Jackson County, Oklahoma: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Altus
No data center or power plant project is on record in Jackson County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Jackson County is home to Altus and Blair. Next door, Hardeman County, Texas, has 1,000 MW of planned generation. Unemployment was 3.2% in August 2026, against 2.6% in 2019. Public Service Co of Oklahoma is the largest utility serving Jackson County, one of 6 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.73¢/kWh in 2024. Employers here counted 9,572 jobs in 2025, up 0.4% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Jackson County
Jackson County is home to Altus and Blair.
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 Jackson County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 24,735 | 24,764 | ▲ 0.1% | 36th of 77 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 9,531 | 9,572 | ▲ 0.4% | 38th of 77 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $40,953 | $55,043 | ▲ 34.4% | — |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 31 | 28 | ▼ 9.7% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.6% | 3.2% | ▲ 0.6pts | — |
Electrical contractors employ 28, down 9.7% since 2019 against up 8.3% statewide, at an average $42,957 a year. 24,764 people live here, up 0.1% since 2020.
Who powers Jackson County
Utilities with service territory in Jackson 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% |
| City of Altus - (OK) | Municipal | Bundled | 8,167 | 12.93¢ | 31% |
| City of Eldorado - (OK) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Harmon Electric Assn Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
| City of Olustee | — | — | — | — | — |
| Southwest Rural Elec Assn Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Jackson County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Jackson County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 9,572 | $55,043 | 1.00 |
| Electrical contractors | 28 | $42,957 | 0.41 |
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 Jackson County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Jackson County. Oklahoma has 15 local measures on record statewide.
Jackson County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Jackson County, Hardeman 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | 24,764 | ▲ 0.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Greer County | 5,373 | ▼ 8.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Hardeman County TX | 3,292 | ▲ 4.5% | 200 MW | 1,000 MW | — | — |
| Harmon County | 2,327 | ▼ 2.0% | — | — | — | — |
| Kiowa County | 8,181 | ▲ 2.0% | 369 MW | — | — | — |
| Tillman County | 6,780 | ▼ 14.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Wilbarger County TX | 12,481 | ▲ 2.4% | 1,195 MW | 373 MW | 1 | — |
More of Oklahoma
Jackson County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Jackson County, Oklahoma?
6 utilities have service territory in Jackson County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Public Service Co of Oklahoma, City of Altus - (OK), City of Eldorado - (OK), Harmon Electric Assn Inc. The largest, Public Service Co of Oklahoma, charged residential customers 12.73¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Altus, OK in?
Altus is in Jackson County, Oklahoma. About 18,707 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Are there data centers in Jackson County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Jackson County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Hardeman County.
Is Jackson County adding jobs?
Employers counted 9,572 jobs in 2025 against 9,531 in 2019 (+0.4%, BLS QCEW).
Does Jackson County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Jackson County. Oklahoma has 15 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.