Johnson County, Wyoming: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Buffalo
Johnson County is one of the places the data center build-out is physically happening. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Johnson County. Johnson County is home to Buffalo. Construction employs 245, up 15.0% since 2019, and construction is 1.4 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Unemployment was 2.5% in August 2026, against 3.6% in 2019. Electrical contractors employ 14, up 7.7% since 2019 against up 25.6% statewide, at an average $53,424 a year.
Cities and towns in Johnson County
Johnson County is home to Buffalo.
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 Johnson County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Wyoming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 8,469 | 8,908 | ▲ 5.2% | 17th of 23 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,227 | 3,363 | ▲ 4.2% | 8th of 23 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $38,935 | $52,780 | ▲ 35.6% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 213 | 245 | ▲ 15.0% | 6th of 14 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 13 | 14 | ▲ 7.7% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.6% | 2.5% | ▼ 1.1pts | — |
Employers here counted 3,363 jobs in 2025, up 4.2% from 2019 (the 8th fastest growth of 23 Wyoming counties). PacifiCorp is the largest utility serving Johnson County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 13.44¢/kWh in 2024, above the 12.98¢ median for Wyoming utilities. 8,908 people live here, up 5.2% since 2020.
Who powers Johnson County
Utilities with service territory in Johnson County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PacifiCorp | Investor Owned | Bundled | 118,130 | 13.44¢ | 16% |
| Powder River Energy Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 15,406 | 11.73¢ | 38% |
| Montana-Dakota Utilities Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 14,706 | 11.77¢ | 48% |
| High Plains Power Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 12,767 | 13.71¢ | 5% |
| Big Horn Rural Electric Co | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Johnson County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Johnson County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,363 | $52,780 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 245 | $57,538 | 1.38 |
| Electrical contractors | 14 | $53,424 | 0.58 |
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 Johnson County
1 data center in Johnson County is on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Johnson County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Johnson County, Converse 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County | 8,908 | ▲ 4.2% | — | — | 1 | — |
| Big Horn County | 12,024 | ▲ 4.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Campbell County | 48,145 | ▼ 2.1% | 1,362 MW | — | 2 | — |
| Converse County | 13,824 | ▼ 12.3% | 2,400 MW | 998 MW | 1 | — |
| Natrona County | 80,526 | ▲ 2.6% | 250 MW | — | 3 | — |
| Sheridan County | 33,241 | ▲ 9.6% | 15 MW | — | 2 | — |
| Washakie County | 7,597 | ▲ 2.1% | — | — | — | — |
More of Wyoming
Johnson County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Johnson County, Wyoming?
5 utilities have service territory in Johnson County in the EIA-861 2024 report: PacifiCorp, Powder River Energy Corp, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co, High Plains Power Inc. The largest, PacifiCorp, charged residential customers 13.44¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Johnson County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Johnson County.
Is Johnson County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,363 jobs in 2025 against 3,227 in 2019 (+4.2%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 213 to 245.
Does Johnson County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Johnson County. Wyoming has 2 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.