Mingo County, West Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Williamson
Mingo 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. Mingo County is home to Williamson. Next door, Pike County, Kentucky, has 2 data centers. Employers here counted 4,466 jobs in 2025, down 12.4% from 2019. Unemployment was 7.6% in August 2026, against 6.3% in 2019. 21,455 people live here, down 8.7% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Mingo County
Mingo County is home to Williamson.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Chattaroy, Gilbert Creek, Justice, Red Jacket.
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 Mingo County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in West Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 23,489 | 21,455 | ▼ 8.7% | 27th of 55 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 5,101 | 4,466 | ▼ 12.4% | 52nd of 55 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $44,687 | $53,788 | ▲ 20.4% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 6.3% | 7.6% | ▲ 1.3pts | — |
Appalachian Power Co is the largest utility serving Mingo County. Its residential customers paid an average 16.77¢/kWh in 2024, above the 15.35¢ median for West Virginia utilities.
Who powers Mingo County
Utilities with service territory in Mingo 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 Mingo County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Mingo County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 4,466 | $53,788 | 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 Mingo County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Mingo County. West Virginia has 0 local measures on record statewide.
Mingo County and its neighbors
Of the 8 counties that border Mingo County, Wayne 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mingo County | 21,455 | ▼ 12.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Buchanan County VA | 18,492 | ▼ 11.7% | 88 MW | — | — | — |
| Lincoln County | 19,177 | ▲ 14.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Logan County | 30,375 | ▲ 14.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Martin County KY | 10,697 | ▼ 22.2% | 111 MW | — | — | — |
| McDowell County | 16,878 | ▼ 12.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Pike County KY | 54,721 | ▼ 2.5% | — | — | 2 | — |
| Wayne County | 37,309 | ▲ 2.6% | 872 MW | — | — | — |
| Wyoming County | 19,801 | ▲ 6.4% | — | — | — | — |
More of West Virginia
Mingo County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Mingo County, West Virginia?
1 utility has service territory in Mingo 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 Mingo County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Mingo County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Pike County.
Is Mingo County adding jobs?
Employers counted 4,466 jobs in 2025 against 5,101 in 2019 (-12.4%, BLS QCEW).
Does Mingo County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Mingo County. West Virginia has 0 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.