Crawford County

Here are key demographics for Crawford County, Missouri.

Population

• 23,056 (2020 Census)
• ~23,200 (2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~43–44 years
• Under 18: ~21%
• 18–64: ~60%
• 65 and over: ~19%

Sex

• Male: ~51%
• Female: ~49%

Race and ethnicity (ACS, percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding)

• White alone: ~92%
• Black or African American alone: ~2%
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~0.6%
• Asian alone: ~0.3%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.1%
• Two or more races: ~4%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~2–3%

Households

• Households: ~8,900
• Average household size: ~2.5
• Family households: ~65% (about half are married-couple)
• Households with children under 18: ~27%
• People living alone: ~29%
• Owner-occupied housing: ~75–76%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates.

Email usage in Crawford County, MO (estimates)

• Population: ≈23,000; low density (~30–35 people per square mile).
• Estimated email users: 16,000–18,000 (driven by adult adoption; most access via mobile and home broadband).
• Age mix of users (approx. share of all users):
  • 18–34: 25–30%
  • 35–54: 32–36%
  • 55–64: 16–20%
  • 65+: 18–22% (lower adoption than younger groups)
• Gender split: roughly even (about 50% female / 50% male), mirroring the county’s population.
• Digital access trends:
  • 75–80% of households subscribe to some form of broadband (fixed or cellular).
  • 60–70% have fixed home broadband; 10–15% are smartphone‑only.
  • 15–20% lack a home internet subscription.
  • Household computer access ~80–85%.
• Connectivity facts:
  • Better wired options cluster in towns along I‑44 (Cuba, Bourbon) and in Steelville.
  • Outside town centers, many rely on older DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite; terrain and dispersed addresses raise last‑mile costs and contribute to patchy speeds and adoption.

Notes: Figures are synthesized from recent ACS broadband indicators and national email adoption patterns applied to a rural Missouri county profile.

Below is a county-focused snapshot built from recent national, Missouri, and rural-county patterns, scaled to Crawford County’s size and terrain. Figures are estimates; use them as planning ranges rather than point values.

User estimates (scale-of-use)

• Population base: ≈23,000 residents; ≈17,000–18,000 adults (18+).
• Adults with any mobile phone: ≈16,000–17,000 (about 93–96% of adults; near-universal but slightly below Missouri’s statewide near-universality).
• Adults with a smartphone: ≈13,500–15,000 (about 78–85% of adults), likely a few points below Missouri’s statewide rate.
• Smartphone-only internet households (no home broadband): estimated 22–28% in Crawford County vs roughly 18–22% statewide, reflecting more reliance on mobile data where fixed broadband is limited.
• Prepaid/MVNO users: noticeably higher share than statewide, driven by income mix and coverage variability.

How Crawford County differs from Missouri overall

• Adoption level: High mobile adoption overall, but smartphone adoption a bit lower than the state average, largely due to a larger senior share and lower median income.
• Access mode: Higher dependence on mobile as the primary or only internet connection, especially outside towns.
• Device mix and upgrade cycle: More Android and prepaid devices; slower upgrade cycles than urban Missouri.
• Network experience: More variability in signal quality and speeds outside the I-44 corridor; residents more likely to rely on Wi‑Fi calling and signal boosters.
• 5G availability: Present along the I‑44 corridor (e.g., near Bourbon and Cuba) but sparser away from it; statewide maps show broader 5G in metros than in Crawford’s hills and river valleys.
• Affordability pressures: The lapse of the ACP subsidy in 2024 likely had a larger local impact than in higher‑income metro counties, increasing churn to lower-cost plans and MVNOs.

Demographic breakdown (directional, county vs state)

• Age
  • 18–34: Near-universal smartphone use (≈95%+), similar to state.
  • 35–64: High but a touch lower than state (≈85–90%).
  • 65+: Lower than state average (often ≈55–65% in rural counties vs ≈65–75% statewide). This pulls down the countywide rate.
• Income
  • Lower median household income than Missouri overall correlates with more prepaid plans, older handsets, and higher smartphone-only internet reliance.
• Education
  • Lower four-year degree attainment than the state average; corresponds to slightly lower smartphone adoption and more price-sensitive plan selection.
• Race/ethnicity
  • County is predominantly White; smaller minority populations may show higher mobile-only internet reliance, consistent with state and national patterns, but sample sizes are small at county level.
• Work patterns
  • More outdoor, hospitality/tourism, and manufacturing/transport occupations than state average. This shows up as heavier use of voice/SMS and push‑to‑talk–style apps, and demand for durable devices and boosters for field use.

