Bayfield County, Wisconsin: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Washburn, Russell and Iron River
No data center or power plant project is on record in Bayfield County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Bayfield County is home to Washburn, Russell, Iron River and Cable. Construction employs 370, up 29.4% since 2019, and construction is 1.6 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Unemployment was 3.8% in August 2026, against 5.3% in 2019. Electrical contractors employ 9, at an average $55,136 a year. Employers here counted 4,295 jobs in 2025, up 2.9% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Bayfield County
Bayfield County is home to Washburn, Russell, Iron River and Cable.
And 1 smaller places.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Cable, Cornucopia, Drummond, Grand View, Herbster, Iron River, Port Wing.
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 Bayfield County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 16,240 | 16,787 | ▲ 3.4% | 61st of 72 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 4,174 | 4,295 | ▲ 2.9% | 18th of 72 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $33,621 | $46,478 | ▲ 38.2% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 286 | 370 | ▲ 29.4% | 16th of 61 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.3% | 3.8% | ▼ 1.5pts | — |
Northern States Power Co is the largest utility serving Bayfield County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.83¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.25¢ median for Wisconsin utilities. 16,787 people live here, up 3.4% since 2020.
Who powers Bayfield County
Utilities with service territory in Bayfield County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern States Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 220,574 | 15.83¢ | 40% |
| Dahlberg Light & Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 10,939 | 12.62¢ | 18% |
| Bayfield Electric 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 Bayfield County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Bayfield County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 4,295 | $46,478 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 370 | $96,899 | 1.63 |
| Electrical contractors | 9 | $55,136 | 0.29 |
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 Bayfield County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Bayfield County. Wisconsin has 49 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Sawyer County.
Bayfield County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Bayfield County, Ashland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayfield County | 16,787 | ▲ 2.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Ashland County | 16,203 | ▼ 2.8% | 48 MW | — | — | — |
| Douglas County | 43,990 | ▼ 0.7% | 15 MW | — | — | — |
| Sawyer County | 18,846 | ▲ 4.7% | 10 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Washburn County | 17,087 | ▼ 5.8% | 3 MW | 2 MW | — | — |
More of Wisconsin
Bayfield County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Bayfield County, Wisconsin?
3 utilities have service territory in Bayfield County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Northern States Power Co, Dahlberg Light & Power Co, Bayfield Electric Coop, Inc. The largest, Northern States Power Co, charged residential customers 15.83¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Bayfield County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Bayfield County.
Is Bayfield County adding jobs?
Employers counted 4,295 jobs in 2025 against 4,174 in 2019 (+2.9%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 286 to 370.
Does Bayfield County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Bayfield County. Wisconsin has 49 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.