Humboldt County, Iowa: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Humboldt
No data center or power plant project is on record in Humboldt County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Humboldt County is home to Humboldt and Dakota City. Next door, Hancock County has 1 data center. Construction employs 263, up 9.1% since 2019, and construction is 1.3 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Employers here counted 3,713 jobs in 2025, down 3.2% from 2019. MidAmerican Energy Co is the largest utility serving Humboldt County, one of 7 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 11.01¢/kWh in 2024, below the 13.77¢ median for Iowa utilities.
Cities and towns in Humboldt County
Humboldt County is home to Humboldt and Dakota City.
- Gilmore City also extends into Pocahontas 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 Humboldt County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Iowa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 9,599 | 9,409 | ▼ 2.0% | 79th of 99 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,836 | 3,713 | ▼ 3.2% | 57th of 99 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $42,136 | $54,502 | ▲ 29.3% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 241 | 263 | ▲ 9.1% | 35th of 81 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.7% | 3.1% | ▲ 0.4pts | — |
Unemployment was 3.1% in August 2026, against 2.7% in 2019. 9,409 people live here, down 2.0% since 2020.
Who powers Humboldt County
Utilities with service territory in Humboldt County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MidAmerican Energy Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 632,436 | 11.01¢ | 18% |
| Midland Power Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 11,939 | 13.60¢ | 12% |
| Prairie Energy Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 3,440 | 14.34¢ | 0% |
| Boone Valley Electric Coop | — | — | — | — | — |
| City of Livermore- (IA) | — | — | — | — | — |
| City of Renwick - (IA) | — | — | — | — | — |
| City of West Bend | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Humboldt County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Humboldt County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,713 | $54,502 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 263 | $66,655 | 1.34 |
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 Humboldt County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Humboldt County. Iowa has 31 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Hancock County.
Humboldt County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Humboldt County, Hancock 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humboldt County | 9,409 | ▼ 3.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Hancock County | 10,528 | ▼ 7.7% | 448 MW | — | 1 | 1 |
| Kossuth County | 14,322 | ▼ 3.4% | 462 MW | — | — | — |
| Palo Alto County | 8,899 | ▼ 3.7% | 374 MW | — | — | — |
| Pocahontas County | 6,819 | ▼ 22.1% | 378 MW | — | — | — |
| Webster County | 36,838 | ▼ 4.9% | 380 MW | — | — | — |
| Wright County | 12,801 | ▲ 4.2% | — | — | — | — |
More of Iowa
Humboldt County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Humboldt County, Iowa?
7 utilities have service territory in Humboldt County in the EIA-861 2024 report: MidAmerican Energy Co, Midland Power Coop, Prairie Energy Coop, Boone Valley Electric Coop. The largest, MidAmerican Energy Co, charged residential customers 11.01¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Humboldt County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Humboldt County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Hancock County.
Is Humboldt County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,713 jobs in 2025 against 3,836 in 2019 (-3.2%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 241 to 263.
Does Humboldt County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Humboldt County. Iowa has 31 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.