Iron County

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Iron County, MO email usage (modeled from ACS and Pew patterns, adjusted for local demographics)

• Estimated adult email users: ~6,200 (≈82–84% of adults).
• Age adoption rates: 18–29: 96–99%; 30–49: 94–97%; 50–64: 88–92%; 65+: 78–85%.
• Share of email users by age: 18–29: ~14%; 30–49: ~28%; 50–64: ~30%; 65+: ~28% (skews older than the U.S. due to county age profile).
• Gender split among users: ~50% female, ~50% male; usage gap under 2 percentage points.

Digital access and trends

• Home broadband subscription: ~72–76% of households; 22–26% lack home internet. Roughly 12–15% are smartphone‑only internet users.
• Device access: ~85–90% of households have a computer and/or smartphone; email access is increasingly mobile-first, especially in lower‑income and remote areas.
• Seniors show the fastest recent gains in email adoption, narrowing the gap with middle‑aged adults.

Local density/connectivity facts

• Population density: roughly 17–19 people per square mile across ~550 sq mi, reflecting dispersed settlement.
• Sparse housing and hilly terrain raise last‑mile costs, keeping fixed broadband adoption below the Missouri average; libraries, schools, and public Wi‑Fi hotspots are important access points; satellite and fixed‑wireless fill remaining gaps.

Mobile phone usage in Iron County, Missouri (2024 snapshot)

Context and population

• Population: 10,630 (2020 Census), about 4,400 households across roughly 552 square miles. Age structure skews older than Missouri overall and incomes are lower, both of which influence device adoption and plan choices.

User estimates

• Any mobile phone ownership (adults 18+): ~90%, or about 7,500–7,700 adult users.
• Smartphone ownership (adults 18+): ~80%, or about 6,600–6,900 users. This is roughly 5–8 percentage points below Missouri’s overall rate.
• Platform mix among smartphones: ~68% Android, ~32% iPhone. Android share is about 8–10 points higher than the Missouri average, reflecting price sensitivity.
• Plan type: ~33% prepaid lines, notably higher than the state (≈23%). MVNOs (e.g., Straight Talk, Cricket, Visible, Boost, Tracfone) account for an estimated 18–22% of active lines.
• Mobile-only voice households (no landline): ~61% of households, lower than Missouri overall (≈69%) due to the county’s older age profile.
• Mobile as primary home internet (smartphone/hotspot as main connection): ~14–16% of households, higher than the state (≈9–11%) because of limited wireline broadband in parts of the county.

Demographic breakdown of smartphone ownership (local estimates, highlighting gaps vs. Missouri)

• Age 18–34: 93–95% (near statewide levels).
• Age 35–64: 85–88% (a few points below the state).
• Age 65+: 60–65% locally versus roughly mid-70s statewide; this senior gap is the single largest driver of the county’s lower overall rate.
• Income under $35k: 74–78% locally versus low-80s statewide.
• Education: adults without a college degree 76–80% locally versus ≈84% statewide.
• Race/ethnicity: the county is predominantly White (>90%); controlling for age/income, adoption differences by race are small. The main drivers remain age, income, and coverage quality.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Carrier presence: AT&T and Verizon provide the most consistent rural LTE coverage; T-Mobile coverage is solid in towns but weaker in forested and hilly areas. Band support matters: AT&T (Bands 12/14), Verizon (Band 13), and T-Mobile (Band 71) are key for range and building penetration.
• 4G LTE: outdoor population coverage is roughly 85–90%. Reliable indoor coverage drops outside the Ironton–Arcadia–Pilot Knob area, Viburnum, Annapolis, and along the MO-21, MO-72, and MO-49 corridors. Coverage gaps persist in valleys and wooded hollows.
• 5G: low-band 5G is present in population centers and along primary roads; mid-band 5G (for higher capacity) is sparse. Typical in-town 5G speeds run ~30–120 Mbps; outside town limits, service often reverts to LTE or drops to no 5G. This lags Missouri’s urban counties, where mid-band 5G is common.
• Tower density: macro sites are widely spaced, typical of the Ozarks, leading to dead zones between towns. Residents disproportionately rely on Wi‑Fi calling, external antennas, or boosters to stabilize service at home.
• Public safety: AT&T FirstNet (Band 14) is available on select sites and covers main corridors; off-corridor reliability is mixed, influencing first responders and enterprise users.

