Hardin County, Illinois: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
No data center or power plant project is on record in Hardin County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Hardin County is home to Rosiclare. Employers here counted 780 jobs in 2025, up 21.1% from 2019 (the fastest growth of 102 Illinois counties). Unemployment was 4.2% in August 2026, against 6.1% in 2019. Southeastern IL Elec Coop, Inc is the largest utility serving Hardin County. Its residential customers paid an average 14.47¢/kWh in 2024, below the 15.22¢ median for Illinois utilities. 3,588 people live here, down 1.8% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Hardin County
Hardin County is home to Rosiclare.
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 Hardin County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Illinois |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 3,654 | 3,588 | ▼ 1.8% | 102nd of 102 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 644 | 780 | ▲ 21.1% | 1st of 102 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $29,272 | $48,896 | ▲ 67.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 6.1% | 4.2% | ▼ 1.9pts | — |
Who powers Hardin County
Utilities with service territory in Hardin County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeastern IL Elec Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 22,731 | 14.47¢ | 12% |
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 Hardin County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Hardin County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 780 | $48,896 | 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 Hardin County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Hardin County. Illinois has 28 local measures on record statewide.
Hardin County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Hardin County, Saline 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardin County | 3,588 | ▲ 21.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Crittenden County KY | 8,807 | ▼ 0.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Gallatin County | 4,616 | ▼ 22.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Livingston County KY | 8,863 | ▲ 35.9% | 76 MW | — | — | — |
| Pope County | 3,672 | ▼ 9.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Saline County | 22,772 | ▲ 7.0% | 270 MW | 4 MW | — | — |
| Union County KY | 12,839 | ▲ 5.0% | — | — | — | — |
More of Illinois
Hardin County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Hardin County, Illinois?
1 utility has service territory in Hardin County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Southeastern IL Elec Coop, Inc. The largest, Southeastern IL Elec Coop, Inc, charged residential customers 14.47¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Hardin County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Hardin County.
Is Hardin County adding jobs?
Employers counted 780 jobs in 2025 against 644 in 2019 (+21.1%, BLS QCEW).
Does Hardin County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Hardin County. Illinois has 28 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.