Blackford County, Indiana: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Licking Township, Hartford City and Harrison Township
Blackford County is a generation frontier for Indiana. Blackford County is home to Licking Township, Hartford City, Harrison Township and Montpelier. 595 MW of new generation is planned here across 3 units, led by Leeward Asset Management, LLC (solar), the 3rd largest pipeline among Indiana's counties. 350 MW of it is already under construction or built. Employers here counted 2,876 jobs in 2025, down 5.7% from 2019. Indiana Michigan Power Co is the largest utility serving Blackford County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 16.31¢/kWh in 2024, above the 14.63¢ median for Indiana utilities. 11,730 people live here, down 3.1% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Blackford County
Blackford County is home to Licking Township, Hartford City, Harrison Township and Montpelier.
- Dunkirk also extends into Jay County.
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 Blackford County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Indiana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 12,108 | 11,730 | ▼ 3.1% | 85th of 92 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,050 | 2,876 | ▼ 5.7% | 80th of 92 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $36,428 | $49,323 | ▲ 35.4% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.7% | 3.7% | ● 0.0pts | — |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 595 MW | no fleet today | 3rd of 16 by size |
Unemployment was 3.7% in August 2026, against 3.7% in 2019.
Who powers Blackford County
Utilities with service territory in Blackford County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Michigan Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 422,062 | 16.31¢ | 28% |
| Jay County Rural E M C | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Blackford County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Planned generation 3
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Trout Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 245 MW | Planned, approvals not started | 2027 | Lake Trout Solar |
| Blackford Wind | Onshore Wind Turbine | 200 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2026 | Leeward Asset Management, LLC |
| Blackford Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 150 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2026 | Leeward Asset Management, LLC |
The Blackford County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,876 | $49,323 | 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 Blackford County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Blackford County. Indiana has 40 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Grant County.
Blackford County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Blackford County, Jay 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackford County | 11,730 | ▼ 5.7% | — | 595 MW | — | — |
| Delaware County | 113,106 | ▼ 1.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Grant County | 66,524 | ▲ 1.8% | 7 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Jay County | 20,118 | ▼ 2.2% | 273 MW | 139 MW | — | — |
| Wells County | 28,883 | ▲ 4.4% | 236 MW | — | — | — |
More of Indiana
Blackford County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Blackford County, Indiana?
2 utilities have service territory in Blackford County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Indiana Michigan Power Co, Jay County Rural E M C. The largest, Indiana Michigan Power Co, charged residential customers 16.31¢/kWh on average in 2024.
How much new power is planned in Blackford County?
595 MW across 3 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 350 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Leeward Asset Management, LLC.
Are there data centers in Blackford County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Blackford County.
Is Blackford County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,876 jobs in 2025 against 3,050 in 2019 (-5.7%, BLS QCEW).
Does Blackford County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Blackford County. Indiana has 40 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.