Coal County

Coal County, Oklahoma — key demographics (latest available)

• Population: ~5,400 (2023 Census estimate)
• Age:
  • Median age: ~41–42
  • Under 18: ~23%
  • 18–64: ~58–60%
  • 65 and over: ~18–20%
• Gender: ~50% male, ~50% female
• Race/ethnicity (shares of total population):
  • White, non-Hispanic: ~68–70%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~18–20%
  • Two or more races: ~8–9%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~5–7%
  • Black/African American: ~1%
  • Asian/Pacific Islander: <1%
• Households:
  • Total households: ~2,200
  • Average household size: ~2.4–2.5
  • Family households: ~66% of households
  • Married-couple families: ~48–50% of households
  • With children under 18: ~26–28% of households
  • Nonfamily households: ~34%
  • Living alone: ~30% of households (about 13–14% age 65+)

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019–2023 American Community Survey (5-year) and 2023 Population Estimates Program. Figures rounded; ACS subject to sampling error.

Coal County, OK snapshot (estimates)

• Population and density: 5,500 residents; very rural (10–11 people per sq. mile).
• Estimated email users: 2,600–3,200 residents. Method: adult population share × household internet adoption (60–70% typical for rural OK) × near‑universal email use among internet users (90%).
• Age mix of email users:
  • 18–34: ~28%
  • 35–54: ~38%
  • 55–64: ~16%
  • 65+: ~18% Younger adults are almost universally on email; usage declines modestly with age but remains common among seniors.
• Gender split among users: roughly even (≈49% male, 51% female), mirroring the population.
• Digital access trends:
  • Broadband subscription: about 60–70% of households; growth driven by fixed wireless and incremental fiber buildouts in/near towns.
  • Smartphone‑only internet: ~15–20% of adults, higher among lower‑income and younger users.
  • Access gaps: patchier cellular data and fewer wired options outside Coalgate and other populated areas; libraries/schools are important Wi‑Fi hubs.
• Local connectivity context: Low address density and long last‑mile runs raise deployment costs, so service quality and speeds vary significantly between town centers and outlying areas.

Coal County, OK — mobile phone usage summary (with county-specific estimates)

Snapshot and user estimates

• Population baseline: roughly 5,100–5,400 residents and about 2,000 households. Adults (~18+) are about 3,900–4,200.
• Mobile phone users (any mobile, not just smartphones): 85–90% of adults use a mobile phone, or about 3,300–3,700 people. Adding teens (high smartphone uptake), total unique mobile users in the county is about 3,700–3,900.
• Smartphone users: about 75–80% of adults, or roughly 3,000–3,200 people, plus most teens.
• Active lines: 4,200–4,600, reflecting second lines, hotspots, and devices (security, ag/IoT).
• Mobile-only internet households: estimated 22–28% (vs. a lower share statewide), reflecting limited wired broadband and cost sensitivity.

Demographic patterns that shape usage

• Older population: A larger share of residents are 55+ than the state average. Smartphone adoption among seniors is lower (roughly 55–65% for 65+), and many still use basic phones or shared family plans.
• Income: Median household income is below the state average. That correlates with:
  • Higher reliance on prepaid plans and discounts (Lifeline historically; ACP sunset in 2024 likely caused plan downgrades and churn).
  • More “smartphone-dependent” households that use mobile data as their primary internet.
• Native American residents: The county’s Native American share is notably higher than the state average. Communities have faced larger infrastructure gaps, so mobile service (and hotspotting) often fills home-broadband gaps. Tribal and state broadband projects in the region influence where new fiber/middle‑mile and towers appear.
• Hispanic residents: A smaller share than statewide; usage patterns are broadly similar to state averages, with high smartphone adoption among working-age adults.

How Coal County differs from the Oklahoma state picture

• Adoption and plan mix
  • Slightly lower overall smartphone adoption than the statewide average.
  • Higher share of prepaid plans and discount-eligible lines; more sensitivity to price changes and data caps.
  • Larger proportion of mobile-only households and heavier reliance on phone-based hotspotting for homework and streaming.
• Usage behavior
  • Median monthly data per line tends to be lower than in metros (more conservative use), but a higher share of total household data may come from mobile due to limited home broadband.
  • Longer device upgrade cycles; refurbished and budget Android models are more common.
  • Voice/SMS remain relatively important; Wi‑Fi calling is used to compensate for weak indoor signal.
• Network experience
  • Coverage is patchier and more variable than in urban/suburban Oklahoma. Service is strongest in/near towns like Coalgate and along main highways; valleys and wooded areas create dead zones.
  • 5G availability is mostly low‑band with modest performance gains; mid‑band 5G is limited and tends to follow highway/town corridors. 4G LTE fallback is common outside town centers.
  • Public safety coverage via AT&T/FirstNet is relatively strong for first responders compared with some consumer MVNOs.
  • Outages from storms/ice and limited tower backup power have a bigger day‑to‑day impact than in metro areas.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Carriers and coverage
  • National carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile) cover towns and main corridors; rural coverage varies by ridge/valley. AT&T and Verizon generally have the widest footprints; T‑Mobile can be strong near highways but spottier off‑road.
  • MVNOs that ride these networks work where the host signal is good but may see deprioritization in congested spots (school events, county fairs).
• 5G and capacity
  • Predominantly low‑band 5G; limited mid‑band sectors. Typical town speeds often 30–120 Mbps when signal is strong; rural edges can drop to single‑digit Mbps on LTE.
  • 3G sunsets complete; VoLTE is required. Wi‑Fi calling can be essential inside metal‑roof homes and larger buildings.
• Home and community connectivity
  • Fixed wireless and satellite (including Starlink) fill many gaps; DSL persists but is limited. Cable and fiber are sparse outside a few pockets and anchor institutions.
  • Carrier “home internet” via 4G/5G is offered selectively where signal quality allows.
  • Public Wi‑Fi at the library, schools, and some civic sites remains a key access point for students.
• Towers and terrain
  • Low tower density plus hills/trees create shadow zones; new tower builds are incremental due to low population density and ROI.
  • Backhaul constraints can bottleneck speeds at busy times.
• Resilience
  • Severe weather can produce multi‑hour service interruptions; backup power and microwave backhaul vary by site.

