This story originally appeared on Spokeo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
Most socially connected counties in Kansas
In today's digital age, social media platforms enable people to bridge geographic distances and connect with their friends, family, and community, no matter where they are. According to a 2022 Gallup and Meta study, at least 1 in 3 people across seven countries, including the U.S., said they used social media to interact with others at least once a day in the past week.
While social media has its drawbacks—such as pulling attention away from other tasks or fostering a problematic comparison culture—it remains a vital tool for helping people stay connected.
A majority of students in grades 3 to 12 said social media helped them develop relationships, learn social skills, and make a positive impact in their community, according to a 2024 report from The Social Institute.
Spokeo compiled a ranking of the most socially connected counties in Kansas using 2021 data from Facebook, based on a national analysis. County pairs were ranked by their social connectedness index, which measures the relative probability that two individuals across two locations are friends with each other on Facebook. The social connectedness index is a scaled value up to a billion. Larger indexes indicate a greater share of Facebook friends between county pairs.
#20. Harper County and Barber County
- Harper County population: 5,435
- Barber County population: 4,071
- Social connectedness index: 14,445,614
#19. Decatur County and Norton County
- Decatur County population: 2,712
- Norton County population: 5,330
- Social connectedness index: 15,265,486
#18. Pawnee County and Edwards County
- Pawnee County population: 6,126
- Edwards County population: 2,733
- Social connectedness index: 15,991,310
#17. Ellsworth County and Lincoln County
- Ellsworth County population: 6,357
- Lincoln County population: 2,920
- Social connectedness index: 16,261,469
#16. Allen County and Woodson County
- Allen County population: 12,412
- Woodson County population: 3,115
- Social connectedness index: 17,297,735
#15. Grant County and Stanton County
- Grant County population: 7,147
- Stanton County population: 1,901
- Social connectedness index: 17,320,789
#14. Morton County and Stevens County
- Morton County population: 2,580
- Stevens County population: 5,077
- Social connectedness index: 17,541,135
#13. Washington County and Marshall County
- Washington County population: 5,504
- Marshall County population: 9,933
- Social connectedness index: 18,302,349
#12. Trego County and Graham County
- Trego County population: 2,731
- Graham County population: 2,376
- Social connectedness index: 20,660,416
#11. Ness County and Hodgeman County
- Ness County population: 2,618
- Hodgeman County population: 1,655
- Social connectedness index: 20,869,132
#10. Cloud County and Republic County
- Cloud County population: 8,854
- Republic County population: 4,627
- Social connectedness index: 20,931,704
#9. Chautauqua County and Elk County
- Chautauqua County population: 3,347
- Elk County population: 2,467
- Social connectedness index: 22,168,532
#8. Thomas County and Sheridan County
- Thomas County population: 7,865
- Sheridan County population: 2,423
- Social connectedness index: 22,732,136
#7. Scott County and Lane County
- Scott County population: 4,922
- Lane County population: 1,529
- Social connectedness index: 23,167,565
#6. Rawlins County and Cheyenne County
- Rawlins County population: 2,463
- Cheyenne County population: 2,636
- Social connectedness index: 23,578,105
#5. Mitchell County and Osborne County
- Mitchell County population: 5,719
- Osborne County population: 3,427
- Social connectedness index: 25,273,308
#4. Phillips County and Smith County
- Phillips County population: 4,761
- Smith County population: 3,590
- Social connectedness index: 26,415,092
#3. Logan County and Gove County
- Logan County population: 2,665
- Gove County population: 2,735
- Social connectedness index: 37,273,554
#2. Wallace County and Greeley County
- Wallace County population: 1,509
- Greeley County population: 1,181
- Social connectedness index: 41,184,181
#1. Clark County and Comanche County
- Clark County population: 1,847
- Comanche County population: 1,655
- Social connectedness index: 43,909,060
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Kayla Zhu, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 46 states.