The Facebook data center described in 2018 reports was planned for Stanton Springs near Social Circle, roughly 40 miles east of downtown Atlanta—not in Atlanta proper. Early reports relied partly on anonymous sources; Facebook and Georgia formally announced the project in March 2018. Meta now lists Stanton Springs as its Georgia data center.
Where is the Facebook data center near Atlanta?
The site is at Stanton Springs near Social Circle, east of Atlanta. “Atlanta” in the original headlines referred to the broader metro area, not the city itself. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution first reported Facebook’s interest in the site on January 23, 2018, and its March 7 report covered the formal announcement. The March 2018 announcement coverage identifies the campus as near Social Circle.
Meta’s current U.S. data center locations page lists Stanton Springs as its Georgia data center and records a 2018 groundbreaking.
How did the reports change from January to March 2018?
| Date and source | What was reported | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2018 — The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Facebook was said to be pursuing a campus at Stanton Springs. A person familiar with the matter reportedly confirmed its interest; a Facebook spokeswoman declined to comment on rumors and speculation. | Early reporting about a possible project, not a formal announcement. Read the January report. |
| January 25, 2018 — Data Center Knowledge | Reported a campus of more than 400 acres, an expected initial investment of $1 billion, and about $20 billion over two decades, citing local reports and anonymous sources. | These were unconfirmed early estimates, not final project commitments. Read the report. |
| March 7, 2018 — The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Facebook and Georgia formally confirmed the campus. The announcement described an initial phase of nearly 1 million square feet, 100 first-phase employees, a $750 million investment over five years, and expected operations in 2020. | Announcement-era expectations for the initial phase, reported in 2018—not a statement of current staffing or a final lifetime project budget. Read the announcement coverage. |
| Meta’s current location listing | More than $1.5 billion invested, 1,300 skilled trade workers at peak construction, and more than 200 operational jobs supported once complete. | Later figures reported by Meta; they are not directly comparable with the 2018 initial-phase estimates. See Meta’s location listing. |
Why do the reported investment figures differ?
The January $1 billion initial investment and approximately $20 billion over two decades came from anonymous-source reporting. The March $750 million figure was part of the formal announcement and described investment over five years for the initial phase. Meta’s current listing reports more than $1.5 billion invested later on. Because the figures come from different dates, sources, and project scopes, they should not be added together or treated as competing estimates of one confirmed budget.
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What do current Atlanta data center figures say?
CBRE reported that the Atlanta data center market ended 2025 with 1,459.2 megawatts (MW) of inventory, up 458.8 MW year over year. It reported 2% vacancy and 2,076 MW under construction, and described Atlanta as the second-largest U.S. data center market behind Northern Virginia. These are regional market figures, not measures of Meta’s Stanton Springs facility. See CBRE’s Atlanta market figures.
Is the Atlanta city zoning debate about Meta’s facility?
No. In July 2026, Axios reported that Atlanta’s Zoning Committee held an ordinance concerning data center operations in Adair Park and the Historic West End District. A committee hold paused the process but did not mean the ordinance was dead. That city zoning matter is separate from Meta’s campus near Social Circle and does not place the Stanton Springs facility in either Atlanta neighborhood. Read Axios’s report.
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What does Meta say about energy and water costs?
Meta says it pays the full costs of its data centers’ energy and water use, publicly reports annual energy use for operational data centers, and publishes information about water withdrawals and restoration. These are the company’s statements, not independent findings about the Stanton Springs facility. In a March 4, 2026 corporate statement, Meta said: “We pay the full costs for our data centers’ energy and water use so they aren’t passed on to consumers.” Read Meta’s statement.
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