Petersburg, Alaska: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Hobart Bay and Petersburg
Petersburg is one of the places pushing back on the data center build-out. Unemployment was 2.2% in August 2026, against 7.7% in 2019. Petersburg has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Hobart Bay, Petersburg, are unincorporated and governed by the county. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (0 in force); the latest is “One-year data center moratorium recommendation fails on tie vote”. Employers here counted 1,300 jobs in 2025, up 4.3% from 2019 (the 7th fastest growth of 28 Alaska counties). 3,394 people live here, down 0.1% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Petersburg
Petersburg has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Hobart Bay, Petersburg, are unincorporated and governed by the county.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Hobart Bay, Petersburg.
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 Petersburg
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Alaska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 3,397 | 3,394 | ▼ 0.1% | 20th of 28 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,246 | 1,300 | ▲ 4.3% | 7th of 28 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $44,025 | $58,450 | ▲ 32.8% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 7.7% | 2.2% | ▼ 5.5pts | — |
Who powers Petersburg
No operating power plant is located in Petersburg in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Petersburg labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,300 | $58,450 | 1.00 |
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 Petersburg
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-year data center moratorium recommendation fails on tie vote | Failed / vetoed | 2026-09 |
Petersburg and its neighbors
None of the 3 counties bordering Petersburg has a data center, a power plant or planned generation on record.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petersburg | 3,394 | ▲ 4.3% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Hoonah-Angoon | 2,271 | ▲ 23.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Prince of Wales-Hyder | 5,777 | ▼ 5.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Wrangell | 2,007 | ▼ 3.4% | — | — | — | — |
More of Alaska
Petersburg, answered from the record
Are there data centers in Petersburg?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Petersburg.
Is Petersburg adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,300 jobs in 2025 against 1,246 in 2019 (+4.3%, BLS QCEW).
Does Petersburg have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Petersburg, 0 in force.