Schuyler County

Schuyler County, Missouri — key demographics

Population size

• 4,032 (2020 Census)
• Change since 2010: −9.0% (2010: 4,431)

Age

• Median age: ~43 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~24%
• 65 and over: ~21%

Gender

• Male: ~51%
• Female: ~49%

Racial/ethnic composition (Hispanic can be any race)

• White alone: ~95–96%
• Black or African American alone: ~0–1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0–1%
• Asian alone: ~0–1%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~2%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~94%

Households (ACS 2018–2022 unless noted)

• Households: ~1,600 (≈1,600–1,650; 2020 Census occupied units ≈1.6k)
• Average household size: ~2.5 persons
• Family households: ~67–69% of households
• Married-couple families: ~55–57% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~28–31%
• One-person households: ~26–28% (about half of these are age 65+)
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~80–83%

Insights

• Very small, rural county that has declined modestly since 2010.
• Older age profile relative to the U.S., with about one in five residents age 65+.
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White population with a small but present multiracial/Hispanic share.
• Household structure is family- and owner-occupancy–oriented, with small average household size typical of rural Missouri.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (population count, race) and American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates (age, households, tenure). Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding and overlapping race/Hispanic classifications.

Schuyler County, Missouri overview (estimates based on 2020 Census and U.S. rural adoption benchmarks)

• Population: ≈4,030; density ≈13 people per sq mile (very rural).
• Email users: ≈3,000 residents use email at least occasionally.

Age distribution of email users

• 13–17: 6% (180 users)
• 18–34: 24% (720)
• 35–64: 50% (1,500)
• 65+: 20% (600) Younger and prime‑working‑age adults are near‑universal users; adoption among 65+ is substantial but modestly lower.

Gender split

• Female 51% (1,530 users)
• Male 49% (1,470 users) Usage mirrors the population, with negligible gender gap.

Digital access and trends

• Household broadband subscription: ≈70–75%, with access concentrated in Lancaster and Queen City; many rural addresses rely on fixed wireless or satellite.
• Smartphone‑only internet households: ≈10–15%, supporting on‑the‑go email but limiting heavy attachments.
• Mobile coverage is generally 4G‑reliant; 5G appears mainly along primary corridors, with patchier service in outlying areas.
• Limited ISP competition and long loop distances constrain speeds; public/library Wi‑Fi remains important.
• Overall email engagement is stable to rising, driven by telehealth, government services, and billing moving online, with gradual gains among seniors despite connectivity constraints.

Mobile phone usage in Schuyler County, Missouri — 2025 snapshot

Headline differences from Missouri overall

• Smartphone adoption runs lower, by roughly 5–8 percentage points, than the statewide average.
• A larger, older population share and lower incomes reduce high-end device uptake and 5G upgrade rates.
• 5G is present but patchier; LTE remains the primary access layer outside towns and the US‑63 corridor, with lower typical speeds than the Missouri average.
• Higher reliance on prepaid and budget Android devices; Wi‑Fi calling is more commonly needed indoors due to sparse tower density.

User estimates

• Population anchor: 4,032 residents (2020 Census). Estimated adults (18+): ≈3,100.
• Any cellphone (voice/text) among adults: ≈2,880–2,950 users (93–95% of adults; rural rates slightly below national).
• Smartphones among adults: ≈2,480–2,640 users (about 80–85% of adults, below Missouri’s ≈86–90%).
• Wireless‑only households: approximately 70–75% of adults live in households without a landline, implying ≈2,200–2,350 adults are reachable only by mobile service.
• Device mix: Higher share of 4G‑only and budget Android handsets than the state average; iPhone share lower than in Missouri’s metros.

Demographic breakdown (drivers of the gap)

• Age structure: Seniors (65+) make up a larger slice of the county than the state (roughly low‑20s percent vs Missouri’s high‑teens). Smartphone take‑up among seniors, while rising, lags younger cohorts, leaving an estimated 150–250 older adults using basic phones or remaining unconnected.
• Income: Household incomes trail the Missouri median, correlating with higher prepaid plan usage, less frequent device replacement, and greater use of shared family plans.
• Education and occupation: Lower bachelor’s attainment and a larger agriculture/blue‑collar workforce tilt demand toward durable devices, conservative data plans, and strong voice/text reliability over premium 5G performance.
• Youth: Teens and young adults mirror statewide near‑universal mobile access, helping sustain high overall cellphone penetration even as senior adoption lags.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks present: AT&T (including FirstNet), T‑Mobile, and Verizon operate in and around the county; UScellular coverage is accessible via adjacent‑county sites and roaming in parts of northeast Missouri.
• 5G footprint: Low‑band 5G from the national carriers covers towns and major roads, with the most consistent service along US‑63 and in/around Lancaster, Queen City, and Greentop. Mid‑band 5G (higher capacity) is spotty; most outlying areas remain LTE‑only.
• Performance: Typical outdoor LTE downloads 10–50 Mbps in rural stretches; 5G mid‑band spots can reach 80–250 Mbps. Uploads are commonly 2–15 Mbps outside towns. Missouri’s urban/suburban averages are higher on both download and upload.
• Tower density and terrain: Sparse macro‑site density and tree cover create signal variability and weaker indoor coverage, especially in metal‑roof buildings and low‑lying areas. Adjacent‑county towers materially influence service at the borders.
• Backhaul and capacity: Limited rural fiber backhaul constrains peak capacity compared with Missouri’s metros, contributing to evening slowdowns on LTE sectors.
• Workarounds and complements: Wi‑Fi calling, fixed wireless (LTE/5G home internet), and satellite broadband are important for reliable indoor connectivity in fringe areas. Public‑safety FirstNet coverage generally aligns with AT&T’s low‑band footprint, with the best reliability along primary corridors.

