Golden Valley County, Montana: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Golden Valley Colony
Golden Valley County is not a build-out site today. It feels the boom through the grid it shares, the utilities that serve it and the work nearby. Golden Valley County is home to Ryegate and Lavina. Employers here counted 228 jobs in 2025, up 22.6% from 2019 (the 5th fastest growth of 56 Montana counties). Next door, Wheatland County has 710 MW of planned generation. Unemployment was 2.8% in August 2026, against 3.8% in 2019. Its power plants have 3 MW of capacity, 100% of it solar.
Cities and towns in Golden Valley County
Golden Valley County is home to Ryegate and Lavina.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Golden Valley Colony.
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 Golden Valley County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Montana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 822 | 844 | ▲ 2.7% | 54th of 56 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 186 | 228 | ▲ 22.6% | 5th of 56 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $27,440 | $51,256 | ▲ 86.8% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.8% | 2.8% | ▼ 1.0pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT) is the largest utility serving Golden Valley County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.23¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.95¢ median for Montana utilities. 844 people live here, up 2.7% since 2020.
Who powers Golden Valley County
Utilities with service territory in Golden Valley 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% |
| Fergus Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 6,682 | 15.52¢ | 74% |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 3 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magpie Solar, LLC | Adapture Renewables, Inc. | Solar | 3 MW | 2017 |
The Golden Valley County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 228 | $51,256 | 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 Golden Valley County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Golden Valley County. Montana has 5 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Yellowstone County.
Golden Valley County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Golden Valley County, Wheatland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Valley County | 844 | ▲ 22.6% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
| Fergus County | 11,825 | ▼ 1.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Musselshell County | 5,582 | ▲ 4.0% | — | — | — | — |
| Stillwater County | 9,445 | ▼ 16.6% | 342 MW | — | — | — |
| Sweet Grass County | 3,762 | ▼ 2.1% | 25 MW | — | — | — |
| Wheatland County | 2,100 | ▼ 8.0% | 165 MW | 710 MW | — | — |
| Yellowstone County | 172,692 | ▲ 6.7% | 360 MW | 50 MW | 7 | 1 |
More of Montana
Golden Valley County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Golden Valley County, Montana?
2 utilities have service territory in Golden Valley County in the EIA-861 2024 report: NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT), Fergus Electric Coop, Inc. The largest, NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT), charged residential customers 14.23¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Golden Valley County?
1 operating plant with 3 MW of capacity. The largest is Magpie Solar, LLC (3 MW, solar).
Are there data centers in Golden Valley County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Golden Valley County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Wheatland County.
Is Golden Valley County adding jobs?
Employers counted 228 jobs in 2025 against 186 in 2019 (+22.6%, BLS QCEW).
Does Golden Valley County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Golden Valley County. Montana has 5 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.