Cloud County

Cloud County, Kansas — key demographics

• Population

  • 9,032 (2020 Census)
  • ~8,700 (2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimate)

• Age

  • Median age: ~43 years
  • Under 18: ~21%
  • 65 and over: ~24%

• Sex

  • ~49% male
  • ~51% female

• Race/ethnicity (Hispanic can be of any race)

  • White: ~94–95%
  • Hispanic/Latino: ~3–4%
  • Two or more races: ~3%
  • Black: ~0.5–1%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.5–1%
  • Asian: ~0.3–0.5%

• Households

  • ~3,700–3,900 occupied households
  • Average household size: ~2.2
  • Family households: ~59% of households
  • Married-couple households: ~49% of households
  • Households with children under 18: ~25–27%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year, tables DP05 and S1101).

Cloud County, KS snapshot (estimates)

• Population and density: ~8.8–9.1k residents; ~12 people per square mile. Concordia holds roughly half; the rest is rural.
• Estimated email users: 6.8–7.2k residents use email at least occasionally. Method: apply typical U.S. email adoption (≈95% ages 18–64; ≈75–85% ages 65+; ≈50–70% ages 13–17) to Cloud County’s age mix (older than the U.S. average).
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 18–44: ~30–35%
  • 45–64: ~35–40%
  • 65+: ~20–30%
  • 13–17: ~3–5%
• Gender split among users: roughly balanced, ~49% male / 51% female (slight female tilt due to older population longevity).
• Digital access trends:
  • Fixed broadband is strongest in and around Concordia and along major corridors; outlying townships show patchier service and slower speeds.
  • A noticeable minority of households are smartphone‑only for internet (common in rural Kansas), which supports email but can limit heavy attachments and multi‑account use.
  • Public Wi‑Fi (libraries, schools, civic sites) remains important access for students and lower‑income residents.
  • Older adults are the most likely non‑users; adoption rises with household income and education.

Notes: Figures are synthesized from ACS-style population structure and national/rural email and internet adoption benchmarks; validate with local provider and state broadband maps for precise planning.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Cloud County, Kansas

Snapshot and method

• Cloud County is a small, aging, mostly rural county centered on Concordia (population roughly 8,700–9,000). Estimates below triangulate state and national benchmarks (Pew Research, FCC/NTIA maps, ACS), then adjust for Cloud County’s older age profile, income mix, and rural infrastructure. Ranges are provided where local, published figures are not available.

User estimates

• Mobile phone users (any mobile handset): about 7,700–8,100 residents (roughly 86–91% of the total population). This trails Kansas statewide by a few points due to older demographics and rural coverage gaps.
• Smartphone users: about 6,800–7,400 residents (roughly 77–84%). Kansas statewide is closer to the high 80s to ~90% among adults; Cloud’s older population pulls the local rate down.
• Active mobile data lines (smartphones plus hotspots/tablets): roughly 7,500–8,200, reflecting extra lines for farm operations, home hotspots, and tablets.
• Cellular-only home internet: approximately 20–30% of households likely rely primarily on mobile data or hotspots (versus a lower share statewide), driven by limited or costlier wired options outside Concordia and other towns.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age: Cloud County has a larger 65+ share than Kansas overall. Smartphone adoption among older adults is 5–10 points lower than the state average, which reduces overall penetration and slows upgrade cycles (longer device lifetimes, more midrange Android handsets).
• Income and plans: Higher reliance on prepaid/MVNO plans and budget Android devices than the state average; more price-sensitive data usage and smaller data buckets.
• Students and young adults: Cloud County Community College creates a modest local bump in high-usage, app-centric behavior in Concordia, with heavier Wi‑Fi offload on campus but more prepaid and BYOD plans.
• Work profile: Agriculture, logistics, and trades increase demand for coverage outside town centers and for voice/SMS reliability, PTT-style apps, and signal boosters in metal buildings and equipment cabs.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Carriers present: AT&T, Verizon, and T‑Mobile serve the county; a regional carrier (e.g., Nex‑Tech Wireless) has a footprint in north‑central/western Kansas and may provide service/roaming in or near the county.
• 5G availability: Low‑band 5G covers primary corridors and towns; mid‑band 5G is concentrated around Concordia and along US‑81 and other main routes. Indoor 5G can drop to LTE in metal structures or at the fringe.
• Tower grid: Sparser macro‑tower spacing than the state’s urban corridors; strongest along US‑81 and near towns. Expect spotty indoor coverage in farmsteads, creek/river valleys (e.g., along the Republican River) and wildlife areas, with more dependence on external antennas/boosters.
• Backhaul: Fiber follows major road corridors and into town; some rural sites depend on microwave backhaul, which can constrain capacity compared with metro Kansas.
• Public safety and priority: FirstNet (AT&T) coverage is present in rural Kansas; Cloud County agencies and healthcare likely benefit from prioritized access during incidents.
• Public Wi‑Fi and offload: Libraries, the community college, and schools provide meaningful Wi‑Fi offload, especially for students and low‑income users.

