McDowell County, West Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Welch
McDowell County is not a build-out site today. It feels the boom through the grid it shares, the utilities that serve it and the work nearby. McDowell County is home to Welch, Gary and War. Employers here counted 3,739 jobs in 2025, down 12.3% from 2019. 16,878 people live here, down 10.9% since 2020. Unemployment was 10.6% in August 2026, against 10.1% in 2019. Appalachian Power Co is the largest utility serving McDowell County. Its residential customers paid an average 16.77¢/kWh in 2024, above the 15.35¢ median for West Virginia utilities.
Cities and towns in McDowell County
McDowell County is home to Welch, Gary and War.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Bartley, Berwind, Big Sandy, Crumpler, Cucumber, Maybeury, Pageton, Raysal, Roderfield, Vivian.
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 McDowell County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in West Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 18,942 | 16,878 | ▼ 10.9% | 33rd of 55 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 4,264 | 3,739 | ▼ 12.3% | 51st of 55 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $46,898 | $56,867 | ▲ 21.3% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 10.1% | 10.6% | ▲ 0.5pts | — |
Who powers McDowell County
Utilities with service territory in McDowell 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 McDowell County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The McDowell County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,739 | $56,867 | 1.00 |
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 McDowell County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in McDowell County. West Virginia has 0 local measures on record statewide.
McDowell County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border McDowell County, Buchanan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDowell County | 16,878 | ▼ 12.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Buchanan County VA | 18,492 | ▼ 11.7% | 88 MW | — | — | — |
| Mercer County | 57,503 | ▲ 4.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Mingo County | 21,455 | ▼ 12.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Tazewell County VA | 38,635 | ▼ 7.4% | — | 13 MW | — | — |
| Wyoming County | 19,801 | ▲ 6.4% | — | — | — | — |
More of West Virginia
McDowell County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in McDowell County, West Virginia?
1 utility has service territory in McDowell 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 McDowell County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in McDowell County.
Is McDowell County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,739 jobs in 2025 against 4,264 in 2019 (-12.3%, BLS QCEW).
Does McDowell County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for McDowell County. West Virginia has 0 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.