Webster County, Missouri: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Marshfield, Rogersville and Seymour
Webster County sits inside the data center build-out. Construction employs 674, up 64.8% since 2019, and construction is 1.5 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Webster County. Webster County is home to Marshfield, most of Rogersville (4,813 of its 5,754 residents), Seymour and Fordland. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “Six-month moratorium (data centers and energy facilities)”. Employers here counted 8,630 jobs in 2025, up 12.7% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Webster County
Webster County is home to Marshfield, most of Rogersville (4,813 of its 5,754 residents), Seymour and Fordland.
- Rogersville also extends into Greene 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 Webster County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Missouri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 39,012 | 43,054 | ▲ 10.4% | 27th of 115 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 7,658 | 8,630 | ▲ 12.7% | 14th of 115 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $34,168 | $47,782 | ▲ 39.8% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 409 | 674 | ▲ 64.8% | 5th of 71 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 97 | 110 | ▲ 13.4% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.6% | 3.9% | ▲ 0.3pts | — |
Electrical contractors employ 110, up 13.4% since 2019 against up 21.5% statewide, at an average $50,455 a year. 43,054 people live here, up 10.4% since 2020. Empire District Electric Co is the largest utility serving Webster County, one of 6 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.99¢/kWh in 2024, above the 12.79¢ median for Missouri utilities. Unemployment was 3.9% in August 2026, against 3.6% in 2019.
Who powers Webster County
Utilities with service territory in Webster 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% |
| Southwest Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 41,386 | 11.99¢ | 16% |
| Laclede Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 35,026 | 11.73¢ | 18% |
| Webster Electric Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 18,820 | 10.19¢ | 26% |
| SE-MA-NO Electric Coop | — | — | — | — | — |
| City of Seymour - (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 Webster County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Webster County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 8,630 | $47,782 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 674 | $55,999 | 1.47 |
| Electrical contractors | 110 | $50,455 | 1.77 |
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 Webster County
1 data center in Webster County is on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Six-month moratorium (data centers and energy facilities) | In force | 2026 |
Webster County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Webster County, Greene 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Webster County | 43,054 | ▲ 12.7% | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Christian County | 96,725 | ▲ 17.1% | 8 MW | — | — | — |
| Dallas County | 18,025 | ▲ 15.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Douglas County | 12,342 | ▲ 3.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Greene County | 309,286 | ▲ 5.5% | 926 MW | 178 MW | 2 | — |
| Laclede County | 36,943 | ▼ 6.6% | 2 MW | — | — | — |
| Wright County | 19,671 | ▲ 15.3% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
More of Missouri
Webster County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Webster County, Missouri?
6 utilities have service territory in Webster County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Empire District Electric Co, Southwest Electric Coop, Inc, Laclede Electric Coop, Inc, Webster Electric Coop. The largest, Empire District Electric Co, charged residential customers 14.99¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Webster County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Webster County.
Is Webster County adding jobs?
Employers counted 8,630 jobs in 2025 against 7,658 in 2019 (+12.7%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 409 to 674.
Does Webster County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Webster County, 1 in force.