Thomas County

Thomas County, Kansas — key demographics

Population size

• Total population (2020 Census): 7,930

Age structure (ACS 2018–2022, 5-year)

• Median age: ~36.5 years
• Under 5: ~6%
• 5–17: ~17%
• 18–24: ~11%
• 25–44: ~26%
• 45–64: ~22%
• 65 and over: ~18%

Gender (ACS 2018–2022)

• Male: ~51%
• Female: ~49%

Racial/ethnic composition (2020 Census/ACS patterns)

• Non-Hispanic White: ~83–85%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~10–12%
• Non-Hispanic Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Non-Hispanic Black: ~0.7–1%
• Non-Hispanic Asian: ~0.5–1%
• Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.5–1%
• Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: <0.2%

Households (ACS 2018–2022, 5-year)

• Households: ~3,100
• Average household size: ~2.35
• Family households: ~62% (married-couple families ~49%)
• Nonfamily households: ~38% (single-person households ~31%; 65+ living alone ~12%)
• Households with children under 18: ~28–30%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~68–70%

Insights

• Small, stable population centered on Colby; age profile balanced by a local college presence.
• Skews slightly male.
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White with a meaningful Hispanic community.
• Household sizes and ownership rates align with rural Kansas norms.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates). Figures are official counts or ACS estimates subject to typical sampling error for small counties.

• Population and density: Thomas County, KS has about 7,900 residents, with roughly 7–8 people per square mile. About 70% live in Colby along the I‑70 corridor, where connectivity is strongest.
• Estimated email users: ≈6,100 residents (≈77% of the population) use email regularly.
• Age distribution of email users (share of all users; ≈counts):
  • 13–17: 7% (~400)
  • 18–24: 14% (~830)
  • 25–44: 31% (~1,880)
  • 45–64: 32% (~1,960)
  • 65+: 16% (~1,000)
• Gender split among email users: ~49% male, ~51% female (usage rates are similar across genders).
• Digital access and trends:
  • Home internet subscription is estimated around the low‑80% range of households; smartphone ownership is mid‑80% of adults, supporting near‑universal email capability among connected residents.
  • Colby has widespread fiber (gigabit-class) from regional providers; rural areas rely more on fixed wireless and legacy copper, which reduces speeds and reliability outside town.
  • 5G/strong 4G coverage tracks I‑70; performance tapers in sparsely populated sections.
  • Post‑2024 affordability pressures (after ACP funding paused) may slow gains in rural adoption, while continued fiber and fixed‑wireless builds sustain gradual improvements in access and email use.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Thomas County, Kansas

Population baseline

• Residents: 7,930 (2020 Census). Population is concentrated in Colby, with smaller communities in Brewster and Rexford and widely dispersed farm/ranch households.

User estimates (individuals)

• Mobile phone users: ~6,300–6,800 residents
  • Method: Apply adult mobile-phone ownership near 97% and high teen adoption to the county’s adult and teen population mix typical for rural Kansas.
• Smartphone users: ~5,700–6,200 residents
  • Method: Rural smartphone adoption typically trails statewide by several points (roughly mid-80s to low-90s percent among adults), with very high teen adoption.

Household device and access profile

• Households using a smartphone (at least one per household): ~2,700–3,000 of an estimated 3,100–3,400 households
• Mobile-only internet households: materially above the Kansas average
  • Rural western Kansas counties show a higher share of households relying on cellular data as their primary home internet due to patchier fixed broadband outside towns and farms that are costly to serve.

Demographic usage patterns

• Age: A larger 65+ share than the state average pulls down smartphone adoption modestly; mobile phone (any type) ownership among seniors remains high. Younger cohorts (13–44) are near-saturation for smartphones and drive most mobile data use.
• Income and occupation: More agriculture, energy, and logistics workers than the state average increase reliance on mobile connectivity during work hours and seasons (planting/harvest), with notable traffic on I‑70 and US‑83 corridors.
• Race/ethnicity: The county’s majority White, smaller Hispanic/Latino population profile tracks with Kansas rural usage patterns; differences in device type are minor compared with the stronger effects of age, income, and fixed-broadband availability.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Carriers present: AT&T (including FirstNet), T‑Mobile, and Verizon operate countywide.
• 5G availability:
  • Low‑band 5G covers most traveled corridors and population centers (notably Colby, I‑70, US‑83).
  • Mid‑band 5G (e.g., T‑Mobile 2.5 GHz; Verizon/AT&T C‑band) is strongest in and around Colby and along I‑70; coverage drops off in outlying areas, where service often reverts to low‑band 5G or LTE.
• Performance expectations:
  • In‑town/mid‑band 5G areas: routinely 100–300+ Mbps downlink with good capacity.
  • Out‑of‑town/low‑band or LTE areas: commonly 10–40 Mbps, with signal and capacity fluctuations in section-line roads and low spots.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • Colby benefits from regional providers (e.g., cable and coop fiber) supporting robust cellular backhaul.
  • Sparse fiber and microwave backhaul on secondary roads constrain rural sector capacity compared with urban Kansas.
• Tower siting:
  • Macro sites are focused along I‑70, Colby, and primary highways; spacing and terrain yield serviceable coverage across much of the county but leave weaker indoor signal and capacity in some farmsteads and low-density areas.

