Greer County

Greer County, Oklahoma — Key demographics

Population size

• 2020 Census: 5,491 (down from 6,239 in 2010)

Age

• Median age: about 40 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~20%
• 18–64: ~62%
• 65 and over: ~18%

Sex

• Male: ~57%
• Female: ~43% (Note: the presence of a state correctional facility in Granite skews the sex ratio toward males and concentrates adults in working ages.)

Race and ethnicity (2020 Census; Hispanic can be of any race)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~56%
• Black or African American: ~13%
• American Indian and Alaska Native: ~6%
• Asian: ~1%
• Two or more races: ~10%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~15%

Households and housing (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~2,050
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Family households: ~63% of households
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~74%
• Median household income: ~$45,000
• Persons in poverty: ~21%

Insights

• The county is small and aging modestly, with population decline since 2010.
• The correctional facility materially affects the male share and age distribution.
• Homeownership is high, typical of rural Oklahoma, with modest incomes and elevated poverty relative to the state.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey (ACS) 2018–2022 5-year estimates; Census QuickFacts.

Greer County, OK snapshot (2025):

• Population and density: ≈5,450 residents across ~640 sq mi (≈8.5 people/sq mi).
• Estimated email users: ≈3,500 residents. Basis: ~4,140 adults (≈76% of population) with roughly 85% email use.
• Age distribution of email users (approximate counts):
  • 18–29: 16% (~560)
  • 30–49: 31% (~1,085)
  • 50–64: 27% (~945)
  • 65+: 26% (~910)
• Gender split among email users: ≈48% male (1,680), 52% female (1,820). Note: the county’s male-heavy overall population is influenced by incarceration; everyday email users skew closer to even.
• Digital access and trends:
  • ~73% of households have a broadband subscription; ~12–15% are smartphone‑only; ~22–25% lack home internet.
  • Fixed broadband is strongest in and around Mangum and Granite; many outlying areas rely on fixed wireless or satellite, with 4G/5G mobile coverage along primary corridors.
  • Email is predominantly accessed on smartphones; engagement peaks among ages 30–49 and continues to grow among seniors.
  • State and federal investments (e.g., BEAD) are expanding fiber and fixed‑wireless coverage through 2028, narrowing rural gaps and modestly lifting email adoption.

Mobile phone usage in Greer County, Oklahoma (2024 snapshot)

Headline estimates

• Population and households: ~5,400 residents, ~2,150 households
• Adult mobile users (any mobile phone): ~4,050 adults, or ~95% of the 18+ population
• Adult smartphone users: ~3,500 adults, or ~82% of the 18+ population
• Wireless-only households (no landline): ~1,700 households, or ~79% of households
• Households using mobile service as their primary home internet: ~25% of households

How Greer County differs from Oklahoma overall

• Smartphone adoption is lower: ~82% of adults in Greer vs roughly mid-to-high 80s statewide, reflecting an older age profile and lower incomes
• Wireless-only households are higher: ~79% in Greer vs low‑to‑mid 70s statewide, driven by limited wireline options and cost sensitivity
• Greater reliance on mobile for home internet: about one in four Greer households primarily uses cellular data or a hotspot vs closer to one in six statewide
• Slower and less consistent 5G experience: coverage is more “low‑band 5G and LTE” with pockets of mid‑band, while metro corridors in Oklahoma see broader mid‑band 5G
• Prepaid is dominant: a majority of consumer lines are on prepaid or value MVNOs in Greer, compared with a more even split statewide

Demographic breakdown of mobile use

• Age
  • 18–29: ~95–98% smartphone adoption; heavy app and social use
  • 30–49: ~92–96% smartphone adoption; highest mobile data consumption per user
  • 50–64: ~80–85% smartphone adoption; mix of postpaid and prepaid
  • 65+: ~60–65% smartphone adoption; above-average share of basic/flip phones and limited-data plans
• Income and plan type
  • Median household income trails the state average, pushing higher prepaid/MVNO uptake, multi‑line discounts, and ACP-replacement discounts where available
  • Bill management behaviors like frequent plan changes, add‑on hotspot passes, and seasonal suspensions are more common than in metro Oklahoma
• Race/ethnicity and language
  • A sizable Hispanic community supports strong adoption of WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and international calling add‑ons on prepaid plans
• Employment patterns
  • Agriculture, energy, and public sector employment drive demand for wide‑area coverage and push‑to‑talk or group communications; employers often maintain multi‑carrier device pools to mitigate dead zones

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage and technologies
  • All three national carriers (AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon) provide 4G LTE across population centers and along primary corridors (notably US‑283 and US‑62)
  • Low‑band 5G is present in and around towns and along highways; mid‑band 5G is spotty and primarily near the most trafficked segments
• Expected speeds and reliability
  • LTE: commonly 5–25 Mbps in the open plains; sub‑5 Mbps possible at cell edges and inside metal buildings
  • Low‑band 5G: typically 25–150 Mbps near sites; performance degrades like LTE at range
  • Mid‑band 5G: where available, 100–300+ Mbps near the site but with limited geographic reach
  • Terrain and structures: river bottoms, canyons near Quartz Mountain/Lugert Lake, and metal-roof structures create localized dead zones and indoor attenuation
• Backhaul and capacity
  • Many rural sites rely on microwave backhaul with selective fiber-fed nodes along major routes; this constrains peak capacity compared with metro Oklahoma
• Home internet via mobile and fixed wireless
  • Mobile hotspots and 4G/5G fixed wireless access are materially used as home internet substitutes, especially where legacy DSL is slow and fiber absent
  • Data deprioritization and hotspot caps shape usage patterns, particularly for streaming and schoolwork
• Public connectivity and safety
  • Schools and the county library system provide essential Wi‑Fi offload
  • Wireless Emergency Alerts are active; voice and SMS remain more reliable than data during congestion events

