Edgefield County, South Carolina: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Edgefield and Johnston
No data center or power plant project is on record in Edgefield County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Construction employs 406, up 83.7% since 2019. Edgefield County is home to Edgefield and Johnston. Next door, Columbia County, Georgia, has 5 data centers. Employers here counted 6,119 jobs in 2025, up 10.7% from 2019 (the 7th fastest growth of 46 South Carolina counties). Unemployment was 3.8% in August 2026, against 2.6% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Edgefield County
Edgefield County is home to Edgefield and Johnston.
- North Augusta also extends into Aiken County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Murphys Estates.
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 Edgefield County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in South Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 25,674 | 29,808 | ▲ 16.1% | 31st of 46 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 5,526 | 6,119 | ▲ 10.7% | 7th of 46 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $40,022 | $54,256 | ▲ 35.6% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 221 | 406 | ▲ 83.7% | 1st of 25 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.6% | 3.8% | ▲ 1.2pts | — |
29,808 people live here, up 16.1% since 2020. Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC is the largest utility serving Edgefield County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 13.99¢/kWh in 2024, below the 14.59¢ median for South Carolina utilities.
Who powers Edgefield County
Utilities with service territory in Edgefield County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC | Investor Owned | Bundled | 568,586 | 13.99¢ | 28% |
| Aiken Electric Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 49,460 | 15.53¢ | 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 Edgefield County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Edgefield County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 6,119 | $54,256 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 406 | $69,927 | 1.25 |
| Electric utilities | 44 | $123,143 | 2.66 |
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 Edgefield County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Edgefield County. South Carolina has 22 local measures on record statewide, and 4 neighboring counties have one: Columbia County, Greenwood County, McCormick County, Richmond County.
Edgefield County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Edgefield County, Aiken 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edgefield County | 29,808 | ▲ 10.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Aiken County | 181,515 | ▲ 8.7% | 855 MW | — | 3 | — |
| Columbia County GA | 169,189 | ▲ 17.5% | 21 MW | — | 5 | 1 |
| Greenwood County | 70,379 | ▼ 3.2% | 8 MW | — | — | 1 |
| McCormick County | 10,215 | ▲ 18.2% | 362 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Richmond County GA | 206,559 | ▼ 0.5% | 128 MW | — | 4 | 1 |
| Saluda County | 19,680 | ▼ 5.2% | 160 MW | — | — | — |
More of South Carolina
Edgefield County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Edgefield County, South Carolina?
2 utilities have service territory in Edgefield County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, Aiken Electric Coop Inc. The largest, Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, charged residential customers 13.99¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Edgefield County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Edgefield County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Columbia County.
Is Edgefield County adding jobs?
Employers counted 6,119 jobs in 2025 against 5,526 in 2019 (+10.7%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 221 to 406.
Does Edgefield County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Edgefield County. South Carolina has 22 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.