Lyon County

Lyon County, Kansas – key demographics (most recent Census/ACS)

Population size

• Total population: ~32,000 (2020 Decennial Census; ACS 2019–2023 5-year shows similar level)

Age

• Median age: ~33–34 years
• Under 18: ~23%
• 18 to 64: ~61%
• 65 and over: ~16%

Gender

• Male: ~50–51%
• Female: ~49–50%

Racial/ethnic composition

• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~27–30%
• White alone, not Hispanic: ~56–59%
• Black or African American alone: ~2–3%
• Asian alone: ~2–3%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~1%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander alone: <1%
• Two or more races: ~6–8%

Households

• Total households: ~12,000–12,500
• Average household size: ~2.5
• Family households: ~60–62% of households (average family size ~3.0)
• Married-couple households: ~45–47% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~30–32%
• Householders living alone: ~28–31% (about a third of these are 65+)

Insights

• Demographically diverse for Kansas, driven by a sizable Hispanic/Latino community centered in Emporia.
• Younger median age than the U.S. overall, reflecting university presence and local industries.
• Household sizes slightly above the U.S. average, with family households the majority.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (Demographic Profile) and 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

Email users (estimated): ≈24,500 residents in Lyon County use email, driven by high adult internet adoption and strong teen uptake. This is roughly three-quarters of the total population.

Age distribution of email users (share of users):

• Under 30: ~22%
• 30–49: ~34%
• 50–64: ~24%
• 65+: ~20%

Gender split of users: ~50% female, ~50% male, reflecting near-parity in email adoption.

Digital access and trends:

• ~84% of households have a broadband subscription; ~91% have a computer; roughly 6–8% have no internet subscription.
• ~12–15% of households are effectively smartphone‑only for internet.
• Broadband adoption has risen by an estimated 2–3 percentage points since 2019, shrinking the unconnected gap.
• Email usage is near-universal among working‑age adults; the remaining gap is concentrated among 65+, though a strong majority still use email.

Local density/connectivity facts:

• Population density is roughly 39 residents per square mile, with most households concentrated in Emporia, where multiple high‑speed fixed options are available; rural areas see more variable speeds and greater reliance on wireless solutions.

Mobile phone usage in Lyon County, Kansas — 2024 snapshot

Key quantitative estimates

• Population base: ~32,600 residents (2023 Census estimate). Roughly 25,000 are adults (18+).
• Smartphone users: 23,500–25,000 people (about 74–77% of the total population), derived by applying current U.S. smartphone ownership rates to Lyon County’s age profile (Pew Research 2023; ACS 2018–2022).
• Active mobile lines: ~36,000–42,000 subscriptions countywide (using the typical U.S. range of 1.1–1.3 mobile lines per resident from national carrier/CTIA trends).
• Households and internet mix: ~12,500–13,000 households; 79–81% have a broadband subscription of some kind; about 11–13% rely on a cellular data plan as their only home internet (ACS 2018–2022).

Demographic drivers of mobile usage (Lyon County vs Kansas overall)

• Younger skew from Emporia State University: Share of 18–24-year-olds is measurably higher than the state average, lifting smartphone penetration and heavy app/data use (streaming, messaging, campus apps).
• Hispanic/Latino population: ~21–23% of county residents versus ~13% statewide, supporting stronger adoption of bilingual messaging/social platforms and family plan usage patterns.
• Income and affordability: Median household income in the low-to-mid $50Ks, below the Kansas median (upper $60Ks). This increases the likelihood of prepaid plans, budget MVNOs, and occasional cellular-only home internet—though Emporia’s fiber footprint tempers cellular-only reliance inside the city.
• Urban–rural split: Most residents live in and around Emporia (micropolitan hub), with the remainder in rural townships. That concentration produces a two-speed mobile experience: urban 5G-first vs. rural LTE-first.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• 5G availability: All three national carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) provide 5G in Emporia and along I‑35/US‑50 corridors; low-band 5G is countywide, with mid-band 5G strongest in Emporia. Outside town, coverage frequently steps down to LTE, especially on section roads and in low-density areas (FCC mobile maps, 2023–2024).
• Performance pattern: Mid-band 5G (notably T‑Mobile) drives noticeably higher median speeds in Emporia than in rural parts of the county; AT&T and Verizon low-band 5G/LTE provide broader reach but lower peak throughput outside the city. In-building performance is best in central Emporia and near ESU.
• Backhaul and fiber: Emporia has robust fiber (ValuNet/Sparklight FTTH presence; research/education connectivity via KANREN to Emporia State University). The I‑35 corridor carries regional long‑haul fiber (e.g., Lumen/Zayo), supporting dense macro sites and stable 5G backhaul.
• Fixed wireless offers: 5G/LTE home internet from T‑Mobile and Verizon is marketed in and around Emporia; availability declines with distance from the city as signal quality drops. This supplements DSL/cable and fiber where present.
• Tower siting pattern: Macro sites arrayed along I‑35 and US‑50, with infill serving the ESU campus, hospital area, industrial south Emporia, and major residential clusters; rural gaps persist in fringe valleys/woodlots.

