Gentry County

Here are key demographics for Gentry County, Missouri. Figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census and 2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimates); small-county margins of error apply.

Population

• Total: 6,162 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~43–44 years
• Under 18: ~22%
• 65 and over: ~22%

Gender

• Male: ~50–51%
• Female: ~49–50%

Race and Hispanic/Latino origin

• White (alone): ~94–96%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~1–3%
• Black or African American: ~0–1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0–1%
• Asian: ~0–1%

Households and families

• Households: ~2,400–2,600
• Average household size: ~2.3–2.4
• Family households: ~60–65% of households
• Married-couple families: ~45–55% of households
• Nonfamily households: ~35–40%
• With children under 18: ~25–30% of households
• Householder living alone age 65+: ~14–17% of households

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (population count) and 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates (age, sex, race/ethnicity, household composition).

Gentry County, MO snapshot (pop. ≈6,400; 2020 Census)

Estimated email users: 4,800–5,200 (roughly 75–82% of residents). Basis: ACS household broadband subscription in similar rural MO counties is ~75–80%, and Pew finds >90% of internet users use email.

Age distribution of email users (approx. share of users):

• 13–34: 30–35%
• 35–54: 30–32%
• 55–64: 14–16%
• 65+: 18–22% (email use lower but rising among seniors)

Gender split: About even (≈50/50). Minor skew toward women in the overall population does not meaningfully change email usage rates.

Digital access trends:

• Gradual growth in home broadband subscriptions since 2016; smartphone-only access common (≈10–15% of households rely primarily on mobile data).
• Highest fixed broadband availability in/around towns (Albany, Stanberry, King City); many rural addresses depend on fixed wireless or satellite.
• Public Wi‑Fi (libraries, schools) supplements access for students and low-income residents.

Local density/connectivity facts:

• Low density (~13 people per square mile across ~490 sq mi) makes last‑mile builds costlier, slowing universal fiber coverage.
• Ongoing state/federal rural broadband funding is expanding fiber and boosting speeds, narrowing gaps but leaving pockets of limited fixed service.

Sources: U.S. Census/ACS (2018–2022) patterns; Pew Research on internet/email adoption.

Below is a practical snapshot of mobile phone usage in Gentry County, Missouri, with estimates, who’s using what, and the on‑the‑ground infrastructure—highlighting how it differs from statewide patterns.

User estimates (orders of magnitude; ranges reflect rural-county variance)

• Population and households: roughly 6–7k residents and 2.4–2.7k households.
• Smartphone users: about 4.8–5.5k residents. This assumes adult smartphone adoption in the 78–85% range (rural counties typically trail Missouri’s statewide rate by ~5–10 percentage points).
• Cellular-only internet households: about 450–700 (roughly 18–28% of households), higher than Missouri overall (commonly ~12–18%). This reflects limited wired broadband outside town centers and greater reliance on phones and hotspots.
• Prepaid/MVNO share: likely 30–40% of mobile lines (above the state average), driven by cost sensitivity, variable credit access, and weaker device financing offers from major carriers in sparsely populated areas.

Demographic breakdown (how usage differs inside the county)

• Age
  • 18–34: very high smartphone adoption (≈95%+), similar to the state.
  • 35–64: high adoption (≈85–90%), slightly below state rates.
  • 65+: noticeably lower adoption (≈60–70%) than Missouri overall; larger niche of basic/flip phones (≈8–12% vs ≈5% statewide). Seniors who do adopt are more likely to be smartphone‑only for home internet because wired plans are limited or costly.
• Income and education
  • Lower‑income households (under ~$35k) show slightly lower ownership but higher mobile‑only reliance for home internet and services (banking, telehealth, school portals).
  • Households with high‑school education or less are more likely to be mobile‑only (≈20–30%) than similar households statewide.
• Household type
  • Renters and younger families are more likely to rely on prepaid plans and hotspotting than their statewide peers.

