Franklin County, Florida: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Carrabelle and Apalachicola
No data center or power plant project is on record in Franklin County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Construction employs 294, up 44.8% since 2019, and construction is 1.6 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Franklin County is home to Carrabelle and Apalachicola. Unemployment was 5.0% in August 2026, against 4.1% in 2019. Employers here counted 3,504 jobs in 2025, up 5.8% from 2019. Electrical contractors employ 47, at an average $44,519 a year.
Cities and towns in Franklin County
Franklin County is home to Carrabelle and Apalachicola.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Eastpoint, St. George Island.
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 Franklin County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 12,473 | 13,029 | ▲ 4.5% | 65th of 67 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,312 | 3,504 | ▲ 5.8% | 50th of 67 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $33,123 | $45,848 | ▲ 38.4% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 203 | 294 | ▲ 44.8% | 7th of 59 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.1% | 5.0% | ▲ 0.9pts | — |
Duke Energy Florida, LLC is the largest utility serving Franklin County. Its residential customers paid an average 16.63¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.54¢ median for Florida utilities. 13,029 people live here, up 4.5% since 2020.
Who powers Franklin County
Utilities with service territory in Franklin County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Energy Florida, LLC | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,793,067 | 16.63¢ | 38% |
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 Franklin County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Franklin County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,504 | $45,848 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 294 | $43,801 | 1.58 |
| Electrical contractors | 47 | $44,519 | 1.86 |
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 Franklin County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Franklin County. Florida has 45 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Wakulla County.
Franklin County and its neighbors
Of the 3 counties that border Franklin County, Wakulla 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 13,029 | ▲ 5.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Gulf County | 15,943 | ▲ 26.6% | 6 MW | — | — | — |
| Liberty County | 8,035 | ▲ 1.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Wakulla County | 38,089 | ▲ 13.5% | 272 MW | — | — | 1 |
More of Florida
Franklin County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Franklin County, Florida?
1 utility has service territory in Franklin County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Duke Energy Florida, LLC. The largest, Duke Energy Florida, LLC, charged residential customers 16.63¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Franklin County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Franklin County.
Is Franklin County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,504 jobs in 2025 against 3,312 in 2019 (+5.8%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 203 to 294.
Does Franklin County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Franklin County. Florida has 45 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.