Jackson County, Ohio: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Jackson, Wellston and Jefferson Township
No data center or power plant project is on record in Jackson County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Jackson County is home to Jackson, Wellston, Jefferson Township and Lick Township. Next door, Lawrence County has 1 data center. Unemployment was 4.1% in August 2026, against 5.5% in 2019. Ohio Power Co is the largest utility serving Jackson 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. Employers here counted 10,220 jobs in 2025, up 0.8% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Jackson County
Jackson County is home to Jackson, Wellston, Jefferson Township and Lick Township.
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 Jackson County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Ohio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 32,671 | 32,817 | ▲ 0.4% | 71st of 88 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 10,142 | 10,220 | ▲ 0.8% | 44th of 88 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $36,579 | $47,906 | ▲ 31.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.5% | 4.1% | ▼ 1.4pts | — |
32,817 people live here, up 0.4% since 2020.
Who powers Jackson County
Utilities with service territory in Jackson 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% |
| Buckeye Rural Elec Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 16,349 | 19.90¢ | 8% |
| City of Jackson - (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 Jackson County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Jackson County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 10,220 | $47,906 | 1.00 |
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 Jackson County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Jackson County. Ohio has 105 local measures on record statewide.
Jackson County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Jackson County, Gallia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | 32,817 | ▲ 0.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Gallia County | 29,072 | ▲ 2.5% | 3,686 MW | — | — | — |
| Lawrence County | 55,710 | ▲ 6.1% | 1,430 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Pike County | 27,061 | ▲ 9.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Ross County | 76,429 | ▼ 2.6% | 582 MW | 12 MW | — | — |
| Scioto County | 71,365 | ▲ 7.1% | 137 MW | — | — | — |
| Vinton County | 12,645 | ▼ 3.6% | 978 MW | — | — | — |
More of Ohio
Jackson County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Jackson County, Ohio?
3 utilities have service territory in Jackson County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Ohio Power Co, Buckeye Rural Elec Coop, Inc, City of Jackson - (OH). The largest, Ohio Power Co, charged residential customers 19.33¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Jackson County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Jackson County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Lawrence County.
Is Jackson County adding jobs?
Employers counted 10,220 jobs in 2025 against 10,142 in 2019 (+0.8%, BLS QCEW).
Does Jackson County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Jackson County. Ohio has 105 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.