Adams County, Indiana: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Decatur, Washington Township and Wabash Township
Adams County is not a build-out site today. It feels the boom through the grid it shares, the utilities that serve it and the work nearby. Adams County is home to Decatur, Washington Township, Wabash Township and Root Township. Construction employs 560, up 30.2% since 2019. Next door, Allen County has 6 data centers. 2 MW has retired here since 2019, including Bunge North America East LLC (natural gas, 2 MW, 2025). Employers here counted 13,023 jobs in 2025, down 5.2% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Adams County
Adams County is home to Decatur, Washington Township, Wabash Township and Root 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 Adams County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Indiana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 35,852 | 36,650 | ▲ 2.2% | 43rd of 92 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 13,732 | 13,023 | ▼ 5.2% | 79th of 92 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,558 | $50,238 | ▲ 27.0% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 430 | 560 | ▲ 30.2% | 18th of 68 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.9% | 3.2% | ▲ 0.3pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 2 MW | — |
Indiana Michigan Power Co is the largest utility serving Adams County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 16.31¢/kWh in 2024, above the 14.63¢ median for Indiana utilities. Unemployment was 3.2% in August 2026, against 2.9% in 2019. 36,650 people live here, up 2.2% since 2020.
Who powers Adams County
Utilities with service territory in Adams County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Michigan Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 422,062 | 16.31¢ | 28% |
| Heartland REMC | Cooperative | Bundled | 18,013 | 14.72¢ | 26% |
| Paulding-Putman Elec Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 3,851 | 13.96¢ | 21% |
| Jay County Rural E M C | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Adams County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Retired since 2019
| Plant | Technology | MW | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bunge North America East LLC | Natural gas | 2 MW | 2025 |
The Adams County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 13,023 | $50,238 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 560 | $62,763 | 0.81 |
| Data processing and hosting | 4 | $111,455 | 0.10 |
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 Adams County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Adams County. Indiana has 40 local measures on record statewide.
Adams County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Adams County, Allen 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | 36,650 | ▼ 5.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Allen County | 402,329 | ▲ 4.3% | — | — | 6 | — |
| Jay County | 20,118 | ▼ 2.2% | 273 MW | 139 MW | — | — |
| Mercer County OH | 42,737 | ▼ 0.3% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
| Van Wert County OH | 29,013 | ▼ 6.3% | 903 MW | 46 MW | — | — |
| Wells County | 28,883 | ▲ 4.4% | 236 MW | — | — | — |
More of Indiana
Adams County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Adams County, Indiana?
4 utilities have service territory in Adams County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Indiana Michigan Power Co, Heartland REMC, Paulding-Putman Elec Coop, Inc, Jay County Rural E M C. The largest, Indiana Michigan Power Co, charged residential customers 16.31¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Decatur, IN in?
Decatur is in Adams County, Indiana. About 10,090 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Are there data centers in Adams County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Adams County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Allen County.
Is Adams County adding jobs?
Employers counted 13,023 jobs in 2025 against 13,732 in 2019 (-5.2%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 430 to 560.
Does Adams County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Adams County. Indiana has 40 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.