Bourbon County

Here are concise, high-level demographics for Bourbon County, Kansas.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates). Figures rounded.

Population size

• Total population: ~14,360 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~40 years
• Under 18: ~22%
• 18–64: ~59%
• 65 and over: ~19%

Gender

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Race/ethnicity (Hispanic can be of any race)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~85%
• Black or African American: ~4–5%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~1–2%
• Asian: <1%
• Two or more races: ~5–6%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~4–5%

Households

• Total households: ~5,800
• Average household size: ~2.4
• Family households: ~58–60% of households
• Nonfamily households: ~40–42%
• Owner-occupied: ~65–70%
• Renter-occupied: ~30–35%

Bourbon County, KS (estimates)

• Population: ~14,300. Estimated email users: 11,000–12,500 (roughly 75–87% of residents, adjusted for rural access).
• Age mix of email users:
  • 13–17: ~7%
  • 18–34: ~23%
  • 35–54: ~34%
  • 55–64: ~16%
  • 65+: ~20%
• Gender split among users: ~51% female, ~49% male (usage rates are similar by gender).

Digital access trends

• Home internet: ~78–82% of households have a broadband subscription (wired or fixed wireless); ~12–15% lack home internet.
• Smartphone reliance: ~12–18% are smartphone‑only for internet access.
• Devices: >85% of households have a computer/tablet; adult smartphone ownership ~90%+.

Local density/connectivity facts

• Low population density: ~23 residents per square mile; service is strongest in Fort Scott and along US‑69, with weaker speeds/availability in outlying farms and wooded areas.
• Public access: libraries, schools, and some municipal sites offer free Wi‑Fi.
• State/federal programs (e.g., BEAD) are targeting remaining unserved/underserved locations in southeast Kansas, including Bourbon County.

Notes: Figures synthesize county population, ACS computer/internet-use benchmarks for rural Kansas, and national email adoption by age; treat as directional estimates.

Bourbon County, KS mobile usage snapshot (with county-vs-state contrasts)

Context and scale

• Population baseline: about 14.5k residents, with most living in/around Fort Scott and the remainder dispersed rurally.
• Unique mobile users: roughly 11.5k–12.5k residents use a mobile phone (any type). Of these, an estimated 9.5k–10.5k use smartphones.
• How the estimate was derived: county population, minus young children, multiplied by typical rural mobile ownership rates (cell phone ownership ≈ low-to-mid 90s% of adults; smartphone ownership in rural areas ≈ low-to-mid 80s%).

Demographic breakdown of usage (directional)

• Age
  • 18–34: near-universal smartphone use (≈90–95%).
  • 35–64: high smartphone use (≈85–90%); near-universal ownership of some mobile device.
  • 65+: lower smartphone use (≈70–80%), with a noticeable minority still using basic/feature phones. This skews countywide smartphone adoption slightly below Kansas’ average.
• Income and plans
  • Greater reliance on cost-sensitive plans and MVNO/prepaid options than the Kansas average, reflecting lower median household income. Expect a higher share of lines on prepaid and value carriers vs. statewide.
  • A larger slice of households rely on mobile data as their primary or backup home internet compared with the state, especially outside Fort Scott.
• Geography (town vs rural)
  • In-town residents (Fort Scott) show usage patterns closer to the statewide picture (higher 5G handset adoption, more streaming/video, mobile banking).
  • Rural residents report more dead zones, more signal-boosting hardware in homes/vehicles, and greater use of hotspotting for homework and work-from-home tasks.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Macro coverage
  • AT&T, Verizon, and T‑Mobile all cover the county, with strongest, most consistent service along US‑69 and in Fort Scott. Coverage becomes patchier on secondary roads and toward the county’s western and far-southern edges.
  • Practical effect: more LTE fallback and indoor coverage challenges in metal-roof buildings and low-lying areas outside town.
• 5G footprint and experience
  • 5G is present in/near Fort Scott and along major corridors, but rural areas still lean on LTE. Mid-band 5G capacity is less consistent than in Kansas’ metro counties, so average 5G speeds and availability trail the state average.
  • Device mix lags the state: a lower share of residents carry 5G-capable phones than the statewide average, due to slower upgrade cycles.
• Towers/backhaul
  • Expect roughly a low‑teens number of macro sites serving or adjacent to the county, with limited small‑cell density. Backhaul is concentrated around Fort Scott; rural sectors can be capacity‑constrained at peak times.
• Home internet interplay
  • Fort Scott: fiber and cable are available in parts of town, supporting strong Wi‑Fi offload and better indoor mobile experience.
  • Outside town: a mix of DSL remnants, fixed wireless (WISPs), and growing satellite usage (e.g., for students and remote workers); this increases reliance on smartphone hotspotting.
• Public safety and resiliency
  • AT&T’s FirstNet Band 14 presence and carrier hardening on primary corridors have improved emergency coverage, but some rural gaps persist where mutual-aid and roaming are still important.

