Belmont County, Ohio: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Richland Township, Pease Township and Pultney Township
No data center or power plant project is on record in Belmont County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Belmont County is home to Richland Township, Pease Township, Pultney Township and Martins Ferry. Next door, Monroe County has 1 data center. Unemployment was 4.0% in August 2026, against 5.6% in 2019. Construction employs 1,003, down 13.8% since 2019. Employers here counted 20,522 jobs in 2025, down 7.2% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Belmont County
Belmont County is home to Richland Township, Pease Township, Pultney Township and Martins Ferry.
And 6 smaller places.
- Yorkville also extends into Jefferson County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Bannock, Blaine, Glencoe, Lafferty, Lansing, Lloydsville, Neffs, Wolfhurst.
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 Belmont County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Ohio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 66,285 | 64,434 | ▼ 2.8% | 38th of 88 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 22,126 | 20,522 | ▼ 7.2% | 87th of 88 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $41,926 | $52,097 | ▲ 24.3% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,163 | 1,003 | ▼ 13.8% | 48th of 51 by growth |
| Electric utility jobs (2019 → 2025) | 111 | 134 | ▲ 20.7% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.6% | 4.0% | ▼ 1.6pts | — |
Ohio Power Co is the largest utility serving Belmont County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 19.33¢/kWh in 2024, above the 15.40¢ median for Ohio utilities. 64,434 people live here, down 2.8% since 2020.
Who powers Belmont County
Utilities with service territory in Belmont 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% |
| South Central Power Company | Cooperative | Bundled | 117,469 | 14.87¢ | 14% |
| City of St Clairsville - (OH) | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Belmont County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Belmont County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 20,522 | $52,097 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 1,003 | $70,951 | 0.92 |
| Electric utilities | 134 | $120,821 | 2.41 |
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 Belmont County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Belmont County. Ohio has 105 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Harrison County.
Belmont County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Belmont County, Jefferson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont County | 64,434 | ▼ 7.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Guernsey County | 38,379 | ▼ 2.6% | 2,055 MW | — | — | — |
| Harrison County | 14,070 | ▲ 6.2% | — | 100 MW | — | 1 |
| Jefferson County | 63,597 | ▼ 5.6% | 1,880 MW | 63 MW | — | — |
| Marshall County WV | 29,159 | ▼ 14.0% | 1,748 MW | — | — | — |
| Monroe County | 12,994 | ▼ 5.9% | 530 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Noble County | 14,276 | ▲ 1.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Ohio County WV | 40,496 | ▼ 4.3% | — | — | — | — |
More of Ohio
Belmont County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Belmont County, Ohio?
3 utilities have service territory in Belmont County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Ohio Power Co, South Central Power Company, City of St Clairsville - (OH). The largest, Ohio Power Co, charged residential customers 19.33¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Richland Township, OH in?
Richland Township is in Belmont County, Ohio. About 14,307 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What county is Pease Township, OH in?
Pease Township is in Belmont County, Ohio. About 12,375 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Are there data centers in Belmont County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Belmont County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Monroe County.
Is Belmont County adding jobs?
Employers counted 20,522 jobs in 2025 against 22,126 in 2019 (-7.2%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 1,163 to 1,003.
Does Belmont County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Belmont County. Ohio has 105 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.