Hamilton County, Kansas: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Syracuse
No data center or power plant project is on record in Hamilton County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Hamilton County is home to Syracuse. Unemployment was 3.2% in August 2026, against 2.3% in 2019. Employers here counted 1,492 jobs in 2025, down 1.6% from 2019. Wheatland Electric Coop, Inc is the largest utility serving Hamilton County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 13.97¢/kWh in 2024. 2,500 people live here, up 0.4% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Hamilton County
Hamilton County is home to Syracuse.
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 Hamilton County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Kansas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 2,489 | 2,500 | ▲ 0.4% | 91st of 105 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,516 | 1,492 | ▼ 1.6% | 63rd of 105 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $38,555 | $50,017 | ▲ 29.7% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.3% | 3.2% | ▲ 0.9pts | — |
Who powers Hamilton County
Utilities with service territory in Hamilton County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheatland Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 20,118 | 13.97¢ | 63% |
| Pioneer Electric Coop, Inc - (KS) | Cooperative | Bundled | 5,031 | 11.19¢ | 34% |
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 Hamilton County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Hamilton County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,492 | $50,017 | 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 Hamilton County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Hamilton County. Kansas has 24 local measures on record statewide.
Hamilton County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Hamilton County, Prowers 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton County | 2,500 | ▼ 1.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Grant County | 7,028 | ▼ 5.0% | 120 MW | — | — | — |
| Greeley County | 1,182 | ▲ 1.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Kearny County | 3,888 | ▲ 12.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Prowers County CO | 11,884 | ▲ 2.8% | 248 MW | 5 MW | — | — |
| Stanton County | 1,986 | ▼ 19.0% | 26 MW | — | — | — |
| Wichita County | 2,031 | ▼ 17.0% | 99 MW | — | — | — |
More of Kansas
Hamilton County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Hamilton County, Kansas?
2 utilities have service territory in Hamilton County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Wheatland Electric Coop, Inc, Pioneer Electric Coop, Inc - (KS). The largest, Wheatland Electric Coop, Inc, charged residential customers 13.97¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Hamilton County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Hamilton County.
Is Hamilton County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,492 jobs in 2025 against 1,516 in 2019 (-1.6%, BLS QCEW).
Does Hamilton County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Hamilton County. Kansas has 24 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.