Lincoln County, Washington: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Davenport
Local rules on data centers are on the record in Lincoln County. Lincoln County is home to Davenport, Wilbur, Odessa and Reardan. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “County moratorium on data centers through March 10, 2027”. Construction employs 307, up 22.3% since 2019, and construction is 2.1 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Unemployment was 4.9% in August 2026, against 5.9% in 2019. Its power plants have 113 MW of capacity, 100% of it hydro.
Cities and towns in Lincoln County
Lincoln County is home to Davenport, Wilbur, Odessa and Reardan.
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 Lincoln County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 10,926 | 11,982 | ▲ 9.7% | 35th of 39 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,715 | 2,700 | ▼ 0.6% | 34th of 39 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $40,105 | $56,249 | ▲ 40.3% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 251 | 307 | ▲ 22.3% | 8th of 33 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.9% | 4.9% | ▼ 1.0pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Electrical contractors employ 54, at an average $71,041 a year. 11,982 people live here, up 9.7% since 2020. Avista Corp is the largest utility serving Lincoln County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 11.87¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.07¢ median for Washington utilities. Employers here counted 2,700 jobs in 2025, down 0.6% from 2019.
Who powers Lincoln County
Utilities with service territory in Lincoln County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avista Corp | Investor Owned | Bundled | 246,055 | 11.87¢ | 37% |
| PUD No 2 of Grant County | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 42,485 | 6.01¢ | 57% |
| Inland Power & Light Company | Cooperative | Bundled | 41,684 | 8.98¢ | 20% |
| Big Bend Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 5,841 | 9.10¢ | 21% |
| Bonneville Power Administration | Federal | Bundled | — | — | 56% |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 113 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Lake | Avista Corp | Hydro | 70 MW | 1915 |
| Little Falls (WA) | Avista Corp | Hydro | 43 MW | 1910 |
The Lincoln County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,700 | $56,249 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 307 | $67,625 | 2.15 |
| Electrical contractors | 54 | $71,041 | 2.77 |
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 Lincoln County
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| County moratorium on data centers through March 10, 2027 | In force | 2026-09 |
Lincoln County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Lincoln County, Grant 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | 11,982 | ▼ 0.6% | 113 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Adams County | 21,488 | ▲ 10.3% | 169 MW | 126 MW | — | — |
| Ferry County | 7,517 | ▲ 1.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Grant County | 105,727 | ▲ 5.8% | 9,098 MW | 650 MW | 27 | — |
| Okanogan County | 45,230 | ▲ 4.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Spokane County | 558,344 | ▲ 6.7% | 192 MW | — | 7 | 1 |
| Stevens County | 49,668 | ▲ 3.9% | 61 MW | — | — | — |
| Whitman County | 48,512 | ▼ 0.1% | 920 MW | — | — | — |
More of Washington
Lincoln County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Lincoln County, Washington?
5 utilities have service territory in Lincoln County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Avista Corp, PUD No 2 of Grant County, Inland Power & Light Company, Big Bend Electric Coop, Inc. The largest, Avista Corp, charged residential customers 11.87¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Lincoln County?
2 operating plants with 113 MW of capacity. The largest is Long Lake (70 MW, hydro).
Are there data centers in Lincoln County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Lincoln County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Grant County.
Is Lincoln County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,700 jobs in 2025 against 2,715 in 2019 (-0.6%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 251 to 307.
Does Lincoln County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Lincoln County, 1 in force.