Craig County, Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Craig County is one of the places the data center build-out is physically happening. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Craig County. Craig County is home to New Castle. Employers here counted 764 jobs in 2025, up 3.4% from 2019. Appalachian Power Co is the largest utility serving Craig County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 17.02¢/kWh in 2024, above the 14.39¢ median for Virginia utilities. Unemployment was 3.6% in August 2026, against 3.3% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Craig County
Craig County is home to New Castle.
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 Craig County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 4,876 | 4,800 | ▼ 1.6% | 130th of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 739 | 764 | ▲ 3.4% | 52nd of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $34,530 | $52,516 | ▲ 52.1% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.3% | 3.6% | ▲ 0.3pts | — |
4,800 people live here, down 1.6% since 2020.
Who powers Craig County
Utilities with service territory in Craig County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 465,283 | 17.02¢ | 26% |
| Craig-Botetourt Electric Coop | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Craig County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Craig County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 764 | $52,516 | 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 Craig County
1 data center in Craig County is on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Craig County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Craig County, Botetourt 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craig County | 4,800 | ▲ 3.4% | — | — | 1 | — |
| Alleghany County | 14,546 | ▼ 13.1% | 244 MW | — | — | — |
| Botetourt County | 34,144 | ▲ 8.1% | — | 78 MW | 1 | — |
| Giles County | 16,564 | ▲ 16.1% | 27 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Monroe County WV | 12,491 | ▼ 2.0% | — | — | — | — |
| Montgomery County | 98,434 | ▲ 4.0% | 24 MW | — | 2 | — |
| Roanoke County | 97,150 | ▼ 4.6% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
More of Virginia
Craig County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Craig County, Virginia?
2 utilities have service territory in Craig County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Appalachian Power Co, Craig-Botetourt Electric Coop. The largest, Appalachian Power Co, charged residential customers 17.02¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Craig County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Craig County.
Is Craig County adding jobs?
Employers counted 764 jobs in 2025 against 739 in 2019 (+3.4%, BLS QCEW).
Does Craig County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Craig County. Virginia has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.