Osage County

Osage County, Missouri — key demographics (latest available Census Bureau data; primarily 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, with 2020 Decennial Census for the official population count)

• Population

  • 2020 Census: 13,615 residents

• Age

  • Median age: ~41.5 years
  • Age distribution: under 18 ~24%; 18–64 ~58%; 65+ ~18%

• Sex

  • Male ~51%; Female ~49%

• Race and ethnicity

  • White alone ~95%
  • Black or African American alone ~0.5%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native alone ~0.3%
  • Asian alone ~0.2%
  • Two or more races ~3%
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race) ~2%
  • Non-Hispanic White ~94%

• Households

  • Total households: ~5,200
  • Average household size: ~2.6
  • Family households: ~70% of households; married-couple households ~58%
  • Households with children under 18: ~30%
  • Living alone: ~24% of households; age 65+ living alone: ~11–12%
  • Homeownership rate: ~80% owner-occupied; ~20% renter-occupied

Insights

• Small, predominantly non-Hispanic White, rural county with a median age in the low 40s, indicating a modestly older-than-national population.
• Household structure is dominated by married-couple families, with relatively high homeownership and modest household sizes typical of rural Missouri.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Estimates are subject to sampling error.

Osage County, MO context: ~13,915 residents (2020) across ~605 sq mi; density ≈23 people/sq mi, indicating rural, sparse connectivity.

Estimated email users: ≈8,300 adult residents use email regularly.

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

• 18–34: 28% (~2,300)
• 35–54: 36% (~3,000)
• 55–64: 18% (~1,500)
• 65+: 18% (~1,500)

Gender split among email users: 50% female (4,150) and 50% male (4,150).

Digital access and trends:

• About 78% of households have a broadband subscription; roughly 14% rely primarily on smartphone data plans.
• Cable/DSL is concentrated in and around towns such as Linn and Westphalia; outside town centers, residents more often depend on fixed wireless or satellite.
• 5G and enhanced LTE coverage have expanded along major corridors (e.g., US‑50), improving mobile email reliability.
• Email is effectively universal among working‑age adults; usage among seniors lags but continues to rise as smartphone adoption grows.

Insights: Low population density raises last‑mile costs and creates patchy wired coverage, but mobile networks and fixed wireless are narrowing gaps. Most workforce, school, and government communications in the county assume email access, reinforcing high adoption among adults.

Mobile phone usage in Osage County, Missouri — 2025 snapshot

User estimates

• Total mobile phone users: approximately 11,000–11,500 residents out of a 2020 Census population of 13,915, based on national/rural ownership rates (Pew Research Center, 2023) applied to local age structure.
• Smartphone users: approximately 9,800–10,300 residents. Adults in rural areas typically show 82–86% smartphone adoption; teens 13–17 are ~95%+.

Demographic breakdown

• Age
  • 13–17: very high smartphone penetration (~95%+), similar to statewide.
  • 18–49: near-universal smartphone ownership (~95–97%), on par with Missouri.
  • 50–64: high but below prime-age adults (~80–85%), slightly below statewide averages.
  • 65+: meaningfully lower smartphone adoption (~55–65%), a larger gap than the state average because rural seniors lag more.
• Income and household patterns
  • Broadband substitution: a higher share of “smartphone-only” internet households than Missouri overall. ACS 2018–2022 five-year data suggest rural counties like Osage have lower fixed-broadband subscription rates (~70–75% vs ~80–82% statewide), implying greater reliance on cellular data plans for home internet (roughly mid-to-high teens percent of households vs low teens statewide).
  • Plan types: prepaid and MVNO lines are more prevalent than in urban Missouri due to budget sensitivity and variable coverage by carrier.
• Geography and work profile
  • The county’s dispersed, rural settlement pattern and older median age concentrate non-smartphone and voice/text-only usage among seniors and in the most remote tracts.
  • Among working-age residents, smartphone use for navigation, messaging, and basic business apps is widespread, but heavy streaming and cloud-app usage is moderated by patchy mid-band 5G capacity.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Network availability
  • All three national carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) operate in and around Osage County; UScellular also has coverage footprints in parts of rural Missouri. 4G LTE covers most populated areas and primary corridors; 5G low-band is present near towns and along main routes.
  • Mid-band 5G (capacity 5G) is spotty compared with Missouri’s urban counties; mmWave small cells are effectively absent.
• Performance
  • Typical observed ranges in rural Missouri apply: LTE often 5–50 Mbps; 5G low-band about 30–100 Mbps; mid-band 5G (where available) 100–300 Mbps. Peak speeds depend heavily on proximity to towers and spectrum used.
  • Reliability can degrade in river valleys, wooded areas, and at the edges between tower sectors, leading to more frequent fallback to LTE than in metro counties.
• Backhaul and density
  • Tower density is lower than the state average; fiber backhaul is present along primary corridors but sparser elsewhere. This constrains capacity upgrades and contributes to slower rollout of high-capacity 5G relative to Missouri’s cities and larger suburbs.

