Russell County, Kentucky: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Russell Springs and Jamestown
No data center or power plant project is on record in Russell County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Russell County is home to Russell Springs and Jamestown. Next door, Casey County has 217 MW of planned generation. Employers here counted 6,049 jobs in 2025, up 5.1% from 2019. Its power plants have 270 MW of capacity, 100% of it hydro. Unemployment was 4.0% in August 2026, against 4.5% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Russell County
Russell County is home to Russell Springs and Jamestown.
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 Russell County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Kentucky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 17,997 | 18,608 | ▲ 3.4% | 65th of 120 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 5,754 | 6,049 | ▲ 5.1% | 50th of 120 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $33,293 | $45,877 | ▲ 37.8% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.5% | 4.0% | ▼ 0.5pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Kentucky Utilities Co is the largest utility serving Russell County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 11.85¢/kWh in 2024, below the 13.21¢ median for Kentucky utilities. 18,608 people live here, up 3.4% since 2020.
Who powers Russell County
Utilities with service territory in Russell 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% |
| 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% |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 270 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf Creek | USCE-Nashville District | Hydro | 270 MW | 1951 |
The Russell County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 6,049 | $45,877 | 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 Russell County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Russell County. Kentucky has 44 local measures on record statewide.
Russell County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Russell County, Casey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell County | 18,608 | ▲ 5.1% | 270 MW | — | — | — |
| Adair County | 19,423 | ▲ 14.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Casey County | 16,205 | ▲ 1.2% | — | 217 MW | — | — |
| Clinton County | 9,139 | ▼ 8.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Cumberland County | 5,992 | ▲ 29.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Pulaski County | 67,384 | ▲ 1.8% | 344 MW | — | — | — |
| Wayne County | 19,597 | ▼ 10.9% | — | — | — | — |
More of Kentucky
Russell County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Russell County, Kentucky?
3 utilities have service territory in Russell County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Kentucky Utilities Co, South Kentucky Rural E C C, Taylor County Rural E C C. The largest, Kentucky Utilities Co, charged residential customers 11.85¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Russell County?
1 operating plant with 270 MW of capacity. The largest is Wolf Creek (270 MW, hydro).
Are there data centers in Russell County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Russell County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Casey County.
Is Russell County adding jobs?
Employers counted 6,049 jobs in 2025 against 5,754 in 2019 (+5.1%, BLS QCEW).
Does Russell County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Russell County. Kentucky has 44 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.