What this means for planning and outreach

• Expect slightly lower smartphone adoption but higher dependence on mobile for home internet than the state average.
• Programs that reduce plan/device costs (post‑ACP) and expand indoor coverage (signal boosters, Wi‑Fi calling education) deliver outsized benefits.
• Targeted tower infill and mid‑band 5G sectors near schools, health clinics, and along school‑bus routes could materially improve everyday usability.
• Partnerships with tribal and state broadband efforts can align new fiber and backhaul with cellular capacity upgrades.

Notes on estimates

• Figures are derived from county population and typical rural adoption patterns in Oklahoma and the wider U.S. Ranges are provided where precise, current, county‑level counts aren’t published. For decisions requiring exact coverage or counts, verify with carrier maps, FCC National Broadband Map, state broadband office grant data, and on‑the‑ground drive testing.

Below is a concise, county‑scaled estimate built from Coal County’s size and age mix (U.S. Census/ACS) and rural-U.S. social media patterns (Pew Research Center 2023–2024). Because platform data isn’t published at the county level, figures are modeled for Coal County and shown as ranges.

Snapshot

• Population: ~5,300. Adults (18+): ~4,000–4,200.
• Estimated social media users: ~3,100–3,300 total (≈2,800–3,000 adults + ~300 teens 13–17).

Most‑used platforms among local social media users (modeled)

• YouTube: ~75–80%
• Facebook: ~70–75% (heavy Groups/Marketplace use)
• Instagram: ~30–40%
• TikTok: ~25–35%
• Snapchat: ~25–30% (strong among teens/20s)
• Pinterest: ~25–30% (skews female)
• X/Twitter: ~10–15%
• Reddit: ~10–15%
• LinkedIn: ~10–15% (lower in rural, fewer white‑collar roles)
• Nextdoor: <5% (Facebook Groups fill this role)

Age mix of users (share of local users)

• 13–17: ~8–10% (Snapchat/TikTok/Instagram first; YouTube for entertainment/how‑to)
• 18–29: ~18–20% (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat; YouTube daily)
• 30–49: ~35–40% (largest segment; Facebook + Messenger, YouTube; some Instagram/TikTok)
• 50–64: ~22–26% (Facebook, YouTube; light Instagram/Pinterest)
• 65+: ~12–15% (Facebook primary; YouTube growing)

Gender notes

• County split is roughly even; women tend to be a slightly larger share of active users due to higher Facebook/Pinterest use; men over‑index on YouTube/Reddit.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger across ages; Snapchat DM among teens/20s; WhatsApp limited.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community first: Facebook Groups power local news, school sports, churches, civic updates, yard sales; Marketplace is a major utility.
• Video, but practical: YouTube for how‑to, repairs, hunting/fishing, sermons; short vertical video (Reels/TikTok) for local food, events, and “what’s happening this weekend.”
• Local trust: Content from known people, churches, schools, and county pages outperforms brand accounts; UGC and testimonials matter.
• Smartphone‑only, bandwidth‑aware: Many are mobile‑first with patchy broadband; short, compressed video and posts that work on slower connections perform better.
• Timing: Engagement peaks evenings (7–10 pm CT) and weekends; midday spikes during school sports or civic updates.
• Commerce: Facebook/Instagram for promos; Marketplace for person‑to‑person sales; simple DM-to-purchase flows work better than off‑site checkouts.
• Low X/Twitter footprint: News discovery is via Facebook Groups/pages; X mainly for state/national news or sports.
• Events: County fairs, school sports, hunting seasons, and church events drive sharp, short engagement bursts.

Methodology and sources

• Population/age/gender: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial; latest ACS for small counties).
• Platform adoption baselines and rural/age/gender skews: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use (2023–2024).
• Coal County estimates scale rural U.S./Oklahoma‑like adoption rates to local population; platform percentages represent share of local social-media users, not total population.