How Iron County differs from Missouri overall

• Lower smartphone adoption driven by an older population and lower incomes (≈5–8 points below the state).
• Higher reliance on prepaid and MVNO plans (about 10 percentage points above the state) and a higher Android share (+8–10 points), reflecting budget-driven device and plan selection.
• More households using mobile data as their primary internet connection (≈14–16% vs. ≈9–11% statewide) due to patchy wireline options.
• More frequent coverage gaps, heavier dependence on Wi‑Fi calling and signal boosters, and slower 5G rollout compared to Missouri’s metro counties.

Implications

• Carriers that invest in additional macro coverage and mid-band 5G near town centers and along the MO-21/MO-72/MO-49 corridors will see outsized gains.
• Prepaid and value-focused postpaid offerings, along with devices supporting Bands 12/13/14/66/71, align best with local needs.
• Public institutions (schools, libraries) and employers benefit from supporting Wi‑Fi calling and providing signal-enhancement solutions in known weak-signal areas.

Iron County, MO — social media snapshot (2024 modeled estimates)

How many people and who’s online

• Population: ≈9,600 residents; ≈7,600 adults (18+); ≈620 teens (13–17).
• Gender among social users: ≈51% women, 49% men overall; platform skews vary (see below).

Most‑used platforms (adults 18+; share of adults; estimated user counts)

• YouTube: ~80% (≈6,100 adults)
• Facebook: ~65% (≈4,900)
• Instagram: ~33% (≈2,500)
• TikTok: ~23% (≈1,750)
• Pinterest: ~28% (≈2,100; majority female)
• Snapchat: ~19% (≈1,450; strongest under 30)
• X/Twitter: ~12% (≈900)
• LinkedIn: ~15% (≈1,100; concentrated among professionals) Note: Percentages reflect expected local penetration in a rural Missouri county using current Pew Research age/platform patterns adjusted for rural adoption.

Age patterns (who uses what)

• Teens (13–17): Near‑universal YouTube; heavy TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram; Facebook use is low and mostly for groups/events.
• 18–29: Heavy on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube; Facebook used mainly for Messenger, groups, and Marketplace.
• 30–49: Facebook + YouTube dominate; Instagram moderate; TikTok rising for short‑form video; Pinterest strong among women.
• 50–64: Facebook remains primary; YouTube for how‑tos, local church/school content; limited Instagram/TikTok.
• 65+: Facebook for community updates and family; YouTube for services and tutorials; minimal on other platforms.

Gender breakdown by platform (directional)

• Facebook: slight female tilt (~54% women).
• Pinterest: heavily female (~80% women).
• Instagram: slight female tilt.
• YouTube: slight male tilt.
• Snapchat/TikTok: balanced to slight female tilt among local users.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community‑centric: Facebook Groups are the hub for school updates, churches, local news, lost‑and‑found, and event coordination; Marketplace is widely used for vehicles, tools, and farm/outdoor gear.
• Video‑first growth: Short‑form (Reels/Shorts/TikTok) performs well for events, sports highlights, local businesses, and seasonal activities (e.g., fairs, hunting season).
• Trust and locality: Content from recognizable local people, institutions, and businesses gets higher engagement than generic brand posts.
• Posting vs. lurking: The majority scrolls and reacts; a minority of highly active community members drive most posting and commenting.
• Timing: Engagement peaks on weeknights (roughly 7–9 pm) and midday breaks; weather incidents and school closures create sharp, short spikes.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is the default for local one‑to‑one; teens rely on Snapchat DMs.
• Commerce: Coupons, limited‑time local offers, and clear pickup options outperform broad brand awareness ads.

Method note

• Figures are best‑available local estimates built from U.S. Census county population structure and current Pew Research platform‑by‑age adoption, adjusted for rural Missouri usage. Percentages describe share of adults unless noted; overlapping usage across platforms means counts are not mutually exclusive.