Marshall County, West Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Moundsville, McMechen and Glen Dale
Marshall County hosts some of the generating capacity West Virginia runs on. Construction employs 658, down 62.9% since 2019. Marshall County is home to Moundsville, McMechen, Glen Dale and Benwood. Employers here counted 10,372 jobs in 2025, down 14.0% from 2019. Unemployment was 4.5% in August 2026, against 6.2% in 2019. Next door, Monroe County, Ohio, has 1 data center.
Cities and towns in Marshall County
Marshall County is home to Moundsville, McMechen, Glen Dale and Benwood.
- Wheeling also extends into Ohio County.
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 Marshall County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in West Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 30,498 | 29,159 | ▼ 4.4% | 18th of 55 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 12,067 | 10,372 | ▼ 14.0% | 54th of 55 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $66,796 | $67,143 | ▲ 0.5% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,774 | 658 | ▼ 62.9% | 26th of 26 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 6.2% | 4.5% | ▼ 1.7pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Its power plants have 1,748 MW of capacity, 93% of it coal, the 6th largest fleet in West Virginia. Wheeling Power Co is the largest utility serving Marshall County. Its residential customers paid an average 17.41¢/kWh in 2024, above the 15.35¢ median for West Virginia utilities. 29,159 people live here, down 4.4% since 2020.
Who powers Marshall County
Utilities with service territory in Marshall County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 34,392 | 17.41¢ | 8% |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
Operating power plants 2
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Coal | 1,633 MW | 93% |
| Natural gas | 116 MW | 7% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell (WV) | Kentucky Power Co | Coal | 1,633 MW | 1971 |
| Axiall Natrium Plant | Westlake Chemical Natrium Plant | Natural gas | 116 MW | 1943 |
The Marshall County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 10,372 | $67,143 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 658 | $80,764 | 1.20 |
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 Marshall County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Marshall County. West Virginia has 0 local measures on record statewide.
Marshall County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Marshall County, Monroe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall County | 29,159 | ▼ 14.0% | 1,748 MW | — | — | — |
| Belmont County OH | 64,434 | ▼ 7.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Greene County PA | 33,885 | ▼ 9.2% | 665 MW | 12 MW | — | — |
| Monroe County OH | 12,994 | ▼ 5.9% | 530 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Ohio County | 40,496 | ▼ 4.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Washington County PA | 210,802 | ▲ 1.1% | 5 MW | 12 MW | — | — |
| Wetzel County | 13,734 | ▲ 0.4% | 37 MW | — | — | — |
More of West Virginia
Marshall County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Marshall County, West Virginia?
1 utility has service territory in Marshall County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Wheeling Power Co. The largest, Wheeling Power Co, charged residential customers 17.41¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Marshall County?
2 operating plants with 1,748 MW of capacity. The largest is Mitchell (WV) (1,633 MW, coal).
Are there data centers in Marshall County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Marshall County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Monroe County.
Is Marshall County adding jobs?
Employers counted 10,372 jobs in 2025 against 12,067 in 2019 (-14.0%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 1,774 to 658.
Does Marshall County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Marshall County. West Virginia has 0 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.