Osage County, Missouri: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Linn
Osage 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. Osage County is home to Linn. Next door, Maries County has 400 MW of planned generation. Employers here counted 4,444 jobs in 2025, up 11.6% from 2019. Unemployment was 3.1% in August 2026, against 2.4% in 2019. Union Electric Co - (MO) is the largest utility serving Osage County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.56¢/kWh in 2024.
Cities and towns in Osage County
Osage County is home to Linn.
- Belle also extends into Maries 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 Osage County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Missouri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 13,250 | 13,611 | ▲ 2.7% | 73rd of 115 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,982 | 4,444 | ▲ 11.6% | 18th of 115 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $36,328 | $54,121 | ▲ 49.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.4% | 3.1% | ▲ 0.7pts | — |
13,611 people live here, up 2.7% since 2020.
Who powers Osage County
Utilities with service territory in Osage 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% |
| Three Rivers Electric Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 22,561 | 12.47¢ | 18% |
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 Osage County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Osage County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 4,444 | $54,121 | 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 Osage County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Osage County. Missouri has 21 local measures on record statewide.
Osage County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Osage County, Callaway 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osage County | 13,611 | ▲ 11.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Callaway County | 45,765 | ▲ 1.1% | 1,269 MW | 266 MW | — | — |
| Cole County | 77,908 | ▲ 2.2% | 132 MW | — | — | — |
| Gasconade County | 14,784 | ▼ 5.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Maries County | 8,397 | ▲ 13.7% | — | 400 MW | — | — |
| Miller County | 25,817 | ▲ 7.3% | 208 MW | — | — | — |
| Montgomery County | 11,590 | ▲ 9.0% | 6 MW | — | 3 | — |
More of Missouri
Osage County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Osage County, Missouri?
2 utilities have service territory in Osage County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Union Electric Co - (MO), Three Rivers Electric Coop. The largest, Union Electric Co - (MO), charged residential customers 12.56¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Osage County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Osage County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Maries County.
Is Osage County adding jobs?
Employers counted 4,444 jobs in 2025 against 3,982 in 2019 (+11.6%, BLS QCEW).
Does Osage County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Osage County. Missouri has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.