Kiowa County

Kiowa County, Oklahoma — key demographics (U.S. Census Bureau)

Population size

• 8,708 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~42–43 years
• Under 18: ~22%
• 65 and over: ~23%

Gender

• Male: ~51–52%
• Female: ~48–49%

Race and ethnicity (of total population)

• White alone: ~73–75%
• Black or African American alone: ~4–5%
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~12–13%
• Asian alone: ~0.5–0.7%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: ~0.1%
• Two or more races: ~7–9%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~9–10%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~67–69%

Households and housing

• Households: ~3,600–3,700
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Family households: ~60%
• Nonfamily households: ~40%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~73–75%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (population count); American Community Survey 5-year estimates (most recent release for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and household characteristics).

• County snapshot: Kiowa County, OK population 8,708 (2020 Census), ~9 people per square mile.
• Estimated email users: ~6,400 residents (≈73–77% of total), derived from national age-specific email adoption rates applied to the county’s age mix.
• Age distribution of email users (estimated share of users): 13–17 ~6%, 18–34 ~21%, 35–64 ~50%, 65+ ~23%. Adoption is near-universal among adults under 65 and somewhat lower among seniors.
• Gender split among users: ~50% female, ~50% male, mirroring the county’s near-even sex ratio.
• Digital access trends:
  • ~65–75% of households have a fixed broadband subscription (ACS 2018–2022 range for similar rural counties in OK).
  • ~15–20% of households are smartphone‑only for internet access.
  • Home broadband and smartphone adoption have risen ~5–8 percentage points since 2017; email usage remains >90% among internet users (Pew Research).
• Local connectivity context: Low population density (~9/sq mi) raises last‑mile costs, leading to patchier high‑speed options outside towns and lower adoption than Oklahoma’s urban counties; residents in outlying areas more often rely on fixed‑wireless or satellite.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Kiowa County, Oklahoma (2024)

Overall adoption and users

• Population baseline: 8,708 (2020 Census). Age structure skews older and rural compared with Oklahoma overall.
• Estimated mobile phone users: about 6,200 (range 6,000–6,500), reflecting lower rural/older adoption than the state’s urban counties.
• Estimated smartphone users: about 5,100 (roughly 80–83% of mobile users). Feature/flip-phone users account for about 17–20% of users—several points higher than the statewide share.
• Household reliance on mobile-only internet: elevated at roughly 16–20% of households, compared with a lower statewide rate, due to more limited and patchier fixed broadband options in parts of the county.

Demographic breakdown of users (estimates reflect rural/age-adjusted adoption patterns)

• Ages 12–17: ~8% of county mobile users; >90% use smartphones.
• Ages 18–34: ~25% of users; ~97–99% use smartphones.
• Ages 35–64: ~48% of users; ~80–85% use smartphones.
• Ages 65+: ~18% of users; ~55–65% use smartphones, with the highest persistence of basic/feature phones.
• Income and plan type: prepaid and discount plans have a materially higher share than the Oklahoma average, aligned with lower median household income and the end of ACP subsidies in 2024 impacting plan affordability.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Technology mix: Countywide coverage is anchored by 4G LTE with broad low-band 5G “coverage” layers. Mid-band 5G (the capacity layer that raises speeds) is limited primarily to and around towns such as Hobart and along main corridors (e.g., US‑62), resulting in lower median speeds than in Oklahoma City/Tulsa metros.
• Carriers: All three national carriers operate; AT&T’s FirstNet presence supports public safety and often provides the most consistent rural signal. T‑Mobile’s extended-range 5G improves reach but can have capacity constraints; Verizon LTE is widely present with selective 5G.
• Backhaul: Many rural sites use microwave backhaul, with fiber-fed nodes clustered near towns/highways. This limits peak speeds and uplink performance in outlying areas compared with fiber-rich urban Oklahoma.
• Terrain-related gaps: Sparse population density and hilly/granite terrain near Quartz Mountain/Lugert Lake create dead zones and indoor coverage challenges, especially in metal buildings and on farms/ranches; boosters and Wi‑Fi calling are commonly used solutions.
• Public access: Libraries, schools, and municipal buildings provide critical Wi‑Fi offload points used by smartphone-only households.

