Clay County, West Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
No data center or power plant project is on record in Clay County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Unemployment was 6.0% in August 2026, against 9.7% in 2019. Clay County is home to Clay. Employers here counted 1,572 jobs in 2025, up 23.3% from 2019 (the 4th fastest growth of 55 West Virginia counties). Next door, Kanawha County has 3 data centers. Appalachian Power Co is the largest utility serving Clay County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 16.77¢/kWh in 2024, above the 15.35¢ median for West Virginia utilities.
Cities and towns in Clay County
Clay County is home to Clay.
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 Clay County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in West Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 8,009 | 7,538 | ▼ 5.9% | 49th of 55 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,275 | 1,572 | ▲ 23.3% | 4th of 55 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $32,039 | $51,923 | ▲ 62.1% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 85 | 86 | ▲ 1.2% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 9.7% | 6.0% | ▼ 3.7pts | — |
7,538 people live here, down 5.9% since 2020.
Who powers Clay County
Utilities with service territory in Clay County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 348,946 | 16.77¢ | 27% |
| Monongahela Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 334,588 | 13.97¢ | 26% |
| Black Diamond Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 3,479 | 15.35¢ | 30% |
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 Clay County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Clay County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,572 | $51,923 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 86 | $48,321 | 1.03 |
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 Clay County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Clay County. West Virginia has 0 local measures on record statewide.
Clay County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Clay County, Kanawha 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | 7,538 | ▲ 23.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Braxton County | 11,885 | ▲ 33.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Calhoun County | 5,978 | ▲ 8.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Fayette County | 38,165 | ▲ 1.0% | 108 MW | — | — | — |
| Kanawha County | 172,381 | ▼ 0.6% | 29 MW | — | 3 | — |
| Nicholas County | 23,848 | ▼ 2.6% | 80 MW | — | — | — |
| Roane County | 13,317 | ▼ 4.3% | — | — | — | — |
More of West Virginia
Clay County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Clay County, West Virginia?
3 utilities have service territory in Clay County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Appalachian Power Co, Monongahela Power Co, Black Diamond Power Co. The largest, Appalachian Power Co, charged residential customers 16.77¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Clay County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Clay County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Kanawha County.
Is Clay County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,572 jobs in 2025 against 1,275 in 2019 (+23.3%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 85 to 86.
Does Clay County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Clay County. West Virginia has 0 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.