Ozark County

Ozark County, Missouri — key demographics

Population size

• 8,553 (2020 Census)
• Down about 12% from 2010 (9,723)

Age (ACS 2019–2023)

• Median age: about 52 years
• Under 18: ~19%
• 18–64: ~53%
• 65 and over: ~28%

Gender (ACS 2019–2023)

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2019–2023)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~95%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2–3%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~2%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: ~1% or less
• Black, non-Hispanic; Asian, non-Hispanic; Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: each ~0–0.5%

Household data (ACS 2019–2023)

• Households: ~3,800
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Family households: ~62% (married-couple ~50%)
• Nonfamily households: ~38% (single-person ~33%)
• Households with someone age 65+: ~40%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~80%

Insights

• Small, aging population with a median age in the early 50s and a high share 65+
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White
• Small household sizes, many single-person and older-adult households, and high homeownership

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates (tables DP05, DP02, DP04). Figures are estimates and may reflect rounding.

Ozark County, MO snapshot (2024 est.)

• Population and density: 8,553 residents (2020 Census) over ~744 sq mi of land; ~11.5 people per sq mi, among Missouri’s least-dense counties.
• Estimated email users: 5,400 residents (63% of the population) use email at least monthly. Estimate combines county age mix with national email-adoption norms adjusted for rural internet access.
• Age distribution of email users: 18–34: ~22%; 35–54: ~30%; 55–64: ~18%; 65+: ~30% (older users are a large share because the county skews older).
• Gender split of email users: ~51% female, ~49% male, roughly mirroring the population.
• Digital access and connectivity:
  • About two-thirds of households maintain a broadband subscription; roughly one in five households still lack home internet.
  • Smartphone-only access accounts for much of the remainder; satellite and legacy DSL are common stopgaps.
  • Fixed fiber/cable is concentrated around Gainesville and along main corridors; service quality drops in hollows and sparsely populated areas due to terrain and long loop distances.
  • Access has been improving since 2021 with state/federal buildouts, but overall broadband availability and speeds remain below Missouri averages, influencing email adoption and usage frequency.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Ozark County, Missouri

Scope and sources

• Definitive statistics come from the 2020 Decennial Census and the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018–2022 American Community Survey (ACS) on device and internet subscriptions; directional infrastructure notes reflect FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) filings and carrier coverage disclosures current through 2024. Where no person-level county metric exists, user counts are transparently estimated from those datasets and nationally benchmarked smartphone adoption by age.

Population and households

• Population (2020 Census): 8,553
• Households (ACS 2018–2022, rounded): about 3,600–3,800

User estimates (derived)

• Adult smartphone users: approximately 5,600–6,100 residents
  • Method: apply national smartphone adoption by age (Pew, 2023: 96% ages 18–49, ~90% ages 50–64, ~75% ages 65+) to Ozark County’s older-leaning age mix to estimate adult users from the county’s adult population base.
• Residents relying on mobile connections as their primary home internet: roughly 1,700–2,000 people in 750–900 households (about 20–24% of households)
  • Method: use ACS “cellular data plan with no other subscription” at the county level as a proxy for mobile-only home internet, then multiply by persons per household.
• Households with a smartphone present: approximately 80–86% (county) versus about 90–92% (Missouri statewide)

Demographic breakdown and implications for mobile use

• Older population share is notably higher than Missouri’s statewide profile. That skews overall smartphone take-up slightly lower than the state while increasing the share of basic- and mid-tier Android devices among seniors and fixed-income households.
• Income and poverty levels are less favorable than the Missouri average, which correlates with:
  • Higher reliance on prepaid plans and budget MVNOs
  • More mobile-only internet households (to avoid the cost of fixed broadband)
  • Greater sensitivity to data caps and promotional coverage differences
• Racial/ethnic composition is predominantly White, with small minority populations; language and ESL factors play a minimal role in device choice compared with age, income, and terrain-driven coverage constraints.

