Washington County, Oklahoma: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Bartlesville and Dewey
No data center or power plant project is on record in Washington County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Construction employs 859, up 44.4% since 2019. Washington County is home to Bartlesville, Dewey, Copan and Ramona. Next door, Tulsa County has 17 data centers. Unemployment was 4.6% in August 2026, against 3.2% in 2019. Electrical contractors employ 81, at an average $57,974 a year.
Cities and towns in Washington County
Washington County is home to Bartlesville, Dewey, Copan and Ramona.
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 Washington County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 52,613 | 54,037 | ▲ 2.7% | 15th of 77 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 19,055 | 19,039 | ▼ 0.1% | 40th of 77 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $53,189 | $64,340 | ▲ 21.0% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 595 | 859 | ▲ 44.4% | 12th of 48 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.2% | 4.6% | ▲ 1.4pts | — |
Public Service Co of Oklahoma is the largest utility serving Washington County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.73¢/kWh in 2024. Employers here counted 19,039 jobs in 2025, down 0.1% from 2019. 54,037 people live here, up 2.7% since 2020.
Who powers Washington County
Utilities with service territory in Washington 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% |
| Verdigris Valley Elec Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 35,102 | 11.93¢ | 6% |
| Copan 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 Washington County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Washington County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 19,039 | $64,340 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 859 | $60,916 | 0.85 |
| Electrical contractors | 81 | $57,974 | 0.59 |
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 Washington County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Washington County. Oklahoma has 15 local measures on record statewide.
Washington County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Washington County, Tulsa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 54,037 | ▼ 0.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Chautauqua County KS | 3,321 | ▼ 1.2% | 1 MW | — | — | — |
| Montgomery County KS | 30,177 | ▼ 2.2% | 100 MW | — | — | — |
| Nowata County | 9,522 | ▼ 8.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Osage County | 46,794 | ▲ 21.5% | 163 MW | — | — | — |
| Rogers County | 102,197 | ▲ 12.1% | 1,478 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Tulsa County | 698,782 | ▲ 2.7% | 2,461 MW | — | 17 | — |
More of Oklahoma
Washington County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Washington County, Oklahoma?
3 utilities have service territory in Washington County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Public Service Co of Oklahoma, Verdigris Valley Elec Coop Inc, Copan Public Works Authority. The largest, Public Service Co of Oklahoma, charged residential customers 12.73¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Bartlesville, OK in?
Bartlesville is in Washington County, Oklahoma. About 38,276 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Are there data centers in Washington County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Washington County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Tulsa County.
Is Washington County adding jobs?
Employers counted 19,039 jobs in 2025 against 19,055 in 2019 (-0.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 595 to 859.
Does Washington County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Washington County. Oklahoma has 15 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.