How Osage County differs from Missouri overall

• Adoption gap among seniors is wider: smartphone penetration for 65+ is several points lower than the statewide average, reflecting rural age structure and digital comfort levels.
• Higher smartphone-only internet reliance: a larger slice of households depend on cellular data rather than a fixed broadband subscription, driven by fewer wired options and subscription rates several points below the state.
• Slower transition to capacity 5G: mid-band 5G coverage is materially thinner than in Missouri’s metro counties; users remain more reliant on LTE and low-band 5G.
• Plan mix skews slightly more prepaid/MVNO due to coverage variability and price sensitivity; in metro Missouri, postpaid penetration is higher.
• Usage profile emphasizes essential communications and navigation, with fewer ultra-high-bandwidth use cases than in urban parts of the state.

Definitive statistics and sources (latest widely available)

• Population baseline: 13,915 (U.S. Census, 2020).
• Smartphone and cellphone ownership rates used for estimation: Pew Research Center, 2023 (U.S. adults: ~97% own a cellphone; ~85% own a smartphone; rural adult smartphone ownership typically a few points lower than urban/suburban).
• Household broadband and “smartphone-only” patterns: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2018–2022 five-year (Table S2801: computer and internet subscription types), indicating lower fixed-broadband subscription rates in rural counties like Osage than the Missouri average.
• Coverage and technology mix: FCC Broadband Data Collection (2023–2024 filings) and carrier disclosures showing broad LTE with partial low-band 5G in rural Missouri and concentrated mid-band 5G in/near metro areas.

Key takeaways

• Expect about 11k+ mobile phone users in Osage County, with roughly 10k using smartphones.
• The county leans more smartphone-only for home internet and less toward high-capacity 5G than Missouri overall.
• Age and geography drive a larger senior adoption gap and a stronger dependence on LTE/low-band 5G, shaping a usage profile that’s more utilitarian and coverage-conscious than the state average.

Social media usage in Osage County, MO (best-available 2024 estimate, rural-adjusted) Method note: County-specific social platform data are not directly published. Figures below are derived from 2024 Pew Research Center social platform adoption rates, calibrated to rural U.S./Missouri patterns and the county’s older age profile. Treat as realistic local estimates rather than a platform’s ad-reach counts.

Most-used platforms among adults (estimated penetration)

• YouTube: 75–85%
• Facebook: 60–70%
• Instagram: 35–45%
• TikTok: 25–35%
• Snapchat: 20–28%
• Pinterest: 25–35%
• X (Twitter): 15–22%
• LinkedIn: 12–20%
• Reddit: 15–22%
• WhatsApp: 15–22%

Age-group patterns (share using each platform; local ranges reflect rural skew)

• Teens (13–17): Snapchat high (60–70%), TikTok high (60–70%), Instagram high (60–70%), YouTube near-universal; Facebook low.
• 18–29: YouTube very high (85–95%); Instagram high (70–80%); Snapchat high (60–70%); TikTok high (55–65%); Facebook moderate (45–55%).
• 30–49: Facebook high (65–75%); YouTube very high (85–90%); Instagram moderate (50–60%); TikTok moderate (30–40%); Snapchat lower (20–30%).
• 50–64: Facebook high (65–75%); YouTube high (75–85%); Instagram lower (25–40%); TikTok lower (20–30%).
• 65+: Facebook moderate-to-high (55–65%); YouTube moderate (45–55%); Instagram low (10–20%); TikTok low (8–15%).

Gender breakdown (directional)

• Women: Higher usage of Facebook and Instagram; strong on Pinterest. Expect women to constitute a slight majority of active social users overall (roughly 52–55%), and a clear majority on Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest audiences.
• Men: Higher usage of YouTube, Reddit, and X; slightly lower on Instagram/TikTok than women, but similar on Facebook among 50+.

Behavioral trends observed in rural Missouri counties that apply locally

• Community-first Facebook usage: Heavy reliance on Facebook Groups and Pages for school sports, churches, local government notices, volunteer drives, fairs, and weather/road updates. Facebook Marketplace is a primary buy/sell channel for farm equipment, vehicles, and household goods.
• Video is default learning/entertainment: YouTube is the go-to for how-to, repairs, hunting/fishing, equipment reviews, and church services; TikTok/shorts used for humor, local highlights, recipes, and sports clips.
• Messaging over posting among older adults: 50+ cohorts are daily scrollers, infrequent posters; they share via Messenger more than public posts.
• Youth split attention across apps: Teens and young adults prioritize Snapchat (messaging/stories) and TikTok (discovery/creation), with Instagram for peers and sports; Facebook mainly for family or community obligations.
• Small business and civic use: Local businesses, schools, and county offices primarily use Facebook (events, service updates); Instagram is growing for food/retail; limited LinkedIn utility except for hiring in healthcare, education, and skilled trades.
• Trust via local voices: Posts from known community members, coaches, pastors, and county staff drive higher engagement than polished brand content.
• Time-of-day peaks: Early morning (6–8 a.m.), lunch (11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.), and evenings (7–10 p.m.) see engagement spikes; weekend activity centers on events, sports, and Marketplace.
• Mobile-first behavior: Most usage is via smartphones; short video and vertical formats outperform; links to external sites convert best when paired with a clear local benefit.

Sources

• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (platform adoption by age, gender; rural vs. urban patterns)
• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (rural age structure informing local adjustments)
• Aggregated industry benchmarks (DataReportal/We Are Social; platform reports) to cross-check national-to-local scaling