Cowley County

Do you want the latest ACS 2019–2023 estimates (most current, model-based) or the 2020 Decennial Census counts (official, but older)? Also, for “household data,” should I include just number of households and average household size, or also family vs. nonfamily and homeownership?

Cowley County, KS snapshot (estimates)

• Population: ~34,000; density ~30 people/sq. mile. About two-thirds live in Winfield and Arkansas City along the US‑77 corridor.
• Email users: ~25,000–27,000 residents use email at least occasionally (driven by ~90–95% adoption among adults; lower among children).
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 13–17: ~6–8% of users (80–90% adoption within this group).
  • 18–29: ~18–22% of users (95%+ adoption).
  • 30–49: ~30–35% of users (95%+ adoption).
  • 50–64: ~25–28% of users (90%+ adoption).
  • 65+: ~12–15% of users (roughly 75–85% adoption; rising).
• Gender split: Approximately even (near 50/50; minimal difference in usage rates).
• Digital access and trends:
  • ~78–83% of households have a home broadband subscription; another ~10–15% are smartphone‑only.
  • Fixed broadband (cable/DSL and some fiber) is strongest in Winfield/Arkansas City; rural townships rely more on fixed wireless or satellite.
  • Mobile 4G/5G covers main highways and towns; service quality drops in sparsely populated areas.
  • Ongoing state/federal rural broadband investments are expected to improve fiber and fixed‑wireless availability in outlying census blocks over the next few years.

Mobile phone usage in Cowley County, KS — 2025 snapshot (with contrasts to Kansas overall)

User estimates

• Population baseline: roughly 35,000 residents; about 27,000–28,000 are age 12+.
• Active smartphone users: estimated 24,000–28,000 people (roughly 80–88% adult adoption, plus teen users). This is a few points lower than Kansas overall, where adult adoption is closer to the low 90s.
• Households with a smartphone: approximately 11,000–12,000 (about 82–86% of households), versus roughly 89–91% statewide.
• Mobile-only internet households (no fixed home broadband, rely on smartphones/hotspots): estimated 18–22% locally, materially higher than the statewide share (about 12–15%).

Demographic breakdown and what it means for mobile

• Age: Cowley skews slightly older than Kansas, with a larger 65+ share. That drags down overall smartphone adoption and raises the share of basic plans and Wi‑Fi calling reliance. Counterweight: Southwestern College (Winfield) and Cowley College (Arkansas City) create term‑time surges in heavy data usage and 5G device penetration around campuses.
• Income/education: Median household income and bachelor’s attainment are lower than the state average. Expect higher prepaid share, more budget Android devices, and greater sensitivity to promo pricing. The end of the federal ACP subsidy in 2024 likely had a bigger local impact than statewide averages.
• Race/ethnicity: Hispanic share is similar to slightly above the state average, supporting steady demand for bilingual retail/service. No large urban immigrant enclaves, so carrier retail footprints remain limited to the two main towns.

Usage patterns that differ from state-level

• More mobile-reliant households and hotspot use for homework/streaming due to patchier fixed broadband outside Winfield and Arkansas City.
• Device mix skews more Android and budget models than statewide norms; slower 5G device turnover among older and rural users.
• Higher share of Verizon and AT&T among field workers/public safety; T‑Mobile growth concentrated in town centers and along main corridors.
• Work-from-home is less prevalent than statewide, but when used, it often rides on mobile hotspots or fixed wireless access (FWA) rather than fiber/cable.

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

• Macro coverage: All three national carriers provide broad 4G LTE across the county. Indoor coverage is strong in Winfield and Arkansas City; weaker in metal buildings, basements, and fringe farmsteads.
• 5G:
  • T‑Mobile: Mid-band 5G is present in town centers and along US‑77/K‑15 corridors, delivering noticeably higher speeds than LTE where available.
  • Verizon: Low-band 5G is common; mid-band (C‑band) capacity is stronger nearer the Wichita metro and fades with distance—Cowley sees more LTE/low-band 5G outside towns.
  • AT&T: Low-band 5G is widespread; mid-band capacity is spottier outside larger metros. FirstNet support is a plus for public safety. Net difference vs Kansas: Statewide mid-band 5G capacity is better around metros; Cowley experiences a sharper town-versus-country performance gap.
• Towers/backhaul: Sites cluster along US‑77, K‑15, rail lines, and near towns. Rural sites often share infrastructure. Fiber backhaul is concentrated along main corridors; microwave still supports some rural towers. New fiber builds tied to state/federal programs (BEAD and earlier awards) are expected to improve backhaul and capacity through 2026–2028.
• Fixed broadband context (affects mobile usage): Cable or fiber is available in core city blocks; DSL or WISP/fixed wireless dominates many rural areas. This drives above-average hotspot and FWA adoption relative to the state.
• Known weak spots (relative): Creek/river valleys east of US‑77 and low-density southern and eastern townships can see spotty or slow service, especially indoors and during peak hours or storms.

