Glades County, Florida: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Moore Haven
No data center or power plant project is on record in Glades County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Glades County is home to Moore Haven. Next door, Palm Beach County has 8 data centers. Employers here counted 2,232 jobs in 2025, up 11.2% from 2019. Unemployment was 5.8% in August 2026, against 4.4% in 2019. 13,270 people live here, up 9.9% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Glades County
Glades County is home to Moore Haven.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Buckhead Ridge, Port LaBelle.
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 Glades County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 12,079 | 13,270 | ▲ 9.9% | 64th of 67 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,007 | 2,232 | ▲ 11.2% | 28th of 67 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $43,901 | $60,597 | ▲ 38.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.4% | 5.8% | ▲ 1.4pts | — |
Florida Power & Light Co is the largest utility serving Glades County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 13.71¢/kWh in 2024.
Who powers Glades County
Utilities with service territory in Glades 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% |
| Glades Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 14,456 | 16.59¢ | 12% |
| City of Moore Haven - (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 Glades County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Glades County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,232 | $60,597 | 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 Glades County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Glades County. Florida has 45 local measures on record statewide, and 4 neighboring counties have one: DeSoto County, Hendry County, Martin County, Palm Beach County.
Glades County and its neighbors
Of the 8 counties that border Glades County, Palm Beach 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glades County | 13,270 | ▲ 11.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Charlotte County | 217,212 | ▲ 17.4% | 236 MW | — | — | — |
| DeSoto County | 37,078 | ▲ 6.1% | 625 MW | 149 MW | 1 | 1 |
| Hendry County | 48,276 | ▲ 7.6% | 720 MW | 149 MW | — | 1 |
| Highlands County | 111,122 | ▲ 4.3% | 62 MW | 150 MW | — | — |
| Lee County | 875,607 | ▲ 12.3% | 2,740 MW | — | — | — |
| Martin County | 166,272 | ▲ 11.9% | 2,746 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Okeechobee County | 42,608 | ▲ 8.1% | 2,245 MW | 149 MW | — | — |
| Palm Beach County | 1,575,726 | ▲ 8.9% | 6,242 MW | — | 8 | 1 |
More of Florida
Glades County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Glades County, Florida?
3 utilities have service territory in Glades County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Florida Power & Light Co, Glades Electric Coop, Inc, City of Moore Haven - (FL). The largest, Florida Power & Light Co, charged residential customers 13.71¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Glades County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Glades County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Palm Beach County.
Is Glades County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,232 jobs in 2025 against 2,007 in 2019 (+11.2%, BLS QCEW).
Does Glades County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Glades County. Florida has 45 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.