Gilmer County, Georgia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Ellijay and East Ellijay
Gilmer 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. Construction employs 409, up 72.6% since 2019. Gilmer County is home to Ellijay and East Ellijay. Employers here counted 8,305 jobs in 2025, up 20.0% from 2019. Next door, Gordon County has 1 data center. Electrical contractors employ 54, at an average $41,626 a year.
Cities and towns in Gilmer County
Gilmer County is home to Ellijay and East Ellijay.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Cherry Log.
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 Gilmer County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 31,420 | 33,894 | ▲ 7.9% | 59th of 159 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 6,920 | 8,305 | ▲ 20.0% | 21st of 159 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $32,703 | $45,209 | ▲ 38.2% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 237 | 409 | ▲ 72.6% | 14th of 97 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.3% | 3.0% | ▼ 0.3pts | — |
Georgia Power Co is the largest utility serving Gilmer County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.49¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.61¢ median for Georgia utilities. 33,894 people live here, up 7.9% since 2020. Unemployment was 3.0% in August 2026, against 3.3% in 2019.
Who powers Gilmer County
Utilities with service territory in Gilmer County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 2,452,488 | 15.49¢ | 39% |
| Amicalola Electric Member Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 50,337 | 12.41¢ | 15% |
| Blue Ridge Mountain EMC - (GA) | Cooperative | Bundled | 30,599 | 14.02¢ | 35% |
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 Gilmer County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Gilmer County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 8,305 | $45,209 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 409 | $73,112 | 0.93 |
| Electrical contractors | 54 | $41,626 | 0.90 |
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 Gilmer County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Gilmer County. Georgia has 60 local measures on record statewide, and 3 neighboring counties have one: Fannin County, Gordon County, Murray County.
Gilmer County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Gilmer County, Murray 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilmer County | 33,894 | ▲ 20.0% | — | — | — | — |
| Dawson County | 35,365 | ▲ 21.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Fannin County | 26,111 | ▲ 14.9% | 24 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Gordon County | 61,701 | ▲ 6.2% | 5 MW | — | 1 | 1 |
| Murray County | 41,607 | ▼ 1.1% | 1,702 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Pickens County | 37,167 | ▲ 21.4% | — | — | — | — |
More of Georgia
Gilmer County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Gilmer County, Georgia?
3 utilities have service territory in Gilmer County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Georgia Power Co, Amicalola Electric Member Corp, Blue Ridge Mountain EMC - (GA). The largest, Georgia Power Co, charged residential customers 15.49¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Gilmer County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Gilmer County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Gordon County.
Is Gilmer County adding jobs?
Employers counted 8,305 jobs in 2025 against 6,920 in 2019 (+20.0%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 237 to 409.
Does Gilmer County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Gilmer County. Georgia has 60 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.