Carrier dynamics (local tendencies)

• Verizon: Often the default for ranching, construction, utilities, and public safety due to breadth of rural coverage and roaming. Likely strongest share outside towns.
• AT&T: Competitive in towns; FirstNet provides reliability benefits for agencies. Rural gaps exist in certain pockets.
• T‑Mobile: Fastest town-center speeds where mid-band is active; coverage can fall off more quickly in fringe rural areas, though it’s been improving along corridors. Net difference vs Kansas: The rural coverage premium gives Verizon a larger relative edge in Cowley than in metro Kansas; T‑Mobile’s competitive position is more corridor/town-centric here.

Institutions and anchor demand

• Education hubs (Southwestern College, Cowley College) and medical centers (William Newton Hospital in Winfield; South Central Kansas Medical Center in Arkansas City) anchor dense indoor Wi‑Fi and drive DAS/small-cell needs; students amplify evening/weekend mobile demand.
• Agriculture, light manufacturing, and logistics produce seasonal spikes (harvest, plant shutdowns) and steady M2M/IoT usage on LTE.

Pain points users report more than statewide averages

• Indoor coverage in metal buildings and metal-roof homes; reliance on Wi‑Fi calling.
• Capacity slowdowns at the edges of town during events, school terms, and severe weather.
• Patchy 5G mid-band outside corridors; LTE fallbacks dominate rural data sessions.
• Budget constraints post‑ACP causing plan downgrades or increased prepaid churn.

12–24 month outlook

• Expect incremental capacity gains as carriers light up new backhaul and selectively add mid-band 5G sectors near Winfield/Ark City and along US‑77/K‑15.
• BEAD-driven fiber projects in underserved pockets should improve tower backhaul and reduce mobile congestion, but true rural coverage infill will remain gradual.
• Fixed Wireless Access will stay attractive for rural homes, keeping mobile data consumption per household above the state average.

Bottom line differences vs Kansas overall

• Slightly lower smartphone adoption, higher mobile-only households, and a stronger urban–rural performance gap.
• More reliance on Verizon/AT&T for wide-area reliability; T‑Mobile strongest where mid-band 5G is lit in towns.
• Faster growth in hotspot/FWA usage and slower 5G device turnover than statewide, with student hubs as notable exceptions.

Below is an estimate-driven snapshot of social media usage in Cowley County, KS. County-level platform data isn’t directly published, so figures apply national/rural patterns (Pew Research 2023–2024) to local demographics.

Snapshot

• Population: ~34–35k. Estimated social media users:
  • Adults (18+): ~21k–23k
  • Including teens (13–17): ~23k–26k
• Typical person uses 2–3 platforms; mobile-first.

Age breakdown (penetration of any social platform)

• 13–17: ~90–95%
• 18–29: ~90–95%
• 30–49: ~82–88%
• 50–64: ~68–72%
• 65+: ~45–50% Approximate share of local social users by age: 13–17 (10–12%), 18–29 (20–22%), 30–49 (35–38%), 50–64 (18–20%), 65+ (10–12%). Local colleges bolster the under-30 share.

Gender

• Overall user base: ~52–54% women, ~46–48% men.
• Skews: Women over-index on Facebook Groups and Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, and X.

Most-used platforms among adults (estimated share of local adults)

• YouTube: 78–83%
• Facebook: 65–72% (highest daily use; Groups/Marketplace dominant)
• Instagram: 38–45%
• TikTok: 28–34%
• Snapchat: 25–30% (concentrated among under-30s)
• Pinterest: 30–36% (female-skewed)
• LinkedIn: 18–22% (job-seeking bursts; otherwise light)
• X (Twitter): 15–20% (sports, severe weather, statewide news)
• Reddit: 14–18% (more lurkers than posters; Wichita/Kansas subs)
• WhatsApp: 10–15% (family, international ties)
• Nextdoor: 8–12% (lower than cities; Facebook Groups fill the neighborhood role)

Behavioral trends

• Hyperlocal info lives on Facebook: school closings, youth and high school sports, church/community events, county fair updates, lost/found pets, road/weather alerts. Marketplace is a top commerce channel.
• Short-form video is surging: Reels/TikTok for entertainment, local business promos, sports highlights; YouTube for DIY, small-engine repair, home projects, ag, hunting/fishing.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is default for adults; Snapchat dominates teen/college communication.
• Activity peaks: Evenings (7–10 pm), lunch hour, and weekends; sharp spikes during severe weather and major local events.
• Buying behavior: Price- and proximity-sensitive; “ask in comments” culture and reliance on word-of-mouth in Facebook Groups. Live sales and auction pages perform well; Instagram Shops adoption is modest.
• Content that performs: Practical “how-to,” local sports and school pride, event reminders, faith-based content, and behind-the-scenes from local businesses. Positive tone and familiar faces drive engagement.
• Platform overlap: Long-form on YouTube, clipped to Facebook/Instagram; TikTok used to reach under-35s, then redirected to Facebook pages or in-store visits.

Method note: Estimates synthesize Pew Research Center platform-use benchmarks and typical rural/micropolitan patterns with Cowley County’s size and age mix (ACS). For campaign planning, validate with page/group insights or small paid tests targeted within 15–30 miles of Winfield/Ark City.