Ferry County, Washington: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Republic
No data center or power plant project is on record in Ferry County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Unemployment was 6.8% in August 2026, against 10.8% in 2019. Ferry County is home to Republic. Employers here counted 1,696 jobs in 2025, up 1.6% from 2019. Avista Corp is the largest utility serving Ferry County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 11.87¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.07¢ median for Washington utilities. 7,517 people live here, up 4.4% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Ferry County
Ferry County is home to Republic.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Barney's Junction, Barstow, Boyds, Curlew, Curlew Lake, Danville, Inchelium, Keller, Laurier, Malo, Orient, Pine Grove, Torboy, Twin Lakes.
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 Ferry County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 7,199 | 7,517 | ▲ 4.4% | 36th of 39 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,669 | 1,696 | ▲ 1.6% | 27th of 39 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $40,139 | $55,216 | ▲ 37.6% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 10.8% | 6.8% | ▼ 4.0pts | — |
Who powers Ferry County
Utilities with service territory in Ferry County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avista Corp | Investor Owned | Bundled | 246,055 | 11.87¢ | 37% |
| Bonneville Power Administration | Federal | Bundled | — | — | 56% |
| PUD No 1 of Ferry County | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nespelem Valley Elec Coop, 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.
No operating power plant is located in Ferry County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Ferry County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,696 | $55,216 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 96 | $47,604 | 1.07 |
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 Ferry County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Ferry County. Washington has 21 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Lincoln County.
Ferry County and its neighbors
Of the 3 counties that border Ferry County, Lincoln 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferry County | 7,517 | ▲ 1.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Lincoln County | 11,982 | ▼ 0.6% | 113 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Okanogan County | 45,230 | ▲ 4.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Stevens County | 49,668 | ▲ 3.9% | 61 MW | — | — | — |
More of Washington
Ferry County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Ferry County, Washington?
4 utilities have service territory in Ferry County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Avista Corp, Bonneville Power Administration, PUD No 1 of Ferry County, Nespelem Valley Elec Coop, Inc. The largest, Avista Corp, charged residential customers 11.87¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Ferry County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Ferry County.
Is Ferry County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,696 jobs in 2025 against 1,669 in 2019 (+1.6%, BLS QCEW).
Does Ferry County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Ferry County. Washington has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.