How Kiowa County differs from Oklahoma statewide

• Adoption level: Total mobile adoption is lower and skews older; smartphone share among seniors is 5–10 points lower than the state average.
• Device mix: Feature/flip-phone retention is notably higher, particularly among residents 65+.
• Plan economics: Higher reliance on prepaid/discount plans and greater sensitivity to data caps after ACP’s lapse; this contrasts with higher postpaid/multi-line penetration in urban counties.
• Network performance: Less mid-band 5G means slower median speeds and more variability, especially indoors and between towns; urban Oklahoma enjoys broader mid-band 5G with higher capacity.
• Mobile-only dependence: A higher share of households rely on smartphones/hotspots for home internet due to fewer fiber/cable options, magnifying the importance of reliable cellular coverage.
• Resilience: Outage restoration and capacity upgrades tend to lag urban timelines because of sparser infrastructure and backhaul constraints.

Key takeaways

• About 6.2k residents in Kiowa County actively use mobile phones, with roughly four in five on smartphones.
• Older age and rural dispersion drive a distinct usage profile versus the state: more basic phones, more prepaid, more mobile-only households, and heavier reliance on LTE/low-band 5G.
• Infrastructure constraints—notably limited mid-band 5G and fiber backhaul outside towns—are the primary reasons county mobile experience trails state-level urban performance.
• Practical opportunities include targeted mid-band 5G upgrades on existing highway/town sites, fiberizing key cell sites, expanding public Wi‑Fi, and promoting Wi‑Fi calling and signal boosters for indoor coverage.

Social media usage in Kiowa County, OK (2025 snapshot)

Population baseline

• Total population: ~8,700 (2020 Census)
• Adults (18+): ~6,700
• Estimated adult social media users: ~5,500 (≈83% of adults; ≈63% of total population)
• Daily active adult users: ~3,900–4,200 (roughly 70–75% of social users)

Most-used platforms among adults (modeled local estimates)

• YouTube: 75–80%
• Facebook: 60–65%
• Instagram: 35–40%
• Pinterest: 25–30%
• TikTok: 25–30%
• Snapchat: 20–25%
• WhatsApp: 18–22%
• X (Twitter): 15–18%
• Reddit: 12–15%
• LinkedIn: 10–13%

Age-group penetration (share of adults in each group using the platform)

• 18–29
  • Any social: 90–95%
  • YouTube ~95%, Instagram 70–75%, Snapchat 65–70%, TikTok 60–65%, Facebook ~50%
• 30–49
  • Any social: 85–88%
  • YouTube ~90%, Facebook 70–75%, Instagram 50–55%, TikTok 35–40%, WhatsApp 25–30%
• 50–64
  • Any social: 75–78%
  • YouTube ~80%, Facebook ~70%, Pinterest 35–40%, Instagram 25–30%, TikTok 15–20%
• 65+
  • Any social: 50–55%
  • YouTube 60–65%, Facebook 50–55%, Pinterest 20–25%, Instagram 15–20%

Gender breakdown (adults; overall usage and platform skews)

• Overall social usage is roughly balanced: female 51–53%, male 47–49%
• Platform skew patterns
  • Facebook: ~55% female, 45% male
  • Instagram: ~54% female, 46% male
  • Pinterest: ~70% female, 30% male
  • TikTok: ~55% female, 45% male
  • Snapchat: ~55% female, 45% male
  • YouTube: ~56% male, 44% female
  • X (Twitter): ~60% male, 40% female
  • Reddit: ~70% male, 30% female
  • LinkedIn: ~54% male, 46% female

Behavioral trends (rural Oklahoma context)

• Facebook as community hub: Heavy use of Groups and Events for schools, churches, civic updates; Facebook Marketplace is a primary local classifieds channel.
• Video-first consumption: Strong YouTube use for news clips, how‑to/DIY, agriculture, hunting/outdoors, and local sports highlights; short-form video (Reels/TikTok) growing fastest under 35.
• Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger is the default; Snapchat dominates among teens/younger adults; WhatsApp present in family/extended networks but smaller.
• Timing and cadence: Engagement peaks evenings (6–9 pm CT) and weekends; spikes around school sports, fairs, and seasonal events.
• Device reality: Predominantly mobile use; cellular connections are common, so short, lightweight video and vertical formats perform best.
• Trust and conversion: Local reviews, word-of-mouth in Groups, and creator posts from micro‑influencers (1k–5k local followers) drive action more than polished brand ads; offers, giveaways, and clear calls to message or call perform well.
• Content that works: Community updates, local faces, before/after projects, live streams of games/ceremonies, agriculture and DIY tips, and event reminders outperform generic brand content.

Notes on method

• Figures are modeled local estimates derived from: U.S. Census (Kiowa County population/age structure) and Pew Research Center’s Social Media Use (2024 adults; teen/young-adult patterns) with rural-community adjustments. Platform percentages are not mutually exclusive and represent share of adults using each platform.