Broadwater County, Montana: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Townsend
No data center or power plant project is on record in Broadwater County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Construction employs 145, up 57.6% since 2019, and construction is 1.8 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Broadwater County is home to Townsend. Next door, Lewis and Clark County has 3 data centers. 8,493 people live here, up 23.8% since 2020. Employers here counted 1,568 jobs in 2025, up 12.1% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Broadwater County
Broadwater County is home to Townsend.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Radersburg, Spokane Creek, The Silos, Toston, Wheatland, Winston.
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 Broadwater County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Montana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 6,860 | 8,493 | ▲ 23.8% | 27th of 56 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,399 | 1,568 | ▲ 12.1% | 14th of 56 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $36,883 | $48,135 | ▲ 30.5% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 92 | 145 | ▲ 57.6% | 3rd of 25 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.2% | 2.9% | ▼ 0.3pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Its power plants have 10 MW of capacity, 100% of it hydro. Electrical contractors employ 35, at an average $68,564 a year. NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT) is the largest utility serving Broadwater County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.23¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.95¢ median for Montana utilities. Unemployment was 2.9% in August 2026, against 3.2% in 2019.
Who powers Broadwater County
Utilities with service territory in Broadwater County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT) | Investor Owned | Bundled | 328,127 | 14.23¢ | 49% |
| Bonneville Power Administration | — | — | — | — | — |
| Vigilante Electric Coop, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
Operating power plants 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 10 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broadwater Power Project | Montana Dept-Natural Res&Consv | Hydro | 10 MW | 1989 |
The Broadwater County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,568 | $48,135 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 145 | $61,865 | 1.75 |
| Electrical contractors | 35 | $68,564 | 3.10 |
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 Broadwater County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Broadwater County. Montana has 5 local measures on record statewide.
Broadwater County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Broadwater County, Lewis and Clark 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broadwater County | 8,493 | ▲ 12.1% | 10 MW | — | — | — |
| Gallatin County | 128,740 | ▲ 22.6% | 4 MW | — | 2 | — |
| Jefferson County | 13,329 | ▲ 17.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Lewis and Clark County | 75,331 | ▲ 9.2% | 80 MW | 7 MW | 3 | — |
| Meagher County | 2,137 | ▲ 11.0% | 18 MW | — | — | — |
More of Montana
Broadwater County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Broadwater County, Montana?
3 utilities have service territory in Broadwater County in the EIA-861 2024 report: NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT), Bonneville Power Administration, Vigilante Electric Coop, Inc. The largest, NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT), charged residential customers 14.23¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Broadwater County?
1 operating plant with 10 MW of capacity. The largest is Broadwater Power Project (10 MW, hydro).
Are there data centers in Broadwater County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Broadwater County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Lewis and Clark County.
Is Broadwater County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,568 jobs in 2025 against 1,399 in 2019 (+12.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 92 to 145.
Does Broadwater County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Broadwater County. Montana has 5 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.