Pushmataha County

Pushmataha County, Oklahoma — key demographics

Population size

• 10,812 (2020 Decennial Census)
• ~10.9k (2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimate), essentially flat since 2020
• Land area ~1,400 sq mi; density ~8 persons/sq mi (very rural)

Age

• Median age: ~44 years
• Under 18: ~22%
• 18–64: ~57%
• 65 and over: ~21%

Gender

• Male: ~51%
• Female: ~49%

Racial/ethnic composition

• White (alone): ~67%
• American Indian and Alaska Native (alone): ~24%
• Black or African American (alone): ~1–2%
• Asian (alone): <1%
• Two or more races: ~6–8%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~6%

Households and housing

• Households: ~4,450
• Average household size: ~2.4
• Family households: ~65% of households; nonfamily ~35%
• Homeownership rate: ~75–80% (owner-occupied); renters ~20–25%

Insights

• Older age profile than the U.S. overall, with a relatively large 65+ share
• High American Indian/Alaska Native representation compared with state and national averages
• Small household sizes, high homeownership, and very low population density consistent with a rural county

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates.

Pushmataha County, OK snapshot (2020 Census): population 10,192; land area ≈1,396 sq mi; population density ≈7.3 residents/sq mi.

Estimated active email users: ~7,900 residents (≈77% of the population), derived from rural internet adoption and email use norms.

Age distribution of email users (estimate):

• 13–24: 17%
• 25–44: 28%
• 45–64: 34%
• 65+: 21% Email adoption is highest among 25–64 and lower, but rising, among 65+.

Gender split among email users: ≈50% female, 50% male (no meaningful gap in use by gender).

Digital access and trends:

• Households with a computer/smartphone: about mid‑80% range.
• Households with a broadband subscription: about upper‑60% range (ACS 2018–2022 5‑year).
• Mobile‑only internet reliance: roughly 12–15% of households.
• Fixed‑wireless and 4G/5G are expanding; fiber is limited to select areas. Older adults are closing the gap but remain 15–20 points behind prime‑age adults.

Local density/connectivity facts:

• Extremely rural, with most residents outside towns; Antlers is the primary service hub.
• Low density and forested terrain raise last‑mile costs, concentrating high‑speed options near population centers; many outlying homes depend on mobile broadband or satellite, with libraries and public Wi‑Fi filling access gaps.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma

Context

• Pushmataha County is a sparsely populated, heavily rural county in southeast Oklahoma centered on small towns such as Antlers and Clayton, with extensive forested and mountainous terrain (Kiamichi/Ouachita). These geographic and settlement patterns materially shape mobile usage and infrastructure.

User estimates

• Overall usage level: Rural Oklahoma counties like Pushmataha typically trail the state’s smartphone adoption rate but rely more heavily on mobile for home internet. In practice, a majority of adults in the county use a smartphone, and a sizable share of households treat cellular data as their primary or only internet connection.
• Wireless-only telephony: The county aligns with rural Oklahoma’s higher dependence on wireless-only voice (no landline), exceeding the statewide share.
• Mobile-only internet households: A notably higher proportion of households in Pushmataha are mobile-only (smartphone/hotspot as primary internet) compared with the state average, reflecting limited fixed broadband options and affordability constraints.

Demographic patterns shaping mobile behavior

• Age: The county skews older than the state overall. Older residents are less likely than younger residents to adopt smartphones and postpaid data plans, which pulls overall smartphone adoption below the state average. Younger adults and families, however, show adoption and daily reliance comparable to statewide levels.
• Income and affordability: Median household incomes are lower than the state median. This increases price sensitivity, pushing users toward prepaid/MVNO plans, budget Android devices, and slower upgrade cycles. Data caps and hotspot usage are common pain points.
• Race/ethnicity: Native American residents make up a larger share of the population than the statewide average. In line with regional patterns, Native households are more likely to be smartphone-centric for internet access due to gaps in fixed broadband availability, even where overall smartphone ownership rates are similar to other groups.
• Household composition: Smaller household sizes and higher single-adult and senior households translate to fewer multi-line postpaid bundles and more single-line prepaid plans.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Network footprint: 4G LTE coverage is strong along primary corridors and near towns (e.g., Antlers), but terrain and low tower density produce coverage gaps in forested and mountainous tracts. Service is reliable along major highways and more variable on rural roads and in valleys.
• 5G availability: 5G is present in limited pockets around population centers and highway corridors; countywide 5G availability and capacity are well below metro Oklahoma levels. Mid-band 5G penetration is sparse; mmWave is effectively absent.
• Capacity and performance: Lower site density and challenging topography constrain capacity. Users commonly report reduced speeds at peak times and indoors without Wi‑Fi calling or signal boosters.
• Emergency and public-safety context: E-911 and carrier roaming function across the main corridors, but dead zones persist off-corridor. Households and small businesses frequently rely on external antennas/boosters to stabilize service.

