Harlan County, Nebraska: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Alma
Harlan County is one of the places pushing back on the data center build-out. Harlan County is home to Alma. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “County moratorium on data centers”. Unemployment was 1.8% in August 2026, against 2.8% in 2019. Employers here counted 869 jobs in 2025, up 1.8% from 2019. Southern Public Power District is the largest utility serving Harlan County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 9.21¢/kWh in 2024, below the 10.86¢ median for Nebraska utilities.
Cities and towns in Harlan County
Harlan County is home to Alma.
- Oxford also extends into Furnas County.
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 Harlan County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Nebraska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 3,058 | 3,000 | ▼ 1.9% | 65th of 93 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 854 | 869 | ▲ 1.8% | 38th of 93 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $32,694 | $47,610 | ▲ 45.6% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 26 | 25 | ▼ 3.8% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.8% | 1.8% | ▼ 1.0pts | — |
3,000 people live here, down 1.9% since 2020.
Who powers Harlan County
Utilities with service territory in Harlan County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Public Power District | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 15,215 | 9.21¢ | 27% |
| Village of Oxford - (NE) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Twin Valleys Public Power Dist | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Harlan County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Harlan County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 869 | $47,610 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 25 | $34,759 | 0.54 |
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 Harlan County
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| County moratorium on data centers | In force | — |
Harlan County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Harlan County, Franklin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlan County | 3,000 | ▲ 1.8% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Franklin County | 2,795 | ▲ 6.7% | 10 MW | — | — | — |
| Furnas County | 4,524 | ▼ 8.3% | 7 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Kearney County | 6,790 | ▼ 7.2% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Norton County KS | 5,288 | ▼ 0.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Phelps County | 8,994 | ▲ 2.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Phillips County KS | 4,728 | ▼ 6.4% | 2 MW | — | — | — |
More of Nebraska
Harlan County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Harlan County, Nebraska?
3 utilities have service territory in Harlan County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Southern Public Power District, Village of Oxford - (NE), Twin Valleys Public Power Dist. The largest, Southern Public Power District, charged residential customers 9.21¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Harlan County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Harlan County.
Is Harlan County adding jobs?
Employers counted 869 jobs in 2025 against 854 in 2019 (+1.8%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 26 to 25.
Does Harlan County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Harlan County, 1 in force.