Morris County

Morris County, Kansas — Key demographics (latest available: 2020 Census and 2019–2023 ACS 5-year)

Population size

• Total population: 5,386 (2020 Census)
• 2010–2020 change: −9.1%
• 2023 ACS estimate: ~5.3k (continued gradual decline)

Age

• Median age: ~45 years
• Under 18: ~21%
• 18–24: ~7%
• 25–44: ~23%
• 45–64: ~25%
• 65 and over: ~25%

Gender

• Male: ~51%
• Female: ~49%

Race and ethnicity (ACS; race alone unless noted; Hispanic is any race)

• White: ~92%
• Black or African American: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~1%
• Asian: <1%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0%
• Some other race: ~1–2%
• Two or more races: ~4–5%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~6%
• Non-Hispanic White: ~88%

Households and housing

• Total households: ~2,300
• Average household size: ~2.25
• Family households: ~63% (married-couple families ~52%)
• Households with children under 18: ~24%
• Nonfamily households: ~37%; living alone: ~33%; 65+ living alone: ~15%
• Housing units: ~2,700; owner-occupied: ~76%; renter-occupied: ~24%

Insights

• Small, aging, and predominantly White population with modest household sizes.
• High homeownership and a sizable share of older adults living alone indicate aging-in-place dynamics.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

• Snapshot: Morris County, KS has 5,386 residents (2020) across ~695 sq mi, about 7.7 people per sq mi.
• Estimated active email users: ≈3,800 residents.

Age distribution of email users (share and count):

• 13–17: 7% (270)
• 18–34: 22% (840)
• 35–64: 50% (1,900)
• 65+: 21% (800)

Gender split of email users:

• Female ≈51%
• Male ≈49%

Digital access and trends:

• Broadband adoption: about 75–80% of households report a broadband subscription, with strongest uptake in and around Council Grove and along the US‑56 corridor; subscription and speeds are lower in sparsely populated townships.
• Access modes: smartphone email is the dominant access method; desktop/laptop use remains common for businesses and older adults. An estimated 10–15% of households are mobile-only for home internet.
• Infrastructure: low population density constrains wireline returns; fiber is expanding incrementally from town centers and anchor institutions, while fixed wireless fills many last‑mile gaps. Mobile LTE/5G coverage is solid along primary highways; off‑highway areas often rely on LTE-only, fixed wireless, or satellite.
• Overall: email penetration is high among working-age adults and growing among seniors as mobile access improves.

Mobile phone usage in Morris County, Kansas — summary and county-vs-state contrasts

Core population context

• Population: approximately 5,386 (2020 Census), down about 9% from 2010.
• Older age profile than Kansas overall (roughly one-quarter of residents are 65+ vs ~16% statewide), which materially shapes adoption patterns.
• Housing units/households: about 2,400 households concentrated in and around Council Grove and White City, with widely dispersed rural populations across the Flint Hills.

User estimates (adults 18+) and device mix

• Adult mobile-phone users (any mobile phone): ~3,900–4,050 users, or about 92–95% of adults.
• Adult smartphone users: ~3,400–3,600 users, or about 80–85% of adults.
• Feature-phone (non‑smartphone) users: ~8–12% of adults, noticeably higher than the Kansas average (typically low single digits).
• Households with at least one smartphone: ~1,950–2,050, or about 80–85% of households.
• Wireless-only households (no landline): ~60–66% of households, below the statewide share (often ~70%+), reflecting higher landline retention among seniors.
• Smartphone-only internet users (no home broadband): roughly 18–24% of adults, higher than the statewide norm (mid‑teens), consistent with lower fixed-broadband availability outside town centers.

Demographic breakdown of mobile adoption

• Age:
  • 18–34: smartphone adoption ~93–97%; mobile (any phone) near universal.
  • 35–64: smartphone ~85–90%.
  • 65+: smartphone ~65–72% (below the statewide senior rate), with a meaningful minority using feature phones or sharing family devices.
• Income/education:
  • Lower‑income households show higher reliance on prepaid plans and smartphone‑only connectivity, driven by limited affordable wired broadband in outlying areas.
  • Post‑secondary attainment is below the state average, correlating with slightly lower high‑end device penetration and slower upgrade cycles.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • The county is predominantly White non‑Hispanic, with smaller Hispanic/Latino and Native populations; observed adoption differences are driven more by age, income, and rural location than by race/ethnicity.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Radio access:
  • 4G LTE is the de facto baseline across the county; 5G is present but predominantly low‑band, prioritizing coverage over speed.
  • Mid‑band 5G capacity is concentrated in and near Council Grove and along primary corridors; coverage thins quickly off‑corridor and in valleys.
  • Terrain in the Flint Hills produces localized dead zones and variable in‑building penetration, especially in metal‑roof structures and low‑lying areas.
• Carriers and service quality:
  • The national carriers cover main highways (US‑56, K‑177, K‑4) and population centers; off‑grid ranchland and lake areas see reduced signal quality and more frequent fallback to LTE or 3GPP DSS.
  • MVNOs generally mirror host‑network coverage; premium plans with priority data perform notably better at peak times near town and event venues.
• Backhaul and resilience:
  • Macro sites are primarily microwave‑ or fiber‑backhauled along transportation corridors; extended outages are uncommon but can affect wide rural areas when a single backhaul route fails.
  • Public safety coverage leverages nationwide first‑responder bands; off‑pavement reliability is better than consumer service in some spots but not universal.
• Fixed broadband interplay:
  • Fiber is available on limited town blocks; cable/DSL serves more of Council Grove/White City; fixed wireless and satellite cover most rural addresses.
  • Where wired speeds are weak or unavailable, households lean on mobile hotspots, driving above‑average smartphone‑only and hotspot usage.

