Craig County, Oklahoma: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Vinita
No data center or power plant project is on record in Craig County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Craig County is home to Vinita and Welch. Next door, Mayes County has 1 data center and 794 MW of planned generation. Employers here counted 4,967 jobs in 2025, down 7.4% from 2019. Unemployment was 4.1% in August 2026, against 3.4% in 2019. Electrical contractors employ 9, at an average $51,505 a year.
Cities and towns in Craig County
Craig County is home to Vinita and Welch.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): White Oak.
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 Craig County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 14,147 | 14,518 | ▲ 2.6% | 47th of 77 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 5,366 | 4,967 | ▼ 7.4% | 59th of 77 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $37,323 | $46,506 | ▲ 24.6% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 99 | 94 | ▼ 5.1% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.4% | 4.1% | ▲ 0.7pts | — |
Public Service Co of Oklahoma is the largest utility serving Craig County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.73¢/kWh in 2024. 14,518 people live here, up 2.6% since 2020.
Who powers Craig County
Utilities with service territory in Craig 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% |
| Northeast Oklahoma Electric Co | Cooperative | Bundled | 37,871 | 12.85¢ | 27% |
| Empire District Electric Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 3,901 | 14.61¢ | 25% |
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 Craig County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Craig County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 4,967 | $46,506 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 94 | $56,920 | 0.36 |
| Electrical contractors | 9 | $51,505 | 0.25 |
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 Craig County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Craig County. Oklahoma has 15 local measures on record statewide.
Craig County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Craig County, Mayes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craig County | 14,518 | ▼ 7.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Cherokee County KS | 19,105 | ▲ 0.1% | 268 MW | 27 MW | — | — |
| Delaware County | 41,910 | ▲ 7.6% | — | 80 MW | — | — |
| Labette County KS | 19,685 | ▼ 4.3% | 1 MW | — | — | — |
| Mayes County | 40,416 | ▲ 11.7% | 3,358 MW | 794 MW | 1 | — |
| Nowata County | 9,522 | ▼ 8.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Ottawa County | 30,438 | ▲ 4.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Rogers County | 102,197 | ▲ 12.1% | 1,478 MW | — | 1 | — |
More of Oklahoma
Craig County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Craig County, Oklahoma?
3 utilities have service territory in Craig County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Public Service Co of Oklahoma, Northeast Oklahoma Electric Co, Empire District Electric Co. The largest, Public Service Co of Oklahoma, charged residential customers 12.73¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Craig County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Craig County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Mayes County.
Is Craig County adding jobs?
Employers counted 4,967 jobs in 2025 against 5,366 in 2019 (-7.4%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 99 to 94.
Does Craig County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Craig County. Oklahoma has 15 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.