Blount County, Alabama: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Oneonta, Blountsville and Hayden
Blount County is not a build-out site today. It feels the boom through the grid it shares, the utilities that serve it and the work nearby. Blount County is home to Oneonta, Blountsville, Hayden and Cleveland. Construction employs 678, up 18.9% since 2019, and construction is 1.4 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Next door, Jefferson County has 8 data centers. Employers here counted 9,229 jobs in 2025, up 5.9% from 2019. Electrical contractors employ 59, at an average $50,042 a year.
Cities and towns in Blount County
Blount County is home to Oneonta, Blountsville, Hayden and Cleveland.
- County Line also extends into Jefferson County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Remlap, Smoke Rise.
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 Blount County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Alabama |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 59,099 | 60,156 | ▲ 1.8% | 23rd of 67 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 8,712 | 9,229 | ▲ 5.9% | 22nd of 67 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $35,853 | $47,842 | ▲ 33.4% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 570 | 678 | ▲ 18.9% | 22nd of 41 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.8% | 2.9% | ▲ 0.1pts | — |
Alabama Power Co is the largest utility serving Blount County. Its residential customers paid an average 16.77¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.24¢ median for Alabama utilities. Unemployment was 2.9% in August 2026, against 2.8% in 2019. 60,156 people live here, up 1.8% since 2020.
Who powers Blount County
Utilities with service territory in Blount County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,332,911 | 16.77¢ | 26% |
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 Blount County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Blount County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 9,229 | $47,842 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 678 | $63,356 | 1.39 |
| Electrical contractors | 59 | $50,042 | 0.89 |
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 Blount County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Blount County. Alabama has 18 local measures on record statewide.
Blount County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Blount County, Jefferson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blount County | 60,156 | ▲ 5.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Cullman County | 94,009 | ▲ 7.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Etowah County | 103,886 | ▼ 7.1% | — | — | 1 | — |
| Jefferson County | 665,742 | ▲ 4.1% | 2,826 MW | — | 8 | — |
| Marshall County | 103,537 | ▲ 7.9% | 119 MW | — | — | — |
| St. Clair County | 98,206 | ▲ 11.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Walker County | 65,140 | ▲ 2.4% | 181 MW | — | — | — |
More of Alabama
Blount County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Blount County, Alabama?
1 utility has service territory in Blount County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Alabama Power Co. The largest, Alabama Power Co, charged residential customers 16.77¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Blount County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Blount County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Jefferson County.
Is Blount County adding jobs?
Employers counted 9,229 jobs in 2025 against 8,712 in 2019 (+5.9%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 570 to 678.
Does Blount County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Blount County. Alabama has 18 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.