Johnston County

Johnston County, Oklahoma — key demographics

Population size

• Total population: 10,513 (2020 Census)
• Population density: ~17 people per sq. mile (land area ~624 sq. mi.)

Age

• Median age: ~40 years (ACS 5-year estimate)
• Under 18: ~24%
• 18 to 64: ~58%
• 65 and over: ~18%

Gender

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Racial/ethnic composition (Hispanic can be of any race; shares are approximate ACS 5-year estimates)

• White: ~65–70%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~18–22%
• Two or more races: ~8–10%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~6–7%
• Black: ~1%
• Asian/Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: <1%

Households and housing

• Total households: ~4,000–4,200
• Average household size: ~2.5 persons
• Family households: ~60–65%
• Married-couple households: ~45–50%
• Owner-occupied housing: ~70–75%
• Renter-occupied housing: ~25–30%
• Median household income: roughly mid–$40,000s
• Persons below poverty level: roughly ~18–20%

Notes

• Totals may not sum due to rounding and overlapping race/ethnicity definitions.
• Population total is from the 2020 Census; other indicators are from recent ACS 5-year estimates (multi-year averages).

Johnston County, Oklahoma snapshot

• Population and density: 10,513 residents across ~658 sq mi; ≈16 people per sq mi (2020 Census).
• Estimated email users: ~7,000 residents (about 66% of the population).
• Age distribution of email users (share of all users): 13–17: ~5%; 18–29: ~15%; 30–49: ~30%; 50–64: ~25%; 65+: ~25%.
• Gender split among email users: ≈49% male, 51% female (near parity).
• Digital access and usage trends:
  • Home broadband: roughly mid-70% of households maintain a broadband subscription (typical for rural Oklahoma in 2018–2022 ACS data).
  • Smartphone-only access: ~18–22% rely primarily on mobile data, so email is predominantly checked on phones.
  • Trend: steady gains in fiber and fixed‑wireless since 2020 have raised speeds and reliability, but coverage remains patchy outside town centers, dampening home‑based email use among older and lower‑income residents.
• Local connectivity factors: Very low population density increases last‑mile costs, limiting fixed-network economics; residents frequently augment home service with public Wi‑Fi at community anchors (schools, libraries).

Mobile phone usage in Johnston County, Oklahoma — 2025 snapshot

Executive summary

• Johnston County’s mobile adoption is high but slightly below the Oklahoma average, with a larger share of residents relying on cellular data as their primary or only home internet. Coverage is strong in and around towns, with patchier performance in sparsely populated and wooded areas between them. The county’s older age profile and lower median income modestly depress smartphone penetration relative to the state, while elevating prepaid and mobile-only use.

User estimates

• Adult smartphone users: approximately 7,500–8,500 residents use smartphones regularly. This derives from county population size, age structure, and rural smartphone adoption rates (mid- to high-80s percent among adults), which run a few points below the state average.
• Total active mobile lines: roughly 10,000–13,000 active cellular connections, reflecting multiple lines per person in working-age cohorts and device add‑ons (watches, tablets, hotspots).
• Mobile-only internet households: about 12–18% of households rely primarily or exclusively on cellular data for home internet, several points higher than the statewide share. This is driven by gaps in affordable wired broadband in outlying areas.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age: Johnston County skews older than Oklahoma overall. Smartphone adoption is near-universal among adults under 45, high but not universal in the 45–64 group, and meaningfully lower in 65+; the county’s older age mix pulls down overall smartphone penetration by an estimated 2–4 percentage points relative to the state.
• Income and education: Household income is below the state median and postsecondary attainment is lower, supporting higher uptake of prepaid plans and mobile-only internet. Cost sensitivity raises the use of budget MVNOs and data-capped plans.
• Race and ethnicity: The county has a sizable Native American population (Chickasaw Nation area) alongside a majority White population and a small but growing Hispanic community. Tribal programs and anchors (health clinics, schools, government sites) boost mobile engagement via telehealth, education portals, and community notifications, particularly in areas where wired service is limited.
• Household structure: More single-adult and fixed-income households than the state average correlate with smaller plan bundles but steady reliance on text, voice, and essential apps.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks present: AT&T, T‑Mobile, and Verizon provide countywide service footprints, with 5G concentrated in and around Tishomingo and other towns and along primary travel corridors. LTE remains the primary layer across much of the rural area, with 5G performance strongest near towns.
• Capacity and performance: In-town and corridor sectors typically support mid-band 5G and higher LTE capacity; outlying sectors rely more on lower-band spectrum for reach, trading speed for coverage. Users commonly experience faster downloads in town centers and noticeably reduced throughput in low-density pockets.
• Reliability: Terrain, tree cover, and distance to towers contribute to dead zones between towns and along lake-adjacent and wooded stretches. Severe weather events periodically degrade service; public-safety coverage is bolstered by FirstNet (AT&T) buildouts.
• Backhaul and fiber: Local incumbents and regional providers have expanded fiber along main corridors and into town centers, improving mobile backhaul and peak-hour stability. Fiber-to-the-home remains uneven in outlying areas, reinforcing higher mobile-only internet use.
• Public and anchor connectivity: Schools, libraries, clinics, and tribal facilities function as high-connectivity anchors and Wi‑Fi hubs, mitigating device data constraints for students and patients.

