San Juan County, Colorado: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
San Juan County is not a build-out site today. It feels the boom through the grid it shares, the utilities that serve it and the work nearby. Employers here counted 450 jobs in 2025, up 28.2% from 2019 (the 3rd fastest growth of 64 Colorado counties). San Juan County is home to Silverton. 813 people live here, up 14.5% since 2020. La Plata Electric Assn, Inc is the largest utility serving San Juan County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 16.71¢/kWh in 2024, above the 15.15¢ median for Colorado utilities. Unemployment was 3.6% in August 2026, against 4.0% in 2019.
Cities and towns in San Juan County
San Juan County is home to Silverton.
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 San Juan County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Colorado |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 710 | 813 | ▲ 14.5% | 63rd of 64 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 351 | 450 | ▲ 28.2% | 3rd of 64 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $27,522 | $44,402 | ▲ 61.3% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.0% | 3.6% | ▼ 0.4pts | — |
Who powers San Juan County
Utilities with service territory in San Juan County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Plata Electric Assn, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 39,931 | 16.71¢ | 29% |
| San Miguel Power Assn, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 12,154 | 16.32¢ | 45% |
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 San Juan County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The San Juan County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 450 | $44,402 | 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 San Juan County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in San Juan County. Colorado has 25 local measures on record statewide.
San Juan County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border San Juan County, Montezuma 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan County | 813 | ▲ 28.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Dolores County | 2,466 | ▼ 3.7% | 110 MW | — | — | — |
| Hinsdale County | 753 | ▲ 10.6% | — | — | — | — |
| La Plata County | 56,898 | ▲ 4.5% | 18 MW | — | — | — |
| Montezuma County | 26,678 | ▲ 1.1% | 22 MW | 140 MW | — | — |
| Ouray County | 5,265 | ▲ 13.0% | 8 MW | — | — | — |
| San Miguel County | 7,753 | ▲ 6.6% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
More of Colorado
San Juan County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in San Juan County, Colorado?
2 utilities have service territory in San Juan County in the EIA-861 2024 report: La Plata Electric Assn, Inc, San Miguel Power Assn, Inc. The largest, La Plata Electric Assn, Inc, charged residential customers 16.71¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in San Juan County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in San Juan County.
Is San Juan County adding jobs?
Employers counted 450 jobs in 2025 against 351 in 2019 (+28.2%, BLS QCEW).
Does San Juan County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for San Juan County. Colorado has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.