Jefferson County, Pennsylvania: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Punxsutawney, Brookville and Winslow Township
No data center or power plant project is on record in Jefferson County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Jefferson County is home to Punxsutawney, Brookville, Winslow Township and Reynoldsville. Next door, Indiana County has 2 data centers and 4,396 MW of planned generation. Construction employs 510, down 12.5% since 2019. Employers here counted 14,194 jobs in 2025, down 10.7% from 2019. FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Co is the largest utility serving Jefferson County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 17.37¢/kWh in 2024, above the 16.30¢ median for Pennsylvania utilities.
Cities and towns in Jefferson County
Jefferson County is home to Punxsutawney, Brookville, Winslow Township and Reynoldsville.
And 10 smaller places.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Crenshaw.
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 Jefferson County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 44,488 | 43,255 | ▼ 2.8% | 48th of 67 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 15,900 | 14,194 | ▼ 10.7% | 64th of 67 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,965 | $51,307 | ▲ 28.4% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 583 | 510 | ▼ 12.5% | 54th of 62 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.6% | 4.2% | ▼ 0.4pts | — |
Unemployment was 4.2% in August 2026, against 4.6% in 2019. 43,255 people live here, down 2.8% since 2020.
Who powers Jefferson County
Utilities with service territory in Jefferson County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,802,612 | 17.37¢ | 16% |
| REA Energy Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 20,932 | 14.53¢ | 17% |
| United Electric Coop, Inc - (PA) | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Jefferson County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Jefferson County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 14,194 | $51,307 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 510 | $59,791 | 0.68 |
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 Jefferson County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Jefferson County. Pennsylvania has 36 local measures on record statewide.
Jefferson County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Jefferson County, Indiana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 43,255 | ▼ 10.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Armstrong County | 63,698 | ▼ 5.4% | 2,627 MW | 18 MW | 1 | — |
| Clarion County | 36,680 | ▼ 4.6% | 30 MW | 5 MW | 1 | — |
| Clearfield County | 78,100 | ▼ 3.0% | 672 MW | 667 MW | 1 | — |
| Elk County | 29,926 | ▼ 10.4% | 54 MW | 6 MW | — | — |
| Forest County | 6,614 | ▼ 4.1% | 20 MW | — | — | — |
| Indiana County | 82,878 | ▼ 6.3% | 2,572 MW | 4,396 MW | 2 | — |
More of Pennsylvania
Jefferson County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania?
3 utilities have service territory in Jefferson County in the EIA-861 2024 report: FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Co, REA Energy Coop Inc, United Electric Coop, Inc - (PA). The largest, FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Co, charged residential customers 17.37¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Jefferson County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Jefferson County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Indiana County.
Is Jefferson County adding jobs?
Employers counted 14,194 jobs in 2025 against 15,900 in 2019 (-10.7%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 583 to 510.
Does Jefferson County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Jefferson County. Pennsylvania has 36 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.