York County, Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Bethel Manor and Yorktown
The power plants that defined York County are changing. York County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Bethel Manor, Yorktown, are unincorporated and governed by the county. 1,257 MW has retired here since 2019, including Yorktown (natural gas, 882 MW, 2023). Construction employs 1,657, up 11.4% since 2019, and construction is 1.4 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Electrical contractors employ 115, up 6.5% since 2019 against up 33.4% statewide, at an average $66,599 a year. Employers here counted 22,567 jobs in 2025, up 5.1% from 2019.
Cities and towns in York County
York County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Bethel Manor, Yorktown, are unincorporated and governed by the county.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Bethel Manor, Yorktown.
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 York County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 70,236 | 71,374 | ▲ 1.6% | 30th of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 21,481 | 22,567 | ▲ 5.1% | 41st of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $40,652 | $56,172 | ▲ 38.2% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,488 | 1,657 | ▲ 11.4% | 40th of 83 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 108 | 115 | ▲ 6.5% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.7% | 3.3% | ▲ 0.6pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 1,257 MW | — |
Unemployment was 3.3% in August 2026, against 2.7% in 2019. Virginia Electric & Power Co is the largest utility serving York County. Its residential customers paid an average 14.09¢/kWh in 2024, below the 14.39¢ median for Virginia utilities. 71,374 people live here, up 1.6% since 2020.
Who powers York County
Utilities with service territory in York 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 York County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Retired since 2019
| Plant | Technology | MW | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yorktown | Natural gas | 882 MW | 2023 |
| Yorktown | Coal | 375 MW | 2019 |
The York County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 22,567 | $56,172 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 1,657 | $68,537 | 1.39 |
| Electrical contractors | 115 | $66,599 | 0.71 |
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 York County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in York County. Virginia has 13 local measures on record statewide.
York County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border York 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| York County | 71,374 | ▲ 5.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Gloucester County | 40,097 | ▲ 6.4% | 194 MW | — | — | — |
| Hampton (city) | 137,315 | ▼ 5.1% | — | — | — | — |
| James City County | 83,326 | ▲ 0.3% | 40 MW | 5 MW | — | — |
| Newport News (city) | 183,230 | ▼ 1.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Poquoson (city) | 13,292 | ▲ 3.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Williamsburg (city) | 15,861 | ▼ 0.6% | — | — | — | — |
More of Virginia
York County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in York County, Virginia?
1 utility has service territory in York 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 York County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in York County.
Is York County adding jobs?
Employers counted 22,567 jobs in 2025 against 21,481 in 2019 (+5.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 1,488 to 1,657.
Does York County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for York County. Virginia has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.