Usage behaviors and market dynamics

• High reliance on Android devices and value brands, reflecting cost-conscious upgrades and BYOD practices
• Bundle adoption is limited; many households separate mobile from home internet and TV due to lack of converged wireline options
• Carrier switching is less frequent than in metro areas because coverage, not pricing alone, is the binding constraint; businesses often maintain two-carrier redundancy
• The phase‑out of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program in 2024 has increased price sensitivity and may reduce data tiers or delay handset upgrades

Methodological notes

• Estimates synthesize the 2020 Census and 2023 ACS population/age structure, Pew Research Center mobile adoption by age (2023), CDC NHIS wireless‑only household rates (state-level, 2022–2023), FCC mobile coverage data (2024), and rural performance observations for western Oklahoma. County figures are adjusted from state/national baselines to reflect Greer County’s older age mix, lower median income, and rural infrastructure profile.

Greer County, OK — social media usage snapshot (modeled 2025 estimates)

Scope and basis

• Audience: residents 13+ (adult breakouts focus on 18+)
• Sources blended: Pew Research Center 2024 platform adoption by age/geo, rural vs urban differentials, Oklahoma/rural broadband and smartphone adoption trends, and Greer County’s age structure (Census/ACS). County-level platform counts are not directly measured; figures below are best-available local estimates.

Overall penetration

• Adults (18+) using at least one social platform weekly: 78–82%
• Teens (13–17) using at least one platform weekly: 90%+
• Device context: smartphone ownership ~85–90% of adults; home broadband ~70–75% of households; a notable mobile-only segment (15–20%)

Most-used platforms (adults, 18+; % who use at least monthly)

• YouTube: 76–80%
• Facebook: 62–66%
• Instagram: 36–40%
• TikTok: 29–33%
• Snapchat: 26–30%
• Pinterest: 25–29%
• X (Twitter): 16–20%
• Reddit: 12–15%
• LinkedIn: 13–17%
• Nextdoor: 2–4% Top weekly-use stack: YouTube and Facebook dominate reach; Instagram/TikTok are strong among under-40; Snapchat is concentrated in teens/young adults.

Age-group patterns (share using each platform at least monthly)

• Teens 13–17: YouTube ~95%; Snapchat 70–75%; TikTok 70–75%; Instagram 60–65%; Facebook 20–30%
• 18–29: YouTube 90%+; Instagram 65–70%; Snapchat 60–70%; TikTok 60–65%; Facebook 55–60%
• 30–49: YouTube 85–90%; Facebook 70–75%; Instagram 45–50%; TikTok 35–40%; Snapchat 30–35%
• 50–64: Facebook 65–70%; YouTube 70–75%; Instagram 25–30%; TikTok 20–25%
• 65+: Facebook 50–55%; YouTube 55–60%; Instagram 15–20%; TikTok 10–15%

Gender breakdown (usage skews among users)

• Overall social media adoption: roughly balanced (women slightly higher by ~3–5 points)
• Platform skews: Pinterest (≈70% women), Snapchat and TikTok (≈55–60% women), Instagram (≈55% women), Facebook (near-even, slight female lean), YouTube (≈52–55% men), X/Twitter (≈60% men), Reddit (≈65% men)

Behavioral trends and local patterns

• Facebook as the community hub: high reliance on Groups and Pages for local news, school updates, churches, sports, severe weather, yard sales; Marketplace is a primary buy/sell channel.
• Video-first consumption: strong YouTube use for DIY, auto/home repair, agriculture and equipment, hunting/fishing, and Oklahoma sports; short-form video growth on TikTok and Instagram Reels for food, fitness, and humor.
• Youth messaging culture: Snapchat is the default for teens/college-age; Instagram DMs second; Facebook Messenger remains common across ages.
• Civic and small business presence: most local governments, schools, and small businesses prioritize Facebook; Instagram is used for visual branding; X/Twitter is niche (sports and state-level updates).
• Advertising/engagement: boosted Facebook posts/events deliver the broadest local reach; Instagram works for retail, food, and events targeting under-40; TikTok ads are emerging but audience size is smaller.
• Seasonality and cadence: engagement spikes during severe weather season, back-to-school, holidays, county fairs, and high school sports; peak daily usage in early morning and late evening.

Estimated user counts (order-of-magnitude, adults 18+)

• Adult social media users weekly: roughly 3,100–3,400 residents
• Platform user bases locally (18+ monthly): YouTube ~3,000; Facebook ~2,500; Instagram ~1,400; TikTok ~1,100; Snapchat ~1,000; Pinterest ~1,000; X ~600

Notes

• Figures are county-specific estimates derived from national/state/rural benchmarks and Greer County demographics to provide actionable local planning guidance.
• Percentages refer to the share of local residents in each group using a platform at least monthly unless noted.