Holmes County, Florida: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Bonifay
Local rules on data centers are on the record in Holmes County. Holmes County is home to Bonifay and Ponce de Leon. The Moratorium Tracker holds 2 local measures here (1 in force); the latest is “Holmes County (moving toward permanent AI data center ban), FL data center moratorium (proposed)”. Construction employs 330, down 4.3% since 2019, and construction is 1.7 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Unemployment was 4.8% in August 2026, against 3.3% in 2019. Employers here counted 3,634 jobs in 2025, up 5.9% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Holmes County
Holmes County is home to Bonifay and Ponce de Leon.
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 Holmes County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 19,591 | 20,119 | ▲ 2.7% | 56th of 67 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,433 | 3,634 | ▲ 5.9% | 49th of 67 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $32,762 | $43,901 | ▲ 34.0% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 345 | 330 | ▼ 4.3% | 54th of 59 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.3% | 4.8% | ▲ 1.5pts | — |
Florida Power & Light Co is the largest utility serving Holmes County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 13.71¢/kWh in 2024. 20,119 people live here, up 2.7% since 2020.
Who powers Holmes County
Utilities with service territory in Holmes 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% |
| Choctawhatche Elec Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 57,070 | 13.23¢ | 24% |
| West Florida El Coop Assn, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 26,357 | 16.36¢ | 14% |
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 Holmes County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Holmes County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,634 | $43,901 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 330 | $43,536 | 1.71 |
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 Holmes County
Local measures 2
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holmes County (moving toward permanent AI data center ban), FL data center moratorium (proposed) | Proposed | 2026-06 | |
| County moratorium on data centers through June 16, 2027 | In force | 2026-01 |
Holmes County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Holmes County, Walton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holmes County | 20,119 | ▲ 5.9% | — | — | — | 2 |
| Geneva County AL | 27,554 | ▲ 9.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Jackson County | 49,629 | ▼ 0.6% | 228 MW | 75 MW | — | 2 |
| Walton County | 93,288 | ▲ 29.4% | 298 MW | 74 MW | — | 1 |
| Washington County | 26,695 | ▲ 4.9% | 74 MW | — | — | 1 |
More of Florida
Holmes County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Holmes County, Florida?
3 utilities have service territory in Holmes County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Florida Power & Light Co, Choctawhatche Elec Coop, Inc, West Florida El Coop Assn, Inc. The largest, Florida Power & Light Co, charged residential customers 13.71¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Holmes County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Holmes County.
Is Holmes County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,634 jobs in 2025 against 3,433 in 2019 (+5.9%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 345 to 330.
Does Holmes County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 2 local measures for Holmes County, 1 in force.