Atoka County

Do you want figures from the 2020 Census or the latest American Community Survey (2019–2023 5-year estimates)? I can provide a concise breakdown (population, age, gender, race/ethnicity, and household stats) for your preferred vintage.

Here’s a concise, model-based snapshot for Atoka County, OK (using ACS, FCC, and Pew national/rural patterns with local adjustments):

• Population and density: ~14k residents across ~1,000 sq mi; ~14 people per sq mi (very rural).
• Estimated email users: 8,000–9,000 adults. Method: ~10.8k adults x rural internet adoption (≈83–86%) x near‑universal email use among internet users (≈90%+).
• Age mix of email users (approx.): 18–34: 28–32%; 35–64: 52–56%; 65+: 14–18% (older adults slightly underrepresented due to lower internet/email adoption).
• Gender split among users: roughly balanced (~50/50), mirroring population.
• Digital access/subscription: About 70–75% of households have a home internet subscription; 10–15% are smartphone‑only users. Adoption is higher in/near the City of Atoka and lower in outlying areas.
• Connectivity realities: Fixed broadband choices thin outside town centers; fiber and cable present in pockets, with DSL, fixed wireless, and satellite filling gaps. Mobile LTE/5G coverage strongest along US‑69/75 and primary corridors; public Wi‑Fi (libraries/schools) supplements access.
• Trendline: Gradual improvement from rural fiber builds and fixed‑wireless upgrades, but low population density and long drops keep last‑mile costs high, sustaining a rural digital divide.

Below is a concise, county-specific picture using best-available public data and reasonable local adjustments. Figures are estimates unless noted and are framed to highlight how Atoka County differs from Oklahoma overall.

Context

• Population: roughly 14–15k residents; about 10.5–11.5k adults. Largely rural, with population clustered near the US‑69/US‑75 corridor (City of Atoka, Stringtown) and very low density elsewhere.

Estimated mobile adoption and usage

• Any mobile phone (adult ownership): Atoka 85–90% vs Oklahoma ~90–93%.
• Smartphone ownership (adult): Atoka 75–80% vs Oklahoma ~83–86%.
• Mobile-only internet households (no fixed home broadband, rely on smartphones/hotspots): Atoka 25–30% vs Oklahoma ~18–20%.
• Prepaid/discount plans share of lines: Atoka 40–45% vs Oklahoma ~30–35% (driven by income sensitivity and credit constraints).
• Hotspot reliance for school/work: noticeably higher than state average; common where fixed broadband is unavailable or unaffordable.
• Device mix: skewed older and toward budget Android models; upgrade cycles run longer than state average.

Demographic drivers (how Atoka differs from the state)

• Age: Older profile; a higher share of residents 65+ than the state average. This lowers smartphone adoption and increases basic/feature-phone usage.
• Income: Lower median household income and higher poverty rate than the state average. This raises prepaid adoption, ACP (Affordable Connectivity Program) participation while it lasted, and mobile-only internet reliance.
• Rurality: Nearly all residents are outside urbanized areas. Rural distance and terrain increase coverage variability and indoor service challenges.
• Race/ethnicity: Higher American Indian/Alaska Native share than the state average; tribal residents may access distinct subsidy and infrastructure programs, affecting plan choice and device availability.

Digital infrastructure and coverage (what’s different locally)

• Tower density: Fewer macro sites per square mile than state average; sites cluster along US‑69/US‑75 and near towns. Large coverage gaps appear on secondary roads and in forested/rolling terrain.
• 4G LTE: Broadest and most dependable layer countywide, primarily low-band (700/850 MHz) from AT&T and Verizon; indoor coverage varies in metal-roof or low-lying areas.
• 5G availability:
  • Low-band 5G (AT&T/Verizon/T‑Mobile) is present but behaves like LTE in capacity; perceived speeds are similar to strong LTE.
  • Mid-band 5G (T‑Mobile n41) is spotty and largely tied to the US‑69/US‑75 corridor and town centers; AT&T/Verizon mid-band (C‑band) presence is sparse compared with metro Oklahoma. Net result: fewer mid-band 5G zones than the state average, with quicker drop-off outside highways.
• Performance ranges (indicative):
  • LTE/low-band 5G: roughly 10–40 Mbps down in many rural spots; better along highways and near towns.
  • Mid-band 5G pockets: roughly 50–150+ Mbps where available. These medians are typically below statewide cellular speed medians, with higher variability and more frequent signal-to-2-bar indoor experiences.
• Backhaul: Fiber backhaul more limited off-corridor; many rural sites rely on microwave, which can constrain peak speeds and capacity compared with urban Oklahoma.
• Resilience: Weather and power events have greater service impact than in metro areas; fewer overlapping sites mean longer perceived outages.
• Public safety/FirstNet: AT&T’s FirstNet build has improved low-band coverage for responders, especially along primary routes, but capacity remains lower than urban standards.
• Public Wi‑Fi and anchor institutions: Libraries, schools, and tribal or municipal buildings provide key Wi‑Fi hubs; usage is higher relative to population than state average due to fixed-broadband gaps.

