Franklin County

To make sure I give you the right figures, do you prefer official 2020 Decennial Census counts or the latest estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year)?

Franklin County, KS (pop. ~26,000; ~45 people/sq. mile) is largely rural with a small-city hub (Ottawa) and I‑35 corridor.

Estimated email users

• Total users (13+): ~21,000 (≈82% of total population; ≈91% of residents 13+), based on Census age mix and Pew email adoption benchmarks.

Age distribution (share of population; est. email adoption)

• 13–17: ~7% | ~70% use email → ~1.3k users
• 18–34: ~20% | ~95% → ~4.9k users
• 35–64: ~44% | ~96% → ~10.9k users
• 65+: ~19% | ~85% → ~4.2k users

Gender split among email users

• Roughly even; ~51% female, ~49% male (mirrors county demographics).

Digital access and trends

• Broadband subscription: ~83–86% of households; 10–13% are smartphone‑only connections.
• Connectivity is strongest in Ottawa and along I‑35 (robust 4G/5G); more gaps in outlying townships and around farm/lake areas where fixed wireless is common.
• Fiber builds are expanding from population centers; state/federal broadband programs are targeting remaining unserved pockets.

Notes: Estimates synthesized from recent ACS/Census demographics, Kansas rural broadband patterns, and Pew email adoption by age.

Below is a concise, planning-oriented snapshot of mobile phone usage in Franklin County, Kansas, with emphasis on ways it differs from statewide patterns. Figures are rounded estimates based on recent ACS “Computer and Internet Use” patterns (S2801, 5‑year), FCC broadband mapping, and rural-county benchmarks through 2023–2024.

Quick context

• Population/households: ~26–27k residents; ~10–11k households. County seat: Ottawa; balance is rural/small towns.

User estimates

• Adult smartphone users: ~16–18k adults (roughly 80–85% of adults), a few points below the Kansas average.
• Households with a smartphone: ~9.0–10.0k (about 88–90% of households). Kansas overall is closer to 90–92%.
• Mobile-only internet households (primarily or exclusively using cellular for home internet): 2.8–3.5k (about 28–32% of households), clearly higher than the statewide share (22–25%).
• Prepaid/MVNO users: roughly 15–20% of smartphone users (state: ~10–14%), reflecting price sensitivity and patchy wired alternatives in rural areas.

Demographic patterns (vs. Kansas)

• Age:
  • 18–34: Near-universal smartphone use, in line with the state.
  • 65+: Estimated 68–72% smartphone adoption, below the Kansas rate (~78–80%). Seniors here more often keep basic phones or share devices in the household.
• Income:
  • Households under ~$35k show markedly higher reliance on mobile-only service (often unlimited plans/hotspots) than the state average. The end of ACP subsidies in 2024 likely nudged some fixed-broadband users toward mobile-only.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • The county is majority White with a smaller but growing Hispanic population; Hispanic households are more likely than the county average to be mobile-only, mirroring statewide and national affordability patterns.
• Geography within the county:
  • Ottawa: Higher 5G availability and better indoor performance; more postpaid plans and device financing.
  • Rural townships: Lower indoor coverage and more LTE-only areas; greater use of prepaid and fixed wireless as substitutes for cable/fiber.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage and technology:
  • 4G LTE is broadly available; 5G mid-band is strongest along I‑35/US‑59/K‑68 corridors and in/around Ottawa. Outlying areas see more LTE-only or low-band 5G with lower capacity.
  • Indoor coverage gaps persist in parts of the county away from corridors; external antennas/boosters are more common than in metro Kansas.
• Providers and products:
  • All three national carriers operate; T-Mobile’s mid-band 5G footprint is visible along corridors; AT&T’s FirstNet presence supports public safety; Verizon remains a common choice for rural reliability. MVNOs are widely used to manage costs.
  • 5G fixed wireless home internet is available in and near Ottawa and along corridors; take-up is rising where cable/fiber is limited or costly.
• Wired competition:
  • Ottawa has cable and some fiber footprints; rural areas rely on legacy DSL, fixed wireless ISPs, and satellite (Starlink and others). Fiber-to-the-home exists but is not yet countywide; buildouts are incremental and corridor-focused.
• Community assets:
  • Schools and libraries provide public Wi‑Fi and loaner hotspots; these see higher utilization than in metro counties, especially during evenings and agricultural off‑seasons.

