Monroe County, Kentucky: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Tompkinsville
Monroe 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. Construction employs 331, up 92.4% since 2019, and construction is 1.9 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Monroe County is home to Tompkinsville. Next door, Barren County has 1 data center. Employers here counted 3,247 jobs in 2025, up 2.2% from 2019. Farmers Rural Electric Coop Corp - (KY) is the largest utility serving Monroe County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 13.08¢/kWh in 2024.
Cities and towns in Monroe County
Monroe County is home to Tompkinsville.
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 Monroe County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Kentucky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 11,315 | 11,191 | ▼ 1.1% | 94th of 120 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,178 | 3,247 | ▲ 2.2% | 70th of 120 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $34,482 | $49,779 | ▲ 44.4% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 172 | 331 | ▲ 92.4% | 4th of 55 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.9% | 4.2% | ▲ 0.3pts | — |
Unemployment was 4.2% in August 2026, against 3.9% in 2019. 11,191 people live here, down 1.1% since 2020.
Who powers Monroe County
Utilities with service territory in Monroe County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmers Rural Electric Coop Corp - (KY) | Cooperative | Bundled | 24,889 | 13.08¢ | 16% |
| 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 Monroe County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Monroe County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,247 | $49,779 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 331 | $94,871 | 1.92 |
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 Monroe County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Monroe County. Kentucky has 44 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Allen County.
Monroe County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Monroe County, Barren 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County | 11,191 | ▲ 2.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Allen County | 22,536 | ▲ 12.2% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Barren County | 45,641 | ▼ 3.8% | 1 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Clay County TN | 7,821 | ▼ 1.4% | 54 MW | — | — | — |
| Cumberland County | 5,992 | ▲ 29.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Macon County TN | 27,663 | ▲ 7.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Metcalfe County | 10,583 | ▲ 12.4% | 55 MW | — | — | — |
More of Kentucky
Monroe County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Monroe County, Kentucky?
2 utilities have service territory in Monroe County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Farmers Rural Electric Coop Corp - (KY), Tri-County Elec Member Corp (TN). The largest, Farmers Rural Electric Coop Corp - (KY), charged residential customers 13.08¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Monroe County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Monroe County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Barren County.
Is Monroe County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,247 jobs in 2025 against 3,178 in 2019 (+2.2%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 172 to 331.
Does Monroe County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Monroe County. Kentucky has 44 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.