Franklin County, Alabama: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Russellville, Red Bay and Phil Campbell
Franklin 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. Franklin County is home to Russellville, Red Bay and Phil Campbell. Next door, Lawrence County has 393 MW of planned generation. Construction employs 239, up 10.1% since 2019. Alabama Power Co is the largest utility serving Franklin County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 16.77¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.24¢ median for Alabama utilities. Unemployment was 3.5% in August 2026, against 3.1% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Franklin County
Franklin County is home to Russellville, Red Bay and Phil Campbell.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Belgreen, Spruce Pine.
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 Franklin County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Alabama |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 32,088 | 32,449 | ▲ 1.1% | 37th of 67 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 11,092 | 10,994 | ▼ 0.9% | 44th of 67 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $37,106 | $49,802 | ▲ 34.2% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 217 | 239 | ▲ 10.1% | 33rd of 41 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.1% | 3.5% | ▲ 0.4pts | — |
Employers here counted 10,994 jobs in 2025, down 0.9% from 2019. 32,449 people live here, up 1.1% since 2020.
Who powers Franklin County
Utilities with service territory in Franklin 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% |
| Franklin Electric Coop - (AL) | Cooperative | Bundled | 5,979 | 14.03¢ | 60% |
| City of Russellville - (AL) | Municipal | Bundled | 3,890 | 13.25¢ | 45% |
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 Franklin County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Franklin County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 10,994 | $49,802 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 239 | $53,738 | 0.41 |
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 Franklin County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Franklin County. Alabama has 18 local measures on record statewide.
Franklin County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Franklin County, Colbert 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 32,449 | ▼ 0.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Colbert County | 59,474 | ▲ 2.1% | 1,397 MW | 200 MW | — | — |
| Itawamba County MS | 24,152 | ▲ 0.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Lawrence County | 33,843 | ▲ 10.3% | 404 MW | 393 MW | — | — |
| Marion County | 29,097 | ▼ 0.2% | — | 4 MW | — | — |
| Tishomingo County MS | 18,639 | ▼ 2.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Winston County | 23,829 | ● 0.0% | — | — | — | — |
More of Alabama
Franklin County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Franklin County, Alabama?
3 utilities have service territory in Franklin County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Alabama Power Co, Franklin Electric Coop - (AL), City of Russellville - (AL). The largest, Alabama Power Co, charged residential customers 16.77¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Russellville, AL in?
Russellville is in Franklin County, Alabama. About 10,904 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Are there data centers in Franklin County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Franklin County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Lawrence County.
Is Franklin County adding jobs?
Employers counted 10,994 jobs in 2025 against 11,092 in 2019 (-0.9%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 217 to 239.
Does Franklin County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Franklin County. Alabama has 18 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.