Union County, Mississippi: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to New Albany
No data center or power plant project is on record in Union County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Union County is home to New Albany. Unemployment was 2.6% in August 2026, against 4.6% in 2019. Employers here counted 12,108 jobs in 2025, up 7.4% from 2019. North East Mississippi EPA is the largest utility serving Union County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 13.39¢/kWh in 2024, above the 12.78¢ median for Mississippi utilities. 28,459 people live here, up 2.3% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Union County
Union County is home to New Albany.
- Sherman also extends into Pontotoc County.
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 Union County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Mississippi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 27,812 | 28,459 | ▲ 2.3% | 29th of 82 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 11,269 | 12,108 | ▲ 7.4% | 14th of 82 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $43,014 | $55,517 | ▲ 29.1% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.6% | 2.6% | ▼ 2.0pts | — |
Who powers Union County
Utilities with service territory in Union County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East Mississippi EPA | Cooperative | Bundled | 26,142 | 13.39¢ | 39% |
| City of New Albany - (MS) | Municipal | Bundled | 8,157 | 12.39¢ | 34% |
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 Union County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Union County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 12,108 | $55,517 | 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 Union County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Union County. Mississippi has 1 local measure on record statewide.
Union County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Union County, Benton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | 28,459 | ▲ 7.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Benton County | 7,502 | ▲ 10.4% | 1,004 MW | — | — | — |
| Lafayette County | 59,597 | ▲ 6.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Lee County | 83,731 | ▼ 4.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Marshall County | 34,654 | ▲ 52.9% | 10 MW | 55 MW | — | — |
| Pontotoc County | 32,096 | ▼ 10.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Prentiss County | 25,284 | ▼ 4.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Tippah County | 21,389 | ▲ 10.0% | — | — | — | — |
More of Mississippi
Union County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Union County, Mississippi?
2 utilities have service territory in Union County in the EIA-861 2024 report: North East Mississippi EPA, City of New Albany - (MS). The largest, North East Mississippi EPA, charged residential customers 13.39¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Union County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Union County.
Is Union County adding jobs?
Employers counted 12,108 jobs in 2025 against 11,269 in 2019 (+7.4%, BLS QCEW).
Does Union County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Union County. Mississippi has 1 local measure statewide, listed on the state page.