Lincoln County, Oregon: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Newport, Lincoln City and Toledo
Lincoln 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. Lincoln County is home to Newport, Lincoln City, Toledo and Waldport. Electrical contractors employ 106, up 32.5% since 2019 against up 12.8% statewide, at an average $77,545 a year. Next door, Lane County has 6 data centers. Unemployment was 5.7% in August 2026, against 4.4% in 2019. Construction employs 801, up 6.1% since 2019.
Cities and towns in Lincoln County
Lincoln County is home to Newport, Lincoln City, Toledo and Waldport.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Bayshore, Lincoln Beach, Neotsu, Rose Lodge, San Marine.
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 Lincoln County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Oregon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 50,509 | 50,636 | ▲ 0.3% | 18th of 36 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 18,743 | 18,580 | ▼ 0.9% | 27th of 36 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,540 | $53,096 | ▲ 34.3% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 755 | 801 | ▲ 6.1% | 12th of 25 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 80 | 106 | ▲ 32.5% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.4% | 5.7% | ▲ 1.3pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Its power plants have 19 MW of capacity, 100% of it other technologies. PacifiCorp is the largest utility serving Lincoln County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.02¢/kWh in 2024, above the 11.02¢ median for Oregon utilities. Employers here counted 18,580 jobs in 2025, down 0.9% from 2019. 50,636 people live here, up 0.3% since 2020.
Who powers Lincoln County
Utilities with service territory in Lincoln County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PacifiCorp | Investor Owned | Bundled | 547,235 | 14.02¢ | 47% |
| Central Lincoln People's Ut Dt | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 35,904 | 10.93¢ | 15% |
| Consumers Power, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 18,751 | 13.01¢ | 25% |
| Bonneville Power Administration | Federal | Bundled | — | — | 100% |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
Operating power plants 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Other technologies | 19 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia-Pacific Toledo Mill | Georgia-Pacific Toledo LLC | Other technologies | 19 MW | 2007 |
The Lincoln County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 18,580 | $53,096 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 801 | $58,819 | 0.81 |
| Electrical contractors | 106 | $77,545 | 0.79 |
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 Lincoln County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Lincoln County. Oregon has 7 local measures on record statewide.
Lincoln County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Lincoln County, Lane 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | 50,636 | ▼ 0.9% | 19 MW | — | — | — |
| Benton County | 97,728 | ▲ 0.9% | 12 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Lane County | 381,584 | ▼ 0.7% | 284 MW | — | 6 | — |
| Polk County | 90,037 | ▲ 0.9% | 26 MW | — | — | — |
| Tillamook County | 27,384 | ▲ 1.1% | 1 MW | — | — | — |
More of Oregon
Lincoln County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Lincoln County, Oregon?
4 utilities have service territory in Lincoln County in the EIA-861 2024 report: PacifiCorp, Central Lincoln People's Ut Dt, Consumers Power, Inc, Bonneville Power Administration. The largest, PacifiCorp, charged residential customers 14.02¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Newport, OR in?
Newport is in Lincoln County, Oregon. About 10,383 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What county is Lincoln City, OR in?
Lincoln City is in Lincoln County, Oregon. About 10,117 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Lincoln County?
1 operating plant with 19 MW of capacity. The largest is Georgia-Pacific Toledo Mill (19 MW, other technologies).
Are there data centers in Lincoln County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Lincoln County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Lane County.
Is Lincoln County adding jobs?
Employers counted 18,580 jobs in 2025 against 18,743 in 2019 (-0.9%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 755 to 801.
Does Lincoln County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Lincoln County. Oregon has 7 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.