Boone County

Here’s a concise snapshot of Boone County, Missouri (latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates; figures rounded):

Population

• Total: ~190,000

Age

• Median age: ~31
• Under 18: ~19%
• 18–24: ~22% (large college-age population)
• 25–44: ~28%
• 45–64: ~20%
• 65+: ~11%

Sex

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Race/Ethnicity

• White (non-Hispanic): ~73–75%
• Black/African American: ~11–12%
• Asian: ~5–6%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~4–6%
• Two or more races: ~4–5%
• Other: ~1% or less

Households

• Total households: ~75,000–80,000
• Average household size: ~2.3–2.4
• Family households: ~45–50% of households
• Nonfamily households (incl. living alone): ~50–55%

Note: For exact, year-specific figures (e.g., 2023 ACS 1-year vs. 2019–2023 ACS 5-year), say the preferred dataset and I’ll provide precise numbers.

Boone County, MO (pop. ~187k) — email usage snapshot

• Estimated email users: ~140–155k residents (roughly 90–95% of adults; 75–83% of total population).
• Age distribution of email users (approx.):
  • 18–24: ~24% of users (large university population; very high adoption)
  • 25–44: ~34%
  • 45–64: ~23%
  • 65+: ~13%
  • Teens (13–17): ~6%
• Gender split: ~51% female, ~49% male; usage rates are similar by gender.

Digital access and trends

• Computer/broadband: Roughly 90%+ of households have a computer and about 85–90% subscribe to home broadband; 12–18% are smartphone‑only for internet.
• Connectivity pattern: Most residents live in/around Columbia, where multiple ISPs offer cable/fiber with high speeds; service quality and choices decrease in rural townships.
• Adoption drivers: University of Missouri and student population boost near‑universal email use among adults and heavy Wi‑Fi availability (campus, libraries, cafes).
• Gaps: Outlying areas still report slower connections and higher reliance on mobile data; ongoing state/federal broadband projects are expanding fiber coverage.

Local density/connectivity facts

• Population density ~270 people/sq mi overall; density is concentrated in Columbia, enabling stronger broadband infrastructure than in sparsely populated areas.

Mobile phone usage in Boone County, Missouri — 2025 snapshot

What’s different from the Missouri average

• Higher adoption and heavier use: A younger, college-driven population (University of Missouri, Columbia College, Stephens) pushes smartphone ownership, 5G device uptake, and mobile data use above statewide norms.
• Fewer landlines: Wireless-only households are meaningfully higher than the state average.
• Better 5G coverage and capacity in the population core: Columbia and the I-70/US-63 corridors have denser sites and mid-band 5G than most MO counties, though rural edges of the county still see LTE fallback.
• More Wi‑Fi offload: Campus and apartment Wi‑Fi reduce cellular load indoors more than typical Missouri markets.
• More international app usage: A larger student and international community means above-average use of WhatsApp, WeChat, FaceTime, and other OTT calling/messaging compared to the state overall.

User estimates (transparent, county-tailored estimates based on ACS population, Pew smartphone adoption, and CDC wireless-only trends)

• Population base: ~190,000 residents; ~150,000 adults (18+).
• Adult smartphone users: 92–95% adoption in Boone (vs ~88–90% in Missouri overall), yielding roughly 138,000–143,000 adult smartphone users. Including teens adds ~8,000–12,000 more users. Total smartphone users: ~146,000–155,000.
• Wireless-only households (no landline): 78–85% in Boone (vs ~72–76% statewide), driven by younger renters and students. With ~75,000–78,000 households countywide, that’s roughly 58,000–66,000 wireless-only households.
• 5G-capable device penetration: High, estimated 75–85% of smartphones in Boone (younger users upgrade faster), vs ~65–75% statewide.
• Mobile as primary home internet: Noticeable among students and renters (cellular or fixed wireless access) and in rural fringes; likely at or slightly above the statewide share, even though Columbia proper has strong cable/fiber options.

