Mississippi County, Missouri: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Charleston and East Prairie
Mississippi 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. Mississippi County is home to Charleston, East Prairie and Bertrand. Employers here counted 2,952 jobs in 2025, down 18.7% from 2019. Unemployment was 6.2% in August 2026, against 5.1% in 2019. Union Electric Co - (MO) is the largest utility serving Mississippi County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.56¢/kWh in 2024. 12,003 people live here, down 1.1% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Mississippi County
Mississippi County is home to Charleston, East Prairie and Bertrand.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Whiting.
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 Mississippi County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Missouri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 12,133 | 12,003 | ▼ 1.1% | 76th of 115 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,633 | 2,952 | ▼ 18.7% | 113th of 115 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $31,793 | $46,309 | ▲ 45.7% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.1% | 6.2% | ▲ 1.1pts | — |
Who powers Mississippi County
Utilities with service territory in Mississippi 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% |
| SEMO Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | Bundled | 10,783 | 12.79¢ | 25% |
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 Mississippi County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Mississippi County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,952 | $46,309 | 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 Mississippi County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Mississippi County. Missouri has 21 local measures on record statewide.
Mississippi County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Mississippi County, New Madrid 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi County | 12,003 | ▼ 18.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Alexander County IL | 4,570 | ▼ 14.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Ballard County KY | 7,594 | ▲ 20.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Carlisle County KY | 4,747 | ▲ 5.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Fulton County KY | 6,218 | ▲ 10.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Hickman County KY | 4,372 | ▼ 1.6% | — | — | — | — |
| New Madrid County | 15,086 | ▲ 0.8% | 1,500 MW | — | — | — |
| Scott County | 37,975 | ▲ 4.5% | 610 MW | — | — | — |
More of Missouri
Mississippi County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Mississippi County, Missouri?
2 utilities have service territory in Mississippi County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Union Electric Co - (MO), SEMO Electric Cooperative. The largest, Union Electric Co - (MO), charged residential customers 12.56¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Mississippi County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Mississippi County.
Is Mississippi County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,952 jobs in 2025 against 3,633 in 2019 (-18.7%, BLS QCEW).
Does Mississippi County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Mississippi County. Missouri has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.