Fayette County, Ohio: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Washington Court House, Union Township and Jefferson Township
Local rules on data centers are on the record in Fayette County. Electrical contractors employ 109, up 505.6% since 2019 against up 37.0% statewide, at an average $92,260 a year. Construction employs 493, up 88.9% since 2019. Fayette County is home to Washington Court House, Union Township, Jefferson Township and Paint Township. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “Temporary data center moratorium (seven townships)”. Employers here counted 11,945 jobs in 2025, up 7.3% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Fayette County
Fayette County is home to Washington Court House, Union Township, Jefferson Township and Paint Township.
- New Holland also extends into Pickaway County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Good Hope, Pancoastburg.
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 Fayette County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Ohio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 28,969 | 28,552 | ▼ 1.4% | 75th of 88 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 11,134 | 11,945 | ▲ 7.3% | 15th of 88 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $37,290 | $53,701 | ▲ 44.0% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 261 | 493 | ▲ 88.9% | 4th of 51 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 18 | 109 | ▲ 505.6% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.3% | 3.5% | ▼ 0.8pts | — |
Unemployment was 3.5% in August 2026, against 4.3% in 2019. Ohio Edison Co is the largest utility serving Fayette County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 16.18¢/kWh in 2024, above the 15.40¢ median for Ohio utilities. 28,552 people live here, down 1.4% since 2020.
Who powers Fayette County
Utilities with service territory in Fayette County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio Edison Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 957,780 | 16.18¢ | 18% |
| Dayton Power & Light Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 478,741 | 15.32¢ | 20% |
| South Central Power Company | Cooperative | Bundled | 117,469 | 14.87¢ | 14% |
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 Fayette County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Fayette County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 11,945 | $53,701 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 493 | $91,471 | 0.78 |
| Electrical contractors | 109 | $92,260 | 1.27 |
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 Fayette County
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary data center moratorium (seven townships) | In force | 2026-09 |
Fayette County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Fayette County, Clinton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette County | 28,552 | ▲ 7.3% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Clinton County | 42,301 | ▲ 5.4% | 50 MW | 300 MW | 3 | — |
| Greene County | 174,322 | ▲ 5.2% | 2 MW | 175 MW | — | — |
| Highland County | 43,823 | ▲ 3.5% | 667 MW | 200 MW | — | 1 |
| Madison County | 46,985 | ▲ 34.9% | 957 MW | 155 MW | — | — |
| Pickaway County | 62,978 | ▲ 18.5% | 764 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Ross County | 76,429 | ▼ 2.6% | 582 MW | 12 MW | — | — |
More of Ohio
Fayette County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Fayette County, Ohio?
3 utilities have service territory in Fayette County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Ohio Edison Co, Dayton Power & Light Co, South Central Power Company. The largest, Ohio Edison Co, charged residential customers 16.18¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Washington Court House, OH in?
Washington Court House is in Fayette County, Ohio. About 14,375 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Are there data centers in Fayette County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Fayette County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Clinton County.
Is Fayette County adding jobs?
Employers counted 11,945 jobs in 2025 against 11,134 in 2019 (+7.3%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 261 to 493.
Does Fayette County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Fayette County, 1 in force.