How Thomas County differs from Kansas statewide

• Slightly lower smartphone penetration and higher mobile-only home internet reliance than the Kansas average, reflecting rural demographics and distances to fixed broadband.
• Greater dependence on low‑band spectrum outside the county seat; consequently, average mobile speeds and in‑building performance outside Colby lag statewide urban/suburban norms.
• Usage is more corridor- and season-driven (I‑70, US‑83, farm seasons) than the state average, producing sharper peak loads during travel and agricultural cycles.
• 5G mid‑band footprint is more concentrated and discontinuous than in metro Kansas, where contiguous mid‑band densities are higher.
• Public safety and field operations place above‑average emphasis on coverage (AT&T/FirstNet) over peak throughput, shaping procurement and device strategies.

Implications

• Network investments with the highest local impact include new or upgraded rural sectors using mid‑band spectrum, expanded fiber backhaul to rural sites, and targeted small cells or repeaters for critical facilities outside Colby.
• Mobile plans with generous hotspot allowances, plus signal-boosting solutions, are particularly valuable for mobile-only households and farm/ranch operations in outlying sections.
• Outreach to older adults for device training and affordability programs can close the remaining smartphone adoption gap relative to the state.

Thomas County, KS social media snapshot (2025)

Population baseline

• Residents: ~7,900 (2023 estimate, U.S. Census Bureau)
• Residents age 13+: ~6,500
• Active social-media users (13+): ~5,200 (≈80% of 13+ population)

Most‑used platforms (estimated share of residents 13+ who use the platform at least monthly)

• YouTube: 82%
• Facebook: 66%
• Instagram: 44%
• Snapchat: 33%
• TikTok: 32%
• Pinterest: 30%
• X (Twitter): 20%
• WhatsApp: 19%
• LinkedIn: 18%
• Nextdoor: <5% (limited footprint in rural KS)

Age‑group usage (share using at least one social platform)

• Teens 13–17: ~95% (top apps: YouTube ~95%, TikTok ~67%, Instagram ~62%, Snapchat ~59%)
• Adults 18–29: ~90–95%
• Adults 30–49: ~85–90%
• Adults 50–64: ~75–80%
• Adults 65+: ~45–50%

Gender breakdown (usage patterns)

• Overall user base is roughly even by gender in Thomas County; women skew higher on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest; men skew higher on YouTube, X, and Reddit.
• Pinterest is notably female‑skewed; YouTube and X are male‑skewed; Facebook remains the most cross‑demographic platform.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community‑centric usage: Facebook Groups drive local news, school and high‑school sports, events, buy/sell, and safety/weather updates; engagement spikes around storms, road closures, and school announcements.
• Video first: YouTube for how‑to, ag, DIY, and local sports highlights; TikTok/Instagram Reels for short vertical clips from students, local creators, and small businesses.
• Messaging and quick replies: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are common for direct contact with local businesses and peer groups; SMS remains a fallback.
• Small‑business marketing: Consistent wins come from Facebook (events, offers, photos), Instagram (visual menus/products, Stories/Reels), and short TikTok clips; geotargeting within ~25–40 miles of Colby captures most local reach.
• Timing: Engagement typically peaks evenings (7–10 pm) with secondary bumps at lunch hour and early morning for weather/closures; weekends favor events and sports content.
• Content that performs: Local faces, school/sports outcomes, community events, “what’s happening this weekend,” storm/road info, and how‑to/repair content; hard‑sell ads underperform unless paired with community relevance or an offer.

Notes and method

• Figures are county‑level estimates derived from U.S. Census Bureau population (ACS 2023) and Pew Research Center 2022–2024 social media adoption benchmarks (including rural vs. urban differences and U.S. teen data), scaled to Thomas County’s population. Percentages reflect platform reach and can overlap across platforms.