Greenwood County

Greenwood County, Kansas — Key demographics

Population size

• 6,016 (2020 Census)
• 2023 estimate: roughly 5.9k (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2023)

Age

• Median age: about 48 years
• Under 18: ~21%
• 18–24: ~6%
• 25–44: ~21%
• 45–64: ~27%
• 65 and over: ~25%

Gender

• Male: ~51%
• Female: ~49%

Racial/ethnic composition (percent of total population)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~89%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~6%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~1%
• Black or African American: <1%
• Asian: <1%
• Other race/Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander: <1%

Households

• Total households: ~2,600
• Average household size: ~2.2
• Family households: ~61% of all households
• Married-couple families: ~49% of all households
• One-person households: ~31%
• Households with children under 18: ~24%
• Homeownership rate: ~77%
• Average family size: ~2.8

Key insights

• Small, steadily declining population with an older age profile.
• Predominantly White non-Hispanic with a small but present Hispanic community.
• Household structure skews toward married-couple and one-person households; homeownership is high.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates; Vintage 2023 Population Estimates). Figures are rounded; ACS values are estimates with sampling error.

Email usage snapshot — Greenwood County, Kansas (population 6,016; land area 1,143 sq mi; density ≈5.3 people/sq mi)

Estimated email users: ~4,640 residents (≈77% of total population), modeled from 2020 Census age structure and national email-adoption rates.

Age distribution of email users (share of all users; est.):

• 13–17: 8% (≈360 users)
• 18–24: 7% (≈350)
• 25–44: 29% (≈1,360)
• 45–64: 32% (≈1,490)
• 65+: 23% (≈1,080)

Gender split (est.): ~50% female, ~50% male among email users; gender gaps in email adoption are minimal in recent national surveys.

Digital access trends and connectivity facts:

• Sparse settlement and an older age profile modestly suppress home-broadband uptake versus the Kansas average; mobile-only internet reliance is correspondingly higher in rural households.
• Fixed broadband is strongest in and around Eureka and along major corridors (US‑54, KS‑99); outlying Flint Hills areas more often depend on cellular or satellite, which affects email access quality and consistency.
• Public anchors (schools, libraries in Eureka and other towns) play an outsized role in providing reliable internet for residents without robust home service.

Notes: Estimates derived from 2020 Census population and recent national email usage by age; figures rounded for clarity.

Mobile phone usage in Greenwood County, Kansas (2025 snapshot)

User estimates

• Population baseline: 6,016 (2020 Census); sparsely populated across ~1,150 square miles.
• Estimated mobile phone users (any mobile): about 4,300–4,600 residents.
• Estimated smartphone users: about 4,050–4,200 residents.
• Adult smartphone adoption rate: approximately 80–82% in Greenwood County, versus roughly 88–90% at the Kansas statewide level.

Demographic breakdown of usage

• Age
  • 18–34 (≈1,020 residents): very high smartphone penetration (~95%), ≈970 users.
  • 35–64 (≈2,100): high smartphone penetration (~85%), ≈1,790 users.
  • 65+ (≈1,560): lower smartphone penetration (~60–65%), ≈960–1,015 users; an additional ~10–15% use basic/feature phones, lifting overall mobile reach among seniors into the low-to-mid 70% range.
  • Teens 13–17 (≈370): very high smartphone penetration (~95%), ≈350 users.
• Income/plan mix
  • A larger-than-average share of low- and moderate-income households drives higher reliance on prepaid plans and discounts (Lifeline). With the Affordable Connectivity Program no longer funded in 2024–2025, budget and prepaid mobile plans (and hotspot-based home use) have become more important locally than for the state overall.
• Race/ethnicity
  • Predominantly White non-Hispanic population (>90%), with smaller Hispanic/Latino and Native American communities; device ownership gaps are primarily age- and income-driven rather than race-driven in the county.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage
  • 4G LTE is broadly available on primary corridors and population centers (e.g., around Eureka and along US‑54/US‑400 and K‑99). Off-corridor coverage becomes spotty on section roads and in low-lying draws.
  • 5G low-band covers towns and highways; mid-band 5G (Verizon C-band, T‑Mobile 2.5 GHz, AT&T 5G+) is present along main corridors but remains patchier than in metro Kansas.
• Typical user experience (consumer-test ranges in rural KS counties of similar profile; Greenwood aligns with these)
  • Download: ~20–50 Mbps on 4G/low-band 5G; bursts higher in mid-band 5G pockets.
  • Upload: ~3–10 Mbps.
  • Latency: ~40–70 ms.
  • By contrast, Kansas statewide urban/suburban medians are commonly ~80–100+ Mbps down with lower latency where mid-band 5G is dense.
• Capacity/backhaul
  • Backhaul is a mix of fiber along main corridors and microwave elsewhere; this limits peak capacity outside towns relative to state corridors and metro areas.
• Alternatives and anchors
  • Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) from national carriers is available to portions of the county and is used as a substitute for limited wireline options.
  • Public anchors (schools, libraries, local government) are important Wi‑Fi access points and emergency connectivity hubs.

