Maries County

Key demographics for Maries County, Missouri

Source notes: Population total from the 2020 Decennial Census; all other characteristics from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5‑year estimates.

Population size

• Total population: 8,432 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~44 years
• Under 18: ~22%
• 65 and over: ~24%

Gender

• Female: ~50%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS, shares of total population)

• White alone: ~95%
• Black or African American alone: ~0.4%
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~0.6%
• Asian alone: ~0.2%
• Two or more races: ~4%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~2%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~93%

Household data

• Total households: ~3,400
• Average household size: ~2.45
• Family households: ~66% of households
• Married-couple households: ~54% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~26%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~80% (renters ~20%)

Notes

• Figures are rounded for clarity; ACS values are survey estimates and may have margins of error.

Maries County, Missouri — email usage snapshot (2025)

• Estimated email users: ~6,200 residents (about 73% of the total population of ~8,500; ≈86% of internet users).
• Age distribution of email users:
  • Teens 13–17: ~6%
  • 18–34: ~22%
  • 35–64: ~50%
  • 65+: ~22%
• Gender split among email users: ~51% female, ~49% male.

Digital access and trends

• Internet subscription:
  • Any broadband (incl. cellular data plans): ~82% of households
  • Fixed broadband at home (cable/DSL/fiber/fixed wireless): ~70%
  • Smartphone-only internet households: ~12%
  • No home internet: ~18%
• Access mix: DSL and fixed wireless are most common; cable in town centers (Vienna/Belle areas); fiber present but limited.
• Mobile connectivity: Strongest along US‑63 and MO‑28; patchier in valleys/hollows; 4G LTE is prevalent, 5G coverage limited.
• Public access: Free Wi‑Fi at schools, libraries, and municipal buildings supports residents without reliable home service.

Local density/connectivity facts

• Population density: ~16 residents per square mile (≈8.5k people over ~527 sq mi), reflecting dispersed rural settlement that raises last‑mile costs and favors fixed wireless over fiber build‑outs. These conditions shape email access patterns toward mobile and shared connections, especially among seniors and lower‑income households.

Mobile phone usage in Maries County, Missouri — 2023–2024 snapshot

Headline estimates and usage

• Total population: about 8,300 residents (Census 2023 Vintage estimate). Adult population roughly 6,300.
• Estimated adult smartphone users: about 5,000–5,200 adults (derived from rural smartphone adoption ~80–83% applied to local age/income mix).
• Household device and subscription (ACS 2019–2023, S2801):
  • Households with a smartphone: ~82–85% (Missouri: ~89–91%).
  • Households with any broadband subscription (fixed or cellular): ~76–80% (Missouri: ~83–85%).
  • Households with a cellular data plan (smartphone/tablet hotspot) as part of their internet service: ~60–64% (Missouri: ~71–74%).
  • Households with no internet subscription: ~17–20% (Missouri: ~11–13%).
• Mobile-only (smartphone as primary home internet): materially higher than the state average; expect low-to-mid teens share of households in Maries County versus single digits statewide.

Demographic breakdown that shapes mobile usage

• Age: Older than the state overall. About 20–22% of residents are 65+ (Missouri ~17%). This depresses smartphone adoption and reduces 5G handset penetration versus state averages.
• Income and education: Median household income is lower than the Missouri median (local roughly mid–$50Ks vs Missouri upper–$60Ks), and bachelor’s-or-higher attainment is notably lower (mid–teens percent vs Missouri ~30%+). These factors correlate with higher prepaid usage, slower device upgrade cycles, and greater reliance on cellular-only internet in lieu of fixed broadband.
• Rurality: The county is entirely non-metro/rural with dispersed settlement patterns. That raises the cost per covered user and contributes to patchier 5G and lower median mobile speeds than urban Missouri.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks present: AT&T (including FirstNet), Verizon, T‑Mobile, and UScellular operate in central Missouri, with service in Maries County. LTE is common along primary corridors (e.g., US‑63, MO‑28), with pockets of weak or no signal in low-lying/forested areas and on secondary roads.
• 5G availability: Low-band 5G is present in and along main corridors; contiguous coverage remains limited away from towns and highways. Mid‑band 5G capacity sites are sparse relative to urban Missouri, so 5G speeds swing widely and often fall back to LTE.
• Performance: Typical rural LTE downlink speeds are lower than state medians (often a few tens of Mbps in town and single-digit to low tens in fringe areas). 5G peaks well above LTE where mid‑band is available, but those locations are the exception.
• Backhaul and fiber: Middle‑mile fiber traverses the region primarily along state highways; last‑mile fiber/building density is modest. Where households lack fixed broadband, mobile data plans and smartphone tethering fill the gap.
• Public safety and resilience: FirstNet coverage follows the same corridor pattern; off‑corridor coverage gaps persist, which affects reliability during severe weather and peak congestion.
• Tower siting: Registered macro sites are fewer and farther apart than in metro counties, with terrain (Ozark foothills) imposing line-of-sight challenges; this constrains both capacity and indoor penetration.

