Mathews County, Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Gwynn and Mathews
No data center or power plant project is on record in Mathews County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Mathews County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Gwynn, Mathews, are unincorporated and governed by the county. Construction employs 124, up 1.6% since 2019, and construction is 1.5 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Virginia Electric & Power Co is the largest utility serving Mathews County. Its residential customers paid an average 14.09¢/kWh in 2024, below the 14.39¢ median for Virginia utilities. Employers here counted 1,589 jobs in 2025, up 1.0% from 2019. Unemployment was 3.4% in August 2026, against 3.2% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Mathews County
Mathews County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Gwynn, Mathews, are unincorporated and governed by the county.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Gwynn, Mathews.
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 Mathews County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 8,520 | 8,529 | ▲ 0.1% | 118th of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,573 | 1,589 | ▲ 1.0% | 67th of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $29,192 | $43,137 | ▲ 47.8% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 122 | 124 | ▲ 1.6% | 57th of 83 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.2% | 3.4% | ▲ 0.2pts | — |
8,529 people live here, up 0.1% since 2020.
Who powers Mathews County
Utilities with service territory in Mathews County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Electric & Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 2,383,548 | 14.09¢ | 63% |
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 Mathews County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Mathews County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,589 | $43,137 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 124 | $58,285 | 1.47 |
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 Mathews County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Mathews County. Virginia has 13 local measures on record statewide.
Mathews County and its neighbors
Of the 2 counties that border Mathews County, Gloucester 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathews County | 8,529 | ▲ 1.0% | — | — | — | — |
| Gloucester County | 40,097 | ▲ 6.4% | 194 MW | — | — | — |
| Middlesex County | 10,841 | ▼ 3.1% | 21 MW | — | — | — |
More of Virginia
Mathews County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Mathews County, Virginia?
1 utility has service territory in Mathews County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Virginia Electric & Power Co. The largest, Virginia Electric & Power Co, charged residential customers 14.09¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Mathews County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Mathews County.
Is Mathews County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,589 jobs in 2025 against 1,573 in 2019 (+1.0%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 122 to 124.
Does Mathews County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Mathews County. Virginia has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.