Dade County

Here are concise, high-level demographics for Dade County, Missouri. Figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5‑year), rounded for readability.

Population

• Total population: about 7,500 (2023 estimate; 2020 Census count 7,569)

Age

• Under 18: ~21%
• 65 and over: ~23%
• Median age: ~47 years

Sex

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Race and ethnicity

• White alone: ~94%
• Black or African American alone: ~0–1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~1%
• Asian alone: ~0–1%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~2–3%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~93%

Households

• Number of households: ~3,100
• Average household size: ~2.3 persons
• Family households: roughly 60–65% of households

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates (tables including DP05 and S1101).

• Population and density: Dade County has about 7,600 residents (2020 Census) across ~500 sq mi, ~15 people per sq mi.
• Estimated email users: 5,200–5,800 residents. Method: assume ~78% are adults; 90–95% of adults and ~60–70% of teens use email (based on U.S. averages, adjusted for rural access).
• Age distribution among email users (approximate share of users): 18–29: 20–22%; 30–49: 30–32%; 50–64: 25–27%; 65+: 18–22%. Adoption is near‑universal under 50 and lower—but substantial—among seniors.
• Gender split: Roughly even (≈50% female, 50% male); U.S. surveys show minimal gender gap in email use.
• Digital access trends: In rural Missouri, ACS data indicate roughly two‑thirds to three‑quarters of households subscribe to broadband; smartphone‑only internet use is common. In Dade County, fixed wireless, LTE/5G, legacy DSL, and satellite help fill gaps; fiber is more prevalent in towns than in outlying areas. Missouri ARPA/BEAD investments (2024–2028) are expanding fiber and middle‑mile capacity regionally.
• Connectivity context: Low density and long drop distances raise last‑mile costs and slow buildouts. Coverage is generally strongest near towns/along highways, with patchier service in remote areas; public Wi‑Fi at libraries/schools supports residents without home broadband.

Below is a concise, county-specific view built from public datasets (Census/ACS, Pew Research Center, CDC NHIS) and carrier/FCC coverage disclosures through 2024, adjusted for Dade County’s rural and older profile. Figures are estimates; ranges reflect uncertainty and small-population effects.

County context

• Population: about 7,500 (2020 Census), ~3,100 households
• Older and more rural than Missouri overall; age and income patterns drive mobile usage more than race/ethnicity

User estimates (adults and households)

• Adults: roughly 5,700–5,900
• Any mobile phone (smartphone or basic): 92–94% of adults → about 5,250–5,500 users
• Smartphone users: 75–82% of adults → about 4,300–4,800 users
• Feature/basic phone users: 10–15% of adults (older skew) → about 600–900 users
• Wireless-only (no landline) households: 62–68% → about 1,900–2,100 households
• Mobile-only home internet (no fixed broadband, rely on cellular data): 20–25% → about 620–780 households
• Prepaid/MVNO share of lines: elevated at roughly 30–40% (cost sensitivity and credit barriers), higher than state average

Demographic patterns behind usage

• Age:
  • 18–34: near-universal smartphone ownership (~95%+)
  • 35–64: high but slightly below state (~88–92%)
  • 65+: lower smartphone adoption (~50–60%); above-average reliance on voice/text and basic phones
• Income: under $35k households more likely to be smartphone-only for internet (≈30%) due to limited/expensive fixed broadband
• Education: HS or less more likely to be mobile-only for internet access
• Race/ethnicity: county is predominantly White; local digital divide is driven chiefly by age, income, and geography rather than race
• Disability: somewhat higher disability prevalence than state average; more use of larger-screen phones/tablets and accessibility features

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Carrier presence: AT&T and Verizon provide the broadest LTE coverage; T-Mobile present but more variable away from towns. Coverage strongest along primary routes (e.g., US-160, MO-39) and near towns like Greenfield and Lockwood; hollows/valleys and metal-roof buildings see more indoor gaps.
• 5G situation: Low-band 5G is available in select corridors; mid-band 5G (the faster kind) is sparse. Many users effectively remain on LTE for capacity/speed.
• Speeds (indicative): Town centers commonly see 5–25 Mbps on LTE; edges/rural stretches can drop below 5 Mbps. Where low-band 5G is present, 20–100 Mbps is possible but not consistent.
• Tower density/backhaul: Fewer macro sites with longer spacing than urban counties; microwave backhaul is still common. New fiber builds by regional providers and electric co-ops are improving some backhaul segments, but fiber-fed sites are not yet ubiquitous.
• Fixed wireless/home internet interplay: Multiple WISPs use CBRS/2.5 GHz to fill gaps; 4G/5G “home internet” from national carriers is selectively offered where signal is strong. Many outlying addresses remain ineligible.
• Public Wi‑Fi/anchor institutions: Libraries and schools in Greenfield, Dadeville, and Everton continue to provide important Wi‑Fi access points.
• First responders: AT&T FirstNet coverage tracks primary routes; off-route operations may require vehicle boosters for reliable connectivity.

