Ballard County, Kentucky: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Bandana and Lovelaceville
No data center or power plant project is on record in Ballard County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Ballard County is home to La Center, Wickliffe, Barlow and Kevil. Employers here counted 1,923 jobs in 2025, up 20.3% from 2019 (the 9th fastest growth of 120 Kentucky counties). Next door, McCracken County has 4 data centers and 400 MW of planned generation. Construction employs 118, up 5.4% since 2019. Unemployment was 4.4% in August 2026, against 5.4% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Ballard County
Ballard County is home to La Center, Wickliffe, Barlow and Kevil.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Bandana, Lovelaceville.
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 Ballard County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Kentucky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 7,712 | 7,594 | ▼ 1.5% | 110th of 120 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,598 | 1,923 | ▲ 20.3% | 9th of 120 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $48,397 | $64,339 | ▲ 32.9% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 112 | 118 | ▲ 5.4% | 45th of 55 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.4% | 4.4% | ▼ 1.0pts | — |
Kentucky Utilities Co is the largest utility serving Ballard County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 11.85¢/kWh in 2024, below the 13.21¢ median for Kentucky utilities. 7,594 people live here, down 1.5% since 2020.
Who powers Ballard County
Utilities with service territory in Ballard County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Utilities Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 450,673 | 11.85¢ | 32% |
| Jackson Purchase Energy Corporation | Cooperative | Bundled | 23,979 | 15.64¢ | 55% |
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 Ballard County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Ballard County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,923 | $64,339 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 118 | $54,041 | 1.16 |
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 Ballard County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Ballard County. Kentucky has 44 local measures on record statewide.
Ballard County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Ballard County, McCracken 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballard County | 7,594 | ▲ 20.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Alexander County IL | 4,570 | ▼ 14.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Carlisle County | 4,747 | ▲ 5.2% | — | — | — | — |
| McCracken County | 67,553 | ▲ 5.4% | 1,695 MW | 400 MW | 4 | — |
| Mississippi County MO | 12,003 | ▼ 18.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Pulaski County IL | 4,820 | ▼ 22.9% | 5 MW | 417 MW | — | — |
More of Kentucky
Ballard County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Ballard County, Kentucky?
2 utilities have service territory in Ballard County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Kentucky Utilities Co, Jackson Purchase Energy Corporation. The largest, Kentucky Utilities Co, charged residential customers 11.85¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Ballard County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Ballard County. The nearest activity on record is next door in McCracken County.
Is Ballard County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,923 jobs in 2025 against 1,598 in 2019 (+20.3%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 112 to 118.
Does Ballard County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Ballard County. Kentucky has 44 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.