Braxton County, West Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
No data center or power plant project is on record in Braxton County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Unemployment was 3.3% in August 2026, against 7.6% in 2019. Employers here counted 4,975 jobs in 2025, up 33.7% from 2019 (the fastest growth of 55 West Virginia counties). Braxton County is home to Sutton and Gassaway. Construction employs 128, down 38.8% since 2019. Monongahela Power Co is the largest utility serving Braxton County. Its residential customers paid an average 13.97¢/kWh in 2024, below the 15.35¢ median for West Virginia utilities.
Cities and towns in Braxton County
Braxton County is home to Sutton and Gassaway.
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 Braxton County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in West Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 12,400 | 11,885 | ▼ 4.2% | 41st of 55 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,721 | 4,975 | ▲ 33.7% | 1st of 55 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $35,665 | $49,641 | ▲ 39.2% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 209 | 128 | ▼ 38.8% | 25th of 26 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 7.6% | 3.3% | ▼ 4.3pts | — |
11,885 people live here, down 4.2% since 2020.
Who powers Braxton County
Utilities with service territory in Braxton County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monongahela Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 334,588 | 13.97¢ | 26% |
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 Braxton County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Braxton County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 4,975 | $49,641 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 128 | $56,105 | 0.49 |
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 Braxton County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Braxton County. West Virginia has 0 local measures on record statewide.
Braxton County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Braxton County, Nicholas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braxton County | 11,885 | ▲ 33.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Calhoun County | 5,978 | ▲ 8.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Clay County | 7,538 | ▲ 23.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Gilmer County | 7,085 | ▼ 2.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Lewis County | 16,394 | ▼ 7.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Nicholas County | 23,848 | ▼ 2.6% | 80 MW | — | — | — |
| Webster County | 7,760 | ▼ 11.7% | — | — | — | — |
More of West Virginia
Braxton County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Braxton County, West Virginia?
1 utility has service territory in Braxton County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Monongahela Power Co. The largest, Monongahela Power Co, charged residential customers 13.97¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Braxton County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Braxton County.
Is Braxton County adding jobs?
Employers counted 4,975 jobs in 2025 against 3,721 in 2019 (+33.7%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 209 to 128.
Does Braxton County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Braxton County. West Virginia has 0 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.