 | ▼ 0.5% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
More of Colorado
Mineral County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Mineral County, Colorado?
3 utilities have service territory in Mineral County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Public Service Co of Colorado, La Plata Electric Assn, Inc, San Luis Valley R E C, Inc. The largest, Public Service Co of Colorado, charged residential customers 15.05¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Mineral County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Mineral County.
Is Mineral County adding jobs?
Employers counted 607 jobs in 2025 against 618 in 2019 (-1.8%, BLS QCEW).
Does Mineral County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Mineral County. Colorado has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.