Demographic breakdown and implications

• Age: Larger 18–34 segment than Missouri overall. Effects: higher iPhone share, more video/social streaming, more mobile payments/ID, faster 5G device turnover.
• 35–64: Strong BYOD and hybrid work usage; above-average use of hotspotting and fixed wireless for flexibility.
• 65+: Adoption improving and likely above the MO average for this age group due to proximity to healthcare systems and family/student support networks; more telehealth and messaging use.
• Race/ethnicity/international: Slightly higher Asian and international student presence than the MO average; heavier reliance on international messaging/calling apps and eSIM/short-term plans.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Macro coverage: All three national carriers provide 4G/5G coverage across Columbia and along I‑70 and US‑63; 5G mid-band capacity is strong in the urban core. Signal quality can drop on rural roads, river bottoms, and low-density southern/northern edges of the county where sites are sparser.
• Capacity hotspots: Campus, downtown Columbia, stadium/event venues, and the Providence/Stadium and Business Loop corridors see high demand; small cells and additional sectors are common in these zones relative to many MO counties.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA): 5G/LTE home internet from major carriers is widely available in and around Columbia and serves both student renters (short-term, no-truck-roll) and rural edges lacking modern wireline. Uptake is above the MO average in the student segment and in pockets without fiber.
• Wireline backbones: Columbia benefits from multiple fiber backbones and ISPs (e.g., local providers such as Socket and regional carriers), plus robust campus networks; this improves cellular backhaul and densification versus many Missouri counties.
• Public safety and resilience: Interstates and state highways are priority corridors; emergency services and hospitals in Columbia contribute to strong coverage for public-safety users compared with rural MO counties.

Method notes

• Estimates triangulate U.S. Census/ACS population and households, Pew smartphone adoption (national ~90%+), CDC/NCHS wireless-only household rates (national/state ~70s%), and typical uplift for college-heavy counties. Exact carrier maps and tower counts vary by neighborhood; 5G availability is strongest in Columbia and along major corridors.

Boone County, MO social media snapshot (estimates for 2025)

Population and online access

• Residents: ~190,000; Adults (18+): ~150,000
• Households with broadband: ~85%
• Adult social media users: ~118,000–125,000 (≈78–83% of adults)

Age profile of social media users (share of all local users; usage rate by age)

• 18–29: ~36% of users; ~90–95% use social media
• 30–49: ~32% of users; ~80–85% use
• 50–64: ~21% of users; ~70–75% use
• 65+: ~11% of users; ~45–55% use

Gender breakdown

• Overall users: ~53% female, ~47% male
• Platform skews: Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat skew female; Reddit and X skew male; Facebook roughly even but older-female leaning

Most-used platforms locally (estimated share of adults using monthly; people use multiple platforms)

• YouTube: ~85%
• Facebook: ~65–70%
• Instagram: ~55–60%
• TikTok: ~40–45%
• Snapchat: ~40–45%
• LinkedIn: ~30–35%
• WhatsApp: ~25–30% (boosted by international students/academia)
• Reddit: ~20–25%
• X (Twitter): ~20–25%
• Nextdoor: ~15–20% (higher among homeowners/neighborhood groups)

Behavioral trends to know

• Student-driven usage: Large 18–24 base (University of Missouri) fuels heavy Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube; high late-night activity (10 pm–1 am); strong interest in campus life, local food, nightlife, and Mizzou sports.
• Community and utility: Facebook Groups, Events, and Marketplace are central for families and longtime residents; Nextdoor used for hyperlocal recommendations, safety, and services.
• Video-first consumption: Short vertical video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) outperforms static posts; behind-the-scenes and authentic creator content wins.
• Local news and weather spikes: Rapid engagement around severe weather, school/road updates, and Tigers athletics; X usage increases for breaking updates.
• Commerce and actions: High response to deals, student discounts, and limited-time offers; RSVPs via Facebook Events; DMs for customer service; Marketplace strong for resale.
• Timing: Lunchtime (11 am–1 pm) and evenings (7–11 pm) perform well; student activity skews later; weekend afternoons and game days see surges.
• Platform roles:
  • Awareness: YouTube, Instagram, TikTok
  • Community/retention: Facebook Groups, Nextdoor
  • Professional/academic: LinkedIn (university/healthcare), X (journalism/sports)
  • Niche dialogue: Reddit (r/ColumbiaMO, hobby/tech threads)

Notes and method

• Figures are modeled estimates using Boone County’s age mix (ACS) and national platform penetration (Pew, 2024) adjusted for the county’s younger, university-heavy population. Real usage varies by neighborhood and season.