Pickens County, Georgia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Jasper
No data center or power plant project is on record in Pickens County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Construction employs 789, up 92.0% since 2019, and construction is 1.5 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Pickens County is home to Jasper and part of Nelson (567 of its 1,172 residents). Employers here counted 9,658 jobs in 2025, up 21.4% from 2019. Next door, Bartow County has 2 data centers. 37,167 people live here, up 11.4% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Pickens County
Pickens County is home to Jasper and part of Nelson (567 of its 1,172 residents).
- Nelson also extends into Cherokee County.
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 Pickens County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 33,351 | 37,167 | ▲ 11.4% | 54th of 159 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 7,956 | 9,658 | ▲ 21.4% | 18th of 159 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $45,864 | $57,644 | ▲ 25.7% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 411 | 789 | ▲ 92.0% | 8th of 97 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.1% | 3.0% | ▼ 0.1pts | — |
Georgia Power Co is the largest utility serving Pickens 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. Unemployment was 3.0% in August 2026, against 3.1% in 2019.
Who powers Pickens County
Utilities with service territory in Pickens 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% |
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 Pickens County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Pickens County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 9,658 | $57,644 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 789 | $68,474 | 1.54 |
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 Pickens County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Pickens County. Georgia has 60 local measures on record statewide, and 2 neighboring counties have one: Cherokee County, Gordon County.
Pickens County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Pickens County, Bartow 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pickens County | 37,167 | ▲ 21.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Bartow County | 120,800 | ▲ 16.6% | 3,588 MW | — | 2 | — |
| Cherokee County | 299,273 | ▲ 13.5% | 530 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Dawson County | 35,365 | ▲ 21.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Gilmer County | 33,894 | ▲ 20.0% | — | — | — | — |
| Gordon County | 61,701 | ▲ 6.2% | 5 MW | — | 1 | 1 |
More of Georgia
Pickens County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Pickens County, Georgia?
2 utilities have service territory in Pickens County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Georgia Power Co, Amicalola Electric Member Corp. The largest, Georgia Power Co, charged residential customers 15.49¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Pickens County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Pickens County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Bartow County.
Is Pickens County adding jobs?
Employers counted 9,658 jobs in 2025 against 7,956 in 2019 (+21.4%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 411 to 789.
Does Pickens County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Pickens County. Georgia has 60 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.