Northampton County, Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Exmore and Cape Charles
No data center or power plant project is on record in Northampton County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Construction employs 174, up 54.0% since 2019. Northampton County is home to Exmore, Cape Charles and Nassawadox. Unemployment was 4.0% in August 2026, against 4.7% in 2019. Its power plants have 32 MW of capacity, 62% of it solar. Employers here counted 4,492 jobs in 2025, up 3.1% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Northampton County
Northampton County is home to Exmore, Cape Charles and Nassawadox.
- Belle Haven also extends into Accomack County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Franktown, Willis Wharf.
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 Northampton County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 12,217 | 11,879 | ▼ 2.8% | 109th of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 4,359 | 4,492 | ▲ 3.1% | 56th of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $32,402 | $45,232 | ▲ 39.6% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 113 | 174 | ▲ 54.0% | 8th of 83 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.7% | 4.0% | ▼ 0.7pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
A & N Electric Coop is the largest utility serving Northampton County. Its residential customers paid an average 13.02¢/kWh in 2024, below the 14.39¢ median for Virginia utilities. 11,879 people live here, down 2.8% since 2020.
Who powers Northampton County
Utilities with service territory in Northampton County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A & N Electric Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 33,096 | 13.02¢ | 24% |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
Operating power plants 2
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 20 MW | 62% |
| Petroleum | 12 MW | 38% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hecate Energy Cherrydale LLC | Dominion Renewable Energy | Solar | 20 MW | 2017 |
| Bayview | Calpine Mid-Atlantic Generation LLC | Petroleum | 12 MW | 1963 |
The Northampton County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 4,492 | $45,232 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 174 | $54,133 | 0.73 |
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 Northampton County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Northampton County. Virginia has 13 local measures on record statewide.
Northampton County and its neighbors
Of the 1 counties that border Northampton County, Accomack 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northampton County | 11,879 | ▲ 3.1% | 32 MW | — | — | — |
| Accomack County | 33,859 | ▼ 2.1% | 540 MW | — | — | — |
More of Virginia
Northampton County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Northampton County, Virginia?
1 utility has service territory in Northampton County in the EIA-861 2024 report: A & N Electric Coop. The largest, A & N Electric Coop, charged residential customers 13.02¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Northampton County?
2 operating plants with 32 MW of capacity. The largest is Hecate Energy Cherrydale LLC (20 MW, solar).
Are there data centers in Northampton County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Northampton County.
Is Northampton County adding jobs?
Employers counted 4,492 jobs in 2025 against 4,359 in 2019 (+3.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 113 to 174.
Does Northampton County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Northampton County. Virginia has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.