Ellsworth County

Ellsworth County, Kansas – key demographics

Population size

• 6,376 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~44 years
• Under 18: ~17%
• 65 and over: ~23%

Gender

• Male: ~56%
• Female: ~44%

Race and ethnicity

• White alone: ~86%
• Black or African American alone: ~7%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~1%
• Asian alone: ~0.5%
• Two or more races: ~5%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~9%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~80%

Households

• Total households: ~2,450
• Average household size: ~2.2
• Family households: ~60%
• Married-couple families: ~47%
• Nonfamily households: ~40%

Notes: Population count is from the 2020 Decennial Census; other figures are approximate from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 5-year estimates (most recent available).

Ellsworth County, KS snapshot (estimates)

• Population: ~6.3k (2020). Adults ~4.9k.
• Email users: ~4.4k–4.8k adults (applying ~90–95% U.S. adult email adoption; teens add a few hundred more).
• Age mix of email users (approx.):
  • 18–34: 25–28%
  • 35–54: 35–38%
  • 55–64: 16–18%
  • 65+: 18–22% (slightly lower adoption than younger groups)
• Gender split: ~50/50; no meaningful difference in email use by gender in national data.
• Digital access and trends:
  • Household broadband subscription: roughly 78–82% (ACS-like rural Kansas levels); adoption lower in the most rural tracts.
  • Access is strongest in/near towns (Ellsworth, Wilson, Kanopolis); more reliance on fixed wireless or satellite in sparsely populated areas.
  • Smartphone‑only internet households: ~9–12%, which can shift email use to mobile.
  • Continued fiber and 5G build-outs along major corridors are improving speeds/reliability.
• Local density/connectivity context:
  • Population density ~9 people per sq. mile (well below Kansas ~35), raising last‑mile costs and contributing to patchier fixed broadband outside town centers.

Method: County population/age structure from Census/ACS; email adoption patterns from national Pew/ACS indicators applied to local demographics.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Ellsworth County, Kansas

Numbers at a glance (estimates)

• Population baseline: roughly 6,000–6,500 residents (2020 Census ~6.4k; slight decline since).
• Institutional population: the Ellsworth Correctional Facility (hundreds of inmates) materially reduces the number of resident adults who actively use mobile phones day to day.
• Active handheld users: about 3,600–4,200 unique residents use a mobile phone in a typical month.
  • Adults in households using smartphones: ~3,200–3,700.
  • Teens with phones: ~260–330.
  • Children under 13 with phones/wearables: ~70–140.
• Lines per person are higher than “users” due to hotspots, tablets, farm/IoT, and work lines; total active mobile lines likely 4,500–5,500.

How Ellsworth County differs from Kansas overall

• Lower effective adoption rate: On-paper adult smartphone ownership would look below the Kansas average largely because of an older age mix and the sizable incarcerated population (who are counted in population but do not use mobile phones), not necessarily because of lower willingness to adopt among householding adults.
• More mobile-reliant households: A higher share of homes are mobile-only for internet access (hotspots or cellular fixed wireless) than the state average, because wired broadband options thin out quickly outside the City of Ellsworth and small towns.
• Coverage quality is more uneven: Along I-70 and town centers, coverage and 5G are comparable to statewide norms; a few miles off-corridor (Smoky Hills, around Kanopolis Lake, ranchland), service drops to low-band 5G/LTE or 3G fallback-equivalents, with dead zones that are less common in Kansas’s metro counties.
• Greater use of workarounds: Residents are more likely than the state average to use signal boosters, external antennas, Wi‑Fi calling, and MVNO/prepaid plans to manage spotty signal and costs.
• Seasonal/episodic load swings: Weekends and peak seasons at Kanopolis and Mushroom Rock State Parks, harvest periods, and I‑70 travel spikes cause localized congestion that’s less noticeable at the state level.
• Program shifts hit harder: The wind-down of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program in 2024 pushed some low- and fixed-income households toward mobile-only or prepaid solutions at a higher rate than in urban parts of Kansas.

Demographic patterns that shape usage

• Age: Higher share of residents 65+ than the state average. Seniors here are more likely to use basic/entry Android devices or keep voice/text only plans; smartphone ownership among seniors trails the Kansas average by several points.
• Income and occupation: Median household incomes are below the state median; agriculture, corrections, energy, and service jobs are common. Cost sensitivity drives plan hopping, MVNO use, and family plans with data pooling.
• Language/seasonal labor: A small but meaningful Hispanic/Latino community and seasonal ag workers influence app/language settings and the popularity of cross-border calling features and WhatsApp/FB Messenger.
• Institutional impact: The correctional facility inflates the adult male 18–44 population in statistics but does not translate into active mobile users, making standard survey-based adoption comparisons to statewide figures misleading unless adjusted.

Usage behaviors

• Mobile-only households: Elevated compared to Kansas overall; some homes rely on a phone hotspot as primary home internet.
• Hotspot and fixed wireless: Verizon, AT&T, and T‑Mobile LTE/5G fixed‑wireless are used where cable/fiber is absent; speeds can be highly cell‑site dependent.
• IoT/Ag tech: Notable penetration of cellular IoT for irrigation pivots, grain bin/tank monitoring, asset trackers, and field telemetry; these add lines without adding “users.”
• Messaging and calling: Wi‑Fi calling is common indoors (metal buildings, larger lots). OTT messaging (Messenger, WhatsApp) is favored for family connections and low‑bandwidth areas.

