Colusa County

Key demographics – Colusa County, California

Population

• 21,839 (2020 Census)
• ~22,000 (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~36 years
• Under 18: ~28%
• 65 and over: ~14%

Gender

• Male: ~52%
• Female: ~48%

Race/ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023)

• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~64%
• White, non-Hispanic: ~28–29%
• Asian: ~2%
• Black or African American: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~1–2%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~2–3%

Households (ACS 2019–2023)

• Households: ~7,200–7,300
• Average household size: ~3.1
• Family households: ~74%
• Households with children under 18: ~40%

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

Colusa County, CA — email usage snapshot (estimates)

• Population: ~22,000; adults (18+): ~16,500.
• Email users: ~15,000 adults (≈92% of adults, applying Pew’s U.S. averages).
• Age pattern (email adoption, applying national rates):
  • 18–29: ~95–99%
  • 30–49: ~96–99%
  • 50–64: ~92–95%
  • 65+: ~85–90%
• Gender split: ~50/50; negligible difference in email use by gender nationally.
• Digital access trends (ACS/FCC-informed estimates):
  • Home broadband subscription: roughly mid-80s% of households (below California’s ~