Nelson County, Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Afton and Arrington
Nelson County 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. Nelson County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Afton, Arrington, Lovingston, are unincorporated and governed by the county. Construction employs 238, up 18.4% since 2019. Next door, Buckingham County has 1 data center and 224 MW of planned generation. Electrical contractors employ 45, at an average $49,098 a year. Virginia Electric & Power Co is the largest utility serving Nelson County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.09¢/kWh in 2024, below the 14.39¢ median for Virginia utilities.
Cities and towns in Nelson County
Nelson County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Afton, Arrington, Lovingston, are unincorporated and governed by the county.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Afton, Arrington, Lovingston, Nellysford, Schuyler, Shipman, Wintergreen.
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 Nelson County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 14,737 | 14,920 | ▲ 1.2% | 100th of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 4,024 | 3,980 | ▼ 1.1% | 82nd of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $35,633 | $51,077 | ▲ 43.3% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 201 | 238 | ▲ 18.4% | 29th of 83 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.9% | 3.2% | ▲ 0.3pts | — |
Employers here counted 3,980 jobs in 2025, down 1.1% from 2019. Unemployment was 3.2% in August 2026, against 2.9% in 2019. 14,920 people live here, up 1.2% since 2020.
Who powers Nelson County
Utilities with service territory in Nelson 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% |
| Appalachian Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 465,283 | 17.02¢ | 26% |
| Shenandoah Valley Elec Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 85,281 | 13.81¢ | 22% |
| Central Virginia Electric Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 34,893 | 16.14¢ | 16% |
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 Nelson County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Nelson County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,980 | $51,077 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 238 | $49,172 | 1.13 |
| Electrical contractors | 45 | $49,098 | 1.57 |
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 Nelson County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Nelson County. Virginia has 13 local measures on record statewide.
Nelson County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Nelson County, Buckingham 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson County | 14,920 | ▼ 1.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Albemarle County | 118,356 | ▲ 12.5% | 13 MW | — | — | — |
| Amherst County | 31,962 | ▼ 1.8% | 12 MW | 50 MW | — | — |
| Appomattox County | 17,172 | ▲ 12.9% | 16 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Augusta County | 78,940 | ▲ 9.6% | 8 MW | 11 MW | — | — |
| Buckingham County | 17,137 | ▼ 6.4% | 599 MW | 224 MW | 1 | — |
| Rockbridge County | 22,663 | ▼ 2.1% | 8 MW | — | — | — |
More of Virginia
Nelson County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Nelson County, Virginia?
4 utilities have service territory in Nelson County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Virginia Electric & Power Co, Appalachian Power Co, Shenandoah Valley Elec Coop, Central Virginia Electric Coop. The largest, Virginia Electric & Power Co, charged residential customers 14.09¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Nelson County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Nelson County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Buckingham County.
Is Nelson County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,980 jobs in 2025 against 4,024 in 2019 (-1.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 201 to 238.
Does Nelson County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Nelson County. Virginia has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.