Washington County, Missouri: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Potosi
Washington 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. Washington County is home to Potosi. Construction employs 200, up 3.6% since 2019. Employers here counted 4,998 jobs in 2025, up 2.4% from 2019. Union Electric Co - (MO) is the largest utility serving Washington County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.56¢/kWh in 2024. Unemployment was 4.3% in August 2026, against 4.6% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Washington County
Washington County is home to Potosi.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Terre du Lac.
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 Washington County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Missouri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 23,432 | 23,810 | ▲ 1.6% | 47th of 115 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 4,880 | 4,998 | ▲ 2.4% | 55th of 115 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $30,891 | $41,281 | ▲ 33.6% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 193 | 200 | ▲ 3.6% | 58th of 71 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.6% | 4.3% | ▼ 0.3pts | — |
23,810 people live here, up 1.6% since 2020.
Who powers Washington County
Utilities with service territory in Washington 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% |
| Crawford Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 19,775 | 12.78¢ | 16% |
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 Washington County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Washington County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 4,998 | $41,281 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 200 | $40,201 | 0.76 |
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 Washington County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Washington County. Missouri has 21 local measures on record statewide.
Washington County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Washington County, Franklin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 23,810 | ▲ 2.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Crawford County | 22,929 | ▲ 0.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Franklin County | 108,090 | ▲ 0.6% | 2,389 MW | — | — | — |
| Iron County | 9,318 | ▲ 0.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Jefferson County | 233,132 | ▲ 3.4% | — | — | — | — |
| St. Francois County | 67,809 | ▼ 0.8% | 18 MW | — | — | — |
More of Missouri
Washington County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Washington County, Missouri?
2 utilities have service territory in Washington County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Union Electric Co - (MO), Crawford Electric Coop, Inc. The largest, Union Electric Co - (MO), charged residential customers 12.56¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Washington County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Washington County.
Is Washington County adding jobs?
Employers counted 4,998 jobs in 2025 against 4,880 in 2019 (+2.4%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 193 to 200.
Does Washington County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Washington County. Missouri has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.