Key ways Greenwood County differs from the Kansas statewide picture

• Lower adult smartphone adoption driven by an older age structure (senior share ~25%+ vs a lower state average).
• A larger feature‑phone contingent among seniors and a higher reliance on prepaid plans, reflecting lower median incomes and the sunset of ACP support.
• Sparser mid‑band 5G footprint and fewer high‑capacity sites per square mile, translating to lower typical mobile speeds and more variability off highways.
• Greater dependency on mobile hotspots and FWA for home connectivity due to patchy fixed broadband, whereas much of Kansas’ population is served by cable or fiber.

Implications

• Coverage improvements that prioritize mid‑band 5G infill off US‑54/US‑400 and K‑99, plus added fiber backhaul to rural towers, would narrow the performance gap with the state.
• Senior‑focused device and plan programs (Lifeline enrollment, simplified smartphones, caregiver tools) will have outsized impact locally.
• Supporting public anchor Wi‑Fi and emergency communications yields higher marginal benefit than in metro counties because mobile is a primary, not secondary, connection for many households.

Greenwood County, KS — social media usage snapshot (modeled, 2024)

How this was built

• Figures are modeled from the county’s age structure (latest ACS), combined with 2024 U.S. rural social-media adoption patterns (Pew Research Center, DataReportal). Where county-level measurements aren’t directly published, values below are best-available estimates calibrated to rural Kansas.

User stats

• Population: ≈6,000 residents; ≈4,700 adults (18+).
• Adult social-media users: ≈3,400 (about 72% of adults).
• Teens using social media (13–17): ≈350.
• Daily use: Most users check at least once per day; posting is far less frequent than viewing/scrolling.

Age mix of users (share of local users, 13+)

• 13–17: 9%
• 18–29: 16%
• 30–49: 31%
• 50–64: 26%
• 65+: 18%

Gender breakdown (share of local users)

• Female: 52%
• Male: 48%

Most‑used platforms (monthly reach, share of local social‑media users; users often use multiple)

• YouTube: 76%
• Facebook: 73%
• Instagram: 36%
• Pinterest: 27%
• TikTok: 24%
• Snapchat: 18%
• X (Twitter): 13%
• LinkedIn: 11%
• Nextdoor: 4%

Behavioral trends and local patterns

• Facebook is the community hub: school updates, county events, church and civic groups, buy/sell (Marketplace), obituaries, and local sports. Older adults are highly active in groups; younger adults mostly browse.
• YouTube is the how‑to and weather channel: farming/ranching equipment, DIY/home repair, hunting/fishing, and severe‑weather tracking are sticky content categories with long session times.
• Visual short‑form is growing but younger‑skewed: TikTok and Instagram Reels usage concentrates under 35; discovery is algorithm‑driven rather than via friends.
• Messaging is anchored in Facebook Messenger; Snapchat dominates teen peer messaging. WhatsApp use is limited.
• Content cadence: many “lurkers.” Users consume daily but post weekly or less; posting spikes around high‑school sports, county fair, severe weather, and holidays.
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace is a primary local classifieds channel; Instagram is used by boutiques, salons, and eateries for promos; TikTok shops are emerging among younger sellers but remain niche.
• News and alerts: X use is modest and utility‑driven (state sports, breaking news, meteorologists). For urgent updates, Facebook pages/groups outperform.
• Timing: engagement skews to evenings and weekends; morning check‑ins occur before commute/work.

Notes

• Use the percentages above as planning baselines for Greenwood County and similar rural Kansas counties; platform shares are of social‑media users, not total population.
• Sources informing these estimates include Pew Research Center’s 2024 social media use surveys, DataReportal 2024 U.S. platform reach, and U.S. Census/ACS for Greenwood County age structure.