Martin County, Kentucky: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
No data center or power plant project is on record in Martin County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Martin County is home to Inez. Unemployment was 8.5% in August 2026, against 5.7% in 2019. Employers here counted 1,772 jobs in 2025, down 22.2% from 2019. Next door, Floyd County has 2 data centers. 111 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar.
Cities and towns in Martin County
Martin County is home to Inez.
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 Martin County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Kentucky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 11,252 | 10,697 | ▼ 4.9% | 97th of 120 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,279 | 1,772 | ▼ 22.2% | 120th of 120 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $43,489 | $52,398 | ▲ 20.5% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.7% | 8.5% | ▲ 2.8pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 111 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Its power plants have 111 MW of capacity, 100% of it solar. Kentucky Power Co is the largest utility serving Martin County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.07¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.21¢ median for Kentucky utilities. 10,697 people live here, down 4.9% since 2020.
Who powers Martin County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +111 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Martin County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 130,852 | 15.07¢ | 27% |
| Big Sandy Rural Elec Coop Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 11,574 | 13.69¢ | 16% |
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 | 111 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin County Solar Project, LLC | Martin County Solar Project, LLC | Solar | 111 MW | 2024 |
The Martin County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,772 | $52,398 | 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 Martin County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Martin County. Kentucky has 44 local measures on record statewide.
Martin County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Martin County, Lawrence 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin County | 10,697 | ▼ 22.2% | 111 MW | — | — | — |
| Floyd County | 34,401 | ▲ 4.6% | — | — | 2 | — |
| Johnson County | 22,051 | ▲ 3.0% | — | — | — | — |
| Lawrence County | 15,765 | ▲ 8.4% | 1,430 MW | — | — | — |
| Mingo County WV | 21,455 | ▼ 12.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Pike County | 54,721 | ▼ 2.5% | — | — | 2 | — |
| Wayne County WV | 37,309 | ▲ 2.6% | 872 MW | — | — | — |
More of Kentucky
Martin County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Martin County, Kentucky?
2 utilities have service territory in Martin County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Kentucky Power Co, Big Sandy Rural Elec Coop Corp. The largest, Kentucky Power Co, charged residential customers 15.07¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Martin County?
1 operating plant with 111 MW of capacity. The largest is Martin County Solar Project, LLC (111 MW, solar).
Are there data centers in Martin County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Martin County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Floyd County.
Is Martin County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,772 jobs in 2025 against 2,279 in 2019 (-22.2%, BLS QCEW).
Does Martin County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Martin County. Kentucky has 44 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.