White County, Georgia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Cleveland
No data center or power plant project is on record in White County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. White County is home to Cleveland and Helen. Construction employs 651, down 12.3% since 2019, and construction is 1.3 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Next door, Habersham County has 1 data center. Employers here counted 9,423 jobs in 2025, up 3.4% from 2019. Georgia Power Co is the largest utility serving White 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.
Cities and towns in White County
White County is home to Cleveland and Helen.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Sautee-Nacoochee, Yonah.
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 White County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 28,108 | 29,802 | ▲ 6.0% | 65th of 159 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 9,109 | 9,423 | ▲ 3.4% | 95th of 159 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $32,488 | $41,122 | ▲ 26.6% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 742 | 651 | ▼ 12.3% | 93rd of 97 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.2% | 2.9% | ▼ 0.3pts | — |
29,802 people live here, up 6.0% since 2020. Unemployment was 2.9% in August 2026, against 3.2% in 2019.
Who powers White County
Utilities with service territory in White 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% |
| Jackson Electric Member Corp - (GA) | Cooperative | Bundled | 239,558 | 11.38¢ | 28% |
| Habersham Electric Membership Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 35,011 | 14.02¢ | 17% |
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 White County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The White County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 9,423 | $41,122 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 651 | $71,235 | 1.30 |
| Power and communication line construction | 61 | $68,670 | 4.01 |
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 White County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in White County. Georgia has 60 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Hall County.
White County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border White County, Habersham 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White County | 29,802 | ▲ 3.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Habersham County | 50,416 | ▲ 9.6% | 117 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Hall County | 226,568 | ▲ 15.3% | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Lumpkin County | 36,178 | ▲ 15.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Towns County | 13,285 | ● 0.0% | — | — | — | — |
| Union County | 27,859 | ▲ 13.3% | 16 MW | — | — | — |
More of Georgia
White County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in White County, Georgia?
3 utilities have service territory in White County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Georgia Power Co, Jackson Electric Member Corp - (GA), Habersham Electric Membership Corp. The largest, Georgia Power Co, charged residential customers 15.49¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in White County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in White County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Habersham County.
Is White County adding jobs?
Employers counted 9,423 jobs in 2025 against 9,109 in 2019 (+3.4%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 742 to 651.
Does White County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for White County. Georgia has 60 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.