Cumberland County, Kentucky: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Burkesville
Cumberland 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. Employers here counted 2,520 jobs in 2025, up 29.5% from 2019 (the 3rd fastest growth of 120 Kentucky counties). Cumberland County is home to Burkesville. Unemployment was 3.4% in August 2026, against 4.9% in 2019. South Kentucky Rural E C C is the largest utility serving Cumberland County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.92¢/kWh in 2024. 5,992 people live here, up 2.3% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Cumberland County
Cumberland County is home to Burkesville.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Marrowbone.
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 Cumberland County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Kentucky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 5,860 | 5,992 | ▲ 2.3% | 116th of 120 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,946 | 2,520 | ▲ 29.5% | 3rd of 120 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $37,884 | $48,791 | ▲ 28.8% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.9% | 3.4% | ▼ 1.5pts | — |
Who powers Cumberland County
Utilities with service territory in Cumberland County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Kentucky Rural E C C | Cooperative | Bundled | 64,877 | 12.92¢ | 8% |
| Taylor County Rural E C C | Cooperative | Bundled | 24,985 | 13.27¢ | 24% |
| Tri-County Elec Member Corp (TN) | Cooperative | Bundled | 20,529 | 12.52¢ | 49% |
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 Cumberland County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Cumberland County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,520 | $48,791 | 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 Cumberland County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Cumberland County. Kentucky has 44 local measures on record statewide.
Cumberland County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Cumberland County, Russell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County | 5,992 | ▲ 29.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Adair County | 19,423 | ▲ 14.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Clay County TN | 7,821 | ▼ 1.4% | 54 MW | — | — | — |
| Clinton County | 9,139 | ▼ 8.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Metcalfe County | 10,583 | ▲ 12.4% | 55 MW | — | — | — |
| Monroe County | 11,191 | ▲ 2.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Russell County | 18,608 | ▲ 5.1% | 270 MW | — | — | — |
More of Kentucky
Cumberland County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Cumberland County, Kentucky?
3 utilities have service territory in Cumberland County in the EIA-861 2024 report: South Kentucky Rural E C C, Taylor County Rural E C C, Tri-County Elec Member Corp (TN). The largest, South Kentucky Rural E C C, charged residential customers 12.92¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Cumberland County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Cumberland County.
Is Cumberland County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,520 jobs in 2025 against 1,946 in 2019 (+29.5%, BLS QCEW).
Does Cumberland County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Cumberland County. Kentucky has 44 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.