Trends that differ from the Kansas average

• Higher mobile-only reliance: A notably larger share of households depend primarily on cellular for home internet, driven by cost and limited wired options outside Ottawa.
• Slightly lower adult smartphone adoption—especially among seniors—than the state overall.
• Greater prepaid/MVNO mix and churn, amplified by the sunset of ACP and variable wired service quality.
• Slower, patchier 5G indoor performance away from major corridors; more frequent use of boosters/external antennas than in urban counties.
• Heavier use of fixed wireless and satellite as complements to mobile service; fiber growth is more gradual and localized than in metro areas.

What to watch in 2025–2026

• Mid-band 5G densification along secondary roads could reduce rural capacity gaps and improve 5G home internet performance.
• Targeted fiber extensions from regional providers/co-ops; even modest expansions can shift households from mobile-only to mixed connectivity.
• Pricing shifts as carriers rebalance post-ACP and compete with 5G home internet; may alter prepaid vs. postpaid mix.
• Public-safety and school connectivity investments (FirstNet upgrades, E-rate funded improvements) spill over to consumer coverage in and near Ottawa.

Note on data

• County-level smartphone and cellular-plan figures are derived from ACS S2801 patterns and FCC broadband map availability; exact point-in-time values vary by tract and carrier. For program design or procurement, verify with the latest ACS release and the current FCC Broadband Map/coverage tools.

Below is a concise, data‑informed snapshot for Franklin County, Kansas. Local, county‑level surveys aren’t published, so figures are modeled from U.S./rural benchmarks (primarily Pew Research Center 2024) applied to Franklin County’s population. Treat percentages as estimates.

Population baseline

• Residents: ≈26,000
• Adults (18+): ≈20,000

Estimated social media users (adults)

• Any platform: ≈16,000–18,000 adult users (about 80–90% of adults, using national/rural benchmarks)

Most‑used platforms (adults, estimated share of users)

• YouTube: 75–85%
• Facebook: 65–75% (strongest in 35+ and rural communities)
• Instagram: 35–45%
• TikTok: 25–35%
• Snapchat: 20–30% (concentrated in teens/20s)
• Pinterest: 25–35% overall; significantly higher among women 25–54
• LinkedIn: 15–25% (skews toward college‑educated/professionals/commuters)
• X (Twitter): 15–20%
• WhatsApp: 15–25% (family, church, Latino community and international ties)
• Reddit: 10–15%

Age patterns (who uses what most)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube ≈90%+, TikTok and Snapchat are core daily apps; Instagram widely used. Facebook limited to groups/events.
• 18–29: Heavy on YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok; Facebook mainly for groups/marketplace, not primary posting.
• 30–49: Mixed stack; Facebook and YouTube strong; Instagram rising; TikTok used but less than under‑30s.
• 50–64: Facebook is primary; YouTube for news/how‑to; Pinterest popular (women); lighter Instagram/TikTok.
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube dominate; others minimal.

Gender tendencies

• Women: Higher use of Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (Pinterest often 2–3x men); strong engagement in local groups, events, school/booster content.
• Men: Higher presence on Reddit, X, YouTube (tech/sports/how‑to); gaming/creator channels.

Behavioral trends seen in similar rural Kansas counties

• Facebook as the local hub: School districts, churches, youth sports, civic groups, emergency/weather updates, and buy/sell via Marketplace. Facebook Groups drive most community interaction.
• YouTube for practical content: Home/auto repair, ag/ranch, DIY, product reviews; often searched via Google.
• Short‑form video growth: Reels/TikTok used for local restaurants, boutiques, real estate, and event promotion; under‑40s engage most.
• Messaging > posting: Messenger, Snapchat, and Instagram DMs are primary communication channels, especially for under‑35.
• Shopping path: Discovery in Facebook/Instagram; quick questions through DMs; purchase via website, Marketplace meetups, or in‑store.
• Timing: Engagement peaks early morning (6–8 a.m.) and evenings (7–10 p.m.) Central Time; weekend spikes for events and sports.
• Trust/voice: Local faces (coaches, teachers, pastors, small‑business owners) outperform generic brand pages; user‑generated content and testimonials carry outsized weight.

Notes on methodology and uncertainty

• County‑specific percentages are inferred from Pew Research Center 2024 national figures with rural adjustments and typical Kansas age structure. For planning, use ranges above; validate with a quick poll of local pages/groups or platform ad‑planning tools to fine‑tune.