Christian County, Missouri: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Nixa, Ozark and Clever
No data center or power plant project is on record in Christian County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Christian County is home to Nixa, Ozark, Clever and Sparta. Construction employs 2,211, up 24.4% since 2019, and construction is 2.0 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Employers here counted 20,884 jobs in 2025, up 17.1% from 2019 (the 5th fastest growth of 115 Missouri counties). Next door, Greene County has 2 data centers. Unemployment was 3.5% in August 2026, against 2.8% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Christian County
Christian County is home to Nixa, Ozark, Clever and Sparta.
- Republic also extends into Greene County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Spokane.
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 Christian County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Missouri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 89,291 | 96,725 | ▲ 8.3% | 13th of 115 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 17,833 | 20,884 | ▲ 17.1% | 5th of 115 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $33,814 | $46,200 | ▲ 36.6% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,777 | 2,211 | ▲ 24.4% | 30th of 71 by growth |
| Power line construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 70 | 96 | ▲ 37.1% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.8% | 3.5% | ▲ 0.7pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Its power plants have 8 MW of capacity, 100% of it solar. Electrical contractors employ 320, at an average $61,255 a year. 96,725 people live here, up 8.3% since 2020. Empire District Electric Co is the largest utility serving Christian County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.99¢/kWh in 2024, above the 12.79¢ median for Missouri utilities.
Who powers Christian County
Utilities with service territory in Christian County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empire District Electric Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 142,537 | 14.99¢ | 37% |
| White River Valley El Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 39,216 | 14.30¢ | 31% |
| Ozark Electric Coop Inc - (MO) | Cooperative | Bundled | 31,534 | 14.07¢ | 19% |
| Webster Electric Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 18,820 | 10.19¢ | 26% |
| City of Nixa - (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 | 8 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nixa Solar, LLC | Missouri Jnt Muni.Pwr Elec. Ut. Comm. | Solar | 8 MW | 2017 |
The Christian County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 20,884 | $46,200 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 2,211 | $60,373 | 2.00 |
| Electrical contractors | 320 | $61,255 | 2.12 |
| Power and communication line construction | 96 | $77,876 | 2.85 |
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 Christian County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Christian County. Missouri has 21 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Webster County.
Christian County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Christian County, Greene 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian County | 96,725 | ▲ 17.1% | 8 MW | — | — | — |
| Douglas County | 12,342 | ▲ 3.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Greene County | 309,286 | ▲ 5.5% | 926 MW | 178 MW | 2 | — |
| Lawrence County | 39,401 | ▲ 1.1% | 149 MW | — | — | — |
| Stone County | 32,503 | ▲ 9.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Taney County | 57,001 | ▼ 2.1% | 216 MW | — | — | — |
| Webster County | 43,054 | ▲ 12.7% | — | — | 1 | 1 |
More of Missouri
Christian County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Christian County, Missouri?
5 utilities have service territory in Christian County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Empire District Electric Co, White River Valley El Coop Inc, Ozark Electric Coop Inc - (MO), Webster Electric Coop. The largest, Empire District Electric Co, charged residential customers 14.99¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Nixa, MO in?
Nixa is in Christian County, Missouri. About 26,597 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What county is Ozark, MO in?
Ozark is in Christian County, Missouri. About 23,544 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Christian County?
1 operating plant with 8 MW of capacity. The largest is Nixa Solar, LLC (8 MW, solar).
Are there data centers in Christian County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Christian County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Greene County.
Is Christian County adding jobs?
Employers counted 20,884 jobs in 2025 against 17,833 in 2019 (+17.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 1,777 to 2,211.
Does Christian County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Christian County. Missouri has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.