King County, Texas: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Guthrie
King 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. Employers here counted 267 jobs in 2025, up 89.4% from 2019 (the 4th fastest growth of 254 Texas counties). King County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Guthrie, are unincorporated and governed by the county. 192 people live here, down 28.1% since 2020. Next door, Haskell County has 1 data center and 2,304 MW of planned generation. Unemployment was 3.8% in August 2026, against 3.2% in 2019.
Cities and towns in King County
King County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Guthrie, are unincorporated and governed by the county.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Guthrie.
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 King County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 267 | 192 | ▼ 28.1% | 253rd of 254 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 141 | 267 | ▲ 89.4% | 4th of 254 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $40,803 | $55,157 | ▲ 35.2% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.2% | 3.8% | ▲ 0.6pts | — |
AEP Texas North Company is the largest utility serving King County, one of 3 with territory here. It delivers power that customers buy from competing retail providers.
Who powers King County
Utilities with service territory in King County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEP Texas North Company | — | Delivery only (retail choice) | 157,455 | — | — |
| Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc (TX) | Cooperative | Bundled | 118,075 | 12.65¢ | 35% |
| South Plains Electric Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 56,173 | 10.35¢ | 23% |
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 King County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The King County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 267 | $55,157 | 1.00 |
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 King County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in King County. Texas has 25 local measures on record statewide.
King County and its neighbors
Of the 8 counties that border King County, Haskell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King County | 192 | ▲ 89.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Cottle County | 1,224 | ▲ 90.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Dickens County | 1,692 | ▲ 16.5% | 450 MW | 204 MW | 2 | — |
| Foard County | 1,044 | ▲ 3.5% | 555 MW | 300 MW | — | — |
| Haskell County | 5,499 | ▲ 3.4% | 1,774 MW | 2,304 MW | 1 | — |
| Kent County | 674 | ▲ 33.8% | 452 MW | 250 MW | — | — |
| Knox County | 3,192 | ▼ 0.5% | 954 MW | 450 MW | — | — |
| Motley County | 1,043 | ▼ 5.9% | 250 MW | — | — | — |
| Stonewall County | 1,186 | ▲ 50.5% | — | 795 MW | — | — |
More of Texas
King County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in King County, Texas?
3 utilities have service territory in King County in the EIA-861 2024 report: AEP Texas North Company, Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc (TX), South Plains Electric Coop Inc.
Are there data centers in King County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in King County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Haskell County.
Is King County adding jobs?
Employers counted 267 jobs in 2025 against 141 in 2019 (+89.4%, BLS QCEW).
Does King County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for King County. Texas has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.