Valley County, Idaho: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to McCall and Cascade
Valley 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. Valley County is home to McCall and Cascade. Electrical contractors employ 20, up 42.9% since 2019 against up 66.6% statewide, at an average $57,275 a year. Construction employs 434, down 20.7% since 2019, and construction is 1.4 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Employers here counted 5,740 jobs in 2025, up 16.2% from 2019. Unemployment was 3.4% in August 2026, against 4.3% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Valley County
Valley County is home to McCall and Cascade.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Smiths Ferry, Yellow Pine.
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 Valley County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Idaho |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 11,841 | 12,831 | ▲ 8.4% | 27th of 44 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 4,941 | 5,740 | ▲ 16.2% | 13th of 44 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $37,831 | $53,990 | ▲ 42.7% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 547 | 434 | ▼ 20.7% | 33rd of 33 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 14 | 20 | ▲ 42.9% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.3% | 3.4% | ▼ 0.9pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Its power plants have 12 MW of capacity, 100% of it hydro. 12,831 people live here, up 8.4% since 2020. Idaho Power Co is the largest utility serving Valley County. Its residential customers paid an average 11.76¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.00¢ median for Idaho utilities.
Who powers Valley County
Utilities with service territory in Valley 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% |
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 | 12 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cascade Dam (ID) | Idaho Power Co | Hydro | 12 MW | 1983 |
The Valley County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 5,740 | $53,990 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 434 | $58,687 | 1.43 |
| Electrical contractors | 20 | $57,275 | 0.48 |
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 Valley County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Valley County. Idaho has 4 local measures on record statewide.
Valley County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Valley County, Gem 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley County | 12,831 | ▲ 16.2% | 12 MW | — | — | — |
| Adams County | 5,013 | ▲ 2.3% | 6 MW | — | — | — |
| Boise County | 8,545 | ▲ 5.4% | 9 MW | — | — | — |
| Custer County | 4,636 | ▲ 5.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Gem County | 21,773 | ▲ 20.2% | 10 MW | — | — | — |
| Idaho County | 17,874 | ▲ 4.8% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
| Lemhi County | 8,474 | ▲ 8.7% | 5 MW | — | — | — |
More of Idaho
Valley County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Valley County, Idaho?
1 utility has service territory in Valley County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Idaho Power Co. The largest, Idaho Power Co, charged residential customers 11.76¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Valley County?
1 operating plant with 12 MW of capacity. The largest is Cascade Dam (ID) (12 MW, hydro).
Are there data centers in Valley County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Valley County.
Is Valley County adding jobs?
Employers counted 5,740 jobs in 2025 against 4,941 in 2019 (+16.2%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 547 to 434.
Does Valley County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Valley County. Idaho has 4 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.