Valley County, Montana: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Glasgow
No data center or power plant project is on record in Valley County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Construction employs 165, up 70.1% since 2019. Valley County is home to Glasgow. Unemployment was 2.5% in August 2026, against 3.4% in 2019. Employers here counted 2,826 jobs in 2025, down 5.3% from 2019. NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT) is the largest utility serving Valley County, one of 4 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 Valley County
Valley County is home to Glasgow.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Frazer, Hinsdale, St. Marie.
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 Valley County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Montana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 7,564 | 7,385 | ▼ 2.4% | 29th of 56 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,984 | 2,826 | ▼ 5.3% | 46th of 56 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,852 | $52,397 | ▲ 31.5% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 97 | 165 | ▲ 70.1% | 2nd of 25 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 20 | 15 | ▼ 25.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.4% | 2.5% | ▼ 0.9pts | — |
7,385 people live here, down 2.4% since 2020. Electrical contractors employ 15, down 25.0% since 2019 against up 43.9% statewide, at an average $41,134 a year.
Who powers Valley County
Utilities with service territory in Valley 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% |
| Big Flat Electric Coop Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
| NorVal Electric Cooperative, 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 Valley County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Valley County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,826 | $52,397 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 165 | $80,785 | 1.10 |
| Electrical contractors | 15 | $41,134 | 0.74 |
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 Valley County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Valley County. Montana has 5 local measures on record statewide.
Valley County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Valley County, McCone 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley County | 7,385 | ▼ 5.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Daniels County | 1,612 | ▼ 7.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Garfield County | 1,148 | ▲ 3.9% | — | — | — | — |
| McCone County | 1,720 | ▲ 16.4% | 180 MW | — | — | — |
| Phillips County | 4,203 | ▼ 2.0% | — | — | — | — |
| Roosevelt County | 10,242 | ▼ 4.2% | 168 MW | — | — | — |
More of Montana
Valley County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Valley County, Montana?
4 utilities have service territory in Valley County in the EIA-861 2024 report: NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT), Big Flat Electric Coop Inc, NorVal Electric Cooperative, 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 Valley County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Valley County.
Is Valley County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,826 jobs in 2025 against 2,984 in 2019 (-5.3%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 97 to 165.
Does Valley County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Valley County. Montana has 5 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.