Hamblen County, Tennessee: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Morristown
Local rules on data centers are on the record in Hamblen County. Hamblen County is home to Morristown. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “County moratorium on data centers through July 7, 2027”. Construction employs 1,385, up 38.9% since 2019. Employers here counted 33,121 jobs in 2025, up 2.8% from 2019. Appalachian Electric Coop is the largest utility serving Hamblen County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.93¢/kWh in 2024, above the 12.22¢ median for Tennessee utilities.
Cities and towns in Hamblen County
Hamblen County is home to Morristown.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Russellville.
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 Hamblen County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Tennessee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 64,553 | 68,843 | ▲ 6.6% | 21st of 95 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 32,224 | 33,121 | ▲ 2.8% | 58th of 95 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $40,764 | $52,851 | ▲ 29.7% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 997 | 1,385 | ▲ 38.9% | 20th of 55 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 118 | 73 | ▼ 38.1% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.9% | 3.8% | ▼ 0.1pts | — |
68,843 people live here, up 6.6% since 2020. Unemployment was 3.8% in August 2026, against 3.9% in 2019. Electrical contractors employ 73, down 38.1% since 2019 against up 20.9% statewide, at an average $62,969 a year.
Who powers Hamblen County
Utilities with service territory in Hamblen County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Electric Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 43,709 | 12.93¢ | 26% |
| Holston Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 25,773 | 13.05¢ | 19% |
| City of Morristown - (TN) | Municipal | Bundled | 13,459 | 12.74¢ | 33% |
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 Hamblen County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Hamblen County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 33,121 | $52,851 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 1,385 | $69,934 | 0.79 |
| Electrical contractors | 73 | $62,969 | 0.31 |
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 Hamblen County
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| County moratorium on data centers through July 7, 2027 | In force | 2026-01 |
Hamblen County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Hamblen County, Hawkins 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamblen County | 68,843 | ▲ 2.8% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Cocke County | 37,889 | ▼ 3.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Grainger County | 25,739 | ▲ 7.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Greene County | 73,831 | ▼ 0.7% | 14 MW | — | — | — |
| Hawkins County | 59,559 | ▲ 6.0% | 997 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Jefferson County | 60,024 | ▲ 3.9% | 137 MW | — | — | — |
More of Tennessee
Hamblen County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Hamblen County, Tennessee?
3 utilities have service territory in Hamblen County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Appalachian Electric Coop, Holston Electric Coop, Inc, City of Morristown - (TN). The largest, Appalachian Electric Coop, charged residential customers 12.93¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Morristown, TN in?
Morristown is in Hamblen County, Tennessee. About 33,513 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Are there data centers in Hamblen County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Hamblen County.
Is Hamblen County adding jobs?
Employers counted 33,121 jobs in 2025 against 32,224 in 2019 (+2.8%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 997 to 1,385.
Does Hamblen County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Hamblen County, 1 in force.