Bradford County, Florida: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Starke
No data center or power plant project is on record in Bradford County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Employers here counted 9,673 jobs in 2025, up 51.4% from 2019 (the fastest growth of 67 Florida counties). Bradford County is home to Starke, Lawtey and Hampton. Unemployment was 5.5% in August 2026, against 3.5% in 2019. Construction employs 349, up 17.9% since 2019. Next door, Alachua County has 1 data center.
Cities and towns in Bradford County
Bradford County is home to Starke, Lawtey and Hampton.
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 Bradford County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 28,235 | 28,307 | ▲ 0.3% | 51st of 67 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 6,389 | 9,673 | ▲ 51.4% | 1st of 67 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $37,634 | $38,699 | ▲ 2.8% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 296 | 349 | ▲ 17.9% | 30th of 59 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.5% | 5.5% | ▲ 2.0pts | — |
Florida Power & Light Co is the largest utility serving Bradford County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 13.71¢/kWh in 2024. 28,307 people live here, up 0.3% since 2020.
Who powers Bradford County
Utilities with service territory in Bradford County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Power & Light Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 5,236,277 | 13.71¢ | 41% |
| Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc - (FL) | Cooperative | Bundled | 171,179 | 13.09¢ | 20% |
| City of Starke - (FL) | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Bradford County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Bradford County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 9,673 | $38,699 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 349 | $71,268 | 0.68 |
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 Bradford County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Bradford County. Florida has 45 local measures on record statewide, and 2 neighboring counties have one: Clay County, Putnam County.
Bradford County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Bradford 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradford County | 28,307 | ▲ 51.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Alachua County | 290,028 | ▲ 5.0% | 957 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Baker County | 29,737 | ▼ 1.5% | 298 MW | 74 MW | — | — |
| Clay County | 239,593 | ▲ 7.6% | 224 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Putnam County | 77,734 | ▲ 7.5% | 2,500 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Union County | 16,250 | ▲ 4.9% | 74 MW | — | — | — |
More of Florida
Bradford County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Bradford County, Florida?
3 utilities have service territory in Bradford County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Florida Power & Light Co, Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc - (FL), City of Starke - (FL). The largest, Florida Power & Light Co, charged residential customers 13.71¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Bradford County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Bradford County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Alachua County.
Is Bradford County adding jobs?
Employers counted 9,673 jobs in 2025 against 6,389 in 2019 (+51.4%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 296 to 349.
Does Bradford County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Bradford County. Florida has 45 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.