Knox County, Missouri: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Edina
No data center or power plant project is on record in Knox County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Knox County is home to Edina. Next door, Adair County has 1 data center. Unemployment was 4.4% in August 2026, against 3.1% in 2019. Employers here counted 874 jobs in 2025, down 5.5% from 2019. Union Electric Co - (MO) is the largest utility serving Knox County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.56¢/kWh in 2024.
Cities and towns in Knox County
Knox County is home to Edina.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Plevna.
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 Knox County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Missouri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 3,733 | 3,728 | ▼ 0.1% | 113th of 115 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 925 | 874 | ▼ 5.5% | 99th of 115 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $30,103 | $43,446 | ▲ 44.3% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.1% | 4.4% | ▲ 1.3pts | — |
3,728 people live here, down 0.1% since 2020.
Who powers Knox County
Utilities with service territory in Knox 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.
No operating power plant is located in Knox County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Knox County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 874 | $43,446 | 1.00 |
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 Knox County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Knox County. Missouri has 21 local measures on record statewide.
Knox County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Knox County, Adair 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County | 3,728 | ▼ 5.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Adair County | 25,684 | ▼ 6.2% | 250 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Clark County | 6,475 | ▼ 4.4% | 7 MW | — | — | — |
| Lewis County | 9,879 | ▼ 6.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Macon County | 15,190 | ▼ 3.7% | 17 MW | — | — | — |
| Scotland County | 4,796 | ▲ 11.9% | 9 MW | — | — | — |
| Shelby County | 5,870 | ▲ 1.0% | 15 MW | — | — | — |
More of Missouri
Knox County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Knox County, Missouri?
4 utilities have service territory in Knox 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.
Are there data centers in Knox County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Knox County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Adair County.
Is Knox County adding jobs?
Employers counted 874 jobs in 2025 against 925 in 2019 (-5.5%, BLS QCEW).
Does Knox County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Knox County. Missouri has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.