When Central Rural Electric Cooperative began in 1938, electricity was a luxury in rural America. At that time, only one in every 10 rural households had access to electricity.

Fast forward almost 90 years, electricity powers nearly every moment of our daily lives, from brewing our morning coffee to charging electric vehicles at night.

Each decade has brought advancements in technology, home comfort and electric usage. To understand how far we’ve come, let’s take a look at how electricity has transformed over the decades.

 

1930s-1940s

In 1939, Central served 141 farms across 172 miles of line. By 1949, that number had grown to 2,124 members across multiple counties.

The 1940s marked a turning point. Electricity began to lighten  workloads, improving food storage and connecting families to the wider world. The first appliance most homes bought after getting electricity was the radio.

Only eight percent of households had electric refrigerators, and most homes still used hand-powered washing machines in the 1930s. By the 1940s, nearly 44 percent of homes had electric refrigerators, and electric washing machines became more widespread as rural electrification efforts grew.

By 1942, nearly 50 percent of rural farms had electricity.

 

1950s-1970s

More than 90 percent of U.S. Farms had electricity by 1953. Electricity became more than just a light source; nearly 80 percent of households had refrigerators, and by the 1970s, electricity replaced gas as the most widely used energy source for cooking.

During this time, television ownership boomed. In the 1950s alone, homes with TVs increased from 12 percent to 87 percent. By 1970, 19 percent of homes had color TV sets.

This era marked a shift. Electricity was no longer just a tool; it was a gateway to comfort and entertainment.

 

1980s-1990s

By the 1980s and 1990s, microwaves, dishwashers, home computers and multiple televisions were commonplace. Households began relying more heavily on electricity for heating and cooling.

By 1990, electricity was the second-most used heating fuel source in the U.S., heating 26 percent of homes.

 

Now

Today, electricity powers nearly everything, from smartphones, laptops, streaming devices and smart home systems. Homes are smarter, more connected and more energy-efficient.

About 99 percent of the nation’s farms have electric service. Most rural electrification is the product of rural electric cooperatives, just like Central.

As we look back on a century of progress, it’s clear that electricity has done more than light our homes.

Through it all, Central has stood beside its members, adapting, innovating and growing with the members it serves. While tools may change and technology may evolve, one thing remains constant. Our commitment to empowering the lives of those we serve every single day.