How Maries County differs from Missouri overall

• Lower smartphone penetration at the household level and fewer broadband‑subscribed households than the state average.
• Higher reliance on cellular data as a primary or fallback home connection (mobile-only households are more common).
• 5G coverage is spottier and more corridor‑bound; mid‑band capacity sites are much less prevalent than statewide, contributing to lower median speeds and more LTE fallback.
• A larger senior share and lower incomes translate to more prepaid usage and longer device replacement cycles, slowing 5G handset penetration compared with Missouri urban/suburban areas.
• Coverage gaps and performance variability are materially greater than the state average due to terrain and tower spacing.

Implications

• User growth will be incremental and tied to 5G buildouts along secondary roads plus targeted infill sites; without additional sites/backhaul, performance will lag state trends.
• Demand for fixed‑wireless access (FWA) via 5G and LTE will remain above state average where wireline options are limited, sustaining higher cellular‑only household shares.
• Programs that expand last‑mile fiber and subsidize device/plan upgrades for seniors will have outsized impact on closing the local digital gap relative to Missouri overall.

Sources and basis

• U.S. Census Bureau 2023 Vintage population estimates.
• American Community Survey 2019–2023 5‑year (table S2801: Computer and Internet Use) for household smartphone/broadband metrics.
• FCC Broadband Data Collection maps (2024) and carrier public coverage disclosures for technology availability and corridor patterns.

Social media usage in Maries County, Missouri (2025 snapshot)

Population baseline

• Residents: ~8.5K (Census est.). Households with broadband internet: ~75–80% (ACS). Rural, older-skewed age mix.

Overall user stats

• People using at least one social platform monthly: ~5,500 (≈65% of residents).
• By age (share of local social media users):
  • 13–17: 9%
  • 18–29: 16%
  • 30–44: 24%
  • 45–64: 30%
  • 65+: 21%
• Gender among social users: ~52% female, 48% male.

Most‑used platforms (share of local social media users who use each at least monthly)

• YouTube: ~81%
• Facebook: ~73%
• Instagram: ~37%
• TikTok: ~28%
• Snapchat: ~24%
• X (Twitter): ~15%
• Reddit: ~13%
• LinkedIn: ~10%
• WhatsApp: ~8%
• Nextdoor: ~5%

Behavioral trends and use patterns

• Facebook is the community hub: buy/sell/trade groups, school and youth sports, church and event updates, obituaries, lost/found, severe weather and road conditions. Facebook Groups and Marketplace drive the most local interactions.
• Video consumption is high but practical: YouTube for how‑to, home/auto repair, outdoor recreation (hunting/fishing), product research, and church/meeting streams. Facebook Reels perform better than long posts for local businesses.
• Messaging is essential: Facebook Messenger is the default for local inquiries, scheduling, and customer service; many transactions move from public posts to private DMs.
• Younger users split attention: Teens lean on TikTok and Snapchat for entertainment and friend networks; Instagram is used for school sports, prom, and local boutiques; many cross‑post short video to Facebook to reach parents/community.
• Professional networking is limited: LinkedIn usage is modest; job discovery skews to Facebook Groups and word‑of‑mouth rather than LinkedIn.
• X/Twitter is niche: Used mainly for statewide news, politics, and sports; limited for day‑to‑day local community.
• Timing: Engagement peaks early morning (before work/school), evenings (7–10 pm), and Sundays; midday weekday dips are common. Storms, school announcements, and local emergencies spike Facebook traffic.
• Content that works: Clear photos, short local videos, and time‑sensitive offers; giveaways and “shop local” messaging outperform generic brand posts. Practical tips and behind‑the‑scenes posts from local businesses earn comments and shares.

Notes on methodology

• Figures are 2025 estimates for Maries County derived from U.S. Census/ACS demographics and broadband access, combined with Pew Research Center 2024 platform adoption by age and rural adjustments; teen platform rates reflect recent Pew teen surveys. These produce county‑specific, age‑weighted estimates suitable for planning and benchmarking.