Jefferson County, Washington: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Port Townsend
Jefferson 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. Jefferson County is home to Port Townsend. Unemployment was 4.3% in August 2026, against 6.0% in 2019. Construction employs 652, down 8.7% since 2019, and construction is 1.3 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Electrical contractors employ 91, up 23.0% since 2019 against up 6.1% statewide, at an average $78,038 a year. Its power plants have 9 MW of capacity, 82% of it other technologies.
Cities and towns in Jefferson County
Jefferson County is home to Port Townsend.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Brinnon, Marrowstone, Port Hadlock-Irondale, Port Ludlow, Queets, Quilcene.
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 Jefferson County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 33,064 | 33,970 | ▲ 2.7% | 27th of 39 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 9,148 | 9,204 | ▲ 0.6% | 29th of 39 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $42,239 | $62,257 | ▲ 47.4% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 714 | 652 | ▼ 8.7% | 31st of 33 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 74 | 91 | ▲ 23.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 6.0% | 4.3% | ▼ 1.7pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
PUD No 1 of Grays Harbor County is the largest utility serving Jefferson County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.52¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.07¢ median for Washington utilities. Employers here counted 9,204 jobs in 2025, up 0.6% from 2019. 33,970 people live here, up 2.7% since 2020.
Who powers Jefferson County
Utilities with service territory in Jefferson County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PUD No 1 of Grays Harbor County | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 39,881 | 12.52¢ | 34% |
| PUD No 1 of Clallam County | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 30,585 | 11.85¢ | 27% |
| PUD No 1 of Jefferson County | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 18,661 | 13.01¢ | 17% |
| Bonneville Power Administration | Federal | Bundled | — | — | 56% |
| PUD No 1 of Mason County | — | — | — | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Other technologies | 8 MW | 82% |
| Hydro | 2 MW | 18% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Townsend Paper | Port Townsend Paper Co | Other technologies | 8 MW | 1986 |
| Rocky Brook Hydroelectric | Rocky Brook Electric Inc | Hydro | 2 MW | 1985 |
The Jefferson County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 9,204 | $62,257 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 652 | $65,828 | 1.34 |
| Electrical contractors | 91 | $78,038 | 1.37 |
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 Jefferson County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Jefferson County. Washington has 21 local measures on record statewide.
Jefferson County and its neighbors
Of the 3 counties that border Jefferson County, Grays Harbor 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 33,970 | ▲ 0.6% | 9 MW | — | — | — |
| Clallam County | 78,202 | ▲ 4.5% | 13 MW | — | — | — |
| Grays Harbor County | 78,144 | ▲ 2.6% | 767 MW | — | — | — |
| Mason County | 71,165 | ▲ 4.0% | 136 MW | — | — | — |
More of Washington
Jefferson County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Jefferson County, Washington?
5 utilities have service territory in Jefferson County in the EIA-861 2024 report: PUD No 1 of Grays Harbor County, PUD No 1 of Clallam County, PUD No 1 of Jefferson County, Bonneville Power Administration. The largest, PUD No 1 of Grays Harbor County, charged residential customers 12.52¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Port Townsend, WA in?
Port Townsend is in Jefferson County, Washington. About 10,678 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Jefferson County?
2 operating plants with 9 MW of capacity. The largest is Port Townsend Paper (8 MW, other technologies).
Are there data centers in Jefferson County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Jefferson County.
Is Jefferson County adding jobs?
Employers counted 9,204 jobs in 2025 against 9,148 in 2019 (+0.6%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 714 to 652.
Does Jefferson County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Jefferson County. Washington has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.