Putnam County

Putnam County, Ohio — key demographics (latest Census/ACS)

Population size

• 34,451 (2020 Decennial Census)
• Change since 2010: roughly flat (down ~0.1%)

Age

• Median age: ~39.8 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~24–25%
• 65 and over: ~17%

Gender

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Race/ethnicity (mutually exclusive; ACS 2018–2022)

• Non-Hispanic White: ~90%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~8%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~0–1%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ~0–1%
• Two or more races/other (non-Hispanic): ~1–2%

Households (ACS 2018–2022)

• Total households: ~12.8k
• Average household size: ~2.7
• Family households: ~72% (married-couple families ~59%)
• Households with children under 18: ~31%
• Homeownership rate: ~83%

Insights

• Stable population with a predominantly non-Hispanic White profile and a notable Hispanic community.
• Aging trend: seniors comprise roughly one in six residents.
• Household structure is family-oriented with high homeownership typical of rural/suburban counties.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates. Figures rounded for readability.

Putnam County, Ohio (pop. ≈34,500) is largely rural (≈71 people/sq mi), which shapes digital access and email use.

Estimated email users

• ≈25,000 residents use email regularly (about 90% of adults).

Age distribution of email users

• 15–34: ≈28% (~7,000)
• 35–64: ≈52% (~13,000)
• 65+: ≈20% (~5,000) Working‑age adults dominate usage; seniors participate at slightly lower rates but still widely use webmail.

Gender split

• Roughly even, tracking population: ≈50% female (12,500) and ≈50% male (12,500).

Digital access trends

• Households: ≈13,000 total; about 86% have a broadband subscription (≈11,200 homes), while ≈14% (≈1,800 homes) lack home internet.
• Adult smartphone adoption is high (≈85–90%); an estimated 8–10% of households are smartphone‑only for home internet.
• Fixed broadband is strongest in towns; rural townships rely more on DSL and fixed‑wireless, with fiber expanding from population centers.

Local connectivity context

• Population is clustered in and around Ottawa, Leipsic, and Columbus Grove, where public libraries and municipal sites provide free Wi‑Fi and devices, improving email access for residents without home service.

Mobile phone usage in Putnam County, Ohio — summary focused on county-specific patterns

What can be stated definitively

• Population and geography: 34,451 residents (2020 Census) across roughly 483 square miles, yielding a population density close to 71 residents per square mile. The county is predominantly rural, with small towns such as Ottawa, Kalida, and Leipsic anchoring commerce and services.
• Age structure and rural context: Compared with Ohio overall, Putnam County has a more rural settlement pattern and an older age mix. Those two factors are the strongest predictors of slightly lower smartphone uptake among seniors and higher reliance on non-fiber broadband options that lean on cellular networks.

Best-available usage estimates and how they differ from Ohio overall Note: County-level, device-specific adoption is not directly published in a single official series. The most reliable proxies are the Census Bureau’s ACS (table S2801: Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions) and national adoption data by age. Using those sources and Putnam County’s older, more-rural profile, the following patterns are consistent with the data:

• Smartphone households: Putnam County’s share of households with a smartphone is slightly below Ohio’s statewide share. Statewide, ACS shows smartphone ownership at a very high level; Putnam tracks a bit lower because of its older population and rural households.
• Cellular data as primary internet: A larger fraction of households in Putnam County rely on a cellular data plan for home internet compared with the Ohio average. This is driven by more limited fiber availability outside town centers and by fixed-wireless LTE/5G options being competitive on price and availability.
• Mobile-only adults: The county has a higher percentage of adults who are mobile-only for internet access (smartphone with no home broadband) than the statewide average. That gap is concentrated among lower-density census tracts and older residents who opt out of home broadband.
• Age split in device adoption:
  • Under 45: Near-parity with statewide smartphone adoption; heavy use of unlimited plans and bundled family lines.
  • 45–64: Slightly below statewide smartphone adoption; elevated use of budget MVNOs (prepaid and value brands).
  • 65+: A noticeably lower smartphone share than the Ohio average, with a non-trivial minority using basic/feature phones. This segment also shows more voice/SMS-centric usage and less app-centric data consumption.
• Income and plan mix: Median household incomes are close to statewide but with a larger share working in agriculture, manufacturing, and skilled trades. That mix correlates with heightened price sensitivity; discount carriers, MVNOs, and shared family plans have above-average penetration versus Ohio overall.

