Lincoln County, Montana: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Libby and Eureka
No data center or power plant project is on record in Lincoln County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Construction employs 550, up 45.9% since 2019, and construction is 1.7 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Lincoln County is home to Libby, Eureka and Troy. Electrical contractors employ 50, up 61.3% since 2019 against up 43.9% statewide, at an average $56,930 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in August 2026, against 7.7% in 2019. Next door, Flathead County has 2 data centers.
Cities and towns in Lincoln County
Lincoln County is home to Libby, Eureka and Troy.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Bull Lake, Fortine, Happys Inn, Indian Springs, Pioneer Junction, Stryker, Sylvanite, Trego, West Kootenai, White Haven, Yaak.
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 Lincoln County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Montana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 19,737 | 22,328 | ▲ 13.1% | 10th of 56 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 5,599 | 6,194 | ▲ 10.6% | 16th of 56 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $35,877 | $49,036 | ▲ 36.7% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 377 | 550 | ▲ 45.9% | 5th of 25 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 31 | 50 | ▲ 61.3% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 7.7% | 5.1% | ▼ 2.6pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Employers here counted 6,194 jobs in 2025, up 10.6% from 2019. Its power plants have 525 MW of capacity, 100% of it hydro, the 3rd largest fleet in Montana. 22,328 people live here, up 13.1% since 2020, 10th of 56 Montana counties by population. Flathead Electric Coop Inc is the largest utility serving Lincoln County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 9.67¢/kWh in 2024, below the 10.95¢ median for Montana utilities.
Who powers Lincoln County
Utilities with service territory in Lincoln County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead Electric Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 63,317 | 9.67¢ | 30% |
| Northern Lights, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 3,985 | 12.52¢ | 13% |
| Lincoln Electric Coop, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
| City of Troy - (MT) | — | — | — | — | — |
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 | 525 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Libby | USACE Northwestern Division | Hydro | 525 MW | 1975 |
The Lincoln County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 6,194 | $49,036 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 550 | $57,397 | 1.68 |
| Electrical contractors | 50 | $56,930 | 1.12 |
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 Lincoln County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Lincoln County. Montana has 5 local measures on record statewide.
Lincoln County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Lincoln County, Flathead 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | 22,328 | ▲ 10.6% | 525 MW | — | — | — |
| Bonner County ID | 54,420 | ▲ 11.5% | 307 MW | — | — | — |
| Boundary County ID | 13,997 | ▲ 11.7% | 42 MW | — | — | — |
| Flathead County | 115,429 | ▲ 15.7% | 438 MW | — | 2 | — |
| Sanders County | 14,062 | ▲ 15.6% | 586 MW | — | — | — |
More of Montana
Lincoln County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Lincoln County, Montana?
4 utilities have service territory in Lincoln County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Flathead Electric Coop Inc, Northern Lights, Inc, Lincoln Electric Coop, Inc, City of Troy - (MT). The largest, Flathead Electric Coop Inc, charged residential customers 9.67¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Lincoln County?
1 operating plant with 525 MW of capacity. The largest is Libby (525 MW, hydro).
Are there data centers in Lincoln County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Lincoln County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Flathead County.
Is Lincoln County adding jobs?
Employers counted 6,194 jobs in 2025 against 5,599 in 2019 (+10.6%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 377 to 550.
Does Lincoln County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Lincoln County. Montana has 5 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.