McPherson County, Nebraska: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Tryon
No data center or power plant project is on record in McPherson County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. McPherson County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Tryon, are unincorporated and governed by the county. Employers here counted 56 jobs in 2025, down 20.0% from 2019. Unemployment was 3.9% in August 2026, against 4.4% in 2019. Custer Public Power District is the largest utility serving McPherson County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.71¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.86¢ median for Nebraska utilities. 369 people live here, down 6.8% since 2020.
Cities and towns in McPherson County
McPherson County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Tryon, are unincorporated and governed by the county.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Tryon.
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 McPherson County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Nebraska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 396 | 369 | ▼ 6.8% | 93rd of 93 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 70 | 56 | ▼ 20.0% | 92nd of 93 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $34,198 | $43,204 | ▲ 26.3% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.4% | 3.9% | ▼ 0.5pts | — |
Who powers McPherson County
Utilities with service territory in McPherson 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% |
| Panhandle Rural El Member Assn | — | — | — | — | — |
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 McPherson County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The McPherson County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 56 | $43,204 | 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 McPherson County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in McPherson County. Nebraska has 23 local measures on record statewide, and 2 neighboring counties have one: Lincoln County, Logan County.
McPherson County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border McPherson County, Lincoln 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McPherson County | 369 | ▼ 20.0% | — | — | — | — |
| Arthur County | 396 | ▼ 10.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Hooker County | 686 | ▼ 24.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Keith County | 8,100 | ▼ 1.4% | 50 MW | — | — | — |
| Lincoln County | 33,303 | ▲ 6.3% | 1,410 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Logan County | 669 | ▼ 13.1% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Thomas County | 639 | ▼ 8.9% | — | — | — | — |
More of Nebraska
McPherson County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in McPherson County, Nebraska?
2 utilities have service territory in McPherson County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Custer Public Power District, Panhandle Rural El Member Assn. The largest, Custer Public Power District, charged residential customers 12.71¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in McPherson County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in McPherson County.
Is McPherson County adding jobs?
Employers counted 56 jobs in 2025 against 70 in 2019 (-20.0%, BLS QCEW).
Does McPherson County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for McPherson County. Nebraska has 23 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.