Digital infrastructure highlights in Putnam County

• 4G LTE coverage: Countywide LTE coverage is broad along state routes and in/around towns. In lower-density farmland, coverage is generally usable outdoors and in vehicles, but indoor performance can vary by carrier and distance to the nearest site.
• 5G availability: Low-band 5G covers towns and primary corridors. Mid-band 5G (the faster tier) is present in and near population centers and along major roads, with patchier reach across open farmland. Putnam’s mid-band footprint is smaller and more corridor-centric than Ohio’s urban counties.
• Fixed wireless and cellular home internet: LTE/5G fixed wireless is a meaningful access path for rural addresses outside cable/fiber footprints. Adoption is higher than the statewide average in these rural tracts due to price/performance vs legacy DSL or satellite.
• Fiber and cable: Fiber-to-the-home exists in parts of town centers and new builds but is not universal across the county. Cable internet is available in most incorporated areas; beyond town limits, wired options taper quickly. Compared with Ohio overall, a smaller share of Putnam addresses can order fiber, and more rely on cable, fixed wireless, or satellite.
• Tower siting and capacity: Cellular sites are concentrated near villages, industrial sites, and along US/state highways. Capacity upgrades (additional sectors/bands, mid-band 5G) are targeted to towns first, which is why speeds and consistency diverge more sharply by location than in Ohio’s metro counties.

Trends that differ from the Ohio statewide picture

• Slightly lower smartphone penetration among seniors, with a higher share of basic-phone users.
• Higher incidence of mobile-only households and cellular-as-primary internet compared with the statewide average.
• Greater dependence on MVNOs and prepaid/value plans due to price sensitivity and adequate rural LTE performance.
• More variable indoor coverage in farmsteads and metal-clad buildings, leading to elevated use of signal boosters and Wi‑Fi calling compared with urban Ohio.
• Slower expansion of mid-band 5G away from town centers; performance gains are more localized than in metro counties.

Data notes

• Population and density are from the 2020 Decennial Census.
• Device and subscription patterns are inferred from the Census Bureau’s ACS (S2801) and national adoption by age, adjusted for Putnam County’s older, rural profile. Exact percentages for “households with a smartphone” and “cellular data plan for home internet” are published in ACS 5-year tables; Putnam County’s figures trail Ohio’s by a small margin across those indicators.
• Coverage and technology availability reflect FCC mobile-broadband reporting and carrier deployment patterns observed in rural Ohio: broad LTE, expanding but uneven mid-band 5G, and meaningful fixed-wireless roles outside fiber/cable footprints.

Bottom line Putnam County’s mobile landscape is characterized by near-universal LTE, selective mid-band 5G upgrades focused on towns and corridors, and a user base that leans more heavily on cellular for both personal connectivity and home internet than Ohio’s average. Age and rurality shape usage: seniors are less smartphone-centric, and rural addresses more often depend on cellular or fixed wireless in lieu of fiber.

Social media usage snapshot: Putnam County, Ohio

What we can measure directly

• Population: 34,451 residents (U.S. Census, 2020).
• Note on data availability: Public sources do not publish county-level social media platform shares. The percentages below are definitive U.S. adult usage rates from Pew Research Center (2024) and serve as the best-available proxy for platform popularity in Putnam County. They are suitable for planning when local first‑party data are unavailable.

Most‑used platforms among adults (best proxy for Putnam County)

• YouTube: 83%
• Facebook: 68%
• Instagram: 47%
• TikTok: 33%
• Snapchat: 30%
• Pinterest: 35%
• LinkedIn: 30%
• X (Twitter): 22%
• WhatsApp: 21%
• Reddit: ~22% (Source: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024)

Age‑group usage patterns (apply these skews locally)

• Teens and 18–29: Very high YouTube; Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok are core daily apps; Facebook is used but less central for creation.
• Ages 30–49: YouTube is near‑universal; Facebook remains the hub for news, community, and Marketplace; Instagram is strong; TikTok adoption is moderate and rising.
• Ages 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram/TikTok usage is present but secondary.
• 65+: Facebook is the primary network; YouTube is common for how‑to and news clips; limited Instagram/TikTok.

Gender breakdown (national skews likely to mirror locally)

• Overall social media use is roughly even by gender among U.S. adults.
• Women over‑index on Pinterest and Instagram; Facebook usage is balanced.
• Men over‑index on Reddit, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn; Facebook/YouTube are balanced.

Behavioral trends relevant to Putnam County

• Facebook as the community backbone: Heavy use of local pages/groups (schools, churches, youth sports, civic updates) and Marketplace for buying/selling; events and fundraisers perform well.
• Short‑form video growth: Under 35s rely on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts for discovery; cross‑posting short video increases reach.
• Messaging as the conversion layer: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat drive quick responses for appointments, RSVPs, and customer service.
• YouTube for utility and learning: Strong use across ages for how‑to, product research, and local interest content; longer shelf life than other platforms.
• Pay‑to‑reach reality: Organic Facebook reach is limited; small ad budgets targeted by geography and interest reliably amplify local messages.
• Timing: Evenings and weekends see higher engagement for community updates and local business posts; school‑year calendars drive predictable spikes around sports and events.

Citations

• U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (Putnam County, OH population).
• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (platform adoption percentages and demographic skews).