Park County, Montana: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Livingston
No data center or power plant project is on record in Park County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Construction employs 579, up 44.8% since 2019, and construction is 1.5 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Park County is home to Livingston. Employers here counted 7,396 jobs in 2025, up 18.3% from 2019 (the 6th fastest growth of 56 Montana counties). Next door, Gallatin County has 2 data centers. Unemployment was 2.1% in August 2026, against 3.4% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Park County
Park County is home to Livingston.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Cooke City, Corwin Springs, Emigrant, Gardiner, Jardine, Pine Creek, Pray, Silver Gate, South Glastonbury, Springdale, Wilsall, Wineglass.
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 Park County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Montana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 17,229 | 18,214 | ▲ 5.7% | 11th of 56 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 6,250 | 7,396 | ▲ 18.3% | 6th of 56 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $38,069 | $54,822 | ▲ 44.0% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 400 | 579 | ▲ 44.8% | 6th of 25 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 95 | 101 | ▲ 6.3% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.4% | 2.1% | ▼ 1.3pts | — |
Electrical contractors employ 101, up 6.3% since 2019 against up 43.9% statewide, at an average $66,129 a year. NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT) is the largest utility serving Park 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. 18,214 people live here, up 5.7% since 2020.
Who powers Park County
Utilities with service territory in Park 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% |
| Flathead Electric Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 63,317 | 9.67¢ | 30% |
| Park Electric Coop Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Park County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Park County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 7,396 | $54,822 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 579 | $69,116 | 1.48 |
| Electrical contractors | 101 | $66,129 | 1.89 |
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 Park County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Park County. Montana has 5 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Park County.
Park County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Park County, Gallatin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park County | 18,214 | ▲ 18.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Carbon County | 11,466 | ▲ 14.3% | 242 MW | — | — | — |
| Gallatin County | 128,740 | ▲ 22.6% | 4 MW | — | 2 | — |
| Meagher County | 2,137 | ▲ 11.0% | 18 MW | — | — | — |
| Park County WY | 31,171 | ▲ 1.8% | 34 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Stillwater County | 9,445 | ▼ 16.6% | 342 MW | — | — | — |
| Sweet Grass County | 3,762 | ▼ 2.1% | 25 MW | — | — | — |
More of Montana
Park County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Park County, Montana?
3 utilities have service territory in Park County in the EIA-861 2024 report: NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT), Flathead Electric Coop Inc, Park Electric Coop Inc. The largest, NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT), charged residential customers 14.23¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Park County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Park County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Gallatin County.
Is Park County adding jobs?
Employers counted 7,396 jobs in 2025 against 6,250 in 2019 (+18.3%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 400 to 579.
Does Park County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Park County. Montana has 5 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.