Wilkes County, Georgia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Washington
No data center or power plant project is on record in Wilkes County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Construction employs 461, up 107.7% since 2019, and construction is 3.1 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Wilkes County is home to Washington. Next door, McDuffie County has 1 data center and 250 MW of planned generation. Unemployment was 3.9% in August 2026, against 4.6% in 2019. Georgia Power Co is the largest utility serving Wilkes 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 Wilkes County
Wilkes County is home to Washington.
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 Wilkes County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 9,554 | 9,540 | ▼ 0.1% | 126th of 159 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,794 | 2,770 | ▼ 0.9% | 116th of 159 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $36,133 | $51,863 | ▲ 43.5% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 222 | 461 | ▲ 107.7% | 7th of 97 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.6% | 3.9% | ▼ 0.7pts | — |
Employers here counted 2,770 jobs in 2025, down 0.9% from 2019. 9,540 people live here, down 0.1% since 2020.
Who powers Wilkes County
Utilities with service territory in Wilkes 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% |
| City of Washington - (GA) | Municipal | Bundled | 1,856 | 16.11¢ | 93% |
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 Wilkes County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Wilkes County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,770 | $51,863 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 461 | $84,581 | 3.14 |
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 Wilkes County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Wilkes County. Georgia has 60 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Lincoln County.
Wilkes County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Wilkes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilkes County | 9,540 | ▼ 0.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Elbert County | 20,072 | ▲ 3.6% | 668 MW | — | — | — |
| Lincoln County | 8,112 | ▲ 15.9% | — | — | — | 1 |
| McDuffie County | 21,640 | ▲ 3.7% | — | 250 MW | 1 | — |
| Oglethorpe County | 16,415 | ▲ 12.6% | 178 MW | — | — | — |
| Taliaferro County | 1,662 | ▼ 19.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Warren County | 5,269 | ▼ 11.8% | 80 MW | 107 MW | — | — |
More of Georgia
Wilkes County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Wilkes County, Georgia?
3 utilities have service territory in Wilkes County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Georgia Power Co, Rayle Electric Membership Corp, City of Washington - (GA). The largest, Georgia Power Co, charged residential customers 15.49¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Wilkes County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Wilkes County. The nearest activity on record is next door in McDuffie County.
Is Wilkes County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,770 jobs in 2025 against 2,794 in 2019 (-0.9%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 222 to 461.
Does Wilkes County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Wilkes County. Georgia has 60 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.