Childress County, Texas: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Childress
Childress County is one of the places the data center build-out is physically happening. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 3 data centers in Childress County. Childress County is home to Childress. 170 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by Greenlia Solar Power Misae III, LLC (solar). Employers here counted 3,019 jobs in 2025, up 18.3% from 2019. 572 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar.
Cities and towns in Childress County
Childress County is home to Childress.
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 Childress County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 6,657 | 6,643 | ▼ 0.2% | 188th of 254 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,553 | 3,019 | ▲ 18.3% | 39th of 254 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,493 | $53,214 | ▲ 34.7% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.6% | 2.7% | ▲ 0.1pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 572 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 170 MW | 30% of today's fleet | 125th of 149 by size |
Its power plants have 572 MW of capacity, 100% of it solar. AEP Texas North Company is the largest utility serving Childress County, one of 6 with territory here. It delivers power that customers buy from competing retail providers. Unemployment was 2.7% in August 2026, against 2.6% in 2019. 6,643 people live here, down 0.2% since 2020.
Who powers Childress County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +572 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Childress County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEP Texas North Company | — | Delivery only (retail choice) | 157,455 | — | — |
| Southwestern Electric Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 156,271 | 12.03¢ | 30% |
| South Plains Electric Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 56,173 | 10.35¢ | 23% |
| Greenbelt Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 3,912 | 18.00¢ | 11% |
| Lighthouse Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 3,878 | 14.59¢ | 72% |
| Harmon Electric 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.
Operating power plants 2
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 572 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fagus Solar Park | Excel Advantage Services, LLC | Solar | 332 MW | 2025 |
| Misae Solar | Misae Lessee LLC | Solar | 240 MW | 2020 |
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenalia Solar Power Misae III | Solar Photovoltaic | 170 MW | Approvals received | 2027 | Greenlia Solar Power Misae III, LLC |
The Childress County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,019 | $53,214 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 165 | $92,812 | 1.03 |
| Electric utilities | 81 | $94,473 | 9.91 |
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 Childress County
3 data centers in Childress County are on the SAVRN Data Center Map: see them by city and operator.
Childress County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Childress 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Childress County | 6,643 | ▲ 18.3% | 572 MW | 170 MW | 3 | — |
| Collingsworth County | 2,487 | ▼ 7.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Cottle County | 1,224 | ▲ 90.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Hall County | 2,737 | ▼ 7.1% | — | — | 1 | — |
| Hardeman County | 3,292 | ▲ 4.5% | 200 MW | 1,000 MW | — | — |
| Harmon County OK | 2,327 | ▼ 2.0% | — | — | — | — |
More of Texas
Childress County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Childress County, Texas?
6 utilities have service territory in Childress County in the EIA-861 2024 report: AEP Texas North Company, Southwestern Electric Power Co, South Plains Electric Coop Inc, Greenbelt Electric Coop, Inc.
What power plants are in Childress County?
2 operating plants with 572 MW of capacity. The largest is Fagus Solar Park (332 MW, solar).
How much new power is planned in Childress County?
170 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Greenlia Solar Power Misae III, LLC.
Are there data centers in Childress County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 3 data centers in Childress County.
Is Childress County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,019 jobs in 2025 against 2,553 in 2019 (+18.3%, BLS QCEW).
Does Childress County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Childress County. Texas has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.