Marquette County, Wisconsin: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Packwaukee, Montello and Buffalo
The data center boom is not abstract in Marquette County: it is on the ground here. Construction employs 124, up 158.3% since 2019. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Marquette County. Marquette County is home to Packwaukee, Montello, Buffalo and Westfield. Wisconsin Power & Light Co is the largest utility serving Marquette County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 16.89¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.25¢ median for Wisconsin utilities. Employers here counted 3,972 jobs in 2025, up 0.1% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Marquette County
Marquette County is home to Packwaukee, Montello, Buffalo and Westfield.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Briggsville, Harrisville, Packwaukee.
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 Marquette County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 15,594 | 15,927 | ▲ 2.1% | 63rd of 72 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,970 | 3,972 | ▲ 0.1% | 34th of 72 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,229 | $50,815 | ▲ 29.5% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 48 | 124 | ▲ 158.3% | 1st of 61 by growth |
| Electric utility jobs (2019 → 2025) | 44 | 36 | ▼ 18.2% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.8% | 3.6% | ▼ 0.2pts | — |
Unemployment was 3.6% in August 2026, against 3.8% in 2019. 15,927 people live here, up 2.1% since 2020.
Who powers Marquette County
Utilities with service territory in Marquette County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Power & Light Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 437,211 | 16.89¢ | 22% |
| Adams-Columbia Electric Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 35,910 | 17.63¢ | 16% |
| Pioneer Power and Light Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 2,021 | 17.13¢ | 19% |
| Westfield Electric Company | Investor Owned | Bundled | 622 | 17.94¢ | 34% |
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 Marquette County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Marquette County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,972 | $50,815 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 124 | $47,822 | 0.59 |
| Electric utilities | 36 | $56,409 | 3.35 |
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 Marquette County
1 data center in Marquette County is on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Marquette County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Marquette County, Columbia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette County | 15,927 | ▲ 0.1% | — | — | 1 | — |
| Adams County | 21,752 | ▲ 0.4% | 23 MW | — | — | — |
| Columbia County | 58,132 | ▼ 4.2% | 1,300 MW | 500 MW | — | — |
| Green Lake County | 19,305 | ▼ 0.8% | 2 MW | — | — | — |
| Waushara County | 25,223 | ▼ 6.3% | 99 MW | 360 MW | — | — |
More of Wisconsin
Marquette County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Marquette County, Wisconsin?
4 utilities have service territory in Marquette County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Wisconsin Power & Light Co, Adams-Columbia Electric Coop, Pioneer Power and Light Co, Westfield Electric Company. The largest, Wisconsin Power & Light Co, charged residential customers 16.89¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Marquette County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Marquette County.
Is Marquette County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,972 jobs in 2025 against 3,970 in 2019 (+0.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 48 to 124.
Does Marquette County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Marquette County. Wisconsin has 49 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.