Stone County, Missouri: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Kimberling City, Crane and Reeds Spring
Stone 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. Stone County is home to Kimberling City, Crane, Reeds Spring and Indian Point. Electrical contractors employ 15, up 50.0% since 2019 against up 21.5% statewide, at an average $33,885 a year. Construction employs 622, up 13.9% since 2019, and construction is 1.6 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Employers here counted 7,389 jobs in 2025, up 9.8% from 2019. Unemployment was 4.1% in August 2026, against 5.0% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Stone County
Stone County is home to Kimberling City, Crane, Reeds Spring and Indian Point.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Shell Knob.
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 Stone County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Missouri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 31,212 | 32,503 | ▲ 4.1% | 37th of 115 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 6,728 | 7,389 | ▲ 9.8% | 21st of 115 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $30,842 | $41,607 | ▲ 34.9% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 546 | 622 | ▲ 13.9% | 39th of 71 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 10 | 15 | ▲ 50.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.0% | 4.1% | ▼ 0.9pts | — |
Empire District Electric Co is the largest utility serving Stone County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.99¢/kWh in 2024, above the 12.79¢ median for Missouri utilities. 32,503 people live here, up 4.1% since 2020.
Who powers Stone County
Utilities with service territory in Stone 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% |
| White River Valley El Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 39,216 | 14.30¢ | 31% |
| Ozark Electric Coop Inc - (MO) | Cooperative | Bundled | 31,534 | 14.07¢ | 19% |
| Carroll Electric Coop Corp - (AR) | Cooperative | Bundled | 12,109 | 12.70¢ | 17% |
| City of Crane - (MO) | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Stone County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Stone County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 7,389 | $41,607 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 622 | $53,689 | 1.59 |
| Electrical contractors | 15 | $33,885 | 0.28 |
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 Stone County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Stone County. Missouri has 21 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Carroll County.
Stone County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Stone County, Carroll 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone County | 32,503 | ▲ 9.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Barry County | 36,200 | ▼ 10.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Carroll County AR | 29,263 | ▼ 1.2% | 114 MW | 183 MW | — | 1 |
| Christian County | 96,725 | ▲ 17.1% | 8 MW | — | — | — |
| Lawrence County | 39,401 | ▲ 1.1% | 149 MW | — | — | — |
| Taney County | 57,001 | ▼ 2.1% | 216 MW | — | — | — |
More of Missouri
Stone County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Stone County, Missouri?
5 utilities have service territory in Stone County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Empire District Electric Co, White River Valley El Coop Inc, Ozark Electric Coop Inc - (MO), Carroll Electric Coop Corp - (AR). The largest, Empire District Electric Co, charged residential customers 14.99¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Stone County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Stone County.
Is Stone County adding jobs?
Employers counted 7,389 jobs in 2025 against 6,728 in 2019 (+9.8%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 546 to 622.
Does Stone County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Stone County. Missouri has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.