Dickinson County

Key demographics for Dickinson County, Kansas (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2018–2022 5-year estimates unless noted):

• Population: ~18.5k (2020 Census: ~18.4k)
• Age:
  • Median age: ~43
  • Under 18: ~23%
  • 18–64: ~57%
  • 65 and over: ~20%
• Gender:
  • Male: ~50%
  • Female: ~50%
• Race/ethnicity (shares of total):
  • White, non-Hispanic: ~88–89%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~6–7%
  • Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~3%
  • Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~1%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: ~1%
  • Asian, non-Hispanic: <1%
  • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: ~0%
• Households and families:
  • Total households: ~7.7k–7.8k
  • Average household size: ~2.35
  • Family households: ~63% of households (married-couple ~50%+)
  • Nonfamily households: ~37%
  • One-person households: ~29–30%
  • Households with children under 18: ~27%
  • Average family size: ~2.9
  • Housing tenure: ~74% owner-occupied, ~26% renter-occupied

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2018–2022 (5-year); 2020 Decennial Census (population baseline).

Summary for Dickinson County, Kansas (estimates)

• Population and density: ~18,500 residents; ~22 people per square mile (very low-density, largely rural).
• Estimated email users: 12,000–13,000 adult users. Basis: ~14,000–15,000 adults and 85–90% email adoption in rural Kansas.
• Age mix of email users:
  • 13–17: ~5%
  • 18–34: ~20%
  • 35–54: ~32%
  • 55–64: ~18%
  • 65+: ~25%
• Gender split among users: ~51% female, ~49% male (roughly matches county demographics).
• Digital access and trends:
  • Household broadband subscription: ~80–83% (below state average but improving).
  • Device access: ~90% of households have a computer or smartphone; ~10–14% are smartphone‑only.
  • Networks: Cable/DSL and fixed‑wireless are common; fiber is expanding in and around Abilene and through rural co‑ops, but some townships still rely on older DSL or fixed‑wireless links.
  • Mobile: Stronger 4G/5G along I‑70 and US‑77; patchier coverage in outlying areas.
  • Community access: Public libraries in Abilene, Herington, and Chapman provide free Wi‑Fi and computers.

Notes: Figures are reasoned estimates from Kansas rural and ACS patterns; local build‑outs and adoption can shift these numbers year to year.

Below is a county-focused, decision-useful snapshot built from state and national benchmarks (Pew Research, ACS S2801 “Computer and Internet Use,” FCC mobile coverage data) adjusted for Dickinson County’s rural profile, age mix, and settlement pattern around Abilene/Herington/Chapman. Figures are estimates with ranges where local measurement is sparse.

Headline estimates (people and households)

• Population baseline: ~18–19k residents; ~14–15k adults (18+).
• Adult mobile phone users (any cellphone): ~13.5–15.0k (≈90–96% of adults). This is slightly below Kansas statewide by about 2–4 percentage points, mainly due to an older age structure and rurality.
• Adult smartphone users: ~11.5–13.0k (≈80–88% of adults). Likely 3–6 points lower than statewide Kansas.
• Households with at least one smartphone: ~5.9–6.6k, or ≈78–85% of households. Expect a modestly lower share than statewide, but a higher likelihood of “mobile-only” internet among households lacking fixed service.

Demographic patterns (how Dickinson differs from Kansas overall)

• Age:
  • 18–29: very high smartphone adoption (≈95–98%), near state rates.
  • 30–49: high adoption (≈93–97%), near state rates.
  • 50–64: modestly lower than state (≈85–90%).
  • 65+: notably lower than state (≈60–70%), creating most of the county/state gap.
• Income:
  • Under ~$35k: high phone ownership but a higher share of “smartphone-only” internet access than statewide, reflecting patchier fixed broadband outside towns; prepaid plans more prevalent.
  • $35k–$100k: near state averages; mix of postpaid and prepaid.
  • $100k+: close to statewide adoption, higher 5G device penetration and accessory lines (watches/tablets).
• Race/ethnicity:
  • County is predominantly non-Hispanic White; smaller minority populations mean gaps are harder to measure locally. Where present, adoption tends to track income and age more than race.
• Work context:
  • Agriculture, logistics (I‑70 corridor), and small retail dominate; hotspots and tethering are used for field work and on-the-go tasks more than in urban Kansas. Device upgrade cycles are longer; voice/SMS and basic apps remain more central for a larger slice of users.

Usage and reliance trends

• Mobile-reliant households: Higher share than the state average outside the Abilene/Herington cores, as some locations have limited cable/fiber choices. This raises the importance of reliable LTE/5G even where speeds are moderate.
• Data consumption: Skews lower per line than metro Kansas due to older users and fewer heavy video streamers, but with noticeable peaks tied to travel corridors/events and work-season demands.
• Plan mix: Prepaid and value MVNOs slightly overrepresented relative to statewide; FirstNet lines present for public safety but overall penetration is limited to agencies.

