Granite County, Montana: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Hall and Maxville
No data center or power plant project is on record in Granite County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Granite County is home to Philipsburg. Unemployment was 3.9% in August 2026, against 6.9% in 2019. Next door, Missoula County has 3 data centers. 3,658 people live here, up 10.6% since 2020. Its power plants have 2 MW of capacity, 100% of it hydro.
Cities and towns in Granite County
Granite County is home to Philipsburg.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Hall, Maxville.
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 Granite County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Montana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 3,307 | 3,658 | ▲ 10.6% | 40th of 56 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 939 | 931 | ▼ 0.9% | 39th of 56 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $32,909 | $46,380 | ▲ 40.9% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 38 | 53 | ▲ 39.5% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 6.9% | 3.9% | ▼ 3.0pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT) is the largest utility serving Granite 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. Employers here counted 931 jobs in 2025, down 0.9% from 2019.
Who powers Granite County
Utilities with service territory in Granite 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% |
| Missoula Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 14,686 | 10.50¢ | 20% |
| Bonneville Power Administration | — | — | — | — | — |
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 | 2 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flint Creek Hydroelectric LLC | Hydrodynamics Inc | Hydro | 2 MW | 2013 |
The Granite County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 931 | $46,380 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 53 | $52,683 | 1.07 |
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 Granite County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Granite County. Montana has 5 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Missoula County.
Granite County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Granite County, Missoula 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granite County | 3,658 | ▼ 0.9% | 2 MW | — | — | — |
| Deer Lodge County | 9,709 | ▲ 7.6% | 203 MW | — | — | — |
| Missoula County | 123,513 | ▲ 7.3% | 6 MW | — | 3 | 1 |
| Powell County | 7,157 | ▲ 1.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Ravalli County | 48,582 | ▲ 13.5% | — | — | — | — |
More of Montana
Granite County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Granite County, Montana?
3 utilities have service territory in Granite County in the EIA-861 2024 report: NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT), Missoula Electric Coop, Inc, Bonneville Power Administration. The largest, NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT), charged residential customers 14.23¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Granite County?
1 operating plant with 2 MW of capacity. The largest is Flint Creek Hydroelectric LLC (2 MW, hydro).
Are there data centers in Granite County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Granite County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Missoula County.
Is Granite County adding jobs?
Employers counted 931 jobs in 2025 against 939 in 2019 (-0.9%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 38 to 53.
Does Granite County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Granite County. Montana has 5 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.