Hamilton County, New York: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Indian Lake
No data center or power plant project is on record in Hamilton County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Hamilton County is home to Indian Lake, Lake Pleasant, Long Lake and Wells. Unemployment was 3.7% in August 2026, against 5.7% in 2019. Next door, St. Lawrence County has 1 data center and 340 MW of planned generation. Employers here counted 1,608 jobs in 2025, down 7.6% from 2019. Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. is the largest utility serving Hamilton County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 17.22¢/kWh in 2024.
Cities and towns in Hamilton County
Hamilton County is home to Indian Lake, Lake Pleasant, Long Lake and Wells.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Long Lake, Wells.
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 Hamilton County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in New York |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 5,073 | 5,006 | ▼ 1.3% | 62nd of 62 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,741 | 1,608 | ▼ 7.6% | 59th of 62 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $36,633 | $51,338 | ▲ 40.1% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.7% | 3.7% | ▼ 2.0pts | — |
5,006 people live here, down 1.3% since 2020.
Who powers Hamilton County
Utilities with service territory in Hamilton County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,532,294 | 17.22¢ | 24% |
| New York State Elec & Gas Corp | Investor Owned | Bundled | 792,300 | 18.32¢ | 23% |
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 Hamilton County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Hamilton County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,608 | $51,338 | 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 Hamilton County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Hamilton County. New York has 35 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: St. Lawrence County.
Hamilton County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Hamilton County, St. Lawrence 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton County | 5,006 | ▼ 7.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Essex County | 36,438 | ▲ 4.0% | 78 MW | — | — | — |
| Franklin County | 46,500 | ▼ 2.9% | 230 MW | 105 MW | 2 | — |
| Fulton County | 52,216 | ▼ 3.2% | 78 MW | 40 MW | — | — |
| Herkimer County | 59,219 | ▼ 4.7% | 138 MW | 82 MW | — | — |
| Saratoga County | 241,343 | ▲ 5.0% | 582 MW | 18 MW | 1 | — |
| St. Lawrence County | 105,488 | ▼ 2.5% | 1,400 MW | 340 MW | 1 | 1 |
| Warren County | 65,020 | ▼ 2.7% | 51 MW | 5 MW | — | — |
More of New York
Hamilton County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Hamilton County, New York?
2 utilities have service territory in Hamilton County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., New York State Elec & Gas Corp. The largest, Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., charged residential customers 17.22¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Hamilton County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Hamilton County. The nearest activity on record is next door in St. Lawrence County.
Is Hamilton County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,608 jobs in 2025 against 1,741 in 2019 (-7.6%, BLS QCEW).
Does Hamilton County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Hamilton County. New York has 35 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.