Monroe County, Missouri: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Monroe City and Paris
No data center or power plant project is on record in Monroe County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Monroe County is home to most of Monroe City (2,175 of its 2,714 residents), Paris and Madison. Next door, Marion County has 1 data center. 10 MW has retired here since 2019, including Monroe (MO) (petroleum, 10 MW, 2020). Employers here counted 1,796 jobs in 2025, up 2.6% from 2019. Union Electric Co - (MO) is the largest utility serving Monroe County, one of 8 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.56¢/kWh in 2024.
Cities and towns in Monroe County
Monroe County is home to most of Monroe City (2,175 of its 2,714 residents), Paris and Madison.
- Monroe City also extends into Marion County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Middle 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 Monroe County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Missouri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 8,692 | 8,959 | ▲ 3.1% | 93rd of 115 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,751 | 1,796 | ▲ 2.6% | 53rd of 115 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $31,196 | $44,220 | ▲ 41.7% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.1% | 4.3% | ▲ 0.2pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 10 MW | — |
Unemployment was 4.3% in August 2026, against 4.1% in 2019. 8,959 people live here, up 3.1% since 2020.
Who powers Monroe County
Utilities with service territory in Monroe 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% |
| Boone Electric Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 33,806 | 13.40¢ | 17% |
| Macon Electric Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 10,023 | 14.82¢ | 16% |
| Consolidated Electric Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 7,649 | 12.96¢ | 13% |
| Missouri Rural Electric Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 5,049 | 13.62¢ | 11% |
| City of Monroe City - (MO) | — | — | — | — | — |
| City of Paris - (MO) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ralls County Electric Coop | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Monroe County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Retired since 2019
| Plant | Technology | MW | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe (MO) | Petroleum | 10 MW | 2020 |
The Monroe County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,796 | $44,220 | 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 Monroe County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Monroe County. Missouri has 21 local measures on record statewide, and 2 neighboring counties have one: Marion County, Ralls County.
Monroe County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Monroe County, Randolph 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County | 8,959 | ▲ 2.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Audrain County | 24,528 | ▼ 10.7% | 1,218 MW | — | — | — |
| Macon County | 15,190 | ▼ 3.7% | 17 MW | — | — | — |
| Marion County | 28,525 | ▼ 2.5% | — | 76 MW | 1 | 1 |
| Ralls County | 10,444 | ▲ 2.1% | 58 MW | 66 MW | — | 1 |
| Randolph County | 24,513 | ▼ 2.6% | 1,242 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Shelby County | 5,870 | ▲ 1.0% | 15 MW | — | — | — |
More of Missouri
Monroe County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Monroe County, Missouri?
8 utilities have service territory in Monroe County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Union Electric Co - (MO), Boone Electric Coop, Macon Electric Coop, Consolidated Electric Coop. The largest, Union Electric Co - (MO), charged residential customers 12.56¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Monroe County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Monroe County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Marion County.
Is Monroe County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,796 jobs in 2025 against 1,751 in 2019 (+2.6%, BLS QCEW).
Does Monroe County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Monroe County. Missouri has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.