Lawrence County, Ohio: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Upper Township, Ironton and Rome Township
The data center boom is not abstract in Lawrence County: it is on the ground here. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Lawrence County. Lawrence County is home to Upper Township, Ironton, Rome Township and Fayette Township. Its power plants have 1,430 MW of capacity, 100% of it natural gas, the 7th largest fleet in Ohio. Employers here counted 13,984 jobs in 2025, up 6.1% from 2019. Unemployment was 4.3% in August 2026, against 5.0% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Lawrence County
Lawrence County is home to Upper Township, Ironton, Rome Township and Fayette Township.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Burlington, Miller.
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 Lawrence County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Ohio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 58,146 | 55,710 | ▼ 4.2% | 46th of 88 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 13,175 | 13,984 | ▲ 6.1% | 18th of 88 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $36,439 | $49,844 | ▲ 36.8% | — |
| Electric utility jobs (2019 → 2025) | 64 | 78 | ▲ 21.9% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.0% | 4.3% | ▼ 0.7pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Electrical contractors employ 81, at an average $76,058 a year. Ohio Power Co is the largest utility serving Lawrence 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. 55,710 people live here, down 4.2% since 2020.
Who powers Lawrence County
Utilities with service territory in Lawrence 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% |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
Operating power plants 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | 1,430 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanging Rock Energy Facility | Dynegy Hanging Rock Energy Facility | Natural gas | 1,430 MW | 2003 |
The Lawrence County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 13,984 | $49,844 | 1.00 |
| Electrical contractors | 81 | $76,058 | 0.80 |
| Electric utilities | 78 | $174,489 | 2.06 |
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 Lawrence County
1 data center in Lawrence County is on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Lawrence County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Lawrence 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence County | 55,710 | ▲ 6.1% | 1,430 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Boyd County KY | 47,751 | ▲ 9.3% | — | — | — | 2 |
| Cabell County WV | 91,183 | ▼ 0.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Gallia County | 29,072 | ▲ 2.5% | 3,686 MW | — | — | — |
| Greenup County KY | 35,213 | ▼ 9.0% | 2 MW | — | 3 | — |
| Jackson County | 32,817 | ▲ 0.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Scioto County | 71,365 | ▲ 7.1% | 137 MW | — | — | — |
| Wayne County WV | 37,309 | ▲ 2.6% | 872 MW | — | — | — |
More of Ohio
Lawrence County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Lawrence County, Ohio?
2 utilities have service territory in Lawrence County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Ohio Power Co, Buckeye Rural Elec Coop, Inc. The largest, Ohio Power Co, charged residential customers 19.33¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Upper Township, OH in?
Upper Township is in Lawrence County, Ohio. About 13,816 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What county is Ironton, OH in?
Ironton is in Lawrence County, Ohio. About 10,148 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Lawrence County?
1 operating plant with 1,430 MW of capacity. The largest is Hanging Rock Energy Facility (1,430 MW, natural gas).
Are there data centers in Lawrence County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Lawrence County.
Is Lawrence County adding jobs?
Employers counted 13,984 jobs in 2025 against 13,175 in 2019 (+6.1%, BLS QCEW).
Does Lawrence County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Lawrence County. Ohio has 105 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.