McCormick County, South Carolina: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to McCormick
Local rules on data centers are on the record in McCormick County. McCormick County is home to McCormick. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (0 in force); the latest is “Rejected nine-month data center moratorium”. 1 project is on the Delay Watchlist, including Pollard data center project. Unemployment was 5.5% in August 2026, against 3.3% in 2019. Employers here counted 2,024 jobs in 2025, up 18.2% from 2019 (the 2nd fastest growth of 46 South Carolina counties).
Cities and towns in McCormick County
McCormick County is home to McCormick.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Clarks Hill, Modoc, Mount Carmel, Willington.
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 McCormick County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in South Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 9,522 | 10,215 | ▲ 7.3% | 45th of 46 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,712 | 2,024 | ▲ 18.2% | 2nd of 46 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $35,630 | $43,508 | ▲ 22.1% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.3% | 5.5% | ▲ 2.2pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Its power plants have 362 MW of capacity, 100% of it hydro. Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC is the largest utility serving McCormick County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 13.99¢/kWh in 2024, below the 14.59¢ median for South Carolina utilities. 10,215 people live here, up 7.3% since 2020.
Who powers McCormick County
Utilities with service territory in McCormick 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% |
| Little River Electric Coop Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
| Town of McCormick - (SC) | — | — | — | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 362 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J Strom Thurmond | USCE-Savannah District | Hydro | 362 MW | 1953 |
The McCormick County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,024 | $43,508 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 126 | $51,125 | 1.17 |
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 McCormick County
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rejected nine-month data center moratorium | Failed / vetoed | 2026-09 |
Delay Watchlist 1
| Project | Status | Cause | MW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pollard data center project | approved amid opposition | — |
McCormick County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border McCormick County, Columbia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McCormick County | 10,215 | ▲ 18.2% | 362 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Abbeville County | 24,836 | ▲ 0.8% | 3 MW | — | — | — |
| Columbia County GA | 169,189 | ▲ 17.5% | 21 MW | — | 5 | 1 |
| Edgefield County | 29,808 | ▲ 10.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Elbert County GA | 20,072 | ▲ 3.6% | 668 MW | — | — | — |
| Greenwood County | 70,379 | ▼ 3.2% | 8 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Lincoln County GA | 8,112 | ▲ 15.9% | — | — | — | 1 |
More of South Carolina
McCormick County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in McCormick County, South Carolina?
4 utilities have service territory in McCormick County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, Aiken Electric Coop Inc, Little River Electric Coop Inc, Town of McCormick - (SC). The largest, Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, charged residential customers 13.99¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in McCormick County?
1 operating plant with 362 MW of capacity. The largest is J Strom Thurmond (362 MW, hydro).
Are there data centers in McCormick County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in McCormick County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Columbia County.
Is McCormick County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,024 jobs in 2025 against 1,712 in 2019 (+18.2%, BLS QCEW).
Does McCormick County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for McCormick County, 0 in force.