Cooper County, Missouri: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Boonville
No data center or power plant project is on record in Cooper County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Cooper County is home to Boonville and Pilot Grove. Construction employs 243, down 27.7% since 2019. Next door, Boone County has 2 data centers. Employers here counted 5,093 jobs in 2025, up 3.5% from 2019. Unemployment was 4.0% in August 2026, against 3.4% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Cooper County
Cooper County is home to Boonville and Pilot Grove.
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 Cooper County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Missouri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 16,643 | 17,136 | ▲ 3.0% | 63rd of 115 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 4,922 | 5,093 | ▲ 3.5% | 49th of 115 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $33,611 | $44,339 | ▲ 31.9% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 336 | 243 | ▼ 27.7% | 70th of 71 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.4% | 4.0% | ▲ 0.6pts | — |
Union Electric Co - (MO) is the largest utility serving Cooper County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.56¢/kWh in 2024. 17,136 people live here, up 3.0% since 2020.
Who powers Cooper County
Utilities with service territory in Cooper 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% |
| Co-Mo Electric Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 31,119 | 15.18¢ | 14% |
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 Cooper County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Cooper County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 5,093 | $44,339 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 243 | $61,135 | 0.90 |
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 Cooper County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Cooper County. Missouri has 21 local measures on record statewide.
Cooper County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Cooper County, Boone 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper County | 17,136 | ▲ 3.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Boone County | 191,746 | ▲ 5.9% | 321 MW | 9 MW | 2 | — |
| Howard County | 10,180 | ▼ 0.5% | 11 MW | — | — | — |
| Moniteau County | 15,428 | ▼ 4.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Morgan County | 22,418 | ▲ 6.0% | — | — | — | — |
| Pettis County | 44,254 | ▲ 0.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Saline County | 23,265 | ▲ 1.6% | 34 MW | 122 MW | — | — |
More of Missouri
Cooper County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Cooper County, Missouri?
2 utilities have service territory in Cooper County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Union Electric Co - (MO), Co-Mo Electric Coop Inc. The largest, Union Electric Co - (MO), charged residential customers 12.56¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Cooper County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Cooper County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Boone County.
Is Cooper County adding jobs?
Employers counted 5,093 jobs in 2025 against 4,922 in 2019 (+3.5%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 336 to 243.
Does Cooper County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Cooper County. Missouri has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.