Jones County, Iowa: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Anamosa and Monticello
Jones County is one of the places the data center build-out is physically happening. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 2 data centers in Jones County. Jones County is home to Anamosa, Monticello, Olin and Wyoming. Construction employs 597, up 14.6% since 2019, and construction is 1.8 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Interstate Power and Light Co is the largest utility serving Jones County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 17.90¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.77¢ median for Iowa utilities. Employers here counted 6,279 jobs in 2025, up 1.2% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Jones County
Jones County is home to Anamosa, Monticello, Olin and Wyoming.
- Cascade also extends into Dubuque County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Center Junction, Stone City.
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 Jones County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Iowa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 20,658 | 21,253 | ▲ 2.9% | 29th of 99 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 6,203 | 6,279 | ▲ 1.2% | 29th of 99 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,571 | $51,841 | ▲ 31.0% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 521 | 597 | ▲ 14.6% | 24th of 81 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.1% | 3.5% | ▲ 0.4pts | — |
Unemployment was 3.5% in August 2026, against 3.1% in 2019. 21,253 people live here, up 2.9% since 2020.
Who powers Jones County
Utilities with service territory in Jones 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% |
| Linn County REC | Cooperative | Bundled | 30,323 | 14.23¢ | 11% |
| Eastern Iowa Light & Power Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 20,749 | 13.56¢ | 14% |
| Maquoketa Valley Rrl Elec Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 11,051 | 13.76¢ | 48% |
| Cascade Municipal Utilities | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Jones County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Jones County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 6,279 | $51,841 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 597 | $75,156 | 1.79 |
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 Jones County
2 data centers in Jones County are on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Jones County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Jones County, Clinton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jones County | 21,253 | ▲ 1.2% | — | — | 2 | — |
| Cedar County | 18,359 | ▼ 3.2% | 14 MW | — | — | — |
| Clinton County | 46,002 | ▼ 6.9% | 181 MW | 600 MW | — | — |
| Delaware County | 17,674 | ▲ 3.9% | 110 MW | — | — | — |
| Dubuque County | 99,381 | ▼ 2.0% | 27 MW | — | 1 | 1 |
| Jackson County | 19,288 | ▼ 7.5% | 47 MW | — | — | — |
| Linn County | 232,028 | ▼ 4.5% | 742 MW | 100 MW | 7 | 2 |
More of Iowa
Jones County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Jones County, Iowa?
5 utilities have service territory in Jones County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Interstate Power and Light Co, Linn County REC, Eastern Iowa Light & Power Coop, Maquoketa Valley Rrl Elec Coop. The largest, Interstate Power and Light Co, charged residential customers 17.90¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Jones County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 2 data centers in Jones County.
Is Jones County adding jobs?
Employers counted 6,279 jobs in 2025 against 6,203 in 2019 (+1.2%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 521 to 597.
Does Jones County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Jones County. Iowa has 31 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.