Ness County

Key demographics for Ness County, Kansas (latest available Census/ACS data):

Population size

• Total population: ~2,900 (2020 Census ≈2,9xx; 2023 estimate just under 3,000, continuing gradual decline)

Age

• Median age: ~48 years
• Under 18: ~22%
• 65 and over: ~24–25%
• Insight: Older age structure than the U.S. overall, with a large senior share.

Gender

• Male: ~51–52%
• Female: ~48–49%

Racial/ethnic composition

• White alone: ~93–95%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~7–8%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• Black or African American: <1%
• American Indian and Alaska Native: ~0.5%
• Asian: ~0.3–0.5%
• Insight: Predominantly non-Hispanic White, with a small but present Hispanic community.

Household data

• Households: ~1,250–1,300
• Average household size: ~2.1–2.2
• Family households: ~60%
• Married-couple families: ~48–50%
• Nonfamily households: ~40%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~75–77%
• Insight: Small households, high homeownership, and a sizable share of nonfamily and elderly households are consistent with rural, aging counties.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 5-year estimates (most recent release).

• Population and density: Ness County has about 2,911 residents (2020 Census) across ~1,075 sq mi, ~2.7 people per sq mi.
• Estimated email users: ~2,160 residents use email (≈87% of those age 13+, ≈74% of total population).

Age distribution of email users (estimated):

• 13–17: ~135 (6%)
• 18–34: ~443 (21%)
• 35–54: ~719 (33%)
• 55–64: ~340 (16%)
• 65+: ~524 (24%)

Gender split (estimated):

• Male ~51%, Female ~49% of users, mirroring county demographics.

Digital access and trends:

• Computer and broadband: Approximately 89% of households have a computer and ~77% have a broadband subscription (ACS 2018–2022, est.).
• Connectivity pattern: Broadband is strongest in population centers (e.g., Ness City), with fixed wireless and satellite filling coverage gaps in sparsely populated areas; fiber builds are expanding and can reach 1 Gbps in town centers, while remote areas often see sub-25 Mbps service.
• Mobile access: LTE/5G coverage is concentrated along primary corridors (US-283 and K-96), supporting email via smartphones and boosting access for households without wired service.

Insights: An older age profile tempers adoption, but overall email usage is high due to strong mobile access and growing fiber availability in towns.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Ness County, Kansas (with county-specific estimates and how they differ from statewide patterns)

Baseline

• Population and households: ≈2,800 residents and ≈1,250 households
• Adult share: ≈78% of residents are 18+ (≈2,180 adults)
• Rural, older profile: seniors (65+) are roughly a quarter of residents, well above the Kansas average

User estimates

• Total mobile users (all ages): ≈2,000–2,100 people use a mobile phone in Ness County
• Adult mobile penetration: ≈88% of adults use some type of mobile phone (≈1,900–1,950 adults)
• Adult smartphone adoption: ≈79% (≈1,700–1,750 adults)
• Teen users (13–17): adds roughly 90–110 smartphone users; total smartphone users countywide ≈1,800
• Feature phone users: ≈10% of adults (≈200–220), concentrated among seniors

Demographic breakdown (adults, estimated)

• 18–34: ≈95% smartphone adoption; ≈420–430 users
• 35–54: ≈90% smartphone adoption; ≈600–610 users
• 55–64: ≈80% smartphone adoption; ≈310–320 users
• 65+: ≈55% smartphone adoption and ≈20% feature‑phone‑only; ≈370 smartphone users and ≈130–140 feature‑phone users Key contrast with Kansas: overall adult smartphone adoption in Ness County is lower by about 6–9 percentage points, driven primarily by a larger senior share and more feature‑phone retention among older adults.

Carrier mix and plans (estimated)

• Market share tilt: Verizon ≈50%, AT&T ≈35%, T‑Mobile ≈15% (heavily coverage‑driven)
• Prepaid/MVNO usage: ≈28–35% of lines (above the state’s ≈22–27%), reflecting price sensitivity and simpler plans for light data users and seniors
• Device profile: higher-than-state share of flip/feature phones and basic LTE handsets; lower share of premium 5G handsets

Usage patterns

• Average monthly mobile data (smartphones): ≈12–18 GB per line (lower than Kansas’s ≈20–23 GB), reflecting more LTE use, weaker 5G capacity, and an older user base
• Mobile-only home internet: ≈10–14% of households rely primarily on cellular for home connectivity (below the state’s ≈17–19%), because many older households retain landlines or use fixed wireless/DSL where available
• Communication mix: above-average reliance on voice/SMS for coordination and safety; data use clustered around weather, markets, telehealth, social media, and precision‑ag tools during planting/harvest windows

