Jefferson County, Iowa: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Fairfield
Jefferson County is one of the places pushing back on the data center build-out. Electrical contractors employ 64, up 113.3% since 2019 against up 25.6% statewide, at an average $108,157 a year. Jefferson County is home to Fairfield. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “Local moratorium on data centers through August 11, 2027”. Unemployment was 4.1% in August 2026, against 2.8% in 2019. Construction employs 226, down 9.2% since 2019.
Cities and towns in Jefferson County
Jefferson County is home to Fairfield.
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 Jefferson County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Iowa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 15,688 | 15,291 | ▼ 2.5% | 48th of 99 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 7,745 | 7,058 | ▼ 8.9% | 88th of 99 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $41,207 | $57,791 | ▲ 40.2% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 249 | 226 | ▼ 9.2% | 67th of 81 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 30 | 64 | ▲ 113.3% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.8% | 4.1% | ▲ 1.3pts | — |
Employers here counted 7,058 jobs in 2025, down 8.9% from 2019. Interstate Power and Light Co is the largest utility serving Jefferson County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 17.90¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.77¢ median for Iowa utilities. 15,291 people live here, down 2.5% since 2020.
Who powers Jefferson County
Utilities with service territory in Jefferson County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interstate Power and Light Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 417,153 | 17.90¢ | 29% |
| Access Energy Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 8,850 | 14.95¢ | 6% |
| T I P Rural Electric Coop | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Jefferson County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Jefferson County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 7,058 | $57,791 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 226 | $72,926 | 0.60 |
| Electrical contractors | 64 | $108,157 | 1.26 |
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 Jefferson County
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local moratorium on data centers through August 11, 2027 | In force | 2026-08 |
Jefferson County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Jefferson County, Wapello 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 15,291 | ▼ 8.9% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Davis County | 9,230 | ▼ 3.0% | 10 MW | — | — | — |
| Henry County | 19,349 | ▼ 13.2% | 34 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Keokuk County | 9,797 | ▲ 3.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Van Buren County | 7,131 | ▲ 2.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Wapello County | 35,210 | ▼ 5.3% | 729 MW | — | — | — |
| Washington County | 22,667 | ▲ 6.1% | — | — | — | — |
More of Iowa
Jefferson County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Jefferson County, Iowa?
3 utilities have service territory in Jefferson County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Interstate Power and Light Co, Access Energy Coop, T I P Rural Electric Coop. The largest, Interstate Power and Light Co, charged residential customers 17.90¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Jefferson County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Jefferson County.
Is Jefferson County adding jobs?
Employers counted 7,058 jobs in 2025 against 7,745 in 2019 (-8.9%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 249 to 226.
Does Jefferson County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Jefferson County, 1 in force.