Hill County, Montana: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Havre
No data center or power plant project is on record in Hill County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Hill County is home to Havre. Construction employs 342, up 29.1% since 2019. Electrical contractors employ 25, up 8.7% since 2019 against up 43.9% statewide, at an average $54,342 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in August 2026, against 4.0% in 2019. NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT) is the largest utility serving Hill 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.
Cities and towns in Hill County
Hill County is home to Havre.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Azure, Beaver Creek, Box Elder, East End Colony, Gildford, Gildford Colony, Havre North, Herron, Hilldale Colony, Inverness, Kremlin, Laredo, Parker School, Rocky Boy West, Rocky Boy's Agency, Rudyard, Saddle Butte, Sangrey, St. Pierre, West Havre.
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 Hill County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Montana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 16,248 | 16,167 | ▼ 0.5% | 12th of 56 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 6,751 | 6,783 | ▲ 0.5% | 37th of 56 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,110 | $51,953 | ▲ 32.8% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 265 | 342 | ▲ 29.1% | 12th of 25 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 23 | 25 | ▲ 8.7% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.0% | 3.4% | ▼ 0.6pts | — |
Employers here counted 6,783 jobs in 2025, up 0.5% from 2019. 16,167 people live here, down 0.5% since 2020.
Who powers Hill County
Utilities with service territory in Hill 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% |
| Hill County 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 Hill County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Hill County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 6,783 | $51,953 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 342 | $75,895 | 0.95 |
| Electrical contractors | 25 | $54,342 | 0.51 |
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 Hill County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Hill County. Montana has 5 local measures on record statewide.
Hill County and its neighbors
Of the 3 counties that border Hill County, Liberty 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hill County | 16,167 | ▲ 0.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Blaine County | 6,860 | ▼ 6.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Chouteau County | 5,865 | ▲ 4.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Liberty County | 1,957 | ▲ 2.8% | 8 MW | — | — | — |
More of Montana
Hill County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Hill County, Montana?
3 utilities have service territory in Hill County in the EIA-861 2024 report: NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT), Hill County Electric Coop, Inc, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration. The largest, NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT), charged residential customers 14.23¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Hill County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Hill County.
Is Hill County adding jobs?
Employers counted 6,783 jobs in 2025 against 6,751 in 2019 (+0.5%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 265 to 342.
Does Hill County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Hill County. Montana has 5 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.