How Bourbon County differs from Kansas overall

• Adoption and devices
  • Slightly lower smartphone and 5G‑handset adoption than the state average, driven by older age structure and cost sensitivity.
  • Slower upgrade cycles; a higher share of older Android devices and basic phones remain in use than statewide.
• Access and reliance
  • Higher reliance on mobile-only or mobile‑primary internet access, especially in rural households lacking affordable wired broadband. Hotspotting is more common than the state average.
  • Prepaid/MVNO penetration is higher than statewide, reflecting plan affordability priorities.
• Network experience
  • More frequent LTE fallback and coverage variability off main highways; average 5G availability and speeds lag metro Kansas.
  • Greater use of signal boosters and Wi‑Fi offload to compensate for indoor coverage.
• Usage patterns
  • Heavier emphasis on core communications (voice/SMS, Facebook, messaging apps) and practical apps (banking, school portals, ag/weather) vs. data‑intensive entertainment on the go. Streaming tends to shift to home Wi‑Fi where available.

Planning implications

• For carriers: additional rural macro sectors, selective mid‑band 5G overlays on existing sites, and in‑building solutions around community anchors (schools, clinics) would close the biggest experience gaps relative to Kansas overall.
• For the county and ISPs: expanding fiber or high‑capacity fixed wireless beyond Fort Scott would reduce smartphone‑only dependence and improve educational/work outcomes.
• For consumers: if outside town, choose plans with strong rural coverage and hotspot allowances; consider a multi‑carrier or booster strategy if commuting on secondary roads.

Notes on uncertainty

• Figures are estimates synthesized from rural adoption patterns, county population and age structure, and known urban–rural infrastructure differences in Kansas. Exact market shares, site counts, and 5G footprints vary by neighborhood and change frequently with ongoing upgrades.

Here’s a concise, data‑informed snapshot for Bourbon County, KS (pop. ~14,000; 2023 est.). Figures are estimates extrapolated from Pew Research national/rural social media data and local demographics; use ranges to reflect uncertainty at county level.

Topline user stats

• Estimated social media users (ages 13+): 9,500–10,500
• Adult users (18+): 8,000–9,000
• Daily users: ~70% of users, or 6,700–7,300
• Device mix: Mobile‑first (>90%); desktop mainly for work/school

Most‑used platforms (share of online adults in-county; estimates)

• YouTube: 78–82%
• Facebook: 65–72%
• Facebook Messenger: 60–66%
• Instagram: 38–45%
• TikTok: 28–35% (higher among under 30)
• Snapchat: 25–32% (60–75% among under 30)
• Pinterest: 28–35% (strong female skew)
• WhatsApp: 18–24%
• X (Twitter): 15–20%
• LinkedIn: 18–22% (lower in rural labor mix)
• Reddit: 12–18%
• Nextdoor: 5–8% (limited neighborhood coverage)

Age breakdown (share using any social media)

• 13–17: 92–97% (heavy Snapchat/TikTok; YouTube daily)
• 18–29: 90–95% (TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat; YouTube; Facebook mainly for groups/Marketplace)
• 30–49: 83–88% (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram; Messenger; Marketplace)
• 50–64: 70–78% (Facebook, YouTube; some Pinterest)
• 65+: 48–55% (Facebook, YouTube; limited TikTok/Instagram)

Gender

• Overall users: ~51% female, 49% male (mirrors county demographics)
• Skews: Women over‑index on Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest; men on YouTube/Reddit/X

Behavioral trends (local patterns)

• Community‑centric: High engagement with Fort Scott school sports, churches, county fairs, severe weather, road closures, local public safety.
• Facebook Groups/Marketplace: Primary hub for buy/sell/trade, local jobs, lost & found, service referrals; group admins shape trust and reach.
• Short‑form video growth: Reels/TikTok for local businesses, events highlights, sports clips; cross‑posted to Facebook for reach.
• Messaging first: Many residents DM businesses via Messenger instead of calling; quick replies drive conversions.
• News gap filling: Community pages and radio/newspaper FB pages act as de facto local news; rumor control posts perform strongly.
• Timing: Engagement peaks 6–9 a.m. and 7–10 p.m.; weekend mornings for events and Marketplace.
• Offers that work: Giveaways, raffles, coupon posts, limited‑time deals, and “tag a friend” mechanics; boosted posts within 25–30 miles convert well.
• Youth behavior: Teens largely avoid posting on Facebook; consume via parents/community pages, create on Snapchat/TikTok.
• Rural bandwidth reality: Preference for shorter videos; upload quality and live streams vary with connectivity.

Notes on methodology

• Based on county population and age mix, applied Pew Research Center 2023–2024 social media adoption and platform‑use rates with modest rural adjustments. For planning, validate with page insights/group membership and local ad reach estimates.