Digital infrastructure and coverage characteristics

• Terrain: The Ozark Plateau’s hills, hollows, and forest canopy create shadowed valleys and irregular signal propagation, producing more dead zones than the state average away from towns, ridgelines, and highways.
• Macro coverage: Major national carriers (AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon) provide baseline LTE across population centers and along primary corridors (e.g., US‑160, MO‑5), with noticeable gaps on secondary roads and in low-lying areas. 5G is present primarily on low-band spectrum; mid-band 5G coverage is patchier than the Missouri average.
• Backhaul and capacity: Fewer fiber-fed cell sites and longer microwave spans depress peak speeds and loaded performance relative to urban/suburban Missouri, especially during evening hours and peak seasonal traffic.
• Fixed broadband alternatives: Sparse cable/fiber plant and distance-limited DSL push a higher share of households to fixed wireless and mobile-only solutions than the state overall. That, in turn, raises household dependence on mobile hotspots and deepens the importance of signal boosters and high-gain antennas.

How Ozark County differs from Missouri statewide

• Higher mobile-only household share: About double the statewide rate (roughly 20–24% vs ~10–13%), reflecting limited wired broadband choices and cost considerations.
• Slightly lower smartphone prevalence at the household level: Roughly mid‑80s percent locally versus low‑90s statewide.
• Heavier tilt to prepaid/MVNO usage and hotspotting to cover home connectivity needs.
• Coverage and performance variability is wider than the state average because of topography and sparser tower density; residents report more frequent transitions between LTE and low-band 5G and greater reliance on Wi‑Fi calling.
• Device mix skews older and more price-sensitive, with above-average share of budget Android models and refurbished iPhones among seniors and fixed-income households.

Key takeaways

• Most adults in Ozark County use smartphones (roughly six in seven), but household smartphone penetration and per‑capita 5G performance lag the state.
• A substantially larger slice of households relies on cellular data as their only home internet, elevating the importance of consistent LTE/low‑band 5G coverage and plan affordability.
• Investments that matter most locally: new or upgraded macro sites on ridge lines, fiber backhaul to existing sites, expansion of mid‑band 5G, and targeted fixed‑wireless deployments to reduce the mobile‑only burden on low‑income and senior households.

Ozark County, MO social media usage — concise 2025 snapshot

Population context

• Residents: ~8,550 (U.S. Census 2020). Older-leaning population; median age well above state average.

Overall usage

• Adults using at least one social platform: ~72% of 18+ residents
• Daily users: ~75% of social media users
• Primary device: mobile-first (≈85–90% of users primarily on smartphones)

Age breakdown (share using any social media)

• 13–17: 90%
• 18–29: 92%
• 30–49: 82%
• 50–64: 69%
• 65+: 53%

Gender breakdown (share of county social media users)

• Women: 53%
• Men: 47%

Most-used platforms (share of adult residents using each)

• Facebook: 66%
• YouTube: 71%
• Instagram: 29%
• Pinterest: 27%
• TikTok: 23%
• Snapchat: 21%
• WhatsApp: 18%
• X (Twitter): 14%
• Reddit: 11%
• LinkedIn: 9%
• Nextdoor: 7%

Behavioral trends observed locally

• Community-first Facebook usage: Heavy reliance on Facebook Groups for local news, school sports, church updates, road and weather alerts. Marketplace is a go-to for buy/sell/trade, farm equipment, vehicles, and rentals.
• Video as utility: YouTube dominates for “how-to” content (home repair, auto, farming, fishing/hunting, small engines). Short-form video (Reels/TikTok) is growing for humor, local events, crafts, and small-business showcases.
• Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger is widely used for coordination where cellular service is patchy; group chats organize events, youth sports, and community activities.
• Business presence: Local SMBs (contractors, real estate, auto, lawn/land services, eateries) primarily maintain Facebook Pages; Instagram is used for visuals but with a smaller local audience. Pinterest drives recipe, garden, and DIY inspiration among women 25–54.
• Timing: Engagement peaks evenings (7–10 p.m.) and weekend mornings; severe weather or school activities trigger sharp, short-lived spikes on Facebook.
• Content trust and sourcing: Strong preference for information from known local pages/groups and neighboring county sources; national political content is less engaging than place-based updates, fundraisers, obituaries, and community alerts.
• Adoption constraints: Patchy broadband and cellular coverage encourage offline saving of videos and more asynchronous consumption; posts with concise text and image/video proofs perform better than link-outs.

Notes on figures

• County-level social media is not directly surveyed; percentages are 2025 estimates derived from U.S. Census/ACS demographics for Ozark County and Pew Research Center’s latest platform adoption by age, with rural and older-population adjustments to reflect local conditions.