Pacific County, Washington: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Raymond, South Bend and Long Beach
No data center or power plant project is on record in Pacific County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Pacific County is home to Raymond, South Bend, Long Beach and Ilwaco. Unemployment was 6.1% in August 2026, against 7.6% in 2019. Construction employs 269, up 3.1% since 2019. Electrical contractors employ 25, at an average $84,280 a year. PUD No 1 of Grays Harbor County is the largest utility serving Pacific County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.52¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.07¢ median for Washington utilities.
Cities and towns in Pacific County
Pacific County is home to Raymond, South Bend, Long Beach and Ilwaco.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Bay Center, Chinook, Lebam, Naselle, Ocean Park, Tokeland, Willapa.
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 Pacific County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 23,503 | 24,357 | ▲ 3.6% | 28th of 39 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 6,487 | 6,477 | ▼ 0.2% | 32nd of 39 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $38,220 | $51,971 | ▲ 36.0% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 261 | 269 | ▲ 3.1% | 18th of 33 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 7.6% | 6.1% | ▼ 1.5pts | — |
Employers here counted 6,477 jobs in 2025, down 0.2% from 2019. 24,357 people live here, up 3.6% since 2020.
Who powers Pacific County
Utilities with service territory in Pacific 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 Lewis County | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 29,417 | 9.48¢ | 20% |
| PUD No 2 of Pacific County | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 16,513 | 9.17¢ | 29% |
| 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.
No operating power plant is located in Pacific County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Pacific County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 6,477 | $51,971 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 269 | $54,555 | 0.78 |
| Electrical contractors | 25 | $84,280 | 0.54 |
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 Pacific County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Pacific County. Washington has 21 local measures on record statewide.
Pacific County and its neighbors
Of the 3 counties that border Pacific County, Lewis 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific County | 24,357 | ▼ 0.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Grays Harbor County | 78,144 | ▲ 2.6% | 767 MW | — | — | — |
| Lewis County | 88,062 | ▲ 2.2% | 1,883 MW | — | — | — |
| Wahkiakum County | 4,873 | ▼ 4.6% | — | — | — | — |
More of Washington
Pacific County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Pacific County, Washington?
4 utilities have service territory in Pacific County in the EIA-861 2024 report: PUD No 1 of Grays Harbor County, PUD No 1 of Lewis County, PUD No 2 of Pacific County, Bonneville Power Administration. The largest, PUD No 1 of Grays Harbor County, charged residential customers 12.52¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Pacific County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Pacific County.
Is Pacific County adding jobs?
Employers counted 6,477 jobs in 2025 against 6,487 in 2019 (-0.2%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 261 to 269.
Does Pacific County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Pacific County. Washington has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.