Franklin County, Illinois: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Benton Township, West Frankfort and Benton
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 Benton Township, West Frankfort, Benton and Frankfort Township. 2 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Unemployment was 4.4% in August 2026, against 5.1% in 2019. Its power plants have 2 MW of capacity, 100% of it solar. Ameren Illinois Company is the largest utility serving Franklin County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.26¢/kWh in 2024.
Cities and towns in Franklin County
Franklin County is home to Benton Township, West Frankfort, Benton and Frankfort Township.
And 3 smaller places.
- Freeman Spur also extends into Williamson County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Mulkeytown.
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 Illinois |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 37,694 | 36,916 | ▼ 2.1% | 36th of 102 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 8,950 | 9,002 | ▲ 0.6% | 43rd of 102 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $38,242 | $47,948 | ▲ 25.4% | — |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 43 | 32 | ▼ 25.6% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.1% | 4.4% | ▼ 0.7pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 2 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Employers here counted 9,002 jobs in 2025, up 0.6% from 2019. 36,916 people live here, down 2.1% since 2020. Electrical contractors employ 32, down 25.6% since 2019 against up 3.9% statewide, at an average $78,332 a year.
Who powers Franklin County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +2 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Franklin County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ameren Illinois Company | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,060,894 | 15.26¢ | 28% |
| Southeastern IL Elec Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 22,731 | 14.47¢ | 12% |
| Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc (IL) | Cooperative | Bundled | 16,197 | 16.04¢ | 9% |
| Egyptian Electric Coop Assn | Cooperative | Bundled | 13,707 | 15.53¢ | 42% |
| Wayne-White Counties Elec Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 11,957 | 16.58¢ | 21% |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
Operating power plants 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 2 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kern A Community Solar, LLC CSG | Kern A Community Solar, LLC | Solar | 2 MW | 2021 |
The Franklin County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 9,002 | $47,948 | 1.00 |
| Electrical contractors | 32 | $78,332 | 0.49 |
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. Illinois has 28 local measures on record statewide.
Franklin County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Franklin County, Perry 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 | 36,916 | ▲ 0.6% | 2 MW | — | — | — |
| Hamilton County | 7,859 | ▲ 3.0% | 6 MW | — | — | — |
| Jackson County | 52,501 | ▲ 11.0% | 10 MW | 101 MW | — | — |
| Jefferson County | 36,147 | ▼ 2.4% | 2 MW | 155 MW | — | — |
| Perry County | 20,160 | ▼ 5.2% | 535 MW | 168 MW | — | — |
| Saline County | 22,772 | ▲ 7.0% | 270 MW | 4 MW | — | — |
| Williamson County | 67,225 | ▲ 4.7% | 266 MW | 12 MW | — | — |
More of Illinois
Franklin County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Franklin County, Illinois?
5 utilities have service territory in Franklin County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Ameren Illinois Company, Southeastern IL Elec Coop, Inc, Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc (IL), Egyptian Electric Coop Assn. The largest, Ameren Illinois Company, charged residential customers 15.26¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Franklin County?
1 operating plant with 2 MW of capacity. The largest is Kern A Community Solar, LLC CSG (2 MW, solar).
Are there data centers in Franklin County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Franklin County.
Is Franklin County adding jobs?
Employers counted 9,002 jobs in 2025 against 8,950 in 2019 (+0.6%, BLS QCEW).
Does Franklin County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Franklin County. Illinois has 28 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.