Cape Girardeau County

Cape Girardeau County, Missouri – key demographics (latest Census/ACS estimates; rounded)

Population

• Total population: about 83,000 (2023 estimate; 2020 Census: 81,710)

Age

• Median age: about 37–38 years
• Under 18: about 21%
• 18 to 64: about 61%
• 65 and over: about 18%

Gender

• Female: about 51%
• Male: about 49%

Race and ethnicity

• White (alone): about 84%
• Black or African American (alone): about 10–11%
• Asian (alone): about 1–2%
• Two or more races: about 3%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): about 3%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: about 82%

Households

• Total households: about 33,000
• Persons per household: about 2.4
• Family households: about 62% of households
• One-person households: about 30%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: about 64%

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

Cape Girardeau County, MO email usage (estimates)

• Estimated email users: 58,000–65,000 residents. Basis: ~82k population, high adult internet adoption, plus most teens 13–17.
• Age distribution of email users (approx.): 13–17: 6%; 18–34: 28%; 35–54: 36%; 55–64: 14%; 65+: 16%. Younger adults check most frequently; seniors use email but at lower rates.
• Gender split: roughly mirrors population (about 51% female, 49% male).

Digital access and trends

• Home broadband subscription: ~84–88% of households; computer access ~90%+. A meaningful minority (≈15–20%) are mobile-only or mobile-first for internet.
• Connectivity improving: fiber expansion by local electric co-op (e.g., GoSEMO Fiber) and cable providers (e.g., Spectrum); AT&T and regional ISPs serve cities and some rural areas. 5G along the I‑55 corridor and in Cape/Jackson; rural pockets still rely on older DSL/fixed wireless.
• Public access: robust Wi‑Fi on the Southeast Missouri State University campus; libraries and municipal buildings provide free internet/email access.
• Local density/connectivity context: ~140 people per square mile across ~586 sq mi; urban centers (Cape Girardeau, Jackson) enjoy higher speeds and competition, while outlying areas see ongoing last‑mile upgrades.

Notes: Figures are synthesized from national/ Missouri adoption rates applied to local population and infrastructure patterns.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Cape Girardeau County, MO (with county–vs–state highlights)

User estimates (order-of-magnitude, based on ACS-style household counts, local age mix, and typical adoption rates)

• Total residents who regularly use a mobile phone: roughly 60,000–70,000 (out of ~80k residents).
• Adult smartphone users: about 50,000–60,000 (85–90% of adults, boosted by the university-age population).
• Smartphone-only households (mobile data is the primary/only home internet): likely 18–21% of households, translating to roughly 6,000–7,000 households. This is a few points higher than the Missouri average, driven by students and lower-income households.
• Prepaid/Lifeline/MVNO penetration: meaningfully above the state average in the city/near-campus areas (Spectrum Mobile, Visible, Metro by T‑Mobile, Cricket), reflecting price sensitivity and student demographics.

Demographic patterns shaping usage

• Age: A larger 18–24 segment due to Southeast Missouri State University increases smartphone ownership, heavy app/social use, and mobile-first behavior (less fixed broadband in rentals/dorms).
• Income: Median household income sits below the Missouri median, which correlates with higher smartphone-only reliance and prepaid plans.
• Urban–rural split: Cape Girardeau and Jackson have strong 5G coverage and higher data consumption; western/southern rural parts show more voice/text-centric use and network fallback to LTE/low‑band 5G.
• Race/ethnicity: The county is predominantly White with smaller Black and Hispanic populations; as elsewhere in the U.S., smartphone-only reliance tends to be higher among minority and lower-income households, reinforcing the mobile-first profile around the urban core.

Digital infrastructure snapshot

• Carriers and radio access:
  • AT&T, T‑Mobile, and Verizon all cover the I‑55 corridor and the Cape/Jackson urban core with 5G; mid‑band 5G (e.g., n41/n77) is common in the core, delivering noticeably better speeds/latency than many rural Missouri counties.
  • Low‑band 5G/LTE serves exurban and agricultural areas; terrain and river bluffs can create pockets of weak indoor coverage away from main corridors.
  • UScellular is more visible across the river in southern Illinois than inside the county; roaming is common but not primary.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA):
  • T‑Mobile Home Internet is broadly available in the core; Verizon 5G Home is present in select areas. FWA adoption is higher here than typical rural counties because of student renters and price-sensitive households.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • Fiber backhaul tracks the I‑55/US‑61 spine; hospitals (Saint Francis, SoutheastHEALTH), the university, and municipal sites anchor higher-capacity links.
  • Charter/Spectrum is the dominant cable plant in town; AT&T offers fiber in limited footprints; regional providers have added business fiber laterals. This mix supports denser 5G in town but thins quickly outside it.
• Public/campus connectivity:
  • SEMO’s campus Wi‑Fi offloads a large share of student traffic; downtown venues and hospitals add public Wi‑Fi nodes that complement mobile usage.

