Coffey County

Here’s a concise demographic snapshot of Coffey County, Kansas. Figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau (primarily 2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimates; 2020 Census noted where relevant).

Population

• Total population: ~8,100 (ACS 2019–2023); 8,360 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~44 years
• Under 18: ~23%
• 65 and over: ~22%

Gender

• Male: ~50%
• Female: ~50%

Race and ethnicity

• White alone: ~93%
• Black or African American alone: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~1%
• Asian alone: ~0.3%
• Two or more races: ~4–5%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~4%

Households

• Total households: ~3,400
• Average household size: ~2.3 persons
• Family households: ~62% of households
• Married-couple households: ~51% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~24%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 (tables DP05, S0101, S1101) and 2020 Decennial Census.

Coffey County, KS context: ~8.3k residents across ~630 sq mi (≈13 people/sq mi). Burlington is the main hub, with smaller towns like New Strawn, Lebo, Waverly, Gridley, and LeRoy.

Estimated email users (adults):

• Adult population ≈6.2–6.6k; applying typical U.S. adoption (≈88–94% of adults use email) yields ≈5.6–6.0k adult email users. Including teens would add a few hundred more.

Age distribution (usage likelihood):

• 18–29: ~95–98%
• 30–49: ~97–99%
• 50–64: ~93–97%
• 65+: ~85–90% Result: near‑universal among working‑age adults, modest drop among seniors.

Gender split:

• Roughly even; national data show ≤2‑point difference between men and women.

Digital access trends (benchmarks for rural Kansas):

• Household broadband subscription: ~80–88%.
• Smartphone ownership: ~84–90%; about 10–15% are smartphone‑only for home internet.
• Younger residents tend to access email primarily on smartphones; older adults more often via desktop/laptop.

Local density/connectivity notes:

• Dispersed settlement means fewer high‑speed fixed options outside towns; fixed‑wireless and satellite fill gaps, and public/library Wi‑Fi supports those without home service.
• Mobile LTE is widespread; 5G increasingly available in/near population centers, thinner in outlying areas.

All figures are estimates based on Census/Pew rural and statewide benchmarks.

Below is a concise, county-specific picture based on triangulating recent ACS population data, Pew/NHIS adoption rates, FCC broadband/coverage maps, and carrier build-outs as of 2024. Figures are modeled ranges; local pockets will vary.

User estimates (Coffey County; pop. ~8.2–8.5k; ~3.4–3.7k households)

• Mobile phone users: 6,000–6,500 residents use a mobile phone of any kind.
• Smartphone users: 5,400–5,900 residents (adult smartphone adoption ~85–90%, a few points below Kansas overall).
• Wireless-only households (no landline): 2,300–2,700 (roughly 65–75% of households; similar to, or slightly above, the Kansas average due to landline decline outside town centers).
• Households using cellular or carrier fixed‑wireless as primary home internet: 10–15% (notably higher than the statewide ~5–8%), reflecting gaps in cable/fiber beyond Burlington/Lebo/Waverly.

Demographic patterns and how they differ from Kansas overall

• Age
  • 18–34: near-universal smartphone use (97–99%), about on par with the state.
  • 35–64: high adoption (90–94%), 1–3 points below the state.
  • 65+: 68–76% smartphone adoption, 5–10 points below the state; a larger share keeps basic phones or uses tablets on Wi‑Fi.
• Income and plan type
  • Slightly higher reliance on value/prepaid plans and shared family plans than the state average.
  • Above-average take‑up of 5G “home internet” plans among cost‑sensitive and rural households lacking cable/fiber.
• Work patterns
  • Agriculture/energy/field-service jobs raise daytime voice/SMS and hotspot use compared with urban Kansas.
  • Longer upgrade cycles on devices (more 3–5‑year handset retention) than the state average.

