Kearney County, Nebraska: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Minden
Kearney County is one of the places pushing back on the data center build-out. Construction employs 117, up 46.2% since 2019. Kearney County is home to Minden and Axtell. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “County moratorium on data centers”. Employers here counted 2,060 jobs in 2025, down 7.2% from 2019. Southern Public Power District is the largest utility serving Kearney 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 Kearney County
Kearney County is home to Minden and Axtell.
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 Kearney County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Nebraska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 6,690 | 6,790 | ▲ 1.5% | 42nd of 93 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,219 | 2,060 | ▼ 7.2% | 81st of 93 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $38,898 | $52,216 | ▲ 34.2% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 80 | 117 | ▲ 46.2% | 2nd of 35 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.5% | 2.5% | ● 0.0pts | — |
Unemployment was 2.5% in August 2026, against 2.5% in 2019. 6,790 people live here, up 1.5% since 2020.
Who powers Kearney County
Utilities with service territory in Kearney 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% |
| City of Minden - (NE) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Village of Wilcox - (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 Kearney County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Kearney County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,060 | $52,216 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 117 | $66,875 | 1.07 |
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 Kearney County
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| County moratorium on data centers | In force | — |
Kearney County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Kearney County, Buffalo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kearney County | 6,790 | ▼ 7.2% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Adams County | 31,071 | ▲ 1.7% | 388 MW | — | — | — |
| Buffalo County | 51,172 | ▲ 3.6% | 7 MW | — | 3 | — |
| Franklin County | 2,795 | ▲ 6.7% | 10 MW | — | — | — |
| Harlan County | 3,000 | ▲ 1.8% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Phelps County | 8,994 | ▲ 2.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Webster County | 3,336 | ▲ 1.7% | 347 MW | — | — | — |
More of Nebraska
Kearney County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Kearney County, Nebraska?
3 utilities have service territory in Kearney County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Southern Public Power District, City of Minden - (NE), Village of Wilcox - (NE). The largest, Southern Public Power District, charged residential customers 9.21¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Kearney County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Kearney County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Buffalo County.
Is Kearney County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,060 jobs in 2025 against 2,219 in 2019 (-7.2%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 80 to 117.
Does Kearney County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Kearney County, 1 in force.