How Pushmataha County differs from Oklahoma overall

• More mobile-dependent for home internet: A larger share of households rely on smartphones or hotspots as their primary internet compared with the statewide average, driven by limited fixed broadband availability and cost.
• Slightly lower smartphone penetration overall: The county’s older age structure and lower incomes bring overall smartphone ownership modestly below the state rate, even though adoption among younger cohorts is similar to statewide levels.
• Greater reliance on prepaid and MVNOs: Price sensitivity and irregular credit access push usage toward prepaid options at higher rates than the state as a whole.
• Slower 5G transition: 5G footprint and mid-band capacity lag significantly behind Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and larger towns; 4G remains the workhorse network.
• More pronounced coverage variability: Mountainous terrain and lower tower density create wider performance swings than are typical in most of the state’s urban and suburban counties.

Actionable implications

• For carriers: Additional mid-band 5G sectors on existing sites, targeted infill along secondary roads, and support for CPE/hotspot offerings would materially improve user experience. Prioritize coverage hardening in valleys and forested areas; maintain robust VoLTE and Wi‑Fi calling support.
• For public agencies/ISPs: Programs that subsidize mobile hotspots and fixed-wireless CPE can close access gaps faster than fiber builds in remote tracts; pair with digital literacy and device affordability initiatives for seniors and low-income households.
• For businesses and service providers: Expect a high share of mobile-only users; optimize apps and portals for low-to-moderate bandwidth, offline resilience, and strong SMS-based communications.

Social media usage snapshot: Pushmataha County, Oklahoma (2025)

How this was built: Estimates apply recent U.S. Census (ACS) demographics and Pew Research 2024 platform adoption rates to Pushmataha County’s age mix and rural internet uptake. Figures rounded to nearest 1–2 percentage points.

User stats

• Population: ~10,900 residents
• Estimated social media users (13+): ~6,300 (≈58% of total population; ≈75–80% of internet users)
• Typical daily users (any platform): ~4,400–4,800

Age mix of users (share of all social media users)

• 13–17: ~10%
• 18–29: ~20%
• 30–49: ~30%
• 50–64: ~22%
• 65+: ~18%

Gender breakdown of users

• Female: ~52% of social media users
• Male: ~48% of social media users Platform skews: Pinterest, TikTok, Instagram lean female; Reddit, X (Twitter), LinkedIn lean male; Facebook and YouTube are near-even.

Most-used platforms (share of social media users)

• YouTube: ~85%
• Facebook: ~70%
• Facebook Messenger: ~60%
• Instagram: ~38%
• TikTok: ~33%
• Snapchat: ~30%
• Pinterest: ~28%
• X (Twitter): ~18%
• Reddit: ~15%
• LinkedIn: ~14%
• WhatsApp: ~12%
• Nextdoor: <5% (limited local coverage)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the local hub: Heavy reliance on community groups, school and church pages, buy/sell/Marketplace, severe weather and road-condition updates. Posts with named local places/people outperform generic content.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube dominates for DIY, hunting/fishing, small-engine repair, high school sports highlights/streams, and church services. Short-form video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) continues to rise.
• Youth patterns: Teens/young adults cluster on Snapchat (daily messaging, Stories) and TikTok (entertainment, local creators). Facebook use among under-30s is mostly for groups/events and Marketplace.
• Instagram is commerce-light, community-visible: Used by boutiques, eateries, outfitters, and tourism/outdoors; Stories and Reels drive most reach; frequent cross-posts from Facebook.
• X and Reddit are niche: Small, male-skewed audiences follow state news, weather, OU/OSU sports, and outdoors/tech threads. Engagement spikes during severe weather and major sports.
• Messaging for transactions: Facebook Messenger is the default for customer inquiries, seller-buyer coordination, appointments, and event RSVPs.
• Timing: Engagement peaks evenings 7–9 pm CT and weekends; secondary bump around lunch (12–1 pm). Severe-weather days override normal patterns.
• Content that works: Local faces and places, school athletics, event info, community service announcements, timely deals and practical “how-to” video. Marketplace listings and group posts draw outsized interactions.
• Tone and trust: Practical, community-oriented messaging outperforms polished ad-speak. Verified pages for local government, schools, tribal/community orgs, and first responders carry high credibility.
• Ads and reach: Best results with tight geo-targeting (15–30 miles), interest clusters around outdoors, home/auto repair, family activities, and local dining. Short-form video and static image carousels outperform link-only posts.

Notes

• Figures are county-level estimates grounded in ACS demographics and Pew platform usage by age/rural status; exact platform user totals are not directly published for the county.