Ray County, Missouri: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Richmond and Lawson
No data center or power plant project is on record in Ray County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Ray County is home to Richmond, most of Lawson (2,381 of its 2,541 residents), Wood Heights and Orrick. Next door, Clay County has 33 data centers. Construction employs 169, up 7.6% since 2019. Union Electric Co - (MO) is the largest utility serving Ray County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.56¢/kWh in 2024. Unemployment was 3.8% in August 2026, against 3.4% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Ray County
Ray County is home to Richmond, most of Lawson (2,381 of its 2,541 residents), Wood Heights and Orrick.
- Lawson also extends into Clay County.
- Excelsior Springs also extends into Clay County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Rayville, Vibbard.
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 Ray County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Missouri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 23,136 | 23,398 | ▲ 1.1% | 48th of 115 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 4,073 | 4,035 | ▼ 0.9% | 83rd of 115 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $36,363 | $48,511 | ▲ 33.4% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 157 | 169 | ▲ 7.6% | 52nd of 71 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.4% | 3.8% | ▲ 0.4pts | — |
Employers here counted 4,035 jobs in 2025, down 0.9% from 2019. 23,398 people live here, up 1.1% since 2020.
Who powers Ray County
Utilities with service territory in Ray 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% |
| Evergy Missouri West | Investor Owned | Bundled | 305,583 | 12.55¢ | 42% |
| Platte-Clay Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 23,584 | 12.46¢ | 23% |
| Farmers Electric Coop, Inc - (MO) | Cooperative | Bundled | 12,451 | 13.35¢ | 14% |
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 Ray County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Ray County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 4,035 | $48,511 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 169 | $59,479 | 0.79 |
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 Ray County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Ray County. Missouri has 21 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Jackson County.
Ray County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Ray County, Clay 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ray County | 23,398 | ▼ 0.9% | — | — | — | — |
| Caldwell County | 9,012 | ▲ 2.8% | 25 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Carroll County | 8,417 | ▲ 5.1% | 21 MW | — | — | — |
| Clay County | 265,032 | ▲ 6.0% | — | — | 33 | — |
| Clinton County | 21,661 | ▲ 22.4% | — | 419 MW | — | — |
| Jackson County | 732,994 | ● 0.0% | 2,018 MW | — | 16 | 2 |
| Lafayette County | 33,531 | ▲ 1.8% | 54 MW | — | — | — |
More of Missouri
Ray County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Ray County, Missouri?
4 utilities have service territory in Ray County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Union Electric Co - (MO), Evergy Missouri West, Platte-Clay Electric Coop, Inc, Farmers Electric Coop, Inc - (MO). The largest, Union Electric Co - (MO), charged residential customers 12.56¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Ray County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Ray County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Clay County.
Is Ray County adding jobs?
Employers counted 4,035 jobs in 2025 against 4,073 in 2019 (-0.9%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 157 to 169.
Does Ray County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Ray County. Missouri has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.