Willacy County, Texas: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Raymondville and Lyford
The data center boom is not abstract in Willacy County: it is on the ground here. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 2 data centers in Willacy County. Willacy County is home to Raymondville, Lyford and San Perlita. 1,014 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly wind. Employers here counted 4,249 jobs in 2025, up 11.5% from 2019. Its power plants have 1,445 MW of capacity, 100% of it wind.
Cities and towns in Willacy County
Willacy County is home to Raymondville, Lyford and San Perlita.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Lasara, Los Angeles, Port Mansfield, Ranchette Estates, Santa Monica, Sebastian, Zapata Ranch.
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 Willacy County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 20,125 | 19,971 | ▼ 0.8% | 124th of 254 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,812 | 4,249 | ▲ 11.5% | 71st of 254 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $37,959 | $47,004 | ▲ 23.8% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 6.4% | 6.7% | ▲ 0.3pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 1,014 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
AEP Texas Central Company is the largest utility serving Willacy County, one of 2 with territory here. It delivers power that customers buy from competing retail providers. Unemployment was 6.7% in August 2026, against 6.4% in 2019. 19,971 people live here, down 0.8% since 2020.
Who powers Willacy County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +1,014 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Willacy County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEP Texas Central Company | — | Delivery only (retail choice) | 784,148 | — | — |
| Magic Valley Electric Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 126,402 | 10.20¢ | 10% |
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 6
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Wind | 1,445 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Sauz Ranch Wind, LLC | El Sauz Ranch Wind, LLC | Wind | 301 MW | 2025 |
| Las Majadas Wind Farm | Las Majadas Wind Farm, LLC | Wind | 273 MW | 2021 |
| West Raymond Wind Farm LLC | RWE Clean Energy | Wind | 240 MW | 2021 |
| Bruennings Breeze Wind Farm | RWE Clean Energy | Wind | 228 MW | 2017 |
| Magic Valley Wind Farm I LLC | RWE Clean Energy | Wind | 203 MW | 2012 |
| Raymond Wind Farm, LLC | RWE Clean Energy | Wind | 200 MW | 2021 |
The Willacy County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 4,249 | $47,004 | 1.00 |
| Electric utilities | 76 | $116,780 | 6.61 |
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 Willacy County
2 data centers in Willacy County are on the SAVRN Data Center Map: see them by city and operator.
Willacy County and its neighbors
Of the 3 counties that border Willacy County, Cameron 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willacy County | 19,971 | ▲ 11.5% | 1,445 MW | — | 2 | — |
| Cameron County | 433,946 | ▲ 9.4% | 1,551 MW | 1,226 MW | 3 | — |
| Hidalgo County | 921,549 | ▲ 11.4% | 3,426 MW | 160 MW | 8 | — |
| Kenedy County | 319 | ▼ 55.1% | 1,075 MW | — | — | — |
More of Texas
Willacy County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Willacy County, Texas?
2 utilities have service territory in Willacy County in the EIA-861 2024 report: AEP Texas Central Company, Magic Valley Electric Coop Inc.
What county is Raymondville, TX in?
Raymondville is in Willacy County, Texas. About 10,082 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Willacy County?
6 operating plants with 1,445 MW of capacity. The largest is El Sauz Ranch Wind, LLC (301 MW, wind).
Are there data centers in Willacy County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 2 data centers in Willacy County.
Is Willacy County adding jobs?
Employers counted 4,249 jobs in 2025 against 3,812 in 2019 (+11.5%, BLS QCEW).
Does Willacy County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Willacy County. Texas has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.