How Dade County differs from Missouri overall

• Lower smartphone penetration (by roughly 8–12 percentage points) due to older age structure and income
• Higher share of mobile-only internet households (by about 5–10 points), reflecting patchier fixed broadband and cost constraints
• More feature-phone retention among seniors and longer device replacement cycles (often 4–5 years vs. nearer 3 statewide)
• Slower and spottier mid-band 5G rollout; LTE remains the workhorse network
• Greater reliance on prepaid/MVNO plans, data caps/throttling more commonly reported
• Usage skews toward voice/text, messaging, and lighter data apps; sustained video streaming is less common outside town centers

Method notes and sources

• Population/households: 2020 Census and ACS 2018–2022; adults approximated at ~77% of population
• Adoption and wireless-only households: Pew Research Center (2023–2024) for smartphone ownership by rural status; CDC NHIS (2022) for wireless-only households; localized by Dade’s older age mix
• Coverage/performance: Synthesis of FCC mobile coverage maps and carrier public maps through 2024, plus rural-Missouri crowdsourced speed test patterns; presented as qualitative/indicative, not exact

Below is a concise, best-available snapshot for Dade County, MO. Exact county-level platform stats aren’t published; figures are estimates extrapolated from Pew Research Center’s 2024 social media use data, rural vs. urban usage gaps, Missouri’s rural demographics, and the county’s population (~7,400–7,600).

Overall user stats

• Estimated social media users: 5,000–5,800 residents
  • Share of adults using social: roughly 70–80% (lower than urban areas), with near-universal use among teens/young adults.
• Access context: Mobile-first behavior is common; broadband gaps persist in parts of the county.

Age mix of users (share of all local social users, est.)

• 13–24: 22–28%
• 25–44: 32–38%
• 45–64: 24–30%
• 65+: 12–16%

Gender breakdown (share of local social users, est.)

• Women: 52–55%
• Men: 45–48% Notes: Women over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, X.

Most-used platforms among local adults (penetration of adult residents, est.)

• YouTube: 75–85%
• Facebook: 65–75%
• Instagram: 30–40%
• TikTok: 25–35%
• Snapchat: 20–30% (concentrated under 30)
• Pinterest: 20–30% (skews female)
• LinkedIn: 15–20% (lower given local industry mix)
• X (Twitter): 10–15%
• Reddit: 10–15%
• Nextdoor: <10%

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: heavy use of local Groups, Marketplace, school/church pages, sports, fairs, lost-and-found, and event updates.
• News and alerts: Weather, road conditions, school closings, and emergency info get strong engagement and rapid resharing.
• Business usage: Local businesses lean on Facebook Pages and boosted posts with tight geofences (20–30 miles). Instagram is secondary; TikTok used mainly by younger owners/creators.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is the default; SMS remains important. WhatsApp use is modest.
• Video: YouTube is big for DIY, farm/ranch, hunting/fishing, equipment repair, and church services. Short-form video (Reels/TikTok) is growing, especially among under-35s.
• Posting rhythm: Engagement peaks evenings/weekends; visuals featuring recognizable people/places outperform generic content.
• Trust cues: Posts from known community members and local institutions are favored; skepticism toward anonymous/outsider pages.
• Connectivity constraints: Some residents face inconsistent broadband, favoring shorter videos and mobile-friendly content.

Notes on methodology/sources

• U.S. Census Bureau (population, rural age structure), Pew Research Center 2024 Social Media Use (platform adoption by age/gender), and known rural usage gaps were used to localize estimates. For higher precision, combine a short local survey with platform ad-audience estimates (Meta, Google, Snapchat, TikTok) restricted to Dade County ZIPs.