George County, Mississippi: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Lucedale
No data center or power plant project is on record in George County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Unemployment was 3.8% in August 2026, against 7.8% in 2019. George County is home to Lucedale. Next door, Mobile County, Alabama, has 1 data center. Employers here counted 5,354 jobs in 2025, up 8.8% from 2019. 28 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly natural gas.
Cities and towns in George County
George County is home to Lucedale.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Agricola, Benndale.
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 George County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Mississippi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 24,365 | 26,331 | ▲ 8.1% | 33rd of 82 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 4,919 | 5,354 | ▲ 8.8% | 12th of 82 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $33,627 | $46,055 | ▲ 37.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 7.8% | 3.8% | ▼ 4.0pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 28 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Its power plants have 28 MW of capacity, 100% of it natural gas. 26,331 people live here, up 8.1% since 2020. Mississippi Power Co is the largest utility serving George County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.47¢/kWh in 2024, above the 12.78¢ median for Mississippi utilities.
Who powers George County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +28 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in George County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 157,437 | 14.47¢ | 30% |
| Singing River Elec Cooperative | Cooperative | Bundled | 72,343 | 13.46¢ | 24% |
| Pearl River Valley El Pwr Assn | Cooperative | Bundled | 52,077 | 14.25¢ | 18% |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
Operating power plants 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | 28 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benndale | Cooperative Energy | Natural gas | 28 MW | 2020 |
The George County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 5,354 | $46,055 | 1.00 |
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 George County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in George County. Mississippi has 1 local measure on record statewide.
George County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border George County, Mobile 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George County | 26,331 | ▲ 8.8% | 28 MW | — | — | — |
| Greene County | 13,707 | ▲ 3.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Jackson County | 147,666 | ▲ 3.8% | 2,400 MW | — | — | — |
| Mobile County AL | 411,658 | ▲ 1.9% | 4,003 MW | 8 MW | 1 | — |
| Perry County | 11,577 | ▲ 0.3% | 50 MW | — | — | — |
| Stone County | 19,654 | ▲ 11.6% | — | — | — | — |
More of Mississippi
George County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in George County, Mississippi?
3 utilities have service territory in George County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Mississippi Power Co, Singing River Elec Cooperative, Pearl River Valley El Pwr Assn. The largest, Mississippi Power Co, charged residential customers 14.47¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in George County?
1 operating plant with 28 MW of capacity. The largest is Benndale (28 MW, natural gas).
Are there data centers in George County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in George County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Mobile County.
Is George County adding jobs?
Employers counted 5,354 jobs in 2025 against 4,919 in 2019 (+8.8%, BLS QCEW).
Does George County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for George County. Mississippi has 1 local measure statewide, listed on the state page.