Lincoln County, Georgia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Lincolnton
Local rules on data centers are on the record in Lincoln County. Construction employs 228, up 34.1% since 2019, and construction is 3.0 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Lincoln County is home to Lincolnton. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “Data center moratorium through Dec. 31, 2026”. Employers here counted 1,451 jobs in 2025, up 15.9% from 2019. Unemployment was 4.0% in August 2026, against 4.5% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Lincoln County
Lincoln County is home to Lincolnton.
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 Lincoln County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 7,702 | 8,112 | ▲ 5.3% | 139th of 159 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,252 | 1,451 | ▲ 15.9% | 31st of 159 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $31,955 | $43,417 | ▲ 35.9% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 170 | 228 | ▲ 34.1% | 44th of 97 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.5% | 4.0% | ▼ 0.5pts | — |
Georgia Power Co is the largest utility serving Lincoln County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.49¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.61¢ median for Georgia utilities. 8,112 people live here, up 5.3% since 2020.
Who powers Lincoln County
Utilities with service territory in Lincoln 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% |
| Rayle Electric Membership Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 16,369 | 14.42¢ | 22% |
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 Lincoln County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Lincoln County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,451 | $43,417 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 228 | $60,713 | 2.97 |
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 Lincoln County
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data center moratorium through Dec. 31, 2026 | In force | 2026-09 |
Lincoln County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Lincoln County, McDuffie 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | 8,112 | ▲ 15.9% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Columbia County | 169,189 | ▲ 17.5% | 21 MW | — | 5 | 1 |
| Elbert County | 20,072 | ▲ 3.6% | 668 MW | — | — | — |
| McCormick County SC | 10,215 | ▲ 18.2% | 362 MW | — | — | 1 |
| McDuffie County | 21,640 | ▲ 3.7% | — | 250 MW | 1 | — |
| Wilkes County | 9,540 | ▼ 0.9% | — | — | — | — |
More of Georgia
Lincoln County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Lincoln County, Georgia?
2 utilities have service territory in Lincoln County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Georgia Power Co, Rayle Electric Membership Corp. The largest, Georgia Power Co, charged residential customers 15.49¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Lincoln County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Lincoln County. The nearest activity on record is next door in McDuffie County.
Is Lincoln County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,451 jobs in 2025 against 1,252 in 2019 (+15.9%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 170 to 228.
Does Lincoln County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Lincoln County, 1 in force.