Monroe County, Mississippi: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Amory, Aberdeen and Nettleton
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. Monroe County is home to Amory, Aberdeen, most of Nettleton (1,058 of its 1,934 residents) and Smithville. Unemployment was 3.8% in August 2026, against 6.1% in 2019. 160 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by SR Magnolia, LLC (solar), the 7th largest pipeline among Mississippi's counties. 160 MW of it is already under construction or built. Next door, Lowndes County has 1 data center and 504 MW of planned generation. Construction employs 758, unchanged since 2019, and construction is 1.6 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy.
Cities and towns in Monroe County
Monroe County is home to Amory, Aberdeen, most of Nettleton (1,058 of its 1,934 residents) and Smithville.
- Nettleton also extends into Lee County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Hamilton, New Hamilton.
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 Mississippi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 34,136 | 33,318 | ▼ 2.4% | 23rd of 82 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 9,731 | 9,080 | ▼ 6.7% | 63rd of 82 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $40,931 | $53,622 | ▲ 31.0% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 758 | 758 | ● 0.0% | 33rd of 45 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 33 | 36 | ▲ 9.1% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 6.1% | 3.8% | ▼ 2.3pts | — |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 160 MW | no fleet today | 7th of 14 by size |
Employers here counted 9,080 jobs in 2025, down 6.7% from 2019. Electrical contractors employ 36, up 9.1% since 2019 against up 33.2% statewide, at an average $76,342 a year. 4-County Electric Power Assn is the largest utility serving Monroe County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.88¢/kWh in 2024. 33,318 people live here, down 2.4% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-County Electric Power Assn | Cooperative | Bundled | 41,076 | 12.88¢ | 29% |
| Monroe County Elec Power Assn | Cooperative | Bundled | 10,170 | 12.53¢ | 22% |
| City of Amory | Municipal | Bundled | 2,822 | 11.68¢ | 39% |
| City of Aberdeen - (MS) | Municipal | Bundled | 2,592 | 12.30¢ | 15% |
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.
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SR Magnolia | Solar Photovoltaic | 160 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2027 | SR Magnolia, LLC |
The Monroe County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 9,080 | $53,622 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 758 | $84,184 | 1.58 |
| Electrical contractors | 36 | $76,342 | 0.55 |
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. Mississippi has 1 local measure on record statewide.
Monroe County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Monroe County, Lowndes 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 | 33,318 | ▼ 6.7% | — | 160 MW | — | — |
| Chickasaw County | 16,730 | ▼ 17.5% | 5 MW | — | — | — |
| Clay County | 18,238 | ▲ 21.4% | 250 MW | — | — | — |
| Itawamba County | 24,152 | ▲ 0.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Lamar County AL | 13,587 | ▼ 3.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Lee County | 83,731 | ▼ 4.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Lowndes County | 57,346 | ▲ 2.7% | 1,380 MW | 504 MW | 1 | — |
| Marion County AL | 29,097 | ▼ 0.2% | — | 4 MW | — | — |
More of Mississippi
Monroe County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Monroe County, Mississippi?
4 utilities have service territory in Monroe County in the EIA-861 2024 report: 4-County Electric Power Assn, Monroe County Elec Power Assn, City of Amory, City of Aberdeen - (MS). The largest, 4-County Electric Power Assn, charged residential customers 12.88¢/kWh on average in 2024.
How much new power is planned in Monroe County?
160 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 160 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is SR Magnolia, LLC.
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 Lowndes County.
Is Monroe County adding jobs?
Employers counted 9,080 jobs in 2025 against 9,731 in 2019 (-6.7%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 758 to 758.
Does Monroe County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Monroe County. Mississippi has 1 local measure statewide, listed on the state page.