Digital infrastructure snapshot (and what’s different)

• Coverage and capacity
  • Low‑band 5G (especially 600 MHz) and LTE cover most traveled corridors (US‑75, I‑35 approaches, towns). Capacity and mid‑band 5G are more limited outside Burlington/Lebo; users more often fall back to LTE than in metro Kansas.
  • Notable weak or variable signal pockets away from highways and around water/low‑lying areas (e.g., near John Redmond Reservoir), making boosters more common than statewide.
• 5G/fixed wireless
  • T‑Mobile and Verizon 5G home internet options are available in and just outside towns and along corridors; adoption is rising faster than the state average because it fills a wireline gap.
• Wireline backstop
  • Fiber and cable are present in municipal cores and some subdivisions; many rural stretches still rely on DSL or WISPs. Net effect: higher dependence on mobile data for the last mile than Kansas overall.
• Sites and small cells
  • Fewer macro towers per square mile and very limited small‑cell density compared with urban Kansas; upgrades prioritize highway/town sectors first, leaving off‑corridor sectors with lower spectral capacity.

Key trends versus Kansas overall

• Slightly lower smartphone penetration overall, driven by an older age profile.
• Higher share of households that are wireless‑only and higher reliance on cellular/fixed‑wireless for home internet.
• More frequent LTE fallback and use of signal boosters/hotspots; mid‑band 5G capacity is spottier than the state average outside towns.
• Faster relative growth in 5G home internet subscriptions (from a smaller base), while handset upgrade and 5G device adoption are a bit slower.

Below is a concise, best-available snapshot for Coffey County, Kansas. Precise county-level social media data aren’t published, so figures are estimates extrapolated from Pew Research Center (2023–2024) U.S. platform use, rural vs. urban differentials, Kansas demographics, and typical rural engagement patterns.

Population and reach

• Population: ≈8.3k residents
• Residents age 13+: ≈6.8–7.0k
• Active social media users (13+): ≈4.9k–5.6k (about 70–80% of 13+)

Age mix of social media users (share of SM users)

• 13–17: 10–13%
• 18–29: 15–20%
• 30–49: 32–38% (largest cohort online)
• 50–64: 20–25%
• 65+: 15–18% (growing but still below younger cohorts)

Gender breakdown (overall)

• Women: 52–55% of social media users
• Men: 45–48%

Most-used platforms in Coffey County (estimated; share of SM users 13+)

• YouTube: 80–88% (strong across all ages; how-to, local sports highlights)
• Facebook (incl. Groups/Marketplace): 70–78% (daily use 55–65%)
• Instagram: 30–38% (younger adults; event photos, family updates)
• TikTok: 28–36% (fast growth into 30–49)
• Snapchat: 25–33% overall; 70–85% among 13–24 (messaging and stories)
• Pinterest: 28–35% (skews female; home, recipes, crafts)
• X/Twitter: 10–14% (sports, weather, news)
• LinkedIn: 8–12% (smaller white-collar base)
• Reddit: 6–9% (niche, interest-based)
• Nextdoor: 1–3% (limited neighborhood coverage in rural areas)

Behavioral trends to know

• Hyperlocal Facebook use: Groups and Pages for schools, churches, county/city offices, buy/sell/trade, school closings, and event coordination.
• Marketplace is big: Vehicles, farm/ranch gear, tools, household items; high message-to-listing ratio within 25–40 miles.
• Weather-first consumption: Spikes during severe weather; storm spotter pages and local meteorologists see high engagement.
• Community rhythms: Peaks around high school sports, county fair, hunting/fishing seasons, and holidays; evening activity (7–10 pm) and morning check-ins (6–9 am) dominate.
• Video is utility-driven: YouTube for repairs, DIY, ag equipment maintenance; TikTok/FB Reels for quick entertainment and local moments.
• Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger for adults; Snapchat for teens/young adults; group chats for teams, clubs, and churches.
• Trust patterns: Local voices (neighbors, coaches, pastors, county officials) outperform national outlets for engagement and credibility.
• Ads/content tips: Geo-target within ~25 miles; use event posts, short video, and clear “in-town” offers; spotlight local faces and outcomes.

Notes on methodology

• Percentages are directional ranges, not exact counts, and refer to share of social media users aged 13+ (unless noted).
• Derived from national/platform data adjusted for rural usage skews and Coffey County’s older-than-average age profile.