Kay County

Kay County, Oklahoma — key demographics

Population size

• 2023 population estimate: 43,200 (Census PEP)
• 2020 Census: ~44,200 (down roughly 2% by 2023)

Age

• Median age: ~39
• Under 18: ~24%
• 18–64: ~58%
• 65 and over: ~19%

Gender

• Female: ~50.6%
• Male: ~49.4%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2018–2022)

• White alone: ~73%
• Black or African American alone: ~3%
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~12%
• Asian alone: ~1%
• Two or more races: ~9–10%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~9–10%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~66%

Households (ACS 2018–2022)

• Total households: ~17,800
• Average household size: ~2.43; average family size: ~3.0
• Family households: ~66% (married-couple families ~48%)
• Households with own children under 18: ~28%
• Nonfamily households: ~34%; living alone ~30% (65+ living alone ~12%)
• Owner-occupied housing units: ~70%; renter-occupied ~30%

Insights

• Slowly declining population since 2010, with a relatively older age profile.
• Predominantly White with a substantial Native American population and a growing multiracial share.
• Household structure leans toward smaller sizes, majority owner-occupied, and about one-third nonfamily households.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (2023) and American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates.

Kay County, Oklahoma (2020 pop. ~43,700; density ~46 people/sq. mi.) shows broad email adoption aligned with national rural norms.

Estimated email users: ~30,700 adults (≈71% of total population). Derived from local age structure and typical U.S. email adoption by age.

Email users by age (share of adult email users):

• 18–34: 28% (8.7k)
• 35–54: 33% (10.2k)
• 55–64: 17% (5.1k)
• 65+: 22% (6.7k)

Gender split among email users: ~51% female, ~49% male, matching county demographics.

Digital access and trends:

• Broadband at home is prevalent (roughly 80–85% of households subscribe), with a growing smartphone‑only segment (~15%) and declining “no internet” households.
• Connectivity is anchored by cable and fixed wireless in populated areas; rural fringes experience more variability in speeds and plan availability.
• Ponca City (the county’s largest city) operates a long‑standing municipal Wi‑Fi network that provides broad, free baseline connectivity across much of the city, improving access for lower‑income and mobile users.
• Rising reliance on mobile email is evident alongside steady gains in home broadband subscriptions, supporting high daily email use across working‑age adults and increasing adoption among seniors.

Mobile phone usage in Kay County, OK — with emphasis on how it differs from statewide patterns

Context and scale

• Population and households: About 43,000 residents and roughly 17,000 households (2023 Census estimates).
• Adult base: Approx. 33,000 residents are 18+.

User estimates and adoption

• Smartphone users: 28,500–29,000 adult smartphone users (estimated 86–88% adult adoption). This is a few points lower than Oklahoma’s overall adult adoption, which is near 90% (Pew Research, 2023), reflecting Kay County’s older age profile and more rural settlement.
• Cellular-only internet households: 3,100–3,700 households (18–22%) rely primarily on mobile/cellular data for home internet, versus about 13–15% statewide (ACS S2801, 2019–2023, modeled to county). This gap is driven by limited wired options in outlying areas and the rapid uptake of 4G/5G fixed wireless.
• Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) uptake: Estimated 1,200–1,800 households use 5G/LTE home internet (T‑Mobile/Verizon), a higher share than the state average on a per-household basis, reflecting substitution where cable/DSL are weak or absent.
• Prepaid vs. postpaid: Prepaid mobile lines are materially higher than the state average (estimated 35–40% of active lines vs. 28–32% statewide), consistent with lower median incomes and more variable employment patterns.

Demographic patterns shaping usage

• Age: Kay County’s 65+ share is a few points above the state average (about 19% vs. 16% statewide). Smartphone adoption among seniors (70–80%) trails younger cohorts (~93–97%), measurably pulling down the countywide rate relative to Oklahoma overall.
• Income: Median household income sits below the statewide median; this correlates with higher prepaid usage, more device-sharing within households, and greater use of mobile data as a primary broadband substitute.
• Race and ethnicity: A higher American Indian/Alaska Native share than the state average (notably Kaw, Tonkawa, and Ponca affiliations). Community surveys and ACS microdata patterns indicate similar smartphone ownership to peers at comparable income/age, but a higher likelihood of mobile-only home internet in tribal and adjacent rural tracts.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• 4G LTE: Broad coverage across population centers (Ponca City, Blackwell, Tonkawa, Newkirk) and primary corridors (I‑35, US‑60, US‑77). Outside town centers, speeds and capacity step down but remain usable for voice, messaging, and basic data.
• 5G availability: Mid-band 5G is present in and around Ponca City and the I‑35/Blackwell–Tonkawa area, with patchier reach east and north toward agricultural and lake areas. This is improving but remains less continuous than in Oklahoma’s metros.
• Fixed and backhaul: Tower sites cluster along major highways and around Ponca City’s industrial zones; fewer macro sites serve eastern and far-northern census blocks. Backhaul constraints and line-of-sight around Kaw Lake and low-lying river areas contribute to localized weak spots.
• First responder networks: AT&T FirstNet coverage is established along main corridors and municipal areas; rural infill continues, improving resilience but not yet eliminating all gaps.
• Wireline substitutes: Cable is strong in Ponca City and parts of Blackwell/Tonkawa; DSL and legacy copper underperform in rural tracts. This disparity directly elevates mobile and FWA dependence relative to the state average.

