DeKalb County, Missouri: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Grand River Township, Cameron and Washington Township
DeKalb 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. DeKalb County is home to Grand River Township, part of Cameron (2,222 of its 7,341 residents), Washington Township and Camden Township. Employers here counted 2,391 jobs in 2025, down 18.9% from 2019. Construction employs 128, up 14.3% since 2019. Next door, Clinton County has 419 MW of planned generation. 9,795 people live here, down 15.6% since 2020.
Cities and towns in DeKalb County
DeKalb County is home to Grand River Township, part of Cameron (2,222 of its 7,341 residents), Washington Township and Camden Township.
- Cameron also extends into Clinton County.
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 DeKalb County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Missouri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 11,605 | 9,795 | ▼ 15.6% | 87th of 115 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,949 | 2,391 | ▼ 18.9% | 114th of 115 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $35,761 | $46,900 | ▲ 31.1% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 112 | 128 | ▲ 14.3% | 38th of 71 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.3% | 3.9% | ▲ 0.6pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Its power plants have 369 MW of capacity, 100% of it wind. Unemployment was 3.9% in August 2026, against 3.3% in 2019. Union Electric Co - (MO) is the largest utility serving DeKalb County, one of 6 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.56¢/kWh in 2024.
Who powers DeKalb County
Utilities with service territory in DeKalb 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% |
| Evergy Missouri West | Investor Owned | Bundled | 305,583 | 12.55¢ | 42% |
| Platte-Clay Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 23,584 | 12.46¢ | 23% |
| Farmers Electric Coop, Inc - (MO) | Cooperative | Bundled | 12,451 | 13.35¢ | 14% |
| City of Cameron | — | — | — | — | — |
| United Electric Coop, Inc - (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 2
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Wind | 369 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osborn Wind Energy | Osborn Wind Energy LLC | Wind | 201 MW | 2016 |
| Lost Creek Wind Energy Facility | Pattern Operators LP | Wind | 168 MW | 2010 |
The DeKalb County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,391 | $46,900 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 128 | $56,281 | 1.01 |
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 DeKalb County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in DeKalb County. Missouri has 21 local measures on record statewide.
DeKalb County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border DeKalb 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb County | 9,795 | ▼ 18.9% | 369 MW | — | — | — |
| Andrew County | 18,241 | ▲ 10.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Buchanan County | 83,540 | ▼ 1.4% | 280 MW | — | — | — |
| Caldwell County | 9,012 | ▲ 2.8% | 25 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Clinton County | 21,661 | ▲ 22.4% | — | 419 MW | — | — |
| Daviess County | 8,558 | ▲ 16.3% | 7 MW | — | — | — |
| Gentry County | 6,384 | ▼ 4.9% | 61 MW | — | — | — |
More of Missouri
DeKalb County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in DeKalb County, Missouri?
6 utilities have service territory in DeKalb County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Union Electric Co - (MO), Evergy Missouri West, Platte-Clay Electric Coop, Inc, Farmers Electric Coop, Inc - (MO). The largest, Union Electric Co - (MO), charged residential customers 12.56¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in DeKalb County?
2 operating plants with 369 MW of capacity. The largest is Osborn Wind Energy (201 MW, wind).
Are there data centers in DeKalb County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in DeKalb County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Clinton County.
Is DeKalb County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,391 jobs in 2025 against 2,949 in 2019 (-18.9%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 112 to 128.
Does DeKalb County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for DeKalb County. Missouri has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.