Cotton County, Oklahoma: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Walters
Cotton County is not a build-out site today. It feels the boom through the grid it shares, the utilities that serve it and the work nearby. Construction employs 215, up 144.3% since 2019, and construction is 2.1 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Cotton County is home to Walters and Temple. Employers here counted 1,962 jobs in 2025, up 17.8% from 2019 (the 10th fastest growth of 77 Oklahoma counties). Next door, Comanche County has 1,373 MW of planned generation. Unemployment was 3.9% in August 2026, against 3.1% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Cotton County
Cotton County is home to Walters and Temple.
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 Cotton County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 5,540 | 5,432 | ▼ 1.9% | 67th of 77 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,665 | 1,962 | ▲ 17.8% | 10th of 77 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $37,681 | $49,713 | ▲ 31.9% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 88 | 215 | ▲ 144.3% | 2nd of 48 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.1% | 3.9% | ▲ 0.8pts | — |
Public Service Co of Oklahoma is the largest utility serving Cotton County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.73¢/kWh in 2024. 5,432 people live here, down 1.9% since 2020.
Who powers Cotton County
Utilities with service territory in Cotton County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Service Co of Oklahoma | Investor Owned | Bundled | 501,093 | 12.73¢ | 36% |
| Cotton Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 19,696 | 11.86¢ | 24% |
| Walters Public Works Authority | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Cotton County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Cotton County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,962 | $49,713 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 215 | $74,450 | 2.07 |
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 Cotton County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Cotton County. Oklahoma has 15 local measures on record statewide.
Cotton County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Cotton County, Comanche 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton County | 5,432 | ▲ 17.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Clay County TX | 10,764 | ▲ 13.2% | 204 MW | 450 MW | — | — |
| Comanche County | 122,158 | ▼ 2.2% | 520 MW | 1,373 MW | — | — |
| Jefferson County | 5,431 | ▼ 21.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Stephens County | 44,310 | ▲ 0.7% | 250 MW | 458 MW | — | — |
| Tillman County | 6,780 | ▼ 14.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Wichita County TX | 129,555 | ▼ 3.7% | 86 MW | 606 MW | 3 | — |
More of Oklahoma
Cotton County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Cotton County, Oklahoma?
3 utilities have service territory in Cotton County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Public Service Co of Oklahoma, Cotton Electric Coop, Inc, Walters Public Works Authority. The largest, Public Service Co of Oklahoma, charged residential customers 12.73¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Cotton County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Cotton County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Comanche County.
Is Cotton County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,962 jobs in 2025 against 1,665 in 2019 (+17.8%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 88 to 215.
Does Cotton County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Cotton County. Oklahoma has 15 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.