Ellis County

Ellis County, Oklahoma – key demographics

Population

• Total: 3,749 (2020 Census); ~3,650–3,700 (2023 estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~44 years
• Under 18: ~23%
• 65 and over: ~23%

Sex

• Female: ~49% (male ~51%)

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2018–2022)

• White alone: ~89–90%
• Black or African American alone: ~0.3–0.5%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~3%
• Asian alone: ~0.2–0.3%
• Two or more races: ~4–6%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~10–12%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~78–80%

Households and housing (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~1,600–1,650
• Average household size: ~2.3–2.4
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~75–77%
• Median household income: ~$55–60k
• Per capita income: ~$29–31k
• Persons in poverty: ~12–14%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates; 2023 Population Estimates).

Ellis County, Oklahoma — email usage snapshot (estimates)

• Population baseline: ~3,700 residents. Very rural, low density (a few people per square mile), with population centered in Arnett, Shattuck, and Gage.
• Estimated email users: 2,400–2,800 people. Method: apply national adult email adoption to local age mix and broadband access; equates to roughly 65–75% of total residents and ~80–90% of adults.
• Age distribution among email users:
  • 18–34: ~20–25% of users; adoption very high.
  • 35–64: ~50–55% of users; near-universal adoption.
  • 65+: ~20–25% of users; adoption lower but still a clear majority.
• Gender split: roughly even (about 50/50), mirroring the county’s population.
• Digital access trends:
  • Home broadband subscription likely ~65–75% of households; an additional ~10–15% rely primarily on mobile data.
  • Fixed wireless and satellite fill gaps outside town limits; fiber/cable more available in town centers.
  • Cellular/data coverage is strongest along main corridors; service can be spotty in sparsely populated ranchland.
• Implications: High email reach for working-age adults via home or mobile connections; seniors reachable but benefit from mobile-friendly, lightweight messages. Coverage variability suggests multi-channel follow-up (SMS/phone) for remote addresses.

Notes: Figures are reasoned estimates using Census-scale population and national Pew/ACS adoption benchmarks for rural areas.

Ellis County, Oklahoma: mobile usage snapshot (with emphasis on how it differs from statewide patterns)

Population baseline

• Residents: roughly 3,700–3,900 (very small, rural, aging)
• Households: about 1,500–1,650

User estimates

• People using a mobile phone (of any type): about 2,700–3,100 residents
• Smartphone users: about 2,300–2,600 (lower share than Oklahoma overall)
• Wireless-only households (no landline): about 65–70% of households, slightly below the Oklahoma average in younger metros but above many rural peers; older residents keep Ellis a bit less “wireless-only” than the state’s urban counties
• Smartphone-dependent for home internet (no wired broadband at home, rely on mobile data/hotspots): roughly 20–30% of households, higher than the state average due to limited fixed broadband options

Demographic patterns (vs. Oklahoma overall)

• Age: Adoption tracks the rural age profile. Under-45 adults and teens are near statewide smartphone usage, but 55+ ownership and especially 65+ smartphone adoption are meaningfully lower than the state average. Result: lower overall smartphone penetration than Oklahoma, but similar basic mobile phone access.
• Income and work: More price-sensitive plan selection and higher use of shared/family plans than in metro Oklahoma. Agriculture/oilfield workers show above-average use of rugged devices, boosters, and hotspot add‑ons compared with the state norm.
• Race/ethnicity: The county’s Hispanic community skews more smartphone-dependent for home internet than the county average, echoing a statewide pattern but with a larger gap because wired options are thinner locally.

Digital infrastructure and coverage (what’s different locally)

• Tower density and terrain: Sparse tower grid outside towns (Shattuck, Arnett, Gage, Fargo) and along US‑283/US‑60; between towns, coverage and capacity drop faster than the state norm. Users report more dead zones and greater reliance on Wi‑Fi calling/boosters than in most of Oklahoma.
• Carriers
  • Verizon and AT&T: Generally the most reliable outdoor coverage countywide; 4G LTE is the workhorse. Low-band 5G is present in and near towns and along highways but often behaves like LTE in throughput.
  • T‑Mobile: Extended-range 5G covers main corridors and towns but is patchier off‑corridor than in central/eastern Oklahoma. Mid‑band “UC” 5G is limited or absent, so speeds are less consistent than the statewide T‑Mobile experience.
• 5G and speeds: 5G availability exists but is mostly low-band; mid-band (capacity) 5G that drives high speeds in OKC/Tulsa is scarce. Typical downlink speeds in town are often in the 10–50 Mbps range with wide variability, versus much higher statewide medians in urban areas; off‑highway rural links can drop below 10 Mbps.
• Capacity hot spots: Sector congestion is noticeable during school, events, harvest/oilfield peaks—more pronounced than the state average because there are fewer sectors to offload traffic.
• Fixed wireless and hotspots: Mobile hotspots and cellular fixed‑wireless (e.g., Verizon/T‑Mobile FWA) are important substitutes where DSL/cable/fiber are limited. Availability is best in and near towns; performance falls off quickly with distance from towers. Reliance on FWA/hotspots is higher than the state average.
• Wired backhaul: Fewer fiber-fed sites than in metro Oklahoma; microwave backhaul is still common. That constrains peak speeds and contributes to the larger town/rural performance gap vs. the state.

