Rock County, Nebraska: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
No data center or power plant project is on record in Rock County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Rock County is home to Bassett. Unemployment was 2.0% in August 2026, against 3.5% in 2019. Nebraska Public Power District is the largest utility serving Rock County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 10.63¢/kWh in 2024. Employers here counted 462 jobs in 2025, up 0.7% from 2019. 1,259 people live here, down 0.7% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Rock County
Rock County is home to Bassett.
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 Rock County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Nebraska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 1,268 | 1,259 | ▼ 0.7% | 80th of 93 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 459 | 462 | ▲ 0.7% | 44th of 93 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $35,924 | $47,138 | ▲ 31.2% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.5% | 2.0% | ▼ 1.5pts | — |
Who powers Rock County
Utilities with service territory in Rock County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Public Power District | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 73,650 | 10.63¢ | 28% |
| KBR Rural Public Power District | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Rock County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Rock County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 462 | $47,138 | 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 Rock County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Rock County. Nebraska has 23 local measures on record statewide.
Rock County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Rock 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock County | 1,259 | ▲ 0.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Boyd County | 1,674 | ▼ 9.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Brown County | 2,826 | ▲ 13.2% | 59 MW | — | — | — |
| Holt County | 10,067 | ▼ 2.0% | 402 MW | — | — | — |
| Keya Paha County | 792 | ▲ 2.9% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
| Loup County | 570 | ▼ 0.8% | — | — | — | — |
More of Nebraska
Rock County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Rock County, Nebraska?
2 utilities have service territory in Rock County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Nebraska Public Power District, KBR Rural Public Power District. The largest, Nebraska Public Power District, charged residential customers 10.63¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Rock County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Rock County.
Is Rock County adding jobs?
Employers counted 462 jobs in 2025 against 459 in 2019 (+0.7%, BLS QCEW).
Does Rock County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Rock County. Nebraska has 23 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.