Marion County, Alabama: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Hamilton, Winfield and Guin
Marion 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. Marion County is home to Hamilton, most of Winfield (4,130 of its 4,842 residents), Guin and Hackleburg. 4 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by SR Bear Creek, LLC (solar). Construction employs 140, up 16.7% since 2019. Alabama Power Co is the largest utility serving Marion County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 16.77¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.24¢ median for Alabama utilities. Employers here counted 10,057 jobs in 2025, down 0.2% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Marion County
Marion County is home to Hamilton, most of Winfield (4,130 of its 4,842 residents), Guin and Hackleburg.
- Winfield also extends into Fayette County.
- Haleyville also extends into Winston County.
- Glen Allen also extends into Fayette County.
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 Marion County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Alabama |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 29,192 | 29,097 | ▼ 0.3% | 38th of 67 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 10,075 | 10,057 | ▼ 0.2% | 42nd of 67 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $36,249 | $49,597 | ▲ 36.8% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 120 | 140 | ▲ 16.7% | 24th of 41 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.8% | 3.8% | ● 0.0pts | — |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 4 MW | no fleet today | 11th of 11 by size |
Unemployment was 3.8% in August 2026, against 3.8% in 2019. 29,097 people live here, down 0.3% since 2020.
Who powers Marion County
Utilities with service territory in Marion 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% |
| Tombigbee Electric Coop, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Marion County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SR Bear Creek | Solar Photovoltaic | 4 MW | Approvals received | 2027 | SR Bear Creek, LLC |
The Marion County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 10,057 | $49,597 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 140 | $45,781 | 0.26 |
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 Marion County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Marion County. Alabama has 18 local measures on record statewide.
Marion County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Marion County, Monroe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | 29,097 | ▼ 0.2% | — | 4 MW | — | — |
| Fayette County | 15,872 | ▼ 1.4% | — | 10 MW | — | — |
| Franklin County | 32,449 | ▼ 0.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Itawamba County MS | 24,152 | ▲ 0.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Lamar County | 13,587 | ▼ 3.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Monroe County MS | 33,318 | ▼ 6.7% | — | 160 MW | — | — |
| Walker County | 65,140 | ▲ 2.4% | 181 MW | — | — | — |
| Winston County | 23,829 | ● 0.0% | — | — | — | — |
More of Alabama
Marion County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Marion County, Alabama?
2 utilities have service territory in Marion County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Alabama Power Co, Tombigbee Electric Coop, Inc. The largest, Alabama Power Co, charged residential customers 16.77¢/kWh on average in 2024.
How much new power is planned in Marion County?
4 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is SR Bear Creek, LLC.
Are there data centers in Marion County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Marion County.
Is Marion County adding jobs?
Employers counted 10,057 jobs in 2025 against 10,075 in 2019 (-0.2%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 120 to 140.
Does Marion County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Marion County. Alabama has 18 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.