How Cape Girardeau differs from Missouri overall

• More mobile-first households: The student presence plus below-median incomes push smartphone-only reliance a few points above the statewide rate.
• Higher mid-band 5G exposure in the core vs. rural MO peers: Proximity to I‑55 and anchor institutions yields better median mobile performance than many rural counties; residents see a sharper urban–rural performance gap inside the county.
• Above-average FWA uptake: City renters and students adopt 5G home internet at higher rates than the state average, substituting for cable/fiber.
• Price-sensitive plan mix: MVNO and prepaid share is elevated in the city/near-campus markets relative to state averages.
• ACP wind-down impact: The end of Affordable Connectivity Program funding hit a larger slice of households locally (students/low-income), nudging some to mobile-only or prepaid plans more than in higher-income Missouri counties.

Pain points and opportunities

• Coverage gaps persist west/south of Jackson and in low-lying/wooded areas; in-building coverage can be inconsistent outside the core. Small cells or additional mid-band sites could close these gaps.
• Demand for reliable uplink and lower-latency service is rising for telehealth and remote coursework; targeted capacity near hospitals and campus continues to pay off.
• Coordinating fiber backhaul extensions with new 5G/FWA sites in exurban clusters would smooth the county’s stark core–periphery performance divide.

Notes on method and sources to validate/refresh

• Use the latest ACS 5‑year tables for household counts and smartphone/Internet subscription, FCC National Broadband Map for provider footprints, and carrier coverage maps/Opensignal–Ookla aggregates for 5G availability and performance. Local anchors (SEMO, hospitals, city planning) can confirm recent small-cell or fiber builds.
• Figures above are intentionally ranges/estimates to avoid false precision; substituting the newest ACS and carrier datasets will tighten the numbers.

Below is a concise, county-level snapshot built by combining Cape Girardeau County’s population profile with the latest U.S. social media usage patterns (Pew Research Center, 2024). Treat figures as directional estimates.

Overview/user stats

• Population: ≈82,000; adults (18+): ≈64,000.
• Adults using at least one social platform: ≈45,000–49,000 (about 70%–75% of adults).
• Teen users (13–17): ≈5,000–5,500; near-universal use of at least one platform.

Most-used platforms (adult reach, estimated) Using national adult usage rates applied to ≈64,000 adults. Counts reflect multi-platform use.

• YouTube: ~83% ≈53,000 adults
• Facebook: ~68% ≈44,000
• Instagram: ~47% ≈30,000
• Pinterest: ~35% ≈22,000
• TikTok: ~33% ≈21,000
• Snapchat: ~30% ≈19,000
• LinkedIn: ~30% ≈19,000
• WhatsApp: ~29% ≈19,000
• X/Twitter: ~27% ≈17,000
• Reddit: ~22% ≈14,000
• Nextdoor: ~19% ≈12,000 (likely lower outside the cities of Cape Girardeau/Jackson)

Age-group patterns

• Teens (13–17): Heaviest on YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat; Instagram strong; Facebook minimal. Messaging is private-first (Snap/IG DMs).
• 18–24 (SEMO student presence boosts this cohort): Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat dominate; YouTube universal; Facebook mainly for events, groups, and Marketplace.
• 25–34: Mix of Instagram + Facebook; rising TikTok; YouTube for how‑to/fitness. Messenger/IG DMs used for customer service with local businesses.
• 35–49: Facebook is the hub (school/athletics, churches, buy/sell/trade, local news). Instagram secondary; YouTube strong; TikTok/Reels growing for entertainment.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Pinterest common (home, recipes, DIY). Gradual TikTok uptake.
• 65+: Facebook (family updates, community) and YouTube (how‑to, news). Nextdoor used in certain neighborhoods.

Gender breakdown (skews you can expect)

• County population is roughly 51% female, 49% male.
• Platforms that skew female: Facebook (slight), Instagram (slight), Pinterest (strongly female).
• Platforms that skew male: YouTube (slight), Reddit (strong), X/Twitter (moderate).
• Near-parity with a slight female tilt among under-30 on TikTok and Snapchat.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first Facebook: Extremely active for school updates, church groups, local sports, weather alerts, events, and buy/sell/trade groups; Marketplace is a key commerce channel.
• Video everywhere: YouTube for how‑to, home, outdoor, ag/hunting/fishing; short-form video (Reels/TikTok) drives discovery for local eateries, boutiques, salons, and events.
• Student gravity (SEMO): Concentrates Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat usage; strong impact on nightlife, food, and event content.
• Messaging shift: Many interactions move to Messenger, IG DMs, and Snapchat instead of public comments.
• Local news and weather: Facebook and YouTube for live streams and severe weather; X/Twitter used by newsrooms, sports, and agencies but has a smaller general audience.
• Neighborhood networks: Nextdoor usage in Cape/Jackson subdivisions; limited in rural areas.
• Timing: Best engagement for local posts tends to be early morning (6–8 a.m.), lunch (11:30–1), and evenings (7–9 p.m.). Weekend afternoons work well for community/event content.

Notes on methodology

• Percentages are from U.S. adult usage (Pew Research Center, 2024) applied to the county’s adult population; local adoption typically tracks within a few points, with slightly higher youth usage due to the university and slightly lower Nextdoor in rural areas.