Key ways Ellis County diverges from Oklahoma overall

• Lower smartphone penetration overall due to older demographics, but similar basic mobile phone access.
• Much higher dependence on mobile data and hotspots for home connectivity because wired broadband options are thinner.
• Coverage gaps and speed variability are more acute, especially off main corridors; mid‑band 5G capacity is scarce compared with metros.
• Greater need for signal boosters/Wi‑Fi calling and a higher incidence of “bring-your-own-coverage” strategies in homes, ranches, and job sites.
• Carrier choice is more constrained by location; Verizon/AT&T tend to be safer bets countywide, while T‑Mobile’s performance depends heavily on proximity to specific sites—more so than in urban Oklahoma where T‑Mobile’s mid‑band grid is dense.

Notes and sources to consult for validation or updates

• FCC National Broadband Map (mobile and fixed layers) for current coverage and FWA/fiber footprints
• Carrier coverage maps and local retail/authorized dealers (Shattuck/Arnett) for on-the-ground availability
• Ookla/RootMetrics/SignalCheck community data for speed and reliability snapshots
• ACS (device/Internet access tables) and CDC wireless-only household estimates for state vs. rural baselines

Ellis County, OK social media snapshot (estimates)

Context and user base

• Population: about 3,700 residents; roughly 2,900 adults (18+).
• Social media users: approximately 2,000–2,200 adults (about 70–75% of adults, in line with rural U.S. adoption).
• Internet/device context: smartphone-first; pockets of spotty broadband mean heavier use of lightweight apps (Facebook, Messenger) and downloaded/short videos.

Most-used platforms (share of adults who use each platform; ranges reflect rural U.S. rates applied to Ellis County)

• YouTube: 75–80%
• Facebook: 65–70%
• Facebook Messenger: 60–65%
• Instagram: 35–40% (skews younger/female)
• TikTok: 25–30% (younger skew)
• Pinterest: 25–30% (mostly women)
• Snapchat: 20–25% (teens/20s)
• X (Twitter): 15–20% (news/weather watchers)
• WhatsApp: 10–15% (small; family/teams)
• LinkedIn: 10–15% (low; some oil/gas, healthcare, education)
• Reddit/Discord/Nextdoor: 5–12% each (niche/low due to low-density neighborhoods)

Age mix of social media users (approximate share of local users)

• Teens (13–17): very high usage, but small share of total population; dominant on YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok; Instagram moderate.
• 18–34: 25–30% of users; heavy on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat; YouTube universal; Facebook used for community ties and Marketplace.
• 35–54: 35–40% of users; Facebook is the hub (Groups, Marketplace, Messenger); YouTube for how‑to; Instagram/Reels rising.
• 55+: 30–35% of users; Facebook + Messenger primary; YouTube for tutorials/local content; limited use of Instagram/TikTok.

Gender breakdown (directional)

• Overall users roughly even, with a slight female majority likely among active social accounts (Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram).
• Platform skews: women over-index on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram; men over-index on YouTube, X, Reddit.

Behavioral trends and local patterns

• Facebook is the community backbone: school districts, churches, volunteer fire departments, county government, county fair/4-H, buy/sell groups, and Facebook Marketplace see the most engagement.
• Weather drives spikes: residents follow OK meteorologists and storm spotters on Facebook and X; severe-weather days create sharp engagement surges.
• Local news and sports: high interest in high school sports (Arnett, Shattuck, Gage, Fargo), livestock/rodeo, fairs; Facebook Live and short Reels/TikToks of games and events perform well.
• Practical video: YouTube for how‑to/repair (farm and ranch equipment, home/auto), hunting/fishing, cooking, DIY, and ag market explainers.
• Messaging norms: Facebook Messenger is the default for community coordination; WhatsApp use is limited; SMS fallback is common.
• Commerce: Heavy reliance on Facebook Marketplace for vehicles, equipment, furniture, and local services; local shops and ag suppliers post updates and specials on Facebook.
• Timing: Peaks before work (6–8am), lunchtime, and evenings (7–10pm); weekend activity strong; seasonal dips/swells during planting/harvest and school sports seasons.
• Content that travels: concise local updates, photos of community people/places, short vertical video, and weather/safety information; posts with faces and clear calls to action outperform generic graphics.
• Professional networking: LinkedIn is niche; job discovery more often happens via Facebook Groups, word-of-mouth, and employer pages (ag, education, healthcare, oil/gas services).

Notes on method and sources

• County-level social media stats aren’t published; figures above are estimates applying Pew Research Center 2023–2024 U.S./rural platform usage rates to Ellis County’s demographics (U.S. Census/ACS). Ranges reflect uncertainty typical of small rural populations. Sources: Pew Research Center (Social Media Use reports, 2023–2024); U.S. Census Bureau (Ellis County, OK population and age structure).