Keith County

Keith County, Nebraska — key demographics

Population

• Total: 8,335 (2020 Decennial Census)
• 2023 estimate: ~8,250 (Census Population Estimates Program)

Age

• Median age: ~47 years
• Under 18: ~21%
• 18 to 64: ~57%
• 65 and over: ~22%

Gender

• Male: ~51%
• Female: ~49%

Race and ethnicity (ACS, shares sum to ~100%)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~87%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~9%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~2–3%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: ~1%
• Black, non-Hispanic: <1%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: <1%

Households

• Total households: ~3,700–3,800
• Average household size: ~2.2
• Family households: ~57% of households; average family size ~2.8
• Married-couple households: ~48%
• Households with children under 18: ~24%
• One-person households: ~30%
• Homeownership rate: ~74% (renters ~26%)

Notes

• The county skews older than the U.S. overall, with a majority of households being owner-occupied and relatively small household sizes.
• Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year; Population Estimates Program).

Keith County, NE — email usage snapshot (estimates based on ACS/Pew/NTIA patterns applied to local demographics)

• Population and density: ≈8,300 residents across ~1,100 sq mi (about 8 people per sq mi). Largest hub: Ogallala along I‑80.
• Estimated email users: ≈5,700 residents (≈86% of adults; ≈69% of total population).
• Adult base: ≈6,600.

Age distribution of email users

• 18–34: ≈1,100 (≈19%)
• 35–54: ≈1,900 (≈33%)
• 55–64: ≈1,100 (≈19%)
• 65+: ≈1,600 (≈28%)

Gender split of users

• Female ≈51% (≈2,900)
• Male ≈49% (≈2,800)

Digital access and trends

• ~80% of households subscribe to home broadband; ~87% have a computer/tablet.
• ~85% of adults own a smartphone; 15–20% are smartphone‑only for home internet.
• Connectivity is strongest in and around Ogallala/Paxton/Brule and the I‑80 corridor; fixed broadband is spottier in outlying ranchland and around Lake McConaughy’s rural periphery.
• Public Wi‑Fi and devices available via libraries, schools, and municipal buildings support access for remaining non‑subscribers.

Implications: High overall reach for email, with particularly strong penetration among 35–54 and 65+ cohorts; remaining gaps correlate with low‑density areas where fixed broadband is limited.

Mobile phone usage in Keith County, Nebraska — summary and key differences from statewide patterns

Scope and baseline

• Population and households: About 8,200–8,400 residents and roughly 3,600–3,800 households (2020–2023 range). Ogallala is the primary population and network hub; seasonal recreation around Lake McConaughy materially affects traffic patterns.

User estimates

• Smartphone users (unique people): Approximately 6,200–6,500 countywide, including about 5,400–5,700 adults. This reflects a rural/older-age adoption profile slightly below the state average.
• Households with a smartphone: About 3,200–3,350 households (≈86–90% of households), versus Nebraska at roughly 90–93%.
• Households with a cellular data plan (smartphone/tablet/mobile hotspot): About 2,400–2,600 households (≈64–69%), versus Nebraska at roughly 72–76%.
• Mobile-only internet households (no wireline at home, rely on cellular): About 480–560 households (≈13–15%), compared with Nebraska at ≈9–11%.
• No home internet subscription of any kind: About 300–360 households (≈8–10%), versus ≈6–8% statewide.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age: The county skews older (roughly a quarter of residents are 65+). Estimated smartphone adoption among seniors is lower than the state average, pulling down overall adoption. Result: more voice/SMS reliance and lower rates of app-heavy usage among the 65+ segment compared with Nebraska overall.
• Working-age adults (25–54): Near-parity with statewide smartphone penetration, but a higher share of mobile-only home internet use due to patchier wireline options outside Ogallala.
• Youth and families: Teen smartphone penetration is high, and family plans dominate; data usage spikes during the school year and peaks again in summer near recreation areas.
• Income and rurality: Lower-income and remote households are overrepresented among cellular-only users. The county shows a higher proportion of prepaid or budget-oriented plans than the state average, reflecting price sensitivity and coverage-driven carrier selection.
• Race/ethnicity: Hispanic residents constitute a modest but growing share of the county and are more likely than the county average to rely on mobile as the primary home internet, mirroring statewide and national patterns for mobile dependence among younger, multilingual households.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage:
  • Interstate I-80, US-30, and US-26 corridors have strong LTE and increasingly consistent low-band 5G coverage from major carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon).
  • Mid-band 5G is concentrated in and near Ogallala and along I-80; low-band 5G blankets a larger share of the county but at lower peak speeds.
  • North of Lake McConaughy and in sparsely populated rangeland, users encounter LTE/5G gaps or fallback to 3G/limited service in pockets, more than typical in Nebraska’s urban counties.
• Capacity and speeds:
  • In-town/mid-band 5G: typical 150–400 Mbps peaks during off-peak hours.
  • Low-band 5G/LTE on highways and small towns: commonly 20–100 Mbps; drops below 10–20 Mbps in fringe areas or during peak seasonal demand.
  • Seasonal congestion is notable around Lake McConaughy and I-80 travel peaks; this seasonal effect is stronger than the statewide average.
• Backhaul and siting:
  • Fiber follows I-80 and key state routes, supporting upgraded 5G nodes in Ogallala and along the corridor. Outside those paths, backhaul constraints limit mid-band 5G spread and capacity.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA):
  • 5G FWA from national carriers is available in and near Ogallala and some adjacent communities; adoption is higher than the statewide average among households lacking cable or fiber.
• Public safety and resilience:
  • FirstNet/priority LTE is established along I-80 and in population centers; coverage thins in remote north-county areas. Weather and wildfire seasons can temporarily degrade service on the periphery.