How Johnston County differs from Oklahoma overall

• Slightly lower smartphone penetration: The county’s older age mix and lower incomes pull overall smartphone adoption a few points below the state average, despite very high adoption among younger adults.
• More mobile-only households: Reliance on cellular data as the primary home connection is clearly higher than the state average, reflecting patchy wired options outside town centers.
• Heavier prepaid/MVNO usage: Price sensitivity and variable credit access lift prepaid share above the statewide mix; this can mean tighter data caps and more throttling during congestion.
• Coverage vs. capacity gap: Basic coverage is broadly comparable to the state average, but the share of users spending substantial time on LTE or low-band 5G (rather than mid-band 5G) is higher, creating a larger urban–rural performance spread within the county.
• Greater role of tribal and public anchors: Compared with the state overall, tribal facilities and local public anchors play a larger role in providing dependable connectivity and digital services.

Actionable implications

• Expanding mid-band 5G and small cells around population clusters and along commuter corridors would materially improve peak-hour performance.
• Extending fiber backhaul deeper into rural sectors would stabilize speeds and reduce congestion-driven throttling.
• Targeted affordability programs and device-upgrade support for 65+ residents could close the remaining adoption gap while increasing telehealth uptake.
• Continued coordination with tribal entities and schools can amplify digital inclusion, especially for students and low-income households.

Note on figures and methods

• Counts are estimated from the latest multi-year Census/ACS patterns for rural Oklahoma counties, industry connection ratios, and observed urban–rural adoption differentials. Ranges are provided to reflect uncertainty at small-county sample sizes while keeping direction and relative differences with the state clear and decision-useful.

Social media usage in Johnston County, Oklahoma (2025 snapshot)

What this is

• A concise, best-available estimate localized to Johnston County using U.S. Census Bureau 2023 county demographics and Pew Research Center 2024 social media adoption by age/locale (rural). Figures are rounded and intended for planning.

User stats

• Population base: ~10.9k residents (2023 est., U.S. Census Bureau). Adults (18+): ~8.3k.
• Active social media users (adults): 5.9k–6.2k, or 71–75% of adults.
• Gender among social media users: ~52% female, ~48% male.

Age composition of local social media users (share of users, not population)

• 13–17: 9%
• 18–29: 19%
• 30–44: 26%
• 45–64: 27%
• 65+: 19%

Most-used platforms among Johnston County adults (estimated reach of adult residents; multi-platform use means totals exceed 100%)

• YouTube: ~80%
• Facebook: ~64%
• Instagram: ~36%
• TikTok: ~28%
• Pinterest: ~32% (skews female)
• Snapchat: ~22% (heavy 13–24)
• X/Twitter: ~16%
• WhatsApp: ~20%
• Reddit: ~13%
• LinkedIn: ~11%

Gender patterns

• Women are more likely to be on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, and X.
• Women 30–64 drive a large share of Facebook group and local marketplace activity; men 25–54 are heavy YouTube consumers (DIY, trades, outdoor content).

Behavioral trends (local/rural patterns applied to Johnston County)

• Facebook is the community backbone: school sports, civic updates, church and event promotion, buy/sell groups, and emergency/weather alerts get outsized reach and comments.
• Short-form video is rising: TikTok and Facebook/Instagram Reels earn high completion for local faces, storefront tours, and before/after projects; sub-60-second, vertical video performs best.
• YouTube is utility-first: how-to, agriculture, homestead, hunting/fishing, small engine repair, home improvement, and product reviews.
• Messaging-centric sharing: Many posts are shared via Messenger or group chats rather than public timelines; giveaways and “tag a friend” mechanics amplify.
• Time-of-day windows: Engagement clusters early morning (6–8 a.m.) and evening (7–9 p.m.), with weekend spikes around local sports and events.
• Trust is local: Content featuring recognizable people, places, or organizations materially outperforms generic/stock creative; local testimonials drive action.
• News and civic content: Facebook remains the primary discovery surface; cross-posting to Reels and Stories improves reach among 18–34.

Notes on methodology and sources

• Demographic base: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 county estimates (population/age/gender).
• Platform adoption: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (adjusted to rural patterns and Johnston County age mix). Percentages reflect modeled local reach; actual platform ad-reach tools typically land within a few points of these figures.