Merrick County, Nebraska: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Central City
No data center or power plant project is on record in Merrick County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Construction employs 286, up 40.2% since 2019, and construction is 2.3 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Merrick County is home to Central City, Vieregg Township, Loup Township and Lone Tree Township. Unemployment was 2.2% in August 2026, against 3.1% in 2019. Employers here counted 2,349 jobs in 2025, up 3.4% from 2019. City of Grand Island - (NE) is the largest utility serving Merrick County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 10.93¢/kWh in 2024.
Cities and towns in Merrick County
Merrick County is home to Central City, Vieregg Township, Loup Township and Lone Tree Township.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Archer.
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 Merrick County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Nebraska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 7,656 | 7,905 | ▲ 3.3% | 36th of 93 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,271 | 2,349 | ▲ 3.4% | 24th of 93 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $40,744 | $50,619 | ▲ 24.2% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 204 | 286 | ▲ 40.2% | 6th of 35 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.1% | 2.2% | ▼ 0.9pts | — |
7,905 people live here, up 3.3% since 2020.
Who powers Merrick County
Utilities with service territory in Merrick County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Grand Island - (NE) | Municipal | Bundled | 22,799 | 10.93¢ | 29% |
| Southern Public Power District | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 15,215 | 9.21¢ | 27% |
| City of Central City | — | — | — | — | — |
| Polk County Rural Pub Pwr Dist | — | — | — | — | — |
| WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration | Federal | Bundled | — | — | 98% |
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 Merrick County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Merrick County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,349 | $50,619 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 286 | $70,059 | 2.30 |
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 Merrick County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Merrick County. Nebraska has 23 local measures on record statewide, and 2 neighboring counties have one: Hall County, Nance County.
Merrick County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Merrick County, Hall 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrick County | 7,905 | ▲ 3.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Hall County | 63,633 | ▲ 3.4% | 264 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Hamilton County | 9,678 | ▲ 11.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Howard County | 6,538 | ▲ 1.5% | 1 MW | — | — | — |
| Nance County | 3,290 | ▼ 8.1% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Platte County | 35,649 | ▲ 3.7% | 138 MW | — | — | — |
| Polk County | 5,270 | ▼ 3.7% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
More of Nebraska
Merrick County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Merrick County, Nebraska?
5 utilities have service territory in Merrick County in the EIA-861 2024 report: City of Grand Island - (NE), Southern Public Power District, City of Central City, Polk County Rural Pub Pwr Dist. The largest, City of Grand Island - (NE), charged residential customers 10.93¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Merrick County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Merrick County.
Is Merrick County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,349 jobs in 2025 against 2,271 in 2019 (+3.4%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 204 to 286.
Does Merrick County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Merrick County. Nebraska has 23 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.