Gage County, Nebraska: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Beatrice, Blue Springs-Wymore Township and Wymore
Local rules on data centers are on the record in Gage County. Gage County is home to Beatrice, Blue Springs-Wymore Township, Wymore and Adams Township. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “12-month moratorium on data center permits”. Construction employs 404, up 2.8% since 2019. Unemployment was 2.5% in August 2026, against 3.5% in 2019. Its power plants have 247 MW of capacity, 100% of it natural gas.
Cities and towns in Gage County
Gage County is home to Beatrice, Blue Springs-Wymore Township, Wymore and Adams Township.
And 11 smaller places.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Holmesville.
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 Gage County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Nebraska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 21,661 | 21,711 | ▲ 0.2% | 15th of 93 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 8,976 | 8,780 | ▼ 2.2% | 63rd of 93 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $38,262 | $50,760 | ▲ 32.7% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 393 | 404 | ▲ 2.8% | 32nd of 35 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.5% | 2.5% | ▼ 1.0pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Employers here counted 8,780 jobs in 2025, down 2.2% from 2019. Nebraska Public Power District is the largest utility serving Gage County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 10.63¢/kWh in 2024. 21,711 people live here, up 0.2% since 2020.
Who powers Gage County
Utilities with service territory in Gage County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Public Power District | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 73,650 | 10.63¢ | 28% |
| Norris Public Power District | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 18,387 | 9.61¢ | 14% |
| City of Beatrice - (NE) | — | — | — | — | — |
| City of Fairbury | — | — | — | — | — |
| City of Wymore - (NE) | — | — | — | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | 247 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beatrice | Nebraska Public Power District | Natural gas | 247 MW | 2005 |
The Gage County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 8,780 | $50,760 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 404 | $53,478 | 0.87 |
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 Gage County
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-month moratorium on data center permits | In force | 2026-09 |
Gage County and its neighbors
Of the 8 counties that border Gage County, Lancaster 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gage County | 21,711 | ▼ 2.2% | 247 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Jefferson County | 7,070 | ▲ 4.0% | 79 MW | 50 MW | — | — |
| Johnson County | 5,218 | ▼ 2.6% | 7 MW | 4 MW | — | 1 |
| Lancaster County | 334,049 | ▲ 2.3% | 811 MW | 852 MW | 3 | 1 |
| Marshall County KS | 9,852 | ▼ 5.5% | 374 MW | — | — | — |
| Otoe County | 16,531 | ▲ 0.2% | 1,433 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Pawnee County | 2,510 | ▼ 6.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Saline County | 14,996 | ▼ 5.4% | 311 MW | — | — | — |
| Washington County KS | 5,533 | ▲ 0.4% | 99 MW | — | — | — |
More of Nebraska
Gage County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Gage County, Nebraska?
5 utilities have service territory in Gage County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Nebraska Public Power District, Norris Public Power District, City of Beatrice - (NE), City of Fairbury. The largest, Nebraska Public Power District, charged residential customers 10.63¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Beatrice, NE in?
Beatrice is in Gage County, Nebraska. About 12,318 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Gage County?
1 operating plant with 247 MW of capacity. The largest is Beatrice (247 MW, natural gas).
Are there data centers in Gage County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Gage County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Lancaster County.
Is Gage County adding jobs?
Employers counted 8,780 jobs in 2025 against 8,976 in 2019 (-2.2%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 393 to 404.
Does Gage County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Gage County, 1 in force.