Suffolk (city), Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
No data center or power plant project is on record in Suffolk (city), but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Employers here counted 44,427 jobs in 2025, up 36.3% from 2019 (the fastest growth of 133 Virginia counties). Construction employs 1,861, up 50.3% since 2019. Suffolk (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. 4 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar.
Cities and towns in Suffolk (city)
Suffolk (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 Suffolk (city)
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 94,818 | 104,699 | ▲ 10.4% | 18th of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 32,603 | 44,427 | ▲ 36.3% | 1st of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $49,868 | $61,028 | ▲ 22.4% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,238 | 1,861 | ▲ 50.3% | 11th of 83 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 242 | 244 | ▲ 0.8% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.0% | 3.8% | ▲ 0.8pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 4 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Unemployment was 3.8% in August 2026, against 3.0% in 2019. 104,699 people live here, up 10.4% since 2020. Electrical contractors employ 244, up 0.8% since 2019 against up 33.4% statewide, at an average $95,289 a year. Its power plants have 4 MW of capacity, 100% of it solar.
Who powers Suffolk (city)
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +4 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Operating power plants 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 4 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk CSG, LLC | Dimension Energy LLC | Solar | 4 MW | 2024 |
The Suffolk (city) labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 44,427 | $61,028 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 1,861 | $82,547 | 0.79 |
| Electrical contractors | 244 | $95,289 | 0.76 |
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 Suffolk (city)
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Suffolk (city). Virginia has 13 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Gates County.
Suffolk (city) and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Suffolk (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk (city) | 104,699 | ▲ 36.3% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
| Camden County NC | 11,315 | ▼ 2.0% | 35 MW | — | — | — |
| Chesapeake (city) | 255,332 | ▲ 4.8% | 51 MW | — | — | — |
| Gates County NC | 10,234 | ▼ 6.0% | 15 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Isle of Wight County | 41,321 | ▼ 8.8% | 337 MW | 258 MW | 2 | — |
| Portsmouth (city) | 96,777 | ▼ 3.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Southampton County | 18,110 | ▼ 4.7% | 182 MW | — | 1 | — |
More of Virginia
Suffolk (city), answered from the record
What power plants are in Suffolk (city)?
1 operating plant with 4 MW of capacity. The largest is Suffolk CSG, LLC (4 MW, solar).
What county is Suffolk, VA in?
Suffolk is in Suffolk (city), Virginia. About 104,699 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Are there data centers in Suffolk (city)?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Suffolk (city). The nearest activity on record is next door in Isle of Wight County.
Is Suffolk (city) adding jobs?
Employers counted 44,427 jobs in 2025 against 32,603 in 2019 (+36.3%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 1,238 to 1,861.
Does Suffolk (city) have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Suffolk (city). Virginia has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.