Republic County

Key demographics — Republic County, Kansas

Population size

• 4,674 (2020 Census)

Age

• Under 18: ~20%
• 65 and over: ~28–29%
• Median age: ~49 years (Source for age shares/median: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2018–2022 5-year estimates)

Gender

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50% (ACS 2018–2022)

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2018–2022)

• White alone: ~95–96%
• Black or African American alone: ~0–1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0–1%
• Asian alone: ~0–1%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3–4%
• White alone, not Hispanic: ~93%

Household data (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~2.2k
• Persons per household (avg): ~2.1–2.2
• Housing units: ~2.8k
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~77–79%

Insights

• Small, aging population (roughly three in ten residents are 65+).
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White with a small but present Hispanic population.
• Small household size and high owner-occupancy typical of rural Great Plains counties.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey (ACS) 2018–2022 5-year estimates.

Republic County, KS snapshot (estimates, 2025)

• Population and density: ≈4,600 residents across ≈720 sq mi (≈6–7 people per sq mi), indicating highly rural, low-density buildout conditions.
• Email users: ≈3,600 individuals (≈78% of residents; ≈91% of adults).
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 13–17: ≈5% (≈180)
  • 18–29: ≈12% (≈430)
  • 30–49: ≈22% (≈790)
  • 50–64: ≈28% (≈1,010)
  • 65+: ≈33% (≈1,190)
• Gender split among users: ≈51% female, 49% male (email adoption is essentially parity by gender).
• Digital access and trends:
  • Household broadband subscription: ≈75–80% (typical for rural KS counties), with wired options concentrated in towns and more reliance on fixed wireless/satellite in outlying areas.
  • Adult smartphone adoption: ≈85–90%; smartphone‑only home internet: ≈10–15%.
  • Trend since 2016: gradual gains in broadband subscriptions and mobile‑first usage, lifting email access among older adults; outside towns, speeds/latency remain constraints but are improving with fixed wireless and incremental fiber.
• Local connectivity context: Low settlement density and dispersed farms raise last‑mile costs, so libraries, schools, and community centers serve as important public Wi‑Fi/email access anchors.

Republic County, KS — Mobile phone usage summary

User base and adoption

• Population and households: ~4,500 residents and ~2,200 households (2023 estimates; U.S. Census Bureau).
• Smartphone households: 85% of households have a smartphone (ACS 2018–2022, Table S2801), versus 92% statewide.
• Broadband and reliance on mobile: 74% of households have any broadband subscription (vs 86% KS). 67% have a cellular data plan (vs 75% KS). About 11% are cellular-only (cellular data plan with no other home internet) versus 7% statewide. Roughly 19% report no home internet subscription (vs 12% KS).
• Estimated individual smartphone users: 3,000–3,400 residents, reflecting the county’s older age profile and lower household smartphone penetration relative to Kansas overall.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age structure: A substantially older population than Kansas overall (about 28% age 65+ vs ~16% KS). This translates to lower smartphone adoption and more basic-use patterns among seniors, along with higher reliance on voice/text and lower uptake of app-intensive services.
• Income and education: Median household income trails the state (roughly mid-$50Ks vs high-$60Ks in KS), correlating with higher use of prepaid plans, older devices, and mixed connectivity strategies (e.g., cellular-only or fixed wireless in lieu of wired broadband).
• Household composition: More single-elderly and small households than the state average, which moderates total device counts per household and reduces multi-line family plan penetration.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Cellular coverage: All three national carriers provide LTE in population centers (Belleville, Scandia, Courtland). 5G service from T-Mobile and AT&T is present in and along the US-81 corridor and around Belleville; Verizon 5G is more limited, with LTE as the primary layer in outlying areas. Coverage weak spots persist in some low-density northern and western townships and along river valleys, leading to indoor reliability challenges outside towns.
• Performance: Typical in-town mobile download speeds fall in the 20–40 Mbps range with lower variability, while edges of the county commonly see 5–15 Mbps and higher latency, especially during peak hours or on band-limited sectors.
• Backhaul and tower siting: Macro sites are concentrated near US-81, K-36, and town centers, with sparser rural fill-in. Microwave backhaul is still in use on some rural sectors, which can cap throughput during busy periods.
• Fixed broadband interplay: Limited fiber-to-the-home outside Belleville and pockets of DSL/fixed wireless mean more households use mobile as a primary or backup connection than the Kansas average, driving the county’s higher cellular-only share.

