Washington County, Iowa: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Washington, Kalona and Wellman
Washington 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. Washington County is home to Washington, Kalona, Wellman and Riverside. Construction employs 881, up 6.4% since 2019, and construction is 1.9 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Next door, Johnson County has 4 data centers. Employers here counted 8,780 jobs in 2025, up 6.1% from 2019. MidAmerican Energy Co is the largest utility serving Washington County, one of 7 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 11.01¢/kWh in 2024, below the 13.77¢ median for Iowa utilities.
Cities and towns in Washington County
Washington County is home to Washington, Kalona, Wellman and Riverside.
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 Washington County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Iowa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 22,536 | 22,667 | ▲ 0.6% | 27th of 99 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 8,273 | 8,780 | ▲ 6.1% | 12th of 99 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $36,937 | $52,644 | ▲ 42.5% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 828 | 881 | ▲ 6.4% | 40th of 81 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 22 | 21 | ▼ 4.5% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.3% | 2.5% | ▲ 0.2pts | — |
Electrical contractors employ 21, down 4.5% since 2019 against up 25.6% statewide, at an average $50,396 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in August 2026, against 2.3% in 2019. 22,667 people live here, up 0.6% since 2020.
Who powers Washington County
Utilities with service territory in Washington County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MidAmerican Energy Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 632,436 | 11.01¢ | 18% |
| Interstate Power and Light Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 417,153 | 17.90¢ | 29% |
| Eastern Iowa Light & Power Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 20,749 | 13.56¢ | 14% |
| Access Energy Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 8,850 | 14.95¢ | 6% |
| Farmers Electric Coop - (IA) | — | — | — | — | — |
| T I P Rural Electric Coop | — | — | — | — | — |
| Waverly Municipal Elec Utility | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Washington County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Washington County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 8,780 | $52,644 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 881 | $61,596 | 1.89 |
| Electrical contractors | 21 | $50,396 | 0.33 |
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 Washington County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Washington County. Iowa has 31 local measures on record statewide, and 4 neighboring counties have one: Henry County, Iowa County, Jefferson County, Johnson County.
Washington County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Washington County, Johnson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 22,667 | ▲ 6.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Henry County | 19,349 | ▼ 13.2% | 34 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Iowa County | 16,504 | ▼ 18.2% | 277 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Jefferson County | 15,291 | ▼ 8.9% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Johnson County | 160,044 | ▲ 2.5% | 124 MW | — | 4 | 1 |
| Keokuk County | 9,797 | ▲ 3.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Louisa County | 10,416 | ▼ 3.7% | 912 MW | — | — | — |
More of Iowa
Washington County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Washington County, Iowa?
7 utilities have service territory in Washington County in the EIA-861 2024 report: MidAmerican Energy Co, Interstate Power and Light Co, Eastern Iowa Light & Power Coop, Access Energy Coop. The largest, MidAmerican Energy Co, charged residential customers 11.01¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Washington County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Washington County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Johnson County.
Is Washington County adding jobs?
Employers counted 8,780 jobs in 2025 against 8,273 in 2019 (+6.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 828 to 881.
Does Washington County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Washington County. Iowa has 31 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.