Ross, Pike Households Without Internet Fell to 8.6% and 17.7% by 2024

1 articles · Updated · Chillicothe Gazette · Aug 31

Ross County households without any internet subscription fell to 2,646 in 2024, or 8.6%, down from 4,193 households and 13.7% in 2021.
Pike County showed a similar improvement, with the share of households lacking internet dropping to 17.7% in 2024 from about 25% in 2021.
Ohio’s broader trend points the same way: NTIA data shows wired high-speed internet use at home rose from 3.7% in 2000 to 73.4% in 2023.
Cellular-only access still increased, and about 10% of Ross County households have a smartphone but no other computing device, suggesting connectivity gaps remain even as subscriptions expand.
Chillicothe & Ross County Public Library says demand for public access remains high, with more than 17,000 computer users and over 165,000 free Wi-Fi users last year.