Garfield County, Montana: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
No data center or power plant project is on record in Garfield County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Garfield County is home to Jordan. Next door, Custer County has 1 data center. Unemployment was 1.8% in August 2026, against 2.6% in 2019. Employers here counted 322 jobs in 2025, up 3.9% from 2019. McCone Electric Coop Inc is the largest utility serving Garfield County, one of 2 with territory here.
Cities and towns in Garfield County
Garfield County is home to Jordan.
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 Garfield County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Montana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 1,170 | 1,148 | ▼ 1.9% | 51st of 56 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 310 | 322 | ▲ 3.9% | 28th of 56 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $28,507 | $36,702 | ▲ 28.7% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.6% | 1.8% | ▼ 0.8pts | — |
1,148 people live here, down 1.9% since 2020.
Who powers Garfield County
Utilities with service territory in Garfield County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McCone Electric Coop Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
| WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration | Federal | Bundled | — | — | 79% |
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 Garfield County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Garfield County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 322 | $36,702 | 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 Garfield County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Garfield County. Montana has 5 local measures on record statewide.
Garfield County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Garfield County, Rosebud 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield County | 1,148 | ▲ 3.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Custer County | 12,034 | ▲ 1.0% | 231 MW | — | 1 | — |
| McCone County | 1,720 | ▲ 16.4% | 180 MW | — | — | — |
| Petroleum County | 548 | ▲ 18.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Phillips County | 4,203 | ▼ 2.0% | — | — | — | — |
| Prairie County | 1,112 | ▲ 66.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Rosebud County | 8,253 | ▼ 4.6% | 2,262 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Valley County | 7,385 | ▼ 5.3% | — | — | — | — |
More of Montana
Garfield County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Garfield County, Montana?
2 utilities have service territory in Garfield County in the EIA-861 2024 report: McCone Electric Coop Inc, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration.
Are there data centers in Garfield County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Garfield County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Custer County.
Is Garfield County adding jobs?
Employers counted 322 jobs in 2025 against 310 in 2019 (+3.9%, BLS QCEW).
Does Garfield County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Garfield County. Montana has 5 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.