Covington (city), Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Covington (city) is not a build-out site today. It feels the boom through the grid it shares, the utilities that serve it and the work nearby. Covington (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county. Employers here counted 3,679 jobs in 2025, down 7.4% from 2019. Unemployment was 4.5% in August 2026, against 4.1% in 2019. 5,680 people live here, down 1.2% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Covington (city)
Covington (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 Covington (city)
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 5,747 | 5,680 | ▼ 1.2% | 128th of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,975 | 3,679 | ▼ 7.4% | 116th of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $52,755 | $60,602 | ▲ 14.9% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.1% | 4.5% | ▲ 0.4pts | — |
Who powers Covington (city)
No operating power plant is located in Covington (city) in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Covington (city) labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,679 | $60,602 | 1.00 |
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 Covington (city)
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Covington (city). Virginia has 13 local measures on record statewide.
Covington (city) and its neighbors
Of the 1 counties that border Covington (city), Alleghany 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Covington (city) | 5,680 | ▼ 7.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Alleghany County | 14,546 | ▼ 13.1% | 244 MW | — | — | — |
More of Virginia
Covington (city), answered from the record
Are there data centers in Covington (city)?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Covington (city).
Is Covington (city) adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,679 jobs in 2025 against 3,975 in 2019 (-7.4%, BLS QCEW).
Does Covington (city) have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Covington (city). Virginia has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.