Digital infrastructure (what’s on the ground)

• Coverage and technology:
  • 4G LTE: Broad countywide coverage from national carriers along highways and towns; rural sections may see band‑12/13/5 low-band LTE with lower capacity.
  • 5G:
    • Low-band 5G: Widespread, similar to much of rural Kansas.
    • Mid-band 5G (capacity 5G): Concentrated around Abilene, the I‑70 corridor, and select town centers; coverage is spottier in far rural areas than the statewide picture dominated by Wichita/KC/Topeka metro footprints.
• Capacity and performance:
  • Better near I‑70 and town centers where sectors and backhaul are denser; rural cells can be spectrum- and backhaul-constrained at peak times. Compared with the state, a larger share of users are still riding LTE for capacity.
• Towers and backhaul:
  • Tower density is lower than the state average; additions tend to track I‑70 and town perimeters. Fiber backhaul benefits from regional routes (I‑70/Salina area), but lateral fiber to remote towers is uneven—this is a key constraint on rural 5G capacity.
• Public safety and resilience:
  • FirstNet (Band 14) coverage is generally available along main corridors; agency adoption is incremental. Backup power and microwave backhaul are patchy in deep rural sites compared with urban Kansas.

Key ways Dickinson County diverges from the Kansas average

• Slightly lower overall smartphone adoption driven by a larger 65+ population and rural households.
• Higher dependence on mobile as primary internet outside town centers due to limited fixed broadband choices.
• Slower and more uneven mid-band 5G rollout away from I‑70 and Abilene, leaving more users on LTE compared with metro Kansas.
• Greater prevalence of prepaid/value plans and longer device replacement cycles.
• Usage profile tilts toward voice/text and essential apps, with targeted hotspot use for work, rather than uniformly high-throughput streaming seen in urban markets.

Implications for planning

• Closing the gap hinges on more mid-band 5G sectors plus fiber backhaul to rural sites; one or two new macro sites east/south of Abilene and between Herington–Chapman could meaningfully reduce dead spots.
• Subsidies or partnerships that extend fixed alternatives (fiber or high-capacity FWA) would reduce mobile-only reliance and improve digital equity, especially for seniors.
• Targeted digital literacy and device upgrade programs for 65+ residents could raise effective smartphone adoption to near state levels.

Notes on sources and method

• Benchmarks from Pew Research (smartphone ownership by age/income, rural vs. urban), ACS S2801 (household device availability), and FCC mobile coverage/spectrum deployments were adjusted for rural Kansas patterns and the county’s settlement and age structure. For a tighter local read, combine: ACS 5‑year S2801 at the county level, FCC Mobile Coverage and Subscription Data, NTIA Indicators of Broadband Need, and carrier-specific 5G/mid-band maps along I‑70 and Abilene.

Social media snapshot: Dickinson County, Kansas (est., 2025)

County/user base

• Population: ~18.5k. Adults (18+): ~14.3k.
• Adults using at least one social platform: ~70–80% (≈10–11.5k people).
• Teens (13–17): 1.2–1.3k; heavy adopters (90–95% use at least one platform).

Most-used platforms (share of adults; local adoption inferred from recent Pew data, adjusted for rural patterns)

• YouTube: ~75–83%
• Facebook: ~65–70%
• Instagram: ~40–50%
• Pinterest: ~30–35% (skews female)
• Snapchat: ~25–35% (very high among teens/20s)
• TikTok: ~25–35% (high among teens/20s; growing in 30s)
• X (Twitter): ~15–22% (news/sports watchers)
• Reddit: ~15–20% (younger males, hobby/DIY)
• LinkedIn: ~15–22% (professionals, recruiters; lower in rural areas)
• Nextdoor: ~5–10% (mainly in/near Abilene neighborhoods; Facebook Groups fill much of this role)

Age patterns

• 13–17: Near-universal YouTube; Snapchat and TikTok dominant; Instagram strong; limited Facebook (used for school/sports updates).
• 18–29: YouTube nearly universal; Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok all high; Facebook used for events/groups/Marketplace.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube lead; Instagram mid; TikTok growing; Snapchat moderate; heavy use of Marketplace and local groups.
• 50–64: Facebook first, YouTube second; Pinterest notable; light Instagram/TikTok.
• 65+: Facebook for family/community news; YouTube for how‑to/church/community video; others minimal.

Gender breakdown (directional)

• Overall user base: ~52–55% female, 45–48% male (mirrors county gender mix and national usage).
• Platform tilt: Women over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, X.

Behavioral trends (local/rural)

• Facebook Groups are the community hub: school sports, church updates, lost/found pets, local politics, road/weather alerts, and buy/sell/trade. Facebook Marketplace is the default for vehicles, farm/ranch gear, and household items.
• YouTube used for DIY, ag equipment maintenance, hunting/outdoors, local history, and livestreams (church, school events).
• Messaging is mobile-first: Facebook Messenger (families, teams, churches) and Snapchat (teens/20s) dominate private coordination.
• Engagement spikes around severe weather, school closures/playoffs, county fair and summer events, elections, and major roadway incidents.
• Posting vs lurking: majority are “sharers/reactors” rather than original content creators; teens/20s create the most short-form video (TikTok/Reels) and cross-post highlights to Instagram.
• Trust and discovery: residents favor known local pages (schools, county/city, emergency management, local newspaper/radio). Word-of-mouth and reposts drive reach more than hashtags.
• Timing: peaks early morning (6–8 a.m.), lunch, and evenings (7–10 p.m.); Sunday afternoons are strong for community content.

Notes on method

• Figures are estimates derived from county population and recent U.S. (Pew) platform adoption, adjusted for rural usage patterns. Exact county-level platform data aren’t published; use these as planning ranges rather than precise counts.