Pickens County, Alabama: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Aliceville, Gordo and Reform
No data center or power plant project is on record in Pickens County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Construction employs 365, up 380.3% since 2019, and construction is 1.9 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Pickens County is home to Aliceville, Gordo, Reform and Carrollton. Next door, Lowndes County, Mississippi, has 1 data center and 504 MW of planned generation. Unemployment was 4.7% in August 2026, against 3.7% in 2019. Employers here counted 3,681 jobs in 2025, down 1.7% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Pickens County
Pickens County is home to Aliceville, Gordo, Reform and Carrollton.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Macedonia.
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 Pickens County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Alabama |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 18,956 | 18,221 | ▼ 3.9% | 49th of 67 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,745 | 3,681 | ▼ 1.7% | 51st of 67 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,925 | $53,102 | ▲ 33.0% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 76 | 365 | ▲ 380.3% | 1st of 41 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.7% | 4.7% | ▲ 1.0pts | — |
Alabama Power Co is the largest utility serving Pickens 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. 18,221 people live here, down 3.9% since 2020.
Who powers Pickens County
Utilities with service territory in Pickens 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% |
| Black Warrior Elec Member Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 20,053 | 13.24¢ | 27% |
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 Pickens County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Pickens County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,681 | $53,102 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 365 | $72,550 | 1.87 |
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 Pickens County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Pickens County. Alabama has 18 local measures on record statewide.
Pickens County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Pickens County, Lowndes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pickens County | 18,221 | ▼ 1.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Fayette County | 15,872 | ▼ 1.4% | — | 10 MW | — | — |
| Greene County | 7,067 | ▼ 1.5% | 1,288 MW | — | — | — |
| Lamar County | 13,587 | ▼ 3.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Lowndes County MS | 57,346 | ▲ 2.7% | 1,380 MW | 504 MW | 1 | — |
| Noxubee County MS | 9,798 | ▼ 11.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Sumter County | 11,588 | ▼ 2.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Tuscaloosa County | 241,368 | ▲ 1.4% | 101 MW | — | 1 | — |
More of Alabama
Pickens County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Pickens County, Alabama?
2 utilities have service territory in Pickens County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Alabama Power Co, Black Warrior Elec Member Corp. The largest, Alabama Power Co, charged residential customers 16.77¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Pickens County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Pickens County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Lowndes County.
Is Pickens County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,681 jobs in 2025 against 3,745 in 2019 (-1.7%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 76 to 365.
Does Pickens County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Pickens County. Alabama has 18 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.