Schuyler County, Illinois: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Rushville, Rushville Township and Buena Vista Township
No data center or power plant project is on record in Schuyler County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Schuyler County is home to Rushville, Rushville Township, Buena Vista Township and Bainbridge Township. 2 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by USS Mourning Lane (solar). 2 MW of it is already under construction or built. Employers here counted 1,715 jobs in 2025, up 11.9% from 2019 (the 6th fastest growth of 102 Illinois counties). Construction employs 108, down 1.8% since 2019. Unemployment was 3.5% in August 2026, against 4.5% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Schuyler County
Schuyler County is home to Rushville, Rushville Township, Buena Vista Township and Bainbridge Township.
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 Schuyler County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Illinois |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 6,865 | 6,657 | ▼ 3.0% | 90th of 102 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,532 | 1,715 | ▲ 11.9% | 6th of 102 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,697 | $53,961 | ▲ 35.9% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 110 | 108 | ▼ 1.8% | 46th of 56 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.5% | 3.5% | ▼ 1.0pts | — |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 2 MW | no fleet today | 54th of 57 by size |
Ameren Illinois Company is the largest utility serving Schuyler County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.26¢/kWh in 2024. 6,657 people live here, down 3.0% since 2020.
Who powers Schuyler County
Utilities with service territory in Schuyler County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ameren Illinois Company | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,060,894 | 15.26¢ | 28% |
| Adams Electric Coop | — | — | — | — | — |
| McDonough Power Coop | — | — | — | — | — |
| Spoon River Electric Coop, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Schuyler County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USS Mourning | Solar Photovoltaic | 2 MW | Under construction (≤50%) | 2026 | USS Mourning Lane |
The Schuyler County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,715 | $53,961 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 108 | $68,264 | 1.19 |
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 Schuyler County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Schuyler County. Illinois has 28 local measures on record statewide.
Schuyler County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Schuyler County, Adams 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schuyler County | 6,657 | ▲ 11.9% | — | 2 MW | — | — |
| Adams County | 64,267 | ▼ 1.2% | 12 MW | 140 MW | — | — |
| Brown County | 6,401 | ▲ 10.2% | 2 MW | — | — | — |
| Cass County | 12,463 | ▼ 17.8% | 156 MW | — | — | — |
| Fulton County | 32,901 | ▲ 4.6% | 156 MW | — | — | — |
| Hancock County | 16,803 | ▲ 4.6% | — | 2 MW | — | — |
| Mason County | 12,411 | ▼ 6.2% | 412 MW | — | — | — |
| McDonough County | 25,916 | ▼ 7.2% | 171 MW | 10 MW | — | — |
More of Illinois
Schuyler County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Schuyler County, Illinois?
4 utilities have service territory in Schuyler County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Ameren Illinois Company, Adams Electric Coop, McDonough Power Coop, Spoon River Electric Coop, Inc. The largest, Ameren Illinois Company, charged residential customers 15.26¢/kWh on average in 2024.
How much new power is planned in Schuyler County?
2 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 2 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is USS Mourning Lane.
Are there data centers in Schuyler County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Schuyler County.
Is Schuyler County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,715 jobs in 2025 against 1,532 in 2019 (+11.9%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 110 to 108.
Does Schuyler County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Schuyler County. Illinois has 28 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.