Newton County, Indiana: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Lincoln Township, Lake Township and Jefferson Township
Newton 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. Newton County is home to Lincoln Township, Lake Township, Jefferson Township and Kentland. Next door, Lake County has 7 data centers. Unemployment was 3.3% in August 2026, against 4.3% in 2019. Northern Indiana Pub Serv Co is the largest utility serving Newton County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 19.09¢/kWh in 2024, above the 14.63¢ median for Indiana utilities. Employers here counted 3,240 jobs in 2025, up 0.1% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Newton County
Newton County is home to Lincoln Township, Lake Township, Jefferson Township and Kentland.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Lake Village, Roselawn.
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 Newton County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Indiana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 13,787 | 14,188 | ▲ 2.9% | 82nd of 92 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,238 | 3,240 | ▲ 0.1% | 47th of 92 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,122 | $49,216 | ▲ 25.8% | — |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 52 | 37 | ▼ 28.8% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.3% | 3.3% | ▼ 1.0pts | — |
14,188 people live here, up 2.9% since 2020. Electrical contractors employ 37, down 28.8% since 2019 against up 34.8% statewide, at an average $75,503 a year.
Who powers Newton County
Utilities with service territory in Newton County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Indiana Pub Serv Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 430,648 | 19.09¢ | 25% |
| Jasper County Rural E M C | Cooperative | Bundled | 7,745 | 15.34¢ | 46% |
| Newton 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 Newton County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Newton County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,240 | $49,216 | 1.00 |
| Electrical contractors | 37 | $75,503 | 1.58 |
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 Newton County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Newton County. Indiana has 40 local measures on record statewide.
Newton County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Newton County, Jasper 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton County | 14,188 | ▲ 0.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Benton County | 8,883 | ▼ 13.4% | 1,175 MW | 200 MW | — | — |
| Iroquois County IL | 26,150 | ▼ 9.8% | 303 MW | 4 MW | — | — |
| Jasper County | 33,894 | ▼ 3.0% | 1,637 MW | 448 MW | — | — |
| Kankakee County IL | 105,525 | ▼ 7.0% | 248 MW | 320 MW | — | — |
| Lake County | 504,612 | ▲ 1.4% | 1,160 MW | 100 MW | 7 | — |
More of Indiana
Newton County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Newton County, Indiana?
3 utilities have service territory in Newton County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Northern Indiana Pub Serv Co, Jasper County Rural E M C, Newton County Rural E M C. The largest, Northern Indiana Pub Serv Co, charged residential customers 19.09¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Newton County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Newton County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Lake County.
Is Newton County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,240 jobs in 2025 against 3,238 in 2019 (+0.1%, BLS QCEW).
Does Newton County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Newton County. Indiana has 40 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.