Loup County, Nebraska: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
No data center or power plant project is on record in Loup County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Loup County is home to Taylor. Unemployment was 3.3% in August 2026, against 5.1% in 2019. Custer Public Power District is the largest utility serving Loup County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.71¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.86¢ median for Nebraska utilities. Employers here counted 121 jobs in 2025, down 0.8% from 2019. 570 people live here, down 6.1% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Loup County
Loup County is home to Taylor.
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 Loup County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Nebraska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 607 | 570 | ▼ 6.1% | 89th of 93 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 122 | 121 | ▼ 0.8% | 55th of 93 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $24,637 | $39,112 | ▲ 58.8% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.1% | 3.3% | ▼ 1.8pts | — |
Who powers Loup County
Utilities with service territory in Loup County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custer Public Power District | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 4,707 | 12.71¢ | 22% |
| KBR Rural Public Power District | — | — | — | — | — |
| Loup Valleys Rural P P D | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Loup County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Loup County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 121 | $39,112 | 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 Loup County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Loup County. Nebraska has 23 local measures on record statewide, and 2 neighboring counties have one: Custer County, Garfield County.
Loup County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Loup County, Holt 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loup County | 570 | ▼ 0.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Blaine County | 458 | ▲ 7.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Brown County | 2,826 | ▲ 13.2% | 59 MW | — | — | — |
| Custer County | 10,500 | ▲ 0.8% | 166 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Garfield County | 1,710 | ▼ 3.5% | 4 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Holt County | 10,067 | ▼ 2.0% | 402 MW | — | — | — |
| Rock County | 1,259 | ▲ 0.7% | — | — | — | — |
More of Nebraska
Loup County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Loup County, Nebraska?
3 utilities have service territory in Loup County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Custer Public Power District, KBR Rural Public Power District, Loup Valleys Rural P P D. The largest, Custer Public Power District, charged residential customers 12.71¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Loup County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Loup County.
Is Loup County adding jobs?
Employers counted 121 jobs in 2025 against 122 in 2019 (-0.8%, BLS QCEW).
Does Loup County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Loup County. Nebraska has 23 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.