Colonial Heights (city), Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
No data center or power plant project is on record in Colonial Heights (city), but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Colonial Heights (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county. Next door, Chesterfield County has 6 data centers and 1,163 MW of planned generation. Employers here counted 9,689 jobs in 2025, down 8.2% from 2019. Unemployment was 3.8% in August 2026, against 3.1% in 2019. Electrical contractors employ 26, at an average $57,899 a year.
Cities and towns in Colonial Heights (city)
Colonial Heights (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county.
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 Colonial Heights (city)
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 18,162 | 18,738 | ▲ 3.2% | 83rd of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 10,558 | 9,689 | ▼ 8.2% | 119th of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $32,646 | $44,952 | ▲ 37.7% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.1% | 3.8% | ▲ 0.7pts | — |
18,738 people live here, up 3.2% since 2020.
Who powers Colonial Heights (city)
No operating power plant is located in Colonial Heights (city) in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Colonial Heights (city) labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 9,689 | $44,952 | 1.00 |
| Electrical contractors | 26 | $57,899 | 0.37 |
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 Colonial Heights (city)
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Colonial Heights (city). Virginia has 13 local measures on record statewide.
Colonial Heights (city) and its neighbors
Of the 2 counties that border Colonial Heights (city), Chesterfield 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colonial Heights (city) | 18,738 | ▼ 8.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Chesterfield County | 397,148 | ▲ 8.4% | 504 MW | 1,163 MW | 6 | — |
| Petersburg (city) | 33,734 | ▼ 11.2% | — | — | — | — |
More of Virginia
Colonial Heights (city), answered from the record
Are there data centers in Colonial Heights (city)?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Colonial Heights (city). The nearest activity on record is next door in Chesterfield County.
What county is Colonial Heights, VA in?
Colonial Heights is in Colonial Heights (city), Virginia. About 18,738 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Is Colonial Heights (city) adding jobs?
Employers counted 9,689 jobs in 2025 against 10,558 in 2019 (-8.2%, BLS QCEW).
Does Colonial Heights (city) have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Colonial Heights (city). Virginia has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.