Behavior and plan trends distinct from the state

• Higher reliance on unlimited or large-bucket prepaid plans, often shared across family members, to substitute for home internet.
• More frequent use of signal boosters and Wi‑Fi calling in homes and small businesses.
• Video streaming on mobile is more constrained by coverage and data management; audio and social media see higher relative share of mobile use.
• Carrier market share tilts more toward AT&T and Verizon for coverage reliability; T‑Mobile adoption grows where mid-band 5G has been lit along the corridor, but overall share lags state urban areas.

User count illustration (order-of-magnitude)

• Adults: about 10.5–11.5k.
• Smartphone users: roughly 8–9k adults.
• Any mobile phone users: roughly 9–10k adults.
• Mobile-only internet households: on the order of 1.2–1.6k households, assuming county household counts consistent with population size and rural household formation.

What this means versus Oklahoma overall

• Coverage is more “corridor-centric” with steeper drop-offs off the highways.
• 5G mid-band capacity zones are fewer and smaller; speeds are lower and less consistent than state medians.
• Mobile phones substitute for home internet more often, and prepaid adoption is higher.
• An older, lower-income, rural profile depresses smartphone penetration and delays device upgrades relative to statewide norms.

Notes on methodology and sources

• Population and demographics: American Community Survey and Census profiles for Atoka County.
• Mobile adoption baselines: Pew Research Center and state-level surveys; county estimates adjusted for age, income, and rurality.
• Coverage/infrastructure: FCC mobile coverage maps and carrier public 5G deployments as of 2023–2024; rural Oklahoma deployment patterns applied to Atoka’s geography.
• Performance ranges: synthesized from rural-coverage characteristics, low-/mid-band propagation, and publicly reported speed medians; presented as indicative ranges, not a drive test.

Below is a concise, locally tuned snapshot for Atoka County, OK. Figures are estimates modeled from 2023–2024 Census/ACS demographics and rural U.S./Oklahoma social media usage (Pew Research, DataReportal), adjusted for the county’s older, rural profile. Use as directional, not exact.

Population and user base

• Population: ~14.3k; residents age 13+: ~12.2k
• Active social media users (13+): ~9.5k–10.8k (≈78–82% penetration)
• Device mix: mobile-first (>90% of social use happens on phones)

Most-used platforms (share of residents age 13+)

• YouTube: 78–82%
• Facebook: 70–74% (Facebook Groups and Marketplace especially strong)
• Instagram: 35–40%
• TikTok: 32–38%
• Snapchat: 28–34%
• Pinterest: 22–28%
• X/Twitter: 12–16%
• WhatsApp: 8–12%
• Reddit: 10–14%
• Nextdoor: 3–6% (limited neighborhood coverage)

Age profile and preferences

• Teens (13–17): 90–95% on at least one platform; heavy on YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat; Instagram strong; Facebook minimal except for school/teams.
• 18–24: ~95%+; YouTube, Instagram, TikTok lead; Snapchat still common; some Reddit/X.
• 25–34: 88–92%; YouTube and Facebook lead; Instagram/TikTok mid; Snapchat tapering.
• 35–49: 80–85%; Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram moderate; TikTok growing.
• 50–64: 70–75%; Facebook #1, YouTube close; light Instagram/TikTok.
• 65+: 55–60%; Facebook primary; YouTube for news/how‑to; minimal on others.

Gender breakdown (directional)

• Overall penetration: women ~80–83%, men ~76–79%.
• Platform skews:
  • Facebook and TikTok: slightly higher among women
  • Pinterest: predominantly women
  • YouTube and Reddit: higher among men
  • Instagram: modest female lean
  • Snapchat: slight female lean among younger users

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first usage: Facebook Groups for schools, churches, youth sports, local events, weather/road updates; Marketplace for vehicles, farm/ranch gear, furniture.
• Video habits: YouTube “how‑to,” outdoor/hunting/fishing, equipment repair, music; TikTok/IG Reels for humor, recipes, rural lifestyle.
• News and alerts: Local pages and group admins are key information brokers; severe weather posts spike engagement.
• Commerce: “Buy-sell-trade” groups drive conversions; giveaways, raffles, and limited-time deals perform well. Messenger is a common lead channel.
• Timing: Peaks 7–9 am and 7–10 pm on weekdays; weekend mid‑day spikes. School-year calendars and high‑school sports schedules shape activity.
• Content style: Authentic, locally shot photos/videos outperform polished creative; posts mentioning Atoka, specific venues, or local teams get higher interaction.
• Platform roles:
  • Facebook = community, announcements, sales
  • YouTube = learning/entertainment
  • TikTok/IG = discovery and short‑form storytelling
  • Snapchat = teen/young adult messaging
• Trust dynamics: Recommendations from friends/locals matter more than brand pages; moderator‑led groups carry outsized influence.

Notes on method/precision

• Atoka County lacks published, platform-level user counts; figures above are modeled from county demographics and rural OK/US usage rates. Treat ranges as estimates and validate with page/group insights or ad platform reach estimates before committing budgets.