Petersburg (city), Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
No data center or power plant project is on record in Petersburg (city), but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Petersburg (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county. Next door, Chesterfield County has 6 data centers and 1,163 MW of planned generation. Employers here counted 11,708 jobs in 2025, down 11.2% from 2019. Unemployment was 5.7% in August 2026, against 4.9% in 2019. 33,734 people live here, up 1.0% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Petersburg (city)
Petersburg (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 Petersburg (city)
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 33,398 | 33,734 | ▲ 1.0% | 53rd of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 13,180 | 11,708 | ▼ 11.2% | 127th of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $41,634 | $55,235 | ▲ 32.7% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.9% | 5.7% | ▲ 0.8pts | — |
Who powers Petersburg (city)
No operating power plant is located in Petersburg (city) in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Petersburg (city) labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 11,708 | $55,235 | 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 Petersburg (city)
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Petersburg (city). Virginia has 13 local measures on record statewide.
Petersburg (city) and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Petersburg (city), Chesterfield 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petersburg (city) | 33,734 | ▼ 11.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Chesterfield County | 397,148 | ▲ 8.4% | 504 MW | 1,163 MW | 6 | — |
| Colonial Heights (city) | 18,738 | ▼ 8.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Dinwiddie County | 28,896 | ▲ 4.7% | 5 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Prince George County | 43,936 | ▲ 3.6% | 587 MW | — | 1 | — |
More of Virginia
Petersburg (city), answered from the record
Are there data centers in Petersburg (city)?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Petersburg (city). The nearest activity on record is next door in Chesterfield County.
What county is Petersburg, VA in?
Petersburg is in Petersburg (city), Virginia. About 33,734 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Is Petersburg (city) adding jobs?
Employers counted 11,708 jobs in 2025 against 13,180 in 2019 (-11.2%, BLS QCEW).
Does Petersburg (city) have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Petersburg (city). Virginia has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.