Iron County, Missouri: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Ironton
No data center or power plant project is on record in Iron County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Iron County is home to Ironton, Pilot Knob, Viburnum and Arcadia. Unemployment was 4.8% in August 2026, against 4.1% in 2019. Union Electric Co - (MO) is the largest utility serving Iron County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.56¢/kWh in 2024. Employers here counted 3,425 jobs in 2025, up 0.3% from 2019. 9,318 people live here, down 2.0% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Iron County
Iron County is home to Ironton, Pilot Knob, Viburnum and Arcadia.
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 Iron County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Missouri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 9,512 | 9,318 | ▼ 2.0% | 89th of 115 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,415 | 3,425 | ▲ 0.3% | 72nd of 115 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,250 | $50,106 | ▲ 27.7% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 48 | 77 | ▲ 60.4% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.1% | 4.8% | ▲ 0.7pts | — |
Who powers Iron County
Utilities with service territory in Iron 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% |
| Black River Electric Coop - (MO) | Cooperative | Bundled | 21,575 | 12.81¢ | 31% |
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 Iron County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Iron County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,425 | $50,106 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 77 | $45,036 | 0.42 |
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 Iron County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Iron County. Missouri has 21 local measures on record statewide.
Iron County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Iron County, Reynolds 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron County | 9,318 | ▲ 0.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Crawford County | 22,929 | ▲ 0.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Dent County | 14,584 | ▼ 5.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Madison County | 12,858 | ▼ 3.1% | 28 MW | — | — | — |
| Reynolds County | 5,992 | ▼ 12.8% | 408 MW | — | — | — |
| St. Francois County | 67,809 | ▼ 0.8% | 18 MW | — | — | — |
| Washington County | 23,810 | ▲ 2.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Wayne County | 10,782 | ▼ 8.6% | — | — | — | — |
More of Missouri
Iron County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Iron County, Missouri?
2 utilities have service territory in Iron County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Union Electric Co - (MO), Black River Electric Coop - (MO). The largest, Union Electric Co - (MO), charged residential customers 12.56¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Iron County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Iron County.
Is Iron County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,425 jobs in 2025 against 3,415 in 2019 (+0.3%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 48 to 77.
Does Iron County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Iron County. Missouri has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.