Hocking County, Ohio: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Falls Township, Logan and Green Township
No data center or power plant project is on record in Hocking County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Hocking County is home to Falls Township, Logan, Green Township and Marion Township. Employers here counted 7,527 jobs in 2025, up 14.4% from 2019 (the 5th fastest growth of 88 Ohio counties). Next door, Fairfield County has 3 data centers and 220 MW of planned generation. Unemployment was 3.9% in August 2026, against 4.7% in 2019. Electrical contractors employ 43, down 2.3% since 2019 against up 37.0% statewide, at an average $55,832 a year.
Cities and towns in Hocking County
Hocking County is home to Falls Township, Logan, Green Township and Marion Township.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Carbon Hill, Haydenville, Hide-A-Way Hills, Rockbridge, West Logan.
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 Hocking County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Ohio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 28,040 | 27,512 | ▼ 1.9% | 78th of 88 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 6,579 | 7,527 | ▲ 14.4% | 5th of 88 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $33,541 | $40,023 | ▲ 19.3% | — |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 44 | 43 | ▼ 2.3% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.7% | 3.9% | ▼ 0.8pts | — |
Ohio Power Co is the largest utility serving Hocking County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 19.33¢/kWh in 2024, above the 15.40¢ median for Ohio utilities. 27,512 people live here, down 1.9% since 2020.
Who powers Hocking County
Utilities with service territory in Hocking 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% |
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 Hocking County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Hocking County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 7,527 | $40,023 | 1.00 |
| Electrical contractors | 43 | $55,832 | 0.79 |
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 Hocking County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Hocking County. Ohio has 105 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Pickaway County.
Hocking County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Hocking County, Fairfield 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hocking County | 27,512 | ▲ 14.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Athens County | 63,197 | ▲ 2.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Fairfield County | 169,752 | ▲ 9.1% | — | 220 MW | 3 | — |
| Perry County | 35,918 | ▼ 5.1% | 6 MW | — | — | — |
| Pickaway County | 62,978 | ▲ 18.5% | 764 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Ross County | 76,429 | ▼ 2.6% | 582 MW | 12 MW | — | — |
| Vinton County | 12,645 | ▼ 3.6% | 978 MW | — | — | — |
More of Ohio
Hocking County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Hocking County, Ohio?
2 utilities have service territory in Hocking County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Ohio Power Co, South Central Power Company. The largest, Ohio Power Co, charged residential customers 19.33¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Falls Township, OH in?
Falls Township is in Hocking County, Ohio. About 11,608 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Are there data centers in Hocking County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Hocking County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Fairfield County.
Is Hocking County adding jobs?
Employers counted 7,527 jobs in 2025 against 6,579 in 2019 (+14.4%, BLS QCEW).
Does Hocking County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Hocking County. Ohio has 105 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.