Franklin (city), Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
No data center or power plant project is on record in Franklin (city), but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Franklin (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county. Next door, Isle of Wight County has 2 data centers and 258 MW of planned generation. Unemployment was 5.4% in August 2026, against 3.9% in 2019. Employers here counted 3,898 jobs in 2025, down 8.9% from 2019. 8,478 people live here, up 4.1% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Franklin (city)
Franklin (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 Franklin (city)
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 8,147 | 8,478 | ▲ 4.1% | 119th of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 4,277 | 3,898 | ▼ 8.9% | 122nd of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $30,839 | $43,635 | ▲ 41.5% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.9% | 5.4% | ▲ 1.5pts | — |
Who powers Franklin (city)
No operating power plant is located in Franklin (city) in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Franklin (city) labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,898 | $43,635 | 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 Franklin (city)
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Franklin (city). Virginia has 13 local measures on record statewide.
Franklin (city) and its neighbors
Of the 2 counties that border Franklin (city), Isle of Wight 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin (city) | 8,478 | ▼ 8.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Isle of Wight County | 41,321 | ▼ 8.8% | 337 MW | 258 MW | 2 | — |
| Southampton County | 18,110 | ▼ 4.7% | 182 MW | — | 1 | — |
More of Virginia
Franklin (city), answered from the record
Are there data centers in Franklin (city)?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Franklin (city). The nearest activity on record is next door in Isle of Wight County.
Is Franklin (city) adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,898 jobs in 2025 against 4,277 in 2019 (-8.9%, BLS QCEW).
Does Franklin (city) have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Franklin (city). Virginia has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.