Newton County, Mississippi: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Newton, Decatur and Union
Newton 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. Newton County is home to Newton, Decatur and most of Union (1,456 of its 2,007 residents). Construction employs 171, down 38.0% since 2019. Unemployment was 3.3% in August 2026, against 5.7% in 2019. Next door, Lauderdale County has 1 data center. Employers here counted 5,081 jobs in 2025, down 10.4% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Newton County
Newton County is home to Newton, Decatur and most of Union (1,456 of its 2,007 residents).
- Union also extends into Neshoba County.
- Lake also extends into Scott County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Conehatta.
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 Newton County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Mississippi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 21,250 | 20,960 | ▼ 1.4% | 43rd of 82 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 5,670 | 5,081 | ▼ 10.4% | 71st of 82 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $34,448 | $42,630 | ▲ 23.8% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 276 | 171 | ▼ 38.0% | 43rd of 45 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.7% | 3.3% | ▼ 2.4pts | — |
Mississippi Power Co is the largest utility serving Newton County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.47¢/kWh in 2024, above the 12.78¢ median for Mississippi utilities. 20,960 people live here, down 1.4% since 2020.
Who powers Newton County
Utilities with service territory in Newton County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 157,437 | 14.47¢ | 30% |
| Southern Pine Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | Bundled | 65,176 | 14.01¢ | 17% |
| Central Electric Power Assn - (MS) | Cooperative | Bundled | 30,905 | 12.22¢ | 29% |
| East Mississippi Elec Pwr Assn | Cooperative | Bundled | 9,885 | 14.26¢ | 42% |
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 Newton County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Newton County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 5,081 | $42,630 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 171 | $65,449 | 0.64 |
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 Newton County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Newton County. Mississippi has 1 local measure on record statewide.
Newton County and its neighbors
Of the 8 counties that border Newton County, Kemper 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton County | 20,960 | ▼ 10.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Clarke County | 15,102 | ▼ 3.9% | 78 MW | — | — | — |
| Jasper County | 15,785 | ▼ 4.3% | — | 150 MW | — | — |
| Kemper County | 8,600 | ▼ 12.2% | 1,212 MW | — | — | — |
| Lauderdale County | 70,317 | ▼ 6.3% | 108 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Leake County | 21,662 | ▲ 5.8% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
| Neshoba County | 28,732 | ▲ 5.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Scott County | 28,073 | ▲ 2.7% | 175 MW | — | — | — |
| Smith County | 13,991 | ▼ 1.3% | 148 MW | — | — | — |
More of Mississippi
Newton County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Newton County, Mississippi?
4 utilities have service territory in Newton County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Mississippi Power Co, Southern Pine Electric Cooperative, Central Electric Power Assn - (MS), East Mississippi Elec Pwr Assn. The largest, Mississippi Power Co, charged residential customers 14.47¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Newton County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Newton County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Lauderdale County.
Is Newton County adding jobs?
Employers counted 5,081 jobs in 2025 against 5,670 in 2019 (-10.4%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 276 to 171.
Does Newton County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Newton County. Mississippi has 1 local measure statewide, listed on the state page.