Digital infrastructure

• Coverage: countywide 4G LTE is the workhorse; low‑band 5G is present around Ness City and along primary highways, with rapid fall‑off to LTE in outlying areas and inside metal buildings
• 5G population coverage: ≈45–55% of residents have usable 5G at home or work locations (well below Kansas’s ≈80–85%); 5G is predominantly low‑band with modest capacity gains
• Performance envelope:
  • LTE: typical 8–30 Mbps down / 2–8 Mbps up; noticeable congestion during events or harvest peaks
  • Low‑band 5G: typical 25–120 Mbps down when available; uplink often LTE‑anchored
• Backhaul and towers: sparse macro‑tower grid with large cells and microwave/fiber backhaul; inter‑site distances are long, which increases indoor coverage variability; external antennas/boosters materially improve reliability on farms and ranches
• Fixed alternatives: fixed wireless from regional providers is common; fiber is present to anchors and some town blocks; satellite (including LEO) fills remaining gaps
• Public safety: FirstNet is available via AT&T on major corridors and in town; off‑corridor reliability still leans on LTE

Differences from Kansas statewide trends (what stands out)

• Lower smartphone penetration and higher feature‑phone retention, driven by an older population structure
• More Verizon/AT&T share and less T‑Mobile share than the state average, reflecting rural coverage realities
• Smaller 5G footprint and heavier reliance on LTE; lower median mobile speeds and capacity
• Lower share of mobile‑only home internet households, with more fixed wireless/DSL retention among older residents
• Higher prepaid/MVNO mix and lower prevalence of premium unlimited plans
• Usage skewed toward voice/SMS, weather/market apps, and ag workflows rather than high‑bitrate entertainment

Implications

• The biggest adoption gap is among residents 65+, where targeted device training, simplified plans, and indoor coverage aids (signal boosters, Wi‑Fi calling) will yield outsized gains
• Capacity and coverage upgrades on a few macro sites, plus additional low‑band 5G sectors near towns and along US/K‑routes, would close most of the performance gap with the state
• Fixed wireless and fiber infill remain critical for keeping households from defaulting to expensive metered mobile data, while maintaining resilience during peak agricultural seasons

All figures are county-specific estimates built from the county’s size, age structure, rural network characteristics, and current U.S./Midwest adoption benchmarks; they are intended to be used as actionable planning numbers for Ness County rather than general Kansas averages.

Ness County, KS social media snapshot (2024)

Overall usage (adults)

• Use at least one social platform: ~70% of adults
• Visit social platforms daily: ~60% of adults (driven by Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat)

Most-used platforms (adult reach, estimated)

• YouTube: ~80%
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~42%
• Pinterest: ~32%
• TikTok: ~31%
• Snapchat: ~27%
• LinkedIn: ~24%
• WhatsApp: ~22%
• X (Twitter): ~20%
• Reddit: ~19%
• Nextdoor: ~9%

Age-group patterns

• Teens (13–17): YouTube ~93%, Instagram ~62%, TikTok ~63%, Snapchat ~60%, Facebook ~33% (entertainment-first; short video and messaging dominate)
• 18–29: Heavy on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat; Facebook used but not central; creators and short-form video drive engagement
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube anchor daily use; Instagram growing; TikTok used for entertainment/how-tos; Marketplace and local groups are key utilities
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Pinterest strong for projects/recipes; Instagram/TikTok used selectively
• 65+: Facebook is primary; YouTube for news, tutorials, and church/community content; limited Instagram/TikTok

Gender breakdown (tendencies among adult users)

• Women: More active on Facebook and Instagram; markedly higher on Pinterest (roughly 2–3x men); strong use of local Facebook Groups and Marketplace
• Men: Higher on YouTube, Reddit, and X; more likely to follow sports, markets, tech, and ag news accounts
• Overall male/female share of social users is roughly even; differences show up by platform, not total adoption

Behavioral trends in Ness County

• Facebook as the community hub: Local Groups, school and church updates, high school sports, obituaries, event coordination, and Marketplace drive daily check-ins
• Video-first habits rising: YouTube for tutorials, agriculture/weather coverage, and long-form news; Facebook Reels and TikTok for short-form entertainment and local highlights
• Messaging over posting: Many residents “lurk” and use Facebook Messenger/IG DMs more than they publicly post; group chats coordinate church, school, 4‑H, and athletics
• Local commerce: Yard services, farm/ranch equipment, crafts, and buy/sell activity concentrate on Facebook; Instagram serves niche makers and boutiques
• Information seeking: Severe weather, road conditions, and community alerts see spikes on Facebook and YouTube; X is used mainly for breaking news and sports
• Timing: Evenings and weekends draw the highest engagement; weekday midday bumps align with school and community updates

Method note: Figures are best-available 2024 estimates for Ness County derived by applying Pew Research Center’s current rural U.S. social platform usage rates to Ness County’s demographic profile from recent ACS data; teen figures draw from Pew’s latest U.S. teen social media study.