Ohio County, West Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Wheeling, Bethlehem and West Liberty
No data center or power plant project is on record in Ohio County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Ohio County is home to Wheeling, Bethlehem, West Liberty and Triadelphia. Employers here counted 27,052 jobs in 2025, down 4.3% from 2019. Unemployment was 4.2% in August 2026, against 4.9% in 2019. Electrical contractors employ 206, at an average $75,500 a year. Wheeling Power Co is the largest utility serving Ohio County. Its residential customers paid an average 17.41¢/kWh in 2024, above the 15.35¢ median for West Virginia utilities.
Cities and towns in Ohio County
Ohio County is home to Wheeling, Bethlehem, West Liberty and Triadelphia.
- Wheeling also extends into Marshall 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 Ohio County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in West Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 42,347 | 40,496 | ▼ 4.4% | 12th of 55 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 28,273 | 27,052 | ▼ 4.3% | 42nd of 55 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $43,909 | $58,221 | ▲ 32.6% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.9% | 4.2% | ▼ 0.7pts | — |
40,496 people live here, down 4.4% since 2020.
Who powers Ohio County
Utilities with service territory in Ohio 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.
No operating power plant is located in Ohio County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Ohio County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 27,052 | $58,221 | 1.00 |
| Electrical contractors | 206 | $75,500 | 1.06 |
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 Ohio County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Ohio County. West Virginia has 0 local measures on record statewide.
Ohio County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Ohio County, Jefferson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio County | 40,496 | ▼ 4.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Belmont County OH | 64,434 | ▼ 7.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Brooke County | 21,142 | ▼ 2.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Jefferson County OH | 63,597 | ▼ 5.6% | 1,880 MW | 63 MW | — | — |
| Marshall County | 29,159 | ▼ 14.0% | 1,748 MW | — | — | — |
| Washington County PA | 210,802 | ▲ 1.1% | 5 MW | 12 MW | — | — |
More of West Virginia
Ohio County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Ohio County, West Virginia?
1 utility has service territory in Ohio 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 county is Wheeling, WV in?
Wheeling is in Ohio County, West Virginia. About 25,333 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Are there data centers in Ohio County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Ohio County.
Is Ohio County adding jobs?
Employers counted 27,052 jobs in 2025 against 28,273 in 2019 (-4.3%, BLS QCEW).
Does Ohio County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Ohio County. West Virginia has 0 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.