Digital infrastructure snapshot

• Radio access:
  • Macro sites cluster along I‑70 and near towns (Ellsworth, Kanopolis, Wilson). Coverage thins on county roads and in rougher Smoky Hills terrain.
  • 5G is mostly low‑band coverage for reach; mid‑band capacity (where available) is concentrated along the interstate corridor and near population centers, less so in outlying areas.
  • Public-safety: Kansas NG911 and FirstNet coverage are in place regionally; agencies still rely on VHF/UHF in known shadow areas.
• Backhaul and capacity: Limited fiber backhaul outside town centers constrains cell capacity; peak-time slowdowns are more pronounced than in urban Kansas.
• Wired alternatives: Cable or fiber are available in the City of Ellsworth and select blocks in nearby towns; outside that, choices narrow to legacy DSL, WISPs, cellular FWA, or satellite (Starlink uptake is visible on ranches and lake properties).
• Public access: Libraries, schools, and a few civic buildings provide Wi‑Fi that fills gaps for students and seniors.

What to monitor next

• Tower/cell upgrades: Any new mid‑band 5G or microwave/fiber backhaul upgrades along US‑156/K‑14 and around Kanopolis Lake will materially change user experience.
• Fixed‑wireless footprints: Expansion of T‑Mobile/Verizon/AT&T home internet eligibility could reduce hotspot reliance.
• Post‑ACP affordability effects: Watch prepaid churn and Lifeline participation; device financing offers may become a bigger adoption lever for seniors and low‑income households.
• Emergency coverage: Continued NG911 enhancements and any new FirstNet builds in shadow zones.

Method notes

• Estimates combine: county population trends, the effect of a large correctional facility on the “active user” base, rural smartphone adoption rates (typically a few points below statewide), typical youth device adoption, and the prevalence of mobile-only households in rural Great Plains counties. For planning-grade figures, validate with:
  • FCC Broadband Data Collection maps (mobile and fixed), FCC ASR tower records;
  • Carrier “home internet” eligibility checkers and coverage maps;
  • Ookla/OpenSignal crowd-sourced performance in ZIPs 67439, 67454, 67490;
  • Kansas NG911 documentation and county PSAP;
  • Local school district tech/access surveys and library Wi‑Fi usage.

Below is a concise, best-available estimate tailored to Ellsworth County, KS (small, rural, ~6.2k residents). County-specific platform data aren’t published, so figures are inferred from ACS demographics, rural Midwest patterns, and recent Pew Social Media trends.

Snapshot of users

• Estimated monthly social media users: 3,600–4,000 residents
  • Adults: ~3,100–3,500
  • Teens (13–17): ~350–450
• Household internet access: roughly 80–86% of households
• Note: The county’s prison population skews raw age/sex counts, but incarcerated individuals are not typical social media users; estimates focus on the community user base.

Age mix among active users (share of local social users)

• 13–17: 9–12%
• 18–29: 18–22%
• 30–49: 28–32%
• 50–64: 22–26%
• 65+: 18–22%

Gender breakdown among active users

• Overall: ~52% women, ~48% men
• Platform skews: Facebook and Instagram lean female; Pinterest strongly female; YouTube slightly male; Reddit and X (Twitter) male-skewed.

Most-used platforms locally (share of local social users using each monthly; multi-platform use is common)

• YouTube: 75–85%
• Facebook: 70–80%
• Instagram: 30–40%
• Pinterest: 25–35% (mostly women 25–64)
• Snapchat: 20–30% overall; 60–75% among teens
• TikTok: 20–30% (stronger under 35)
• WhatsApp/Messenger: 20–35% use one or both for messaging; Messenger more common
• LinkedIn: 10–18% (lower in rural labor mix)
• X (Twitter): 10–15%
• Reddit: 8–12%
• Nextdoor: 3–8% (Facebook Groups often substitute)

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first on Facebook: Heavy use of local Groups/Pages for school sports, weather alerts, county fair, church and civic events, garage sales, and Marketplace. Local news often circulates via shares from regional outlets and school districts.
• Video consumption is mainstream: YouTube is the default for how-to, ag/ranch equipment tips, home projects, and high school sports highlights. Short-form (Reels/TikTok) performs if it’s local, useful, or humorous.
• Time-of-day patterns: Peaks at early morning (6–8 a.m.), lunch (11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.), and evenings (7–10 p.m.). Weekend spikes tied to events, sports, and sales.
• Weather and emergencies drive surges: Severe weather, road closures, and school changes see rapid engagement and sharing on Facebook.
• Commerce behavior: Strong reliance on Facebook Marketplace and local buy/sell groups; word-of-mouth reviews in comments matter more than formal ratings.
• Younger cohorts: Teens/20s split time between Snapchat (messaging), Instagram (social identity), TikTok (entertainment/local trends). They still monitor local info via family/school Facebook posts.
• Older cohorts: Facebook (+Messenger) and YouTube dominate; Pinterest popular for recipes, home/garden; low uptake of TikTok/X/Reddit.
• Trust and tone: Content from known local people, schools, churches, ag businesses, and first responders outperforms brand-first posts. Authenticity and names/faces matter.

Practical implications

• Best reach: Facebook (feed + Groups) and YouTube; add Instagram for 18–44 and TikTok/Snapchat for youth.
• Creative tips: Lead with local faces, place names, schools, and events; short video (15–45s) for reach; clear utility (dates, locations, prices) for action.
• Ads: Geofence the county/towns; use Facebook for events/Marketplace-style offers; YouTube pre-roll for broad awareness; Snapchat/TikTok for teen/young adult calls-to-action.