McMullen County, Texas: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Tilden
McMullen 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. McMullen County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Tilden, are unincorporated and governed by the county. Next door, Webb County has 4 data centers and 776 MW of planned generation. Unemployment was 6.3% in August 2026, against 5.0% in 2019. Employers here counted 538 jobs in 2025, down 5.8% from 2019. 544 people live here, down 9.0% since 2020.
Cities and towns in McMullen County
McMullen County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Tilden, are unincorporated and governed by the county.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Tilden.
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 McMullen County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 598 | 544 | ▼ 9.0% | 251st of 254 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 571 | 538 | ▼ 5.8% | 206th of 254 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $56,402 | $70,115 | ▲ 24.3% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.0% | 6.3% | ▲ 1.3pts | — |
AEP Texas Central Company is the largest utility serving McMullen County, one of 5 with territory here. It delivers power that customers buy from competing retail providers.
Who powers McMullen County
Utilities with service territory in McMullen County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEP Texas Central Company | — | Delivery only (retail choice) | 784,148 | — | — |
| Nueces Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | Bundled | 46,409 | 10.68¢ | 17% |
| Medina Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 30,205 | 12.10¢ | 20% |
| Karnes Electric Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 13,222 | 9.90¢ | 43% |
| 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 McMullen County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The McMullen County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 538 | $70,115 | 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 McMullen County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in McMullen County. Texas has 25 local measures on record statewide.
McMullen County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border McMullen County, Webb 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McMullen County | 544 | ▼ 5.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Atascosa County | 53,590 | ▲ 2.2% | 420 MW | 106 MW | — | — |
| Duval County | 9,402 | ▲ 4.1% | — | 300 MW | — | — |
| Frio County | 18,823 | ▼ 16.7% | 744 MW | 200 MW | — | — |
| La Salle County | 6,517 | ▼ 9.6% | 20 MW | 300 MW | — | — |
| Live Oak County | 11,929 | ▼ 12.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Webb County | 281,224 | ▲ 4.6% | 2,613 MW | 776 MW | 4 | — |
More of Texas
McMullen County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in McMullen County, Texas?
5 utilities have service territory in McMullen County in the EIA-861 2024 report: AEP Texas Central Company, Nueces Electric Cooperative, Medina Electric Coop, Inc, Karnes Electric Coop Inc.
Are there data centers in McMullen County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in McMullen County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Webb County.
Is McMullen County adding jobs?
Employers counted 538 jobs in 2025 against 571 in 2019 (-5.8%, BLS QCEW).
Does McMullen County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for McMullen County. Texas has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.