How Lyon County’s trends differ from Kansas statewide

• Higher effective 5G availability and speeds where people live: Because most residents cluster in Emporia—and Emporia has mid‑band 5G and fiber backhaul—the typical Lyon County resident experiences faster mobile data than residents of many rural Kansas counties. Statewide numbers are pulled down by large, sparsely populated areas that are LTE‑dominant.
• Lower “no‑internet” rate than rural Kansas; fiber reduces cellular‑only reliance: County broadband subscription rates are close to the state average, but Emporia’s FTTH lowers the cellular‑only share inside the city compared with rural counties. Net effect: Lyon County sits between metro counties (e.g., Johnson, Sedgwick) and rural western counties on cellular‑only dependence.
• Heavier student‑driven mobile use: The ESU presence lifts 18–24 penetration, bringing near‑universal smartphone ownership in that cohort, higher per‑capita mobile data consumption, and greater demand for campus‑area capacity—patterns less pronounced in the statewide average.
• More bilingual/multicultural mobile behavior than the statewide norm: A larger Hispanic population than Kansas overall correlates with higher usage of WhatsApp and similar OTT messaging/voice apps, higher international calling bundles, and family‑plan optimization.

Concise breakdown by segment (estimated users)

• Ages 13–17: ~1,800–2,000 smartphone users (very high ownership; heavy social/video).
• Ages 18–34: ~8,500–9,500 users (highest data consumption; near‑universal ownership).
• Ages 35–64: ~9,000–10,000 users (high ownership; mixed postpaid/prepaid).
• Ages 65+: ~3,500–4,000 users (ownership rising; larger share on simplified or bundled plans).

What this means for planning and operations

• Capacity should be prioritized in Emporia’s core (ESU/downtown/commercial corridors) and along I‑35/US‑50 where traffic and backhaul align, with targeted rural LTE/5G upgrades on school routes and population clusters.
• Competitive differentiation locally hinges on mid‑band 5G depth, indoor coverage near ESU and medical facilities, and price-sensitive prepaid/MVNO offerings.
• Fixed wireless is a viable complement outside Emporia; inside the city, FTTH dampens cellular‑only dependence but increases expectations for 5G speed and reliability on the go.

Sources and basis

• U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates (2023) and ACS 2018–2022 (demographics; household broadband and cellular‑only shares).
• Pew Research Center (2023) smartphone ownership by age.
• FCC mobile coverage maps and carrier public 5G deployment updates (2023–2024).
• Local fiber/backhaul context from regional network operator footprints and public university network participation (KANREN/ESU).

Lyon County, Kansas social media snapshot (modeled 2025, using 2020 Census population base of 33,753 and applying 2024 Pew Research Center U.S. usage rates; teen rates from Pew 2023)

Overall usage

• Active social media users (any platform): roughly 26,000–28,000 residents 13+ (about 78–83% penetration)
• Adults 18+: social media use is near the national norm; teens 13–17: near-universal use (>90%)

Most-used platforms (share of adults who use each platform; Lyon County expected to track U.S. averages)

• YouTube: ~83%
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~47%
• Pinterest: ~35%
• TikTok: ~33–34%
• WhatsApp: ~29%
• LinkedIn: ~30%
• Snapchat: ~27%
• X (Twitter): ~22%
• Reddit: ~22–25%
• Nextdoor: ~19%

Age group patterns (local mix skews slightly younger due to Emporia State University, boosting Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok)

• Teens (13–17): Very heavy on YouTube (90%+), TikTok (60%+), Snapchat (60%+), Instagram (60%); Facebook use is much lower (~30%).
• 18–29: Highest usage of Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube (near-universal); Facebook is used but not dominant.
• 30–49: Broad multi-platform use; Facebook, YouTube, Instagram strong; TikTok adoption growing; Snapchat moderate.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Pinterest notable; Instagram moderate; TikTok/X lower but rising.
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube lead; other platforms have smaller but steady adoption.

Gender breakdown (directional skews consistent with national data)

• More female-leaning: Pinterest (heavily), Facebook (slight), Instagram (slight), Snapchat (slight), TikTok (slight).
• More male-leaning: YouTube (slight), Reddit (strong), X/Twitter (moderate), LinkedIn (slight).

Behavioral trends observed/expected locally

• Facebook as the community hub: Strong engagement with local news outlets, city/county pages, school districts, ESU athletics, weather alerts, buy/sell and neighborhood groups, Marketplace (vehicles, equipment, rentals). Event discovery and volunteering posts perform well.
• Short‑form video growth: Instagram Reels and TikTok drive discovery for eateries, coffee shops, outdoor/recreation, campus life, and major local events (e.g., cycling races, fairs). Creator-style, first‑person clips outperform static posts.
• Student influence: ESU students lift Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok usage around campus and downtown; stories and geofenced content see above-average completion rates in the university radius.
• Visual search and hobbies: Pinterest popular for home, crafts, recipes; YouTube strong for how‑to, automotive, home repair, agriculture, and hunting/fishing content.
• Messaging and communities: WhatsApp use is noticeable among Spanish‑speaking households and for family groups; Facebook remains important for Spanish-language community updates.
• Nextdoor usage is concentrated in Emporia neighborhoods for lost/found pets, contractor recommendations, and safety notices; reach outside the city core is limited.
• Timing: Engagement peaks evenings (7–10 pm) and midday weekdays; Sunday afternoons/evenings see community recap posts. Weather events trigger sharp spikes in Facebook and YouTube live content.
• Format notes: Short vertical video and photo carousels outperform text-only; posts with clear local landmarks, faces, or timely utility (closures, outages, road work) get the highest interaction. Live video is effective for government meetings, sports, and weather.

Method and sources

• Base population: U.S. Census (2020) Lyon County = 33,753.
• Platform adoption rates: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (U.S. adults); Pew, Teens, Social Media and Technology 2023 (U.S. teens).
• County figures are modeled by applying national adoption rates to the local population and adjusting qualitatively for the university-age share; they represent best-available estimates for Lyon County in the absence of platform-reported county-level data.