Digital infrastructure points

• Coverage geography
  • Strongest, most consistent service along I‑44 and in/near towns (Bourbon, Cuba, Steelville). Mid-band 5G is most likely along these corridors.
  • Patchier LTE/5G in hollows and wooded areas, including river valleys (Meramec/Huzzah/Courtois). Terrain causes dead zones and indoor penetration issues.
• Carriers and technologies
  • AT&T and Verizon generally provide the widest rural LTE; T‑Mobile coverage has improved along I‑44 but can drop off faster off‑corridor. Residents frequently use Wi‑Fi calling at home.
  • Fixed options are mixed: cable/fiber in town centers; legacy DSL, fixed wireless ISPs, and satellite (including Starlink) outside town limits. Where fixed service is weak, mobile hotspots fill gaps.
• Capacity and congestion
  • Seasonal and weekend tourism can spike traffic near rivers and campgrounds, creating localized slowdowns not seen in most metro Missouri areas.
• Affordability and programs
  • Lifeline is still active for qualifying residents; the 2024 ACP lapse likely increased plan downgrades and mobile-only reliance. Local libraries and schools remain important Wi‑Fi access points.

Notes on method

• Estimates are derived by applying recent Pew/ACS/FCC rural adoption and coverage patterns to Crawford County’s population, age, and income profile. For planning or grant work, validate with the latest ACS “Computer and Internet Use” tables, FCC Mobile Coverage maps, carrier maps, and local speed-test data.

Social media snapshot: Crawford County, Missouri

How many people use social media (est.)

• Population: about 23,000 (2020 Census). Adults 18+: ~18,000.
• Active social media users (13+): roughly 15,000–16,000 people.
  • Adults: ~14,000–15,000 (about 78–82% of adults use at least one platform).
  • Teens (13–17): ~1,400–1,600 (90%+ are active).

Age and gender

• Gender among social users: roughly 53% female, 47% male (women over-index on Facebook/Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube/Reddit).
• Adoption by age (share of each age group using at least one platform, est.):
  • 13–17: 90–95%
  • 18–29: 90–95%
  • 30–44: 85–90%
  • 45–64: 75–85%
  • 65+: 55–65%

Most-used platforms (share of adults using each; ranges reflect rural Midwest patterns and county age mix)

• YouTube: 75–80%
• Facebook: 62–70%
• Instagram: 28–35%
• Pinterest: 28–35% (skews female, home/recipes/crafts)
• TikTok: 23–30% (higher among under 35)
• Snapchat: 20–28% (very high among teens/early 20s)
• X (Twitter): 10–15%
• Reddit: 10–14% Notes: Overlap is large (multi-platform users). Nextdoor is minimal; Facebook Groups fill that niche locally.

Behavioral trends (what people actually do)

• Facebook as the community hub:
  • Heavy use of local Groups: buy/sell/trade, yard sales, lost & found pets, school boosters, churches, event pages.
  • Local info and alerts (schools, road closures, weather, county services) outperform brand-only posts.
• Video first, but practical: Short, captioned clips (FB Reels, IG Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts) highlighting local events, how‑tos, and behind‑the‑scenes get above-average engagement; keep files small and concise due to spotty rural broadband.
• Messaging for commerce: Facebook Messenger and Marketplace drive many first contacts; “Call now” and “Get directions” actions perform well for small businesses.
• Timing: Evenings (7–9 pm) and weekends see the strongest engagement; early morning (6–7 am) also works for service updates.
• Youth split:
  • Teens/20s coordinate on Snapchat; discover on TikTok; follow sports/peers on Instagram; Facebook mainly for events/parents.
• Interests that trend locally:
  • High school sports, hunting/fishing, trucks/ATVs, homesteading/gardening, crafts, local deals, county fair/festivals, church and community service.
• Trust dynamics: Word‑of‑mouth amplified through Facebook reviews and shares; recognizable local faces, schools, and nonprofits boost credibility.
• Geo reality: Audiences often include spillover from nearby hubs (Sullivan, Rolla/Phelps County). Targeting by towns/ZIPs or 10–20 mile radii typically performs best.

Method and confidence

• Figures are estimates derived by applying recent U.S./rural Midwest social media adoption rates to Crawford County’s population and age mix. For campaign planning, validate exact audiences with platform ad tools (Facebook/Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Google/YouTube) at the ZIP or town level.