Doniphan County

Here are core demographics for Doniphan County, Kansas (latest available U.S. Census Bureau data; primarily 2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimates, with 2020 Census/2023 population estimates noted):

Population

• Total population: ~7.4k (2023 estimate); 7,510 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~41 years
• Under 18: ~23%
• 18 to 64: ~58%
• 65 and over: ~19%

Gender

• Male: ~50%
• Female: ~50%

Race and ethnicity (Hispanic can be of any race)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~88–90%
• Hispanic/Latino: ~4–6%
• Black/African American: ~2%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~1–2%
• Asian: <1%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%

Households

• Number of households: ~3,000
• Average household size: ~2.4–2.5
• Family households: ~65–70% of households
• Owner-occupied housing: ~75% of occupied units

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates; Population Estimates Program (2023); 2020 Decennial Census.

Doniphan County, KS snapshot (estimates based on U.S./Kansas rural adoption rates and local context):

• Population/density: ≈7,500 residents; rural density around 19 people per sq. mile.
• Email users: ~5,500–6,000 residents use email at least monthly (≈85–90% of adults plus most teens).
• Age pattern (share within each group using email):
  • 13–17: ~75–85%
  • 18–49: ~93–97%
  • 50–64: ~88–92%
  • 65+: ~70–80% (lower due to lower internet adoption)
• Gender split: Roughly even; no meaningful male–female difference in email use.
• Access and trends:
  • Fixed broadband is improving; fiber is present in and around towns like Troy, Wathena, and Highland via regional providers (e.g., Rainbow Communications) but coverage can thin in outlying farms.
  • Most areas have 4G LTE; 5G is emerging along main corridors (e.g., US‑36/Missouri River) but not universal.
  • Smartphone‑only access is common among younger and lower‑income users; older residents more often rely on home broadband or public access points (libraries/schools).
  • Email remains essential for government, healthcare, and account verification even as younger users favor messaging apps.

Note: Figures are approximations scaled from recent national/rural Kansas metrics to Doniphan County’s size.

Here’s a concise, county-level picture that highlights where Doniphan County differs from Kansas overall. Figures are estimates based on 2020–2023 ACS demographics, national/rural mobile adoption studies, carrier coverage disclosures, and typical rural-coverage patterns in northeast Kansas/Missouri border counties.

Snapshot

• Population base: ~7,400–7,600 residents; ~3,000 households; adults ~5,700–5,900.
• Context: Small, rural, older-leaning age profile with a college node (Highland CC) and strong ties to St. Joseph, MO for work/commerce.

User estimates (phones, smartphones, and mobile-only internet)

• Active mobile lines (phones + hotspots/tablets): ~7,500–9,000 lines. Small counties commonly have >1 line per adult household due to work phones and hotspots.
• Smartphone users (people): ~5,300–5,700 (about 84–88% of adults; slightly lower than Kansas overall but lifted by the college population).
• Mobile-only internet households: ~18–22% (vs ~14–16% statewide). In outlying areas without fiber, mobile hotspots are a common primary connection.
• Carrier tendencies (directional, not market-share absolutes):
  • Verizon: strongest rural footprint; often the “default” outside towns.
  • AT&T: solid, boosted by FirstNet (public-safety) presence.
  • T-Mobile: good low-band coverage; mid-band 5G strongest nearest St. Joseph and along major corridors.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age:
  • 18–24: Higher concentration than most rural KS counties due to Highland CC; heavy video/social use, higher 5G handset penetration.
  • 25–64: Near-parity with state patterns, but more hotspot use for home/work in rural tracts.
  • 65+: Share is larger than state average; smartphone adoption ~70–75% (a bit below statewide seniors). Voice/text reliability often prioritized over top-end 5G speeds.
• Income/plan mix:
  • Median household income is below the state average; prepaid and value MVNO plans are more common than statewide.
  • iPhone share likely a few points lower than Kansas overall; budget Android devices more prevalent.
• Commuting/border effect:
  • Many devices routinely hand off to Missouri towers (St. Joseph area). Users gravitate to carriers with better cross-border performance and roaming. Daytime data demand peaks near Elwood/Wathena.

Digital infrastructure points (coverage, capacity, upgrades)

• 4G LTE: Broad coverage in towns and along US-36/KS-7; indoor coverage varies in river bottoms and wooded valleys. Vehicle/home boosters are used more often than statewide.
• 5G:
  • Low-band 5G (all carriers): Widespread baseline coverage, similar to other rural KS counties.
  • Mid-band 5G:
    • T-Mobile “Ultra Capacity”: strongest near the Missouri border and along main corridors; patchier inland.
    • Verizon C-band and AT&T 5G+ spill in from St. Joseph; best performance closest to the state line and population centers.
• Public safety:
  • FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) is available and typically adopted by local agencies; improves rural resilience compared to consumer-only networks.
• Fixed broadband context that shapes mobile use:
  • Towns have relatively good fixed options, including cooperative fiber in several communities.
  • Outside towns, legacy DSL or WISPs persist; that drives higher reliance on mobile hotspots than the Kansas average.
  • State/federal-funded fiber builds (BEAD/ReConnect) are slated 2025–2027; as fiber expands, mobile-only household share should decline.

