Idaho County, Idaho: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Grangeville
Idaho 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. Idaho County is home to Grangeville, Cottonwood and Kooskia. Construction employs 434, up 28.8% since 2019, and construction is 1.8 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Next door, Missoula County, Montana, has 3 data centers. Employers here counted 4,573 jobs in 2025, up 4.8% from 2019. Unemployment was 3.6% in August 2026, against 4.3% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Idaho County
Idaho County is home to Grangeville, Cottonwood and Kooskia.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Elk City.
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 Idaho County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Idaho |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 16,592 | 17,874 | ▲ 7.7% | 20th of 44 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 4,365 | 4,573 | ▲ 4.8% | 37th of 44 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $37,345 | $49,345 | ▲ 32.1% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 337 | 434 | ▲ 28.8% | 24th of 33 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.3% | 3.6% | ▼ 0.7pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Its power plants have 3 MW of capacity, 100% of it hydro. Idaho Power Co is the largest utility serving Idaho County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 11.76¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.00¢ median for Idaho utilities. 17,874 people live here, up 7.7% since 2020.
Who powers Idaho County
Utilities with service territory in Idaho County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 525,751 | 11.76¢ | 27% |
| Avista Corp | Investor Owned | Bundled | 128,226 | 11.62¢ | 30% |
| Missoula Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 46 | 10.00¢ | 56% |
| Clearwater Power Company | — | — | — | — | — |
| Idaho County L&P Coop Assn, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
Operating power plants 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 3 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Dorado Hydro Elk Creek | Hydroland Omega LLC | Hydro | 3 MW | 1986 |
The Idaho County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 4,573 | $49,345 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 434 | $50,732 | 1.79 |
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 Idaho County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Idaho County. Idaho has 4 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Missoula County.
Idaho County and its neighbors
Of the 9 counties that border Idaho County, Missoula 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho County | 17,874 | ▲ 4.8% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
| Adams County | 5,013 | ▲ 2.3% | 6 MW | — | — | — |
| Clearwater County | 9,118 | ▲ 6.3% | 466 MW | — | — | — |
| Lemhi County | 8,474 | ▲ 8.7% | 5 MW | — | — | — |
| Lewis County | 3,704 | ▼ 8.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Missoula County MT | 123,513 | ▲ 7.3% | 6 MW | — | 3 | 1 |
| Nez Perce County | 42,905 | ▲ 3.9% | 114 MW | — | — | — |
| Ravalli County MT | 48,582 | ▲ 13.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Valley County | 12,831 | ▲ 16.2% | 12 MW | — | — | — |
| Wallowa County OR | 7,595 | ▲ 8.3% | 412 MW | — | — | — |
More of Idaho
Idaho County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Idaho County, Idaho?
5 utilities have service territory in Idaho County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Idaho Power Co, Avista Corp, Missoula Electric Coop, Inc, Clearwater Power Company. The largest, Idaho Power Co, charged residential customers 11.76¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Idaho County?
1 operating plant with 3 MW of capacity. The largest is El Dorado Hydro Elk Creek (3 MW, hydro).
Are there data centers in Idaho County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Idaho County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Missoula County.
Is Idaho County adding jobs?
Employers counted 4,573 jobs in 2025 against 4,365 in 2019 (+4.8%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 337 to 434.
Does Idaho County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Idaho County. Idaho has 4 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.