Newton County, Missouri: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Neosho, Joplin and Seneca
No data center or power plant project is on record in Newton County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Newton County is home to Neosho, part of Joplin (7,908 of its 53,930 residents), Seneca and Granby. Next door, Jasper County has 1 data center. Employers here counted 23,014 jobs in 2025, up 13.2% from 2019. Unemployment was 3.8% in August 2026, against 3.3% in 2019. Empire District Electric Co is the largest utility serving Newton County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.99¢/kWh in 2024, above the 12.79¢ median for Missouri utilities.
Cities and towns in Newton County
Newton County is home to Neosho, part of Joplin (7,908 of its 53,930 residents), Seneca and Granby.
- Joplin also extends into Jasper 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 Newton County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Missouri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 58,702 | 62,263 | ▲ 6.1% | 19th of 115 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 20,330 | 23,014 | ▲ 13.2% | 12th of 115 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $41,304 | $55,117 | ▲ 33.4% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.3% | 3.8% | ▲ 0.5pts | — |
62,263 people live here, up 6.1% since 2020.
Who powers Newton County
Utilities with service territory in Newton County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empire District Electric Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 142,537 | 14.99¢ | 37% |
| Ozark Electric Coop Inc - (MO) | Cooperative | Bundled | 31,534 | 14.07¢ | 19% |
| New-Mac Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 19,445 | 12.63¢ | 13% |
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 Newton County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Newton County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 23,014 | $55,117 | 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 Newton County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Newton County. Missouri has 21 local measures on record statewide.
Newton County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Newton County, Jasper 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton County | 62,263 | ▲ 13.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Barry County | 36,200 | ▼ 10.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Cherokee County KS | 19,105 | ▲ 0.1% | 268 MW | 27 MW | — | — |
| Jasper County | 127,428 | ▼ 2.5% | 1,114 MW | 109 MW | 1 | — |
| Lawrence County | 39,401 | ▲ 1.1% | 149 MW | — | — | — |
| McDonald County | 23,992 | ▼ 17.6% | — | — | 1 | — |
| Ottawa County OK | 30,438 | ▲ 4.4% | — | — | — | — |
More of Missouri
Newton County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Newton County, Missouri?
3 utilities have service territory in Newton County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Empire District Electric Co, Ozark Electric Coop Inc - (MO), New-Mac Electric Coop, Inc. The largest, Empire District Electric Co, charged residential customers 14.99¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Neosho, MO in?
Neosho is in Newton County, Missouri. About 14,078 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Are there data centers in Newton County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Newton County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Jasper County.
Is Newton County adding jobs?
Employers counted 23,014 jobs in 2025 against 20,330 in 2019 (+13.2%, BLS QCEW).
Does Newton County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Newton County. Missouri has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.