Ralls County, Missouri: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Saverton
Local rules on data centers are on the record in Ralls County. Ralls County is home to New London, Perry and Center. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “County moratorium on data centers through August 20, 2027”. 66 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by Birch Creek Development (solar). 66 MW of it is already under construction or built. Its power plants have 58 MW of capacity, 100% of it hydro. Employers here counted 3,607 jobs in 2025, up 2.1% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Ralls County
Ralls County is home to New London, Perry and Center.
- Hannibal also extends into Marion County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Saverton.
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 Ralls County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Missouri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 10,352 | 10,444 | ▲ 0.9% | 83rd of 115 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,534 | 3,607 | ▲ 2.1% | 57th of 115 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $45,247 | $55,049 | ▲ 21.7% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.3% | 3.2% | ▼ 0.1pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 66 MW | 114% of today's fleet | 13th of 14 by size |
Union Electric Co - (MO) is the largest utility serving Ralls County, one of 6 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.56¢/kWh in 2024. Unemployment was 3.2% in August 2026, against 3.3% in 2019. 10,444 people live here, up 0.9% since 2020.
Who powers Ralls County
Utilities with service territory in Ralls 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% |
| Consolidated Electric Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 7,649 | 12.96¢ | 13% |
| City of Hannibal - (MO) | Municipal | Bundled | 7,639 | 12.91¢ | 12% |
| City of Monroe City - (MO) | — | — | — | — | — |
| City of Perry - (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.
Operating power plants 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 58 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarence Cannon | USCE-St Louis District | Hydro | 58 MW | 1984 |
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Jay Road Solar, LLC | Solar Photovoltaic | 66 MW | Under construction (≤50%) | 2026 | Birch Creek Development |
The Ralls County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,607 | $55,049 | 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 Ralls County
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| County moratorium on data centers through August 20, 2027 | In force | 2026-01 |
Ralls County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Ralls County, Audrain 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ralls County | 10,444 | ▲ 2.1% | 58 MW | 66 MW | — | 1 |
| Audrain County | 24,528 | ▼ 10.7% | 1,218 MW | — | — | — |
| Marion County | 28,525 | ▼ 2.5% | — | 76 MW | 1 | 1 |
| Monroe County | 8,959 | ▲ 2.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Pike County IL | 14,231 | ▼ 3.9% | 78 MW | 1 MW | — | — |
| Pike County | 17,955 | ▼ 2.0% | 290 MW | — | — | — |
More of Missouri
Ralls County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Ralls County, Missouri?
6 utilities have service territory in Ralls County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Union Electric Co - (MO), Consolidated Electric Coop, City of Hannibal - (MO), City of Monroe City - (MO). The largest, Union Electric Co - (MO), charged residential customers 12.56¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Ralls County?
1 operating plant with 58 MW of capacity. The largest is Clarence Cannon (58 MW, hydro).
How much new power is planned in Ralls County?
66 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 66 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Birch Creek Development.
Are there data centers in Ralls County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Ralls County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Marion County.
Is Ralls County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,607 jobs in 2025 against 3,534 in 2019 (+2.1%, BLS QCEW).
Does Ralls County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Ralls County, 1 in force.