Mineral County, Montana: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Cyr and De Borgia
No data center or power plant project is on record in Mineral County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Mineral County is home to Superior and Alberton. Next door, Missoula County has 3 data centers. Unemployment was 3.8% in August 2026, against 5.4% in 2019. 5,185 people live here, up 13.5% since 2020. Employers here counted 1,203 jobs in 2025, up 1.6% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Mineral County
Mineral County is home to Superior and Alberton.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Cyr, De Borgia, Haugan, Riverbend, Saltese, St. Regis.
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 Mineral County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Montana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 4,567 | 5,185 | ▲ 13.5% | 37th of 56 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,184 | 1,203 | ▲ 1.6% | 35th of 56 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $32,769 | $43,708 | ▲ 33.4% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 46 | 55 | ▲ 19.6% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.4% | 3.8% | ▼ 1.6pts | — |
NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT) is the largest utility serving Mineral 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.
Who powers Mineral County
Utilities with service territory in Mineral 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.
No operating power plant is located in Mineral County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Mineral County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,203 | $43,708 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 55 | $58,755 | 0.86 |
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 Mineral County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Mineral County. Montana has 5 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Missoula County.
Mineral County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Mineral 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mineral County | 5,185 | ▲ 1.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Clearwater County ID | 9,118 | ▲ 6.3% | 466 MW | — | — | — |
| Missoula County | 123,513 | ▲ 7.3% | 6 MW | — | 3 | 1 |
| Sanders County | 14,062 | ▲ 15.6% | 586 MW | — | — | — |
| Shoshone County ID | 14,130 | ▲ 8.6% | — | — | — | — |
More of Montana
Mineral County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Mineral County, Montana?
3 utilities have service territory in Mineral 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.
Are there data centers in Mineral County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Mineral County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Missoula County.
Is Mineral County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,203 jobs in 2025 against 1,184 in 2019 (+1.6%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 46 to 55.
Does Mineral County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Mineral County. Montana has 5 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.