Hitchcock County, Nebraska: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
No data center or power plant project is on record in Hitchcock County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Hitchcock County is home to Culbertson. Southwest Public Power Dist is the largest utility serving Hitchcock County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 10.16¢/kWh in 2024, below the 10.86¢ median for Nebraska utilities. Employers here counted 656 jobs in 2025, down 0.5% from 2019. 2,467 people live here, down 5.9% since 2020. Unemployment was 3.1% in August 2026, against 3.1% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Hitchcock County
Hitchcock County is home to Culbertson.
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 Hitchcock County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Nebraska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 2,623 | 2,467 | ▼ 5.9% | 72nd of 93 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 659 | 656 | ▼ 0.5% | 52nd of 93 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $36,809 | $53,274 | ▲ 44.7% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 19 | 25 | ▲ 31.6% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.1% | 3.1% | ● 0.0pts | — |
Who powers Hitchcock County
Utilities with service territory in Hitchcock County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Public Power Dist | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 2,186 | 10.16¢ | 23% |
| McCook Public Power District | — | — | — | — | — |
| City of Stratton - (NE) | — | — | — | — | — |
| City of Trenton - (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.
No operating power plant is located in Hitchcock County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Hitchcock County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 656 | $53,274 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 25 | $47,948 | 0.72 |
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 Hitchcock County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Hitchcock County. Nebraska has 23 local measures on record statewide, and 2 neighboring counties have one: Dundy County, Hayes County.
Hitchcock County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Hitchcock County, Red Willow 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitchcock County | 2,467 | ▼ 0.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Dundy County | 1,568 | ▲ 15.0% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Frontier County | 2,655 | ▼ 12.4% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
| Hayes County | 821 | ▼ 9.1% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Rawlins County KS | 2,431 | ▲ 5.0% | — | — | — | — |
| Red Willow County | 10,307 | ▼ 2.4% | 57 MW | — | — | — |
More of Nebraska
Hitchcock County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Hitchcock County, Nebraska?
4 utilities have service territory in Hitchcock County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Southwest Public Power Dist, McCook Public Power District, City of Stratton - (NE), City of Trenton - (NE). The largest, Southwest Public Power Dist, charged residential customers 10.16¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Hitchcock County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Hitchcock County.
Is Hitchcock County adding jobs?
Employers counted 656 jobs in 2025 against 659 in 2019 (-0.5%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 19 to 25.
Does Hitchcock County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Hitchcock County. Nebraska has 23 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.