How Doniphan differs from Kansas overall (key trends)

• Slightly lower overall smartphone penetration, driven by an older population—but partially offset by a student cluster at Highland CC.
• Higher share of mobile-only internet households due to patchy rural fixed broadband.
• Greater use of signal boosters and Wi‑Fi calling to overcome terrain-induced dead zones (bluffs/river bottoms), more than the statewide norm.
• Mid-band 5G performance is more “border-centric” (benefiting areas near St. Joseph) versus the more even metro-led rollouts seen in larger Kansas cities.
• Carrier preference skews toward the one with the most reliable rural footprint (often Verizon) and toward plans with strong Missouri-side performance, reflecting cross-border commuting.

Implications for planners and providers

• Prioritize mid-band 5G infill away from the Missouri border to even out speeds.
• Expand indoor coverage solutions in valleys and wooded tracts; support for consumer boosters and small cells at community anchors will pay off.
• Coordinate with fiber builds to transition mobile‑only households to fixed service, freeing cellular capacity in peak hours (school commute and evening video streaming).

Below is a concise, modeled snapshot for Doniphan County, KS. Because platform providers and Pew don’t report at the county level, figures are estimates using county demographics (rural, older-leaning) and recent U.S./rural Midwest patterns.

Quick user stats

• Population: ~7.3–7.6k; adults (18+): ~5.6–6.0k
• Estimated social media users:
  • Adults: ~4.0–4.5k (≈70–75% of adults)
  • Teens (13–17): ~350–450 (≈85–95% of 13–17s)
  • Total users: roughly 4.3–4.9k

Most-used platforms (adult penetration; overlaps by user)

• YouTube: ~70–80% of adults
• Facebook: ~60–70%
• Instagram: ~25–35%
• Pinterest: ~25–30%
• TikTok: ~18–25%
• Snapchat: ~18–22%
• WhatsApp: ~8–12%
• X (Twitter): ~10–14%
• Reddit: ~8–12%
• LinkedIn: ~10–15%
• Nextdoor: ~2–5% (limited presence in rural areas)

Age mix of local social users (share of total users)

• 13–17: ~8–10% (heavy Snapchat/Instagram/TikTok; YouTube universal)
• 18–29: ~18–22% (Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok; YouTube daily; Facebook mainly for events/groups)
• 30–49: ~30–35% (Facebook, YouTube core; Instagram rising; TikTok/Reels growing)
• 50–64: ~22–26% (Facebook-first; YouTube how‑to/news; Pinterest common)
• 65+: ~15–20% (Facebook for family/church/school updates; YouTube; some Pinterest)

Gender breakdown

• Overall users: roughly even (reflects county population)
• Platform skews (directional):
  • Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok: more women (Facebook/Pinterest most pronounced)
  • YouTube, Reddit, X: more men
  • Snapchat: modest female tilt among younger users

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: school, church, booster clubs, county fair, sports, lost-and-found pets, weather, and road conditions. Groups and Marketplace drive much of the engagement.
• Local commerce: Marketplace and buy/sell/trade groups are key for vehicles, farm/ranch equipment, tools, furniture; trust comes from mutual connections and local pickup.
• Video consumption is high: YouTube for how‑to, ag, equipment repair, local sports highlights; Facebook Reels/TikTok are growing, especially among under‑40.
• Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger is default for many adults; Snapchat dominates teen/college-age messaging. WhatsApp usage exists but is niche (family ties, bilingual households).
• Posting/engagement timing: Peaks before work (6:30–8:00 a.m.), lunch (11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.), and evenings (7:00–9:00 p.m.); weekends (esp. Sun afternoon) perform well for community/event posts.
• Trust and format: Word-of-mouth and local faces matter; posts with recognizable people/places outperform generic creatives. Clear offers, community sponsorships, and school/sports tie-ins convert best.
• Cautions: Scams on Marketplace heighten sensitivity to payment/shipping; many prefer cash/local meetups. Patchy connectivity can depress long HD video completion; short vertical clips and image carousels travel better.

Method note: Estimates combine county size/age structure with rural-adjusted adoption rates from recent U.S. platform studies (e.g., Pew) and observed rural Midwest usage patterns. For a campaign, validate with a quick geo-targeted test (ZIPs 66017, 66024, 66026, 66035, 66060) and compare reach/engagement to these benchmarks.