Hardy County, West Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Moorefield
No data center or power plant project is on record in Hardy County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Hardy County is home to Moorefield. Construction employs 117, up 21.9% since 2019. Next door, Frederick County, Virginia, has 1 data center. Unemployment was 3.2% in August 2026, against 4.1% in 2019. Employers here counted 6,072 jobs in 2025, up 5.1% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Hardy County
Hardy County is home to Moorefield.
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 Hardy County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in West Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 14,241 | 14,337 | ▲ 0.7% | 37th of 55 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 5,779 | 6,072 | ▲ 5.1% | 20th of 55 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $35,649 | $49,402 | ▲ 38.6% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 96 | 117 | ▲ 21.9% | 8th of 26 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 13 | 12 | ▼ 7.7% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.1% | 3.2% | ▼ 0.9pts | — |
The Potomac Edison Company is the largest utility serving Hardy County. Its residential customers paid an average 12.59¢/kWh in 2024, below the 15.35¢ median for West Virginia utilities. Electrical contractors employ 12, down 7.7% since 2019 against up 37.1% statewide, at an average $46,170 a year. 14,337 people live here, up 0.7% since 2020.
Who powers Hardy County
Utilities with service territory in Hardy County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Potomac Edison Company | Investor Owned | Bundled | 135,266 | 12.59¢ | 22% |
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 Hardy County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Hardy County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 6,072 | $49,402 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 117 | $49,548 | 0.36 |
| Electrical contractors | 12 | $46,170 | 0.27 |
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 Hardy County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Hardy County. West Virginia has 0 local measures on record statewide.
Hardy County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Hardy County, Grant 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardy County | 14,337 | ▲ 5.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Frederick County VA | 99,955 | ▲ 16.4% | 223 MW | 30 MW | 1 | — |
| Grant County | 11,041 | ▲ 12.0% | 2,048 MW | — | — | — |
| Hampshire County | 24,105 | ▲ 13.8% | 20 MW | 150 MW | — | — |
| Mineral County | 26,792 | ▲ 10.5% | 169 MW | — | — | — |
| Pendleton County | 5,826 | ▲ 1.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Rockingham County VA | 89,316 | ▲ 3.2% | 243 MW | 50 MW | — | — |
| Shenandoah County VA | 45,839 | ▼ 7.8% | 19 MW | — | — | — |
More of West Virginia
Hardy County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Hardy County, West Virginia?
1 utility has service territory in Hardy County in the EIA-861 2024 report: The Potomac Edison Company. The largest, The Potomac Edison Company, charged residential customers 12.59¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Hardy County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Hardy County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Frederick County.
Is Hardy County adding jobs?
Employers counted 6,072 jobs in 2025 against 5,779 in 2019 (+5.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 96 to 117.
Does Hardy County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Hardy County. West Virginia has 0 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.