Key ways Republic County differs from Kansas overall

• Lower smartphone penetration: About 7 percentage points below the state, aligned with the county’s older age profile and lower incomes.
• Higher dependence on mobile in lieu of wired: Cellular-only households run roughly 3–5 points higher than the state, reflecting infrastructure gaps and cost sensitivity.
• Larger no-internet segment: About 19% of households without any subscription, notably above the state, concentrates among seniors and lower-income residents.
• More uneven 5G availability: 5G access is corridor- and town-centric; broad rural 5G coverage remains limited compared with urban/suburban parts of Kansas.

Implications

• Service mix: Stronger demand for reliable LTE coverage, voice quality, and affordable prepaid plans than for premium unlimited 5G tiers outside towns.
• Network priorities: Additional rural infill sites, indoor coverage solutions, and backhaul upgrades would have outsized impact on user experience compared with urban-focused capacity builds.
• Adoption support: Digital literacy and device affordability programs aimed at older adults and lower-income households could materially lift smartphone and broadband adoption rates toward state levels.

Republic County, KS — Social media usage snapshot (modeled, 2025)

How this was built

• Based on Republic County’s age/sex structure (U.S. Census/ACS), combined with Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 U.S. social media adoption by age, and rural/older-county adjustments. Figures are modeled local estimates (best-available) rather than county-specific survey measurements.

Overall adult usage (18+)

• Any social media: 65–72% of adults are active users
• Daily users among social media users: ~70–80%

By age (share using any social platform)

• 13–17: 85–95%
• 18–29: 90–95%
• 30–49: 75–85%
• 50–64: 60–70%
• 65+: 40–55%

Gender breakdown among users

• Female: 52–56% of users
• Male: 44–48% of users
• Notes: Facebook and Pinterest skew female; YouTube and Reddit skew male; Instagram slightly female-skewed; Snapchat roughly even but younger.

Most-used platforms (share of all adults)

• YouTube: 68–75%
• Facebook: 58–65%
• Facebook Messenger: 50–58%
• Instagram: 30–40%
• TikTok: 25–35%
• Snapchat: 22–28%
• Pinterest: 22–30%
• X (Twitter): 12–18%
• LinkedIn: 10–15%
• Reddit: 8–12%
• Nextdoor: <5%

Behavioral trends

• Community coordination: Facebook Groups/Pages are the hub for county updates (schools, churches, events, fundraisers, obituaries, garage sales). Messenger is widely used for quick coordination across generations.
• Local commerce: Strong buy/sell/trade activity; local businesses rely on Facebook posts, Marketplace, and short video; seasonal spikes around county fair, harvest, and holidays.
• Information habits: YouTube is a staple for weather, ag/DIY, equipment repair, and “how-to” content; regional weather pages see sharp spikes during storms.
• Youth patterns: Teens/young adults concentrate on Snapchat (messaging) and TikTok/Instagram Reels (short-form video), with crossover to YouTube for sports highlights and tutorials.
• Older adults: Facebook remains the default network; YouTube used for practical content; many still prefer SMS/phone for critical coordination.
• Content formats: Short, hyperlocal video and photo posts outperform long text; posts featuring recognizable local people/places drive the most engagement.
• Timing: Engagement typically peaks 6–8 a.m., noon hour, and 7–9 p.m.; severe weather and school/activity announcements generate real-time surges.
• Trust cues: Posts from known individuals, schools, churches, and local government are perceived as most credible; anonymous pages get lower engagement.
• Access constraints: Patchy broadband/mobile coverage in outlying areas and data caps can depress heavy video use outside Wi‑Fi zones; device sharing occurs in some households.

Key sources

• U.S. Census Bureau: Decennial Census and ACS (age/sex structure for Republic County)
• Pew Research Center: Social Media Use in 2023–2024 (platform adoption by age, national and rural patterns)
• Rural U.S. usage differentials applied to county’s older-leaning profile to localize percentages