McDowell County, North Carolina: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Marion
Local rules on data centers are on the record in McDowell County. McDowell County is home to Marion and Old Fort. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “County moratorium on data centers through February 11, 2027”. Construction employs 740, up 33.6% since 2019. Employers here counted 15,394 jobs in 2025, down 3.2% from 2019. Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC is the largest utility serving McDowell County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 13.94¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.11¢ median for North Carolina utilities.
Cities and towns in McDowell County
McDowell County is home to Marion and Old Fort.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Glenwood, Nebo, West Marion.
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 McDowell County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in North Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 44,554 | 45,198 | ▲ 1.4% | 57th of 100 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 15,897 | 15,394 | ▼ 3.2% | 77th of 100 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $37,623 | $48,681 | ▲ 29.4% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 554 | 740 | ▲ 33.6% | 14th of 60 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.0% | 3.7% | ▼ 0.3pts | — |
Unemployment was 3.7% in August 2026, against 4.0% in 2019. 45,198 people live here, up 1.4% since 2020.
Who powers McDowell County
Utilities with service territory in McDowell County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,919,372 | 13.94¢ | 42% |
| Duke Energy Progress - (NC) | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,356,079 | 15.54¢ | 36% |
| Rutherford Elec Member Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 70,743 | 13.13¢ | 14% |
| French Broad Elec Member Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 36,147 | 14.78¢ | 20% |
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 McDowell County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The McDowell County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 15,394 | $48,681 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 740 | $64,808 | 0.91 |
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 McDowell County
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| County moratorium on data centers through February 11, 2027 | In force | 2026-01 |
McDowell County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border McDowell County, Buncombe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDowell County | 45,198 | ▼ 3.2% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Avery County | 18,110 | ▲ 16.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Buncombe County | 277,417 | ▼ 0.2% | 1,033 MW | 57 MW | 3 | — |
| Burke County | 88,655 | ● 0.0% | 48 MW | 3 MW | — | — |
| Mitchell County | 15,062 | ▼ 1.0% | — | — | — | — |
| Rutherford County | 65,745 | ▼ 3.1% | 127 MW | 60 MW | 3 | — |
| Yancey County | 19,084 | ▲ 8.7% | — | — | — | — |
More of North Carolina
McDowell County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in McDowell County, North Carolina?
4 utilities have service territory in McDowell County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, Duke Energy Progress - (NC), Rutherford Elec Member Corp, French Broad Elec Member Corp. The largest, Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, charged residential customers 13.94¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in McDowell County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in McDowell County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Rutherford County.
Is McDowell County adding jobs?
Employers counted 15,394 jobs in 2025 against 15,897 in 2019 (-3.2%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 554 to 740.
Does McDowell County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for McDowell County, 1 in force.