Forest County, Wisconsin: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Crandon, Nashville and Laona
No data center or power plant project is on record in Forest County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Forest County is home to Crandon, Nashville, Laona and Lincoln. Unemployment was 3.8% in August 2026, against 4.7% in 2019. Wisconsin Electric Power Co is the largest utility serving Forest County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 19.23¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.25¢ median for Wisconsin utilities. Employers here counted 3,222 jobs in 2025, up 0.2% from 2019. 9,574 people live here, up 4.4% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Forest County
Forest County is home to Crandon, Nashville, Laona and Lincoln.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Argonne, Laona, Mole Lake, Newald, Wabeno.
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 Forest County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 9,173 | 9,574 | ▲ 4.4% | 68th of 72 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,215 | 3,222 | ▲ 0.2% | 32nd of 72 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $37,865 | $47,054 | ▲ 24.3% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.7% | 3.8% | ▼ 0.9pts | — |
Who powers Forest County
Utilities with service territory in Forest County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Electric Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,048,148 | 19.23¢ | 38% |
| Wisconsin Public Service Corp | Investor Owned | Bundled | 411,775 | 16.23¢ | 38% |
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 Forest County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Forest County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,222 | $47,054 | 1.00 |
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 Forest County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Forest County. Wisconsin has 49 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Oneida County.
Forest County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Forest County, Marinette 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest County | 9,574 | ▲ 0.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Florence County | 4,748 | ▼ 8.3% | 18 MW | — | — | — |
| Iron County MI | 11,757 | ▼ 9.9% | 27 MW | — | — | — |
| Langlade County | 19,534 | ▼ 3.5% | 12 MW | — | — | — |
| Marinette County | 42,574 | ▼ 3.8% | 303 MW | — | — | — |
| Oconto County | 40,195 | ▲ 2.0% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
| Oneida County | 38,131 | ▲ 6.7% | 30 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Vilas County | 23,761 | ▲ 3.3% | — | — | — | — |
More of Wisconsin
Forest County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Forest County, Wisconsin?
2 utilities have service territory in Forest County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Wisconsin Electric Power Co, Wisconsin Public Service Corp. The largest, Wisconsin Electric Power Co, charged residential customers 19.23¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Forest County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Forest County.
Is Forest County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,222 jobs in 2025 against 3,215 in 2019 (+0.2%, BLS QCEW).
Does Forest County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Forest County. Wisconsin has 49 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.