Adams County, Ohio: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Tiffin Township, Meigs Township and West Union
Adams County is one of the places pushing back on the data center build-out. Construction employs 427, up 104.3% since 2019. Adams County is home to Tiffin Township, Meigs Township, West Union and Scott Township. The Moratorium Tracker holds 2 local measures here (2 in force); the latest is “Monroe Township (Adams County) data center moratorium”. Unemployment was 4.4% in August 2026, against 6.9% in 2019. Employers here counted 6,923 jobs in 2025, up 17.4% from 2019 (the 4th fastest growth of 88 Ohio counties).
Cities and towns in Adams County
Adams County is home to Tiffin Township, Meigs Township, West Union and Scott Township.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Bentonville, Cherry Fork.
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 Adams County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Ohio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 27,451 | 27,865 | ▲ 1.5% | 76th of 88 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 5,898 | 6,923 | ▲ 17.4% | 4th of 88 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,902 | $54,612 | ▲ 36.9% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 209 | 427 | ▲ 104.3% | 2nd of 51 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 17 | 21 | ▲ 23.5% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 6.9% | 4.4% | ▼ 2.5pts | — |
Electrical contractors employ 21, up 23.5% since 2019 against up 37.0% statewide, at an average $46,351 a year. Ohio Power Co is the largest utility serving Adams County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 19.33¢/kWh in 2024, above the 15.40¢ median for Ohio utilities. 27,865 people live here, up 1.5% since 2020.
Who powers Adams County
Utilities with service territory in Adams County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,339,232 | 19.33¢ | 22% |
| Duke Energy Ohio Inc | Investor Owned | Bundled | 693,435 | 15.00¢ | 26% |
| South Central Power Company | Cooperative | Bundled | 117,469 | 14.87¢ | 14% |
| Adams Rural Electric Coop, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Adams County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Adams County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 6,923 | $54,612 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 427 | $58,496 | 1.16 |
| Electrical contractors | 21 | $46,351 | 0.42 |
| Electric utilities | 44 | $96,048 | 2.35 |
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 Adams County
Local measures 2
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe Township (Adams County) data center moratorium | In force | 2026-03 | |
| Sprigg Township (Adams County) data center moratorium | In force | 2026-03 |
Adams County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Adams County, Mason 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | 27,865 | ▲ 17.4% | — | — | — | 2 |
| Brown County | 44,397 | ▲ 2.3% | 205 MW | — | — | — |
| Highland County | 43,823 | ▲ 3.5% | 667 MW | 200 MW | — | 1 |
| Lewis County KY | 12,901 | ▲ 1.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Mason County KY | 16,936 | ▼ 6.0% | 1,608 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Pike County | 27,061 | ▲ 9.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Scioto County | 71,365 | ▲ 7.1% | 137 MW | — | — | — |
More of Ohio
Adams County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Adams County, Ohio?
4 utilities have service territory in Adams County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Ohio Power Co, Duke Energy Ohio Inc, South Central Power Company, Adams Rural Electric Coop, Inc. The largest, Ohio Power Co, charged residential customers 19.33¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Adams County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Adams County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Highland County.
Is Adams County adding jobs?
Employers counted 6,923 jobs in 2025 against 5,898 in 2019 (+17.4%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 209 to 427.
Does Adams County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 2 local measures for Adams County, 2 in force.