How Morris County trends differ from the Kansas average

• Lower smartphone penetration and higher feature‑phone share, driven by an older age structure and more dispersed rural settlement.
• Lower share of wireless‑only households due to landline retention among seniors, despite strong mobile adoption among working‑age adults.
• Higher smartphone‑only internet reliance, reflecting patchier fixed broadband beyond town centers.
• More variable 5G experience: broad low‑band coverage but limited mid‑band capacity outside core corridors, so peak speeds trail urban/suburban Kansas.
• Greater sensitivity to terrain: more dead zones and in‑building coverage challenges than typical for the state.
• Higher prepaid/MVNO usage and slower handset upgrade cycles than metro Kansas, reflecting income mix and coverage variability.

Key takeaways

• Expect roughly 4 in 5 adults to carry a smartphone, with near‑universal mobile adoption among working‑age adults but a sizable senior segment on basic phones.
• Coverage is good along corridors and in town but drops off faster than the state average off‑corridor; capacity (mid‑band 5G) is more limited outside Council Grove.
• Mobile connectivity substitutes for home broadband more often than statewide, making data allowances and hotspot performance important to day‑to‑day access.

Morris County, Kansas — social media usage (short breakdown)

Snapshot

• Population: 5,386 (2020 Census). Small, rural county centered on Council Grove; age structure skews older than the U.S. average, which pushes usage toward Facebook and YouTube and away from newer, youth-heavy apps.

User base and penetration (best available benchmarks)

• U.S. adults using any social media: ~81% (Pew, 2024). Rural usage is slightly lower than urban/suburban but broadly similar; expect Morris County’s adult penetration to be in the upper-70s to low-80s, with near-universal adoption among teens and young adults.
• Smartphone ownership (rural U.S.): mid-80% range (Pew), supporting daily, mobile-first use.

Most‑used platforms (adult adoption; national benchmarks that map closely to rural counties)

• YouTube: ~83% of adults. Broad, all‑ages utility (news, how‑to, entertainment).
• Facebook: ~68%. Dominant local network for community news, schools, churches, youth sports, and Marketplace.
• Instagram: ~47%. Present but lighter in rural areas; strongest among 18–34.
• TikTok: ~33%. Growing; concentrated among under‑35.
• Pinterest: ~35%. Strong among women 25–54 for DIY, recipes, décor.
• Snapchat: ~27%. Heavily used by teens/early‑20s for messaging.
• X (Twitter): ~22%. Niche; spikes for severe weather, sports, and state news.
• Reddit: ~20%. Niche; skewed male/younger, tech/hobby interest. Note: Rural counties like Morris typically show slightly lower Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat usage and relatively higher Facebook/Pinterest reliance versus national averages.

Age groups (local audience tendencies)

• Teens (13–17): Heavy Snapchat/TikTok; Instagram secondary; YouTube constant.
• 18–24: TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat lead; YouTube daily; Facebook mainly for events/family.
• 25–34: Mix of Facebook (family, Marketplace), Instagram, TikTok; Messenger/Stories are key.
• 35–54: Facebook is primary (Groups, Marketplace, school/sports updates); YouTube for how‑to; Pinterest common.
• 55–64: Facebook and YouTube dominate; limited Instagram/TikTok.
• 65+: Facebook for local info/community ties; YouTube for news/how‑to; minimal on other apps.

Gender breakdown (platform skews)

• Facebook, YouTube: near even by gender among adults.
• Instagram, TikTok: slight female tilt.
• Pinterest: strong female tilt.
• Reddit, X: male‑skewed.
• Snapchat: balanced to slight female tilt among younger users.

Behavioral trends in Morris County

• Community and institutions: Facebook Groups/Pages are the hub for schools (USD announcements), city/county agencies, churches, 4‑H/FFA, youth sports, and event organizers.
• Local commerce: Facebook Marketplace is the default for buy/sell/trade (farm and ranch gear, vehicles, furniture) and for small‑business promotion; Messenger is the contact channel of choice.
• Events and tourism: Instagram and Facebook drive awareness and photo‑sharing for local festivals, lake/recreation, and downtown events; TikTok usage appears around larger events and by younger creators.
• Practical content: YouTube is heavily used for how‑to (equipment repair, home/land projects), weather, and local/regional news.
• Messaging habits: Teens/young adults lean on Snapchat; adults use Facebook Messenger; WhatsApp has limited presence.
• Timing: Engagement typically peaks evenings (6–9 p.m.) and weekend mornings; weather emergencies and school/sports results create real‑time spikes on Facebook.

What this means for outreach

• Prioritize Facebook (Pages, Groups, Events, Marketplace, Messenger) and YouTube for broad reach.
• Use Instagram and TikTok for 13–34 reach and event storytelling; Stories/Reels perform better than static posts.
• Lean into Pinterest for women 25–54 (seasonal/home/recipe content).
• Expect X/Reddit to be niche and topic‑specific rather than mass‑reach channels.

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (population).
• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024; Mobile Fact Sheet (platform and device adoption).