Digital infrastructure points (what the networks look like on the ground)

• Carrier footprint: AT&T, Verizon, and T‑Mobile operate in the area; UScellular devices often roam in parts of northwest MO. AT&T also provides FirstNet for public safety.
• 5G/LTE mix
  • Low‑band 5G is relatively widespread, but mid‑band 5G (the “fast” stuff like n41/c‑band) is limited to or near towns and main corridors. Residents spend more time on LTE than the Missouri average.
  • Practical speeds vary widely: 5G mid‑band pockets deliver strong performance near towns, but many areas see LTE‑like speeds, especially indoors or in valleys.
• Coverage gaps and indoor signal
  • More frequent dead or weak zones than the state average, notably away from highways and outside Albany/King City. In‑home boosters and Wi‑Fi calling are common workarounds.
• Sites and backhaul
  • A small number of macro towers (often on shared towerco sites) serve broad areas; few small cells. Backhaul is a mix of microwave and limited fiber; capacity can pinch during peak periods.
• Fixed wireless and alternatives
  • T‑Mobile Home Internet and local WISPs cover meaningful portions of the county; cable and fiber are concentrated in town. This pushes higher mobile and hotspot use for home connectivity. Starlink adoption is notable among remote farms/homesteads.
• Public safety and agriculture
  • FirstNet is important for responders. Farm operations increasingly use LTE for telemetry, precision ag, and equipment tracking, raising demand for reliable rural coverage.

How Gentry County differs from Missouri overall (the key trends)

• Slightly lower overall smartphone adoption, with a much wider senior gap.
• Higher reliance on mobile‑only internet for the home.
• Lower and more variable mobile speeds; more time on LTE and low‑band 5G; fewer mid‑band 5G deployments than the state average.
• Higher share of prepaid/MVNO lines and hotspotting behavior.
• Greater need for in‑home boosters/Wi‑Fi calling due to weaker indoor coverage and sparser tower density.

Notes on method and how to firm up numbers

• These estimates reflect typical patterns seen in rural Missouri counties using ACS S2801 (device and subscription), Pew Research smartphone adoption, and federal/provider coverage data, scaled to Gentry County’s size and age profile.

Here’s a concise, county‑specific snapshot using the latest Census demographics and Pew Research platform adoption by age, adjusted for Gentry County’s older, rural profile. Note: true platform shares aren’t published at the county level; figures below are modeled estimates with ranges.

Population and access context

• Population: ~6,200–6,500 (ACS 2019–2023). Adults (18+): ~4,800–5,100.
• Households with broadband: roughly 70–80% (rural MO range). Smartphone access is common; some “smartphone‑only” households.

Estimated social media user base (adults)

• Adults using at least one social platform: ~3,300–3,900 (about 65–75% of adults).
• Teens (13–17) are highly active; usage is near-universal for YouTube and very high for Snapchat/Instagram/TikTok, but they’re a smaller share of the county.

Age mix (share of adult social media users, est.)

• 18–29: 20–25% (very high daily use; video and messaging heavy).
• 30–49: 30–35% (broad platform mix; family, local info, shopping).
• 50–64: 20–25% (Facebook/YouTube core; growing short‑form video viewing).
• 65+: 20–25% (Facebook/YouTube primary; lower use of Instagram/TikTok).

Gender tendencies (directional)

• Women: relatively higher use of Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; more local community/group activity and Marketplace.
• Men: relatively higher use of YouTube, Reddit, X; strong “how‑to,” news, sports, ag content.

Most‑used platforms (adult reach in Gentry County, est.)

• YouTube: 75–80% of adults
• Facebook: 65–75%
• Instagram: 30–40% (skews <50, female)
• TikTok: 20–30% (skews <40)
• Snapchat: 15–25% (dominant among teens/20s)
• Pinterest: 25–35% (skews female)
• X (Twitter): 15–20%
• Reddit: 12–18% Note: percents are “reach” (use at least once); platforms overlap.

Behavioral trends to expect locally

• Facebook is the community hub: school and sports updates, church and civic groups, buy/sell/Marketplace, local events, weather and road conditions.
• Video first: YouTube for how‑to, ag and equipment, home projects, local sports replays; short‑form (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) growing quickly across all ages.
• Messaging matters: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat drive private sharing; many adults are “lurkers” who engage via reactions/shares more than posting.
• Time‑of‑day peaks: early morning (6–8am), evening (7–10pm), and weekend mid‑day; spikes around weather alerts, school announcements, and local events.
• Trust and content style: higher engagement with familiar, local voices; real people, names, and places outperform polished creative; skepticism toward national news—local pages and groups carry more weight.
• Commerce: heavy use of Marketplace and local business pages; “boosted” Facebook posts with tight geo‑targeting (25–50 miles) perform well; offers and time‑bound promos convert best.
• Youth split: teens/20s live on Snapchat/Instagram/TikTok for daily socializing; they still monitor Facebook for school/teams/community announcements.

Method and sources

• Demographics: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019–2023 (Gentry County, MO).
• Platform adoption by age/setting: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use (2023–2024). Rural usage is a few points below national averages; Gentry’s older age mix further lowers Instagram/TikTok and lifts Facebook’s relative importance.