How Cloud County differs from Kansas overall

• Lower penetration: Overall smartphone and mobile-phone adoption are several points lower than statewide, chiefly due to a larger 65+ share and more coverage variability.
• More prepaid/MVNO use: A higher share of cost‑conscious plans and budget devices than the state average.
• More cellular‑only households: Greater reliance on mobile hotspots or phone tethering for home internet compared with Kansas overall.
• Coverage quality gap: Outdoor coverage is broadly available on main corridors, but indoor and off‑corridor performance lags state averages; mid‑band 5G capacity is less pervasive than in metro areas.
• Slower upgrade cycles: Handsets are kept longer; fewer premium devices per capita relative to cities like Wichita, Topeka, or KC metro.
• Work‑driven mobility: Agricultural and trades work shifts usage toward voice reliability, text, and practical apps, with higher use of signal boosters and rugged accessories than in urban Kansas.

Notes

• Use carrier coverage maps, the FCC National Broadband Map (mobile), and Kansas Office of Broadband updates for site‑specific checks; rural coverage can vary at the section‑road level.
• For planning, assume town‑center performance closer to state averages, with step‑downs in capacity and indoor reliability as you move into the countryside.

Social media usage snapshot: Cloud County, Kansas (modeled 2025 estimates)

Topline user stats

• Population: ≈8.7k residents; ≈7.5k are age 13+
• Monthly social media users (13+): ≈5,100–5,600 (about 68–74% of 13+)
• Daily users: ≈3,600–4,200 (about 70–75% of social users)

Age mix of social media users (share of users)

• 13–17: 8–10%
• 18–29: 18–22%
• 30–49: 32–36%
• 50–64: 24–28%
• 65+: 14–18%

Gender breakdown (share of users)

• Female: 53–56%
• Male: 44–47%

Most‑used platforms among local social users

• Facebook (incl. Groups/Messenger): 78–85%
• YouTube: 72–80%
• Instagram: 32–40%
• Snapchat: 28–35%
• TikTok: 27–33%
• Also used: Pinterest 22–30%, X/Twitter 8–12%, LinkedIn 8–12%

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the community hub: school, church, sports, and city/EMS updates happen in Groups; Marketplace is heavily used.
• Dayparts: engagement peaks before work (7–9 a.m.) and evenings (7–10 p.m.); weekends see a late‑morning bump.
• Short‑form video is rising: FB Reels/IG/TikTok clips of local sports, fairs, and events outperform static posts.
• Messaging-first for under‑30s: Snapchat for daily chat; IG DMs for brands/creators; Messenger preferred by 40+.
• Local commerce is social: buy‑sell‑trade groups, garage sales, and service referrals drive comments and DMs.
• Information utility: high engagement on weather alerts, road closures, school notices, and high school sports.
• Trust dynamics: posts from known locals and community pages outperform polished brand creatives.
• YouTube use is practical: how‑to, ag/ranch, home repair, small engine/equipment content; longer watch times among 35+.
• Event behavior: Facebook Events and cross‑posting to Groups 48–72 hours before local happenings boosts attendance.
• Platform fit: Pinterest skews female (recipes, home, crafts); X/Twitter is niche (state/national news, sports).

Method note

• Figures are modeled from Cloud County’s population and age mix combined with recent U.S. rural/Midwest social media benchmarks (e.g., Pew Research Center, national platform usage studies). County‑level platform counts aren’t directly published; treat percentages as best‑fit estimates.