Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
A data center boom is taking shape in Hood County, a rural community of about 62,000 residents an hour southwest of Fort Worth. Developers have proposed eight data centers covering more than 7,600 acres — roughly 12 square miles. The county now ranks sixth in Texas for planned data centers and third when measured by planned data center acreage per square mile.
Hood County residents have mounted a persistent campaign against the proposed data centers, filling county meetings and town halls to object to developments they fear could reshape their small, rural community. But county officials say they have limited power to halt or delay the projects. County commissioners twice tried to approve a moratorium on data centers, but both efforts failed after a state lawmaker warned they may be exceeding their authority. Developers have also sued the county twice.
Nearly half of the planned data centers in Texas are set to be built in unincorporated areas, according to an analysis by The Texas Tribune. This marks a shift as most existing data centers are clustered in cities, and only 12% are currently in unincorporated areas.
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A data center boom is taking shape in Hood County, a rural community of about 62,000 residents an hour southwest of Fort Worth. Developers have proposed eight data centers covering more than 7,600 acres — roughly 12 square miles. The county now ranks sixth in Texas for planned data centers and third when measured by planned data center acreage per square mile.
Hood County residents have mounted a persistent campaign against the proposed data centers, filling county meetings and town halls to object to developments they fear could reshape their small, rural community. But county officials say they have limited power to halt or delay the projects. County commissioners twice tried to approve a moratorium on data centers, but both efforts failed after a state lawmaker warned they may be exceeding their authority. Developers have also sued the county twice.
Nearly half of the planned data centers in Texas are set to be built in unincorporated areas, according to an analysis by The Texas Tribune. This marks a shift as most existing data centers are clustered in cities, and only 12% are currently in unincorporated areas.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
→ Subscribe for more videos: youtube.com/user/thetexastribune?sub_confirmation=1
→ Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/texastribune
→ Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/texastribune