How Keith County trends differ from Nebraska overall

• Adoption level: Slightly lower household smartphone adoption than the state, driven by an older age structure.
• Reliance on cellular for home internet: Materially higher mobile-only household share than the state average, reflecting uneven wireline options outside Ogallala.
• 5G profile: Faster recent expansion of low-band 5G coverage but more limited mid-band capacity away from highways than in Nebraska’s metro counties.
• Performance variability: Greater seasonal and location-based variability in speeds and capacity (I-80/Lake McConaughy corridors vs. sparsely populated north-county).
• Plan mix and affordability: A higher share of budget/prepaid plans and hotspot use than the state average.
• Network investment pattern: Upgrades concentrated along transportation and tourism corridors; off-corridor upgrades lag the state’s metro areas.

Bottom line Keith County’s mobile phone landscape is defined by near-state-level adoption in towns and corridors, higher-than-average reliance on cellular for home internet, and meaningful coverage and capacity gaps in remote areas. Compared with Nebraska overall, the county exhibits more seasonal traffic swings, a higher mobile-only household share, and a greater dependence on low-band 5G and LTE outside its primary corridors.

Keith County, Nebraska – social media usage snapshot (2025)

Core user stats (adults 18+)

• Adult social media penetration: 70–75% of adults
• Estimated adult users: 4,500–5,000 (of roughly 6,400–6,700 adults)
• Household internet access: approximately 80–85% of households have internet service

Age makeup of social media users (share of local adult users)

• 18–29: 18–22%
• 30–49: 32–36%
• 50–64: 24–28%
• 65+: 20–24%

Gender breakdown (share of local adult users)

• Women: 52–54%
• Men: 46–48%

Most‑used platforms in Keith County (share of adult social media users; at least monthly)

• YouTube: ~82%
• Facebook: ~72%
• Instagram: ~38%
• TikTok: ~28%
• Pinterest: ~30% (skews female)
• Snapchat: ~22% (skews under 35)
• X (Twitter): ~16%
• LinkedIn: ~13%
• WhatsApp: ~13%
• Reddit: ~11%
• Nextdoor: ~10%

Behavioral trends and local patterns

• Facebook as the public square: Primary hub for community news, school athletics, county updates, buy/sell/trade, and event coordination. Groups and Events drive reach; posts with recognizable local faces/places outperform.
• Video‑first consumption: Short, captioned vertical video (Reels/TikTok, 15–45 seconds) gets the most engagement; YouTube is preferred for longer DIY, equipment, outdoors, and how‑to content.
• Messaging > public posting: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are the main private‑sharing channels; WhatsApp is niche but useful for family networks and seasonal workers.
• Seasonality and timing: Noticeable uptick spring–summer tied to Lake McConaughy tourism and outdoor activity; daily peaks around 6–8 a.m., 12–1 p.m., and 7–10 p.m., with weekend evening highs.
• Trust and conversion: Locally known people and businesses outperform national brands; recommendations in Facebook groups strongly influence service, dining, and events decisions. Clear hours, phone numbers, and map pins matter more than complex e‑commerce flows.
• Platform roles:
  • Facebook: widest reach across 30–70+, strongest for events, service updates, and community reputation
  • YouTube: deep interest content (DIY, ag, boating/fishing, home projects)
  • Instagram/TikTok: best for under‑40 reach, employer branding, tourism visuals, short reels of local life
  • Snapchat: teen/young‑adult messaging and quick stories
  • Pinterest: planning inspiration (home, crafts, outdoor trips), mainly women 25–54
  • X/Reddit: smaller but active niches for sports, news, and tech

Data notes

• Figures are county‑level estimates derived from Keith County’s demographic structure (Census/ACS) combined with 2023–2024 Pew Research platform adoption and rural/urban differentials. Percentages reflect share of adult social media users, not total population.