Adair County, Missouri: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Kirksville
Adair County sits inside the data center build-out. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Adair County. Adair County is home to Kirksville. Unemployment was 5.3% in August 2026, against 3.4% in 2019. 250 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Employers here counted 9,338 jobs in 2025, down 6.2% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Adair County
Adair County is home to Kirksville.
- Greentop also extends into Schuyler County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Connelsville.
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 Adair County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Missouri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 25,276 | 25,684 | ▲ 1.6% | 43rd of 115 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 9,950 | 9,338 | ▼ 6.2% | 103rd of 115 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $34,390 | $45,965 | ▲ 33.7% | — |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 24 | 18 | ▼ 25.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.4% | 5.3% | ▲ 1.9pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 250 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Its power plants have 250 MW of capacity, 100% of it solar. Union Electric Co - (MO) is the largest utility serving Adair County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.56¢/kWh in 2024. 25,684 people live here, up 1.6% since 2020. Electrical contractors employ 18, down 25.0% since 2019 against up 21.5% statewide, at an average $52,013 a year.
Who powers Adair County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +250 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Adair County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Electric Co - (MO) | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,095,619 | 12.56¢ | 44% |
| Macon Electric Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 10,023 | 14.82¢ | 16% |
| Lewis County Rural E C A | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tri-County Electric Coop Assn (MO) | — | — | — | — | — |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
Operating power plants 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 250 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morris Solar | AES Clean Energy | Solar | 250 MW | 2025 |
The Adair County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 9,338 | $45,965 | 1.00 |
| Electrical contractors | 18 | $52,013 | 0.27 |
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 Adair County
1 data center in Adair County is on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Adair County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Adair County, Schuyler 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adair County | 25,684 | ▼ 6.2% | 250 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Knox County | 3,728 | ▼ 5.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Linn County | 11,815 | ▲ 6.4% | 8 MW | — | — | — |
| Macon County | 15,190 | ▼ 3.7% | 17 MW | — | — | — |
| Putnam County | 4,546 | ▲ 7.4% | 62 MW | — | — | — |
| Schuyler County | 4,140 | ▲ 58.1% | 400 MW | — | — | — |
| Scotland County | 4,796 | ▲ 11.9% | 9 MW | — | — | — |
| Sullivan County | 5,738 | ▼ 2.7% | — | — | — | — |
More of Missouri
Adair County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Adair County, Missouri?
4 utilities have service territory in Adair County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Union Electric Co - (MO), Macon Electric Coop, Lewis County Rural E C A, Tri-County Electric Coop Assn (MO). The largest, Union Electric Co - (MO), charged residential customers 12.56¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Kirksville, MO in?
Kirksville is in Adair County, Missouri. About 17,863 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Adair County?
1 operating plant with 250 MW of capacity. The largest is Morris Solar (250 MW, solar).
Are there data centers in Adair County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Adair County.
Is Adair County adding jobs?
Employers counted 9,338 jobs in 2025 against 9,950 in 2019 (-6.2%, BLS QCEW).
Does Adair County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Adair County. Missouri has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.