How Kay County differs from statewide trends

• Higher reliance on mobile for home internet: A 3–7 percentage point premium in cellular-only and FWA adoption over the state average.
• Slightly lower adult smartphone penetration: By roughly 2–4 points, driven primarily by older age mix and rurality.
• Greater prepaid penetration and device-sharing: A consistent indicator of price sensitivity that is more pronounced than the Oklahoma average.
• More pronounced urban–rural performance gap: Town centers enjoy solid 5G/LTE capacity, while outlying areas experience steeper drop-offs than typical suburban counties in Oklahoma.
• Infrastructure catch-up dynamic: 5G mid-band upgrades and FWA are closing service gaps faster than new wired builds, accelerating mobile substitution beyond statewide norms.

Sources and basis

• U.S. Census Bureau 2023 population and household estimates; ACS 2019–2023 (Table S2801: Computer and Internet Use) for smartphone and subscription baselines, modeled to county scale.
• Pew Research Center (2023) national adult smartphone ownership for calibration.
• FCC National Broadband Map and carrier public coverage disclosures (2023–2024) for qualitative coverage and technology mix.
• Local geography and settlement patterns (Ponca City, Blackwell, Tonkawa, Newkirk; Kaw Lake environs) to interpret infrastructure impact on usage.

Kay County, OK social media snapshot (2025)

User base

• Estimated adult social-media users: ~25,000–28,000 residents. Basis: ~34,000–35,000 adults in the county (ACS) and 75–80% of rural U.S. adults using at least one social platform (Pew).

Most‑used platforms among adults (share of adult users; local usage typically tracks rural U.S. patterns per Pew 2024)

• YouTube: ~80–85%
• Facebook: ~65–70%
• Instagram: ~45–50%
• TikTok: ~30–35%
• Snapchat: ~25–30%
• Pinterest: ~30–35% (skews female)
• LinkedIn: ~25–30% (concentrated among managers/professionals)
• X/Twitter: ~20–25%
• Reddit: ~18–22%
• Nextdoor: ~10–15% (primarily in Ponca City neighborhoods)

Age group usage patterns (approximate adoption by age, reflecting rural U.S. rates)

• 18–29: Instagram 70–80%; Snapchat 60–70%; TikTok 60–65%; YouTube 90%+. Facebook ~30–40%.
• 30–49: YouTube 85–90%; Facebook 70–80%; Instagram 50–60%; TikTok ~35–45%; Snapchat ~25–35%.
• 50–64: Facebook 70–75%; YouTube 75–85%; Instagram ~30–40%; TikTok ~20–25%.
• 65+: Facebook ~45–55%; YouTube ~45–55%; Instagram/TikTok each ~10–20%.

Gender breakdown (directional)

• Women: Higher on Facebook and Pinterest; strong daily use of Facebook Groups and Messenger; Instagram and TikTok near parity with men.
• Men: Higher on YouTube and Reddit; similar Facebook use overall, but lower participation in buy/sell groups; LinkedIn slightly higher among male professionals.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is cross‑demographic; Snapchat concentrated among younger women; WhatsApp limited but growing within family/immigrant networks.

Behavioral trends in Kay County

• Community and information: Facebook is the hub for local news, school athletics, city/county emergency management, and church/civic updates; weather events drive sharp engagement spikes.
• Commerce: Heavy use of Facebook Marketplace and swap/sell groups for vehicles, farm/ranch equipment, tools, appliances, and rentals.
• Events and causes: County fair, festivals, youth sports, and fundraisers coordinate via Facebook Events and Groups; Instagram Stories/Reels used by younger organizers.
• Video habits: YouTube for DIY, auto/home repair, outdoor/recreation, and music; TikTok/Reels for short local highlights and entertainment.
• Employment: Facebook groups and Indeed remain primary for hourly and skilled‑trade postings; LinkedIn used mainly by healthcare, education, and plant/energy management.
• Timing: Highest activity evenings (7–9 pm) and weekends; midday mobile checks on workdays; rapid engagement during severe‑weather alerts.
• Civic/political: Noticeable surges around local elections and bond issues; official pages and local media use Facebook to counter rumors and disseminate updates.

Notes and sources

• Demographics: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 5‑year estimates for Kay County.
• Usage rates: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024. Local shares are modeled by applying rural U.S. patterns to Kay County’s adult population.