Aransas County, Texas: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Rockport and Fulton
No data center or power plant project is on record in Aransas County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Aransas County is home to Rockport, Fulton and part of Aransas Pass (856 of its 8,842 residents). Next door, Nueces County has 4 data centers and 1,229 MW of planned generation. Employers here counted 6,201 jobs in 2025, up 11.6% from 2019. Construction employs 388, up 0.3% since 2019. Unemployment was 5.3% in August 2026, against 4.4% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Aransas County
Aransas County is home to Rockport, Fulton and part of Aransas Pass (856 of its 8,842 residents).
- Aransas Pass also extends into San Patricio County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Holiday Beach, Lamar.
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 Aransas County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 23,930 | 26,146 | ▲ 9.3% | 101st of 254 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 5,558 | 6,201 | ▲ 11.6% | 70th of 254 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,316 | $47,045 | ▲ 19.7% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 387 | 388 | ▲ 0.3% | 120th of 155 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 68 | 43 | ▼ 36.8% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.4% | 5.3% | ▲ 0.9pts | — |
26,146 people live here, up 9.3% since 2020. AEP Texas Central Company is the largest utility serving Aransas County, one of 2 with territory here. It delivers power that customers buy from competing retail providers. Electrical contractors employ 43, down 36.8% since 2019 against up 24.0% statewide, at an average $51,096 a year.
Who powers Aransas County
Utilities with service territory in Aransas County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEP Texas Central Company | — | Delivery only (retail choice) | 784,148 | — | — |
| San Patricio Electric Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 10,007 | 13.99¢ | 17% |
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 Aransas County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Aransas County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 6,201 | $47,045 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 388 | $65,000 | 1.18 |
| Electrical contractors | 43 | $51,096 | 0.96 |
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 Aransas County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Aransas County. Texas has 25 local measures on record statewide.
Aransas County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Aransas County, Nueces 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aransas County | 26,146 | ▲ 11.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Calhoun County | 19,599 | ▲ 0.6% | 1,785 MW | — | — | — |
| Nueces County | 352,992 | ▲ 0.9% | 3,408 MW | 1,229 MW | 4 | — |
| Refugio County | 6,657 | ▼ 8.0% | 220 MW | 394 MW | — | — |
| San Patricio County | 72,053 | ▲ 15.7% | 2,207 MW | 260 MW | — | — |
More of Texas
Aransas County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Aransas County, Texas?
2 utilities have service territory in Aransas County in the EIA-861 2024 report: AEP Texas Central Company, San Patricio Electric Coop Inc.
What county is Rockport, TX in?
Rockport is in Aransas County, Texas. About 11,348 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Are there data centers in Aransas County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Aransas County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Nueces County.
Is Aransas County adding jobs?
Employers counted 6,201 jobs in 2025 against 5,558 in 2019 (+11.6%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 387 to 388.
Does Aransas County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Aransas County. Texas has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.