Wibaux County, Montana: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
No data center or power plant project is on record in Wibaux County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Wibaux County is home to Wibaux. Employers here counted 267 jobs in 2025, up 4.3% from 2019. Unemployment was 2.2% in August 2026, against 2.8% in 2019. Montana-Dakota Utilities Co is the largest utility serving Wibaux County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.89¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.95¢ median for Montana utilities. 885 people live here, down 5.4% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Wibaux County
Wibaux County is home to Wibaux.
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 Wibaux County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Montana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 936 | 885 | ▼ 5.4% | 53rd of 56 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 256 | 267 | ▲ 4.3% | 26th of 56 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $34,880 | $40,152 | ▲ 15.1% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.8% | 2.2% | ▼ 0.6pts | — |
Who powers Wibaux County
Utilities with service territory in Wibaux County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana-Dakota Utilities Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 19,616 | 12.89¢ | 37% |
| McKenzie Electric Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 25 | 8.61¢ | 14% |
| Goldenwest 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 Wibaux County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Wibaux County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 267 | $40,152 | 1.00 |
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 Wibaux County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Wibaux County. Montana has 5 local measures on record statewide.
Wibaux County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Wibaux County, McKenzie 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wibaux County | 885 | ▲ 4.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Dawson County | 8,692 | ▼ 7.6% | 84 MW | — | — | — |
| Fallon County | 2,959 | ▼ 12.2% | 30 MW | — | — | — |
| Golden Valley County ND | 1,808 | ▲ 1.6% | — | — | — | — |
| McKenzie County ND | 15,192 | ▼ 4.7% | 363 MW | — | — | — |
| Prairie County | 1,112 | ▲ 66.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Richland County | 11,377 | ▼ 7.0% | 19 MW | — | — | — |
More of Montana
Wibaux County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Wibaux County, Montana?
4 utilities have service territory in Wibaux County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Montana-Dakota Utilities Co, McKenzie Electric Coop Inc, Goldenwest Electric Coop, Inc, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration. The largest, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co, charged residential customers 12.89¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Wibaux County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Wibaux County.
Is Wibaux County adding jobs?
Employers counted 267 jobs in 2025 against 256 in 2019 (+4.3%, BLS QCEW).
Does Wibaux County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Wibaux County. Montana has 5 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.