Antrim County, Michigan: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Mancelona Township, Elk Rapids Township and Milton Township
No data center or power plant project is on record in Antrim County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Antrim County is home to Mancelona Township, Elk Rapids Township, Milton Township and Central Lake Township. Construction employs 509, up 10.7% since 2019, and construction is 1.9 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Employers here counted 5,061 jobs in 2025, down 5.9% from 2019. Electrical contractors employ 63, at an average $60,804 a year. Consumers Energy Co - (MI) is the largest utility serving Antrim County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 19.11¢/kWh in 2024, above the 16.89¢ median for Michigan utilities.
Cities and towns in Antrim County
Antrim County is home to Mancelona Township, Elk Rapids Township, Milton Township and Central Lake Township.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Alba, Alden, Eastport, Lakes of the North.
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 Antrim County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Michigan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 23,457 | 24,698 | ▲ 5.3% | 59th of 83 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 5,381 | 5,061 | ▼ 5.9% | 72nd of 83 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $34,366 | $44,356 | ▲ 29.1% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 460 | 509 | ▲ 10.7% | 42nd of 69 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.8% | 4.5% | ▼ 0.3pts | — |
Unemployment was 4.5% in August 2026, against 4.8% in 2019. 24,698 people live here, up 5.3% since 2020.
Who powers Antrim County
Utilities with service territory in Antrim County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumers Energy Co - (MI) | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,657,843 | 19.11¢ | 36% |
| Great Lakes Energy Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 120,645 | 19.17¢ | 12% |
| Wolverine Power Supply Coop | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Antrim County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Antrim County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 5,061 | $44,356 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 509 | $56,763 | 1.90 |
| Electrical contractors | 63 | $60,804 | 1.73 |
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 Antrim County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Antrim County. Michigan has 91 local measures on record statewide.
Antrim County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Antrim County, Otsego 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antrim County | 24,698 | ▼ 5.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Charlevoix County | 26,036 | ▲ 6.2% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
| Crawford County | 13,722 | ▼ 3.2% | 39 MW | — | — | — |
| Grand Traverse County | 96,729 | ▲ 3.1% | 1 MW | — | — | — |
| Kalkaska County | 18,693 | ▲ 15.7% | 60 MW | — | — | — |
| Otsego County | 26,080 | ▲ 2.9% | 694 MW | — | — | — |
More of Michigan
Antrim County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Antrim County, Michigan?
3 utilities have service territory in Antrim County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Consumers Energy Co - (MI), Great Lakes Energy Coop, Wolverine Power Supply Coop. The largest, Consumers Energy Co - (MI), charged residential customers 19.11¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Antrim County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Antrim County.
Is Antrim County adding jobs?
Employers counted 5,061 jobs in 2025 against 5,381 in 2019 (-5.9%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 460 to 509.
Does Antrim County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Antrim County. Michigan has 91 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.