Lewis County, Idaho: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Kamiah
Lewis 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. Lewis County is home to Kamiah. Unemployment was 3.8% in August 2026, against 5.6% in 2019. Employers here counted 1,554 jobs in 2025, down 8.5% from 2019. Avista Corp is the largest utility serving Lewis County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 11.62¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.00¢ median for Idaho utilities. 3,704 people live here, up 4.8% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Lewis County
Lewis County is home to Kamiah.
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 Lewis County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Idaho |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 3,534 | 3,704 | ▲ 4.8% | 41st of 44 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,698 | 1,554 | ▼ 8.5% | 43rd of 44 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $32,871 | $44,584 | ▲ 35.6% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.6% | 3.8% | ▼ 1.8pts | — |
Who powers Lewis County
Utilities with service territory in Lewis County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avista Corp | Investor Owned | Bundled | 128,226 | 11.62¢ | 30% |
| 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.
No operating power plant is located in Lewis County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Lewis County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,554 | $44,584 | 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 Lewis County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Lewis County. Idaho has 4 local measures on record statewide.
Lewis County and its neighbors
Of the 3 counties that border Lewis County, Clearwater 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis County | 3,704 | ▼ 8.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Clearwater County | 9,118 | ▲ 6.3% | 466 MW | — | — | — |
| Idaho County | 17,874 | ▲ 4.8% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
| Nez Perce County | 42,905 | ▲ 3.9% | 114 MW | — | — | — |
More of Idaho
Lewis County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Lewis County, Idaho?
3 utilities have service territory in Lewis County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Avista Corp, Clearwater Power Company, Idaho County L&P Coop Assn, Inc. The largest, Avista Corp, charged residential customers 11.62¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Lewis County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Lewis County.
Is Lewis County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,554 jobs in 2025 against 1,698 in 2019 (-8.5%, BLS QCEW).
Does Lewis County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Lewis County. Idaho has 4 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.