Lincoln County, West Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Alum Creek and Harts
No data center or power plant project is on record in Lincoln County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Lincoln County is home to Hamlin and West Hamlin. Construction employs 150, up 19.0% since 2019. Employers here counted 2,608 jobs in 2025, up 14.2% from 2019 (the 6th fastest growth of 55 West Virginia counties). Next door, Kanawha County has 3 data centers. Unemployment was 4.7% in August 2026, against 6.3% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Lincoln County
Lincoln County is home to Hamlin and West Hamlin.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Alum Creek, Harts.
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 Lincoln County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in West Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 20,369 | 19,177 | ▼ 5.9% | 31st of 55 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,283 | 2,608 | ▲ 14.2% | 6th of 55 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $34,844 | $41,496 | ▲ 19.1% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 126 | 150 | ▲ 19.0% | 11th of 26 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 6.3% | 4.7% | ▼ 1.6pts | — |
Appalachian Power Co is the largest utility serving Lincoln County. Its residential customers paid an average 16.77¢/kWh in 2024, above the 15.35¢ median for West Virginia utilities. 19,177 people live here, down 5.9% since 2020.
Who powers Lincoln County
Utilities with service territory in Lincoln 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% |
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 Lincoln County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Lincoln County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,608 | $41,496 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 150 | $77,453 | 1.09 |
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 Lincoln County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Lincoln County. West Virginia has 0 local measures on record statewide.
Lincoln County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Lincoln County, Putnam 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | 19,177 | ▲ 14.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Boone County | 20,251 | ▼ 1.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Cabell County | 91,183 | ▼ 0.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Kanawha County | 172,381 | ▼ 0.6% | 29 MW | — | 3 | — |
| Logan County | 30,375 | ▲ 14.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Mingo County | 21,455 | ▼ 12.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Putnam County | 56,885 | ▲ 11.5% | 2,957 MW | — | — | — |
| Wayne County | 37,309 | ▲ 2.6% | 872 MW | — | — | — |
More of West Virginia
Lincoln County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Lincoln County, West Virginia?
1 utility has service territory in Lincoln County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Appalachian Power Co. The largest, Appalachian Power Co, charged residential customers 16.77¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Lincoln County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Lincoln County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Kanawha County.
Is Lincoln County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,608 jobs in 2025 against 2,283 in 2019 (+14.2%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 126 to 150.
Does Lincoln County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Lincoln County. West Virginia has 0 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.