Hamilton County, Florida: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Jasper
Hamilton 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. Hamilton County is home to Jasper, Jennings and White Springs. Unemployment was 6.5% in August 2026, against 4.5% in 2019. Next door, Lowndes County, Georgia, has 1 data center. 80 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Its power plants have 174 MW of capacity, 86% of it solar.
Cities and towns in Hamilton County
Hamilton County is home to Jasper, Jennings and White Springs.
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 Hamilton County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 13,733 | 14,180 | ▲ 3.3% | 62nd of 67 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,078 | 3,165 | ▲ 2.8% | 60th of 67 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $44,614 | $58,401 | ▲ 30.9% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.5% | 6.5% | ▲ 2.0pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 80 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Employers here counted 3,165 jobs in 2025, up 2.8% from 2019. Duke Energy Florida, LLC is the largest utility serving Hamilton County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 16.63¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.54¢ median for Florida utilities. 14,180 people live here, up 3.3% since 2020.
Who powers Hamilton County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +80 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Hamilton 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% |
| Suwannee Valley Elec Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 25,934 | 15.00¢ | 21% |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
Operating power plants 4
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 150 MW | 86% |
| Other technologies | 19 MW | 11% |
| Battery storage | 6 MW | 3% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Solar Power Plant | Duke Energy Florida, LLC | Solar | 75 MW | 2018 |
| Twin Rivers Solar Power Plant | Duke Energy Florida, LLC | Solar | 75 MW | 2021 |
| Swift Creek Chemical Complex | White Springs Agrici Chem Inc | Other technologies | 19 MW | 1980 |
| Jennings Energy Storage Facility | Duke Energy Florida, LLC | Battery storage | 6 MW | 2022 |
The Hamilton County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,165 | $58,401 | 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 Hamilton County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Hamilton County. Florida has 45 local measures on record statewide, and 2 neighboring counties have one: Lowndes County, Madison County.
Hamilton County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Hamilton County, Madison 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton County | 14,180 | ▲ 2.8% | 174 MW | — | — | — |
| Columbia County | 74,094 | ▲ 0.3% | 403 MW | — | — | — |
| Echols County GA | 3,685 | ▼ 6.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Lowndes County GA | 122,867 | ▼ 0.5% | 193 MW | — | 1 | 1 |
| Madison County | 18,759 | ▲ 10.1% | 224 MW | 74 MW | — | 1 |
| Suwannee County | 48,149 | ▲ 3.1% | 466 MW | — | — | — |
More of Florida
Hamilton County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Hamilton County, Florida?
2 utilities have service territory in Hamilton County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Duke Energy Florida, LLC, Suwannee Valley Elec Coop Inc. The largest, Duke Energy Florida, LLC, charged residential customers 16.63¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Hamilton County?
4 operating plants with 174 MW of capacity. The largest is Hamilton Solar Power Plant (75 MW, solar).
Are there data centers in Hamilton County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Hamilton County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Lowndes County.
Is Hamilton County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,165 jobs in 2025 against 3,078 in 2019 (+2.8%, BLS QCEW).
Does Hamilton County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Hamilton County. Florida has 45 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.