What’s trending locally vs statewide

• Adoption: County smartphone adoption is catching up but remains several points behind Missouri due to age and income mix; 4G‑only devices persist longer in service.
• Plans: Prepaid and value postpaid plans are more common than in Missouri’s metros; eSIM uptake and premium device penetration are lower.
• Usage patterns: Voice and messaging remain relatively more important; continuous high‑bandwidth app usage (video, gaming) is constrained outside towns by LTE capacity and indoor signal challenges.
• Upgrade cycle: Slower device turnover and more frequent use of refurbished/second‑hand devices than the state average.

Methodological notes and sources

• Adult population anchored to the 2020 Census for Schuyler County and recent ACS 5‑year age structure patterns for similar rural Missouri counties.
• Mobile adoption rates benchmarked to recent Pew Research Center findings (near‑universal cellphone ownership; smartphone ownership ≈85% nationally with slightly lower rates in rural areas and among seniors) and CDC/NHIS estimates for wireless‑only households (low‑ to mid‑70% of adults).
• Coverage and performance insights synthesized from FCC coverage filings, carrier public footprints in northeast Missouri, and observed rural network characteristics in the region.

These figures are county‑specific estimates derived by applying current national/rural adoption rates and Missouri comparative patterns to Schuyler County’s size and demographics; they describe the local reality that smartphone adoption and 5G experience trail Missouri’s statewide averages while basic mobile access is widespread and heavily relied upon.

Schuyler County, Missouri social media snapshot (2025)

Baseline

• Population: 4,032 (2020 Census). Estimated adults (18+): ~3,100 (using Missouri’s adult share).
• Note on figures: Percentages shown are current U.S. adult usage rates (Pew Research Center, 2024). Local user counts apply those rates to the county’s adult population for a grounded estimate.

Most-used platforms (adults)

• YouTube: 83% (~2,570 adults)
• Facebook: 68% (~2,110)
• Instagram: 47% (~1,460)
• TikTok: 33% (~1,020)
• Snapchat: 30% (~930)
• Pinterest: 35% (~1,090)
• WhatsApp: 29% (~900)
• X (Twitter): 22% (~680)
• Reddit: 22% (~680)

Age group usage patterns

• 18–29: Heaviest on YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok; Facebook mainly for groups/events rather than posting.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram and TikTok used for short-form video and local business discovery.
• 50–64: Facebook as primary network; YouTube for how‑to and news; Pinterest for projects, recipes, and home ideas.
• 65+: Facebook first; YouTube second; limited Instagram/TikTok adoption, mostly as viewers via shared links.

Gender breakdown

• Overall user base tracks population (~50% women, ~50% men).
• Platform skews: Pinterest and Instagram lean female; TikTok leans slightly female; Facebook is close to even with a slight female tilt; YouTube leans slightly male; Reddit and X lean male.

Behavioral trends to expect locally

• Community-first Facebook behavior: High engagement with local schools, churches, government pages, obituaries, events, and especially Marketplace buy/sell activity.
• Video is the anchor: YouTube for long-form how‑to, agriculture, equipment, hunting/outdoors, and local sports; Reels/shorts on Instagram/TikTok for quick updates and promotions.
• Messaging over public posting: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are core for coordination among families, teams, and volunteer groups.
• Commerce and classifieds: Facebook Marketplace is the de facto local classifieds; Instagram/TikTok increasingly used by small businesses for product demos and limited-time offers.
• Engagement timing: Evenings and weekends see the most interactions; short videos (15–60 seconds) and image carousels outperform text-only posts.
• Trust signals matter: Recognizable local faces, clear location cues, and practical utility (weather, road closures, school updates) drive shares and comments; overtly polished “big city” creative underperforms.
• Cross-posting works: The same short video repurposed to Facebook Reels, Instagram Reels, and TikTok extends reach across age bands with minimal extra effort.

Practical takeaways

• For broad reach, prioritize Facebook + YouTube; add Instagram for under‑50 reach and TikTok/Snapchat to reach under‑35.
• Lead with short-form video and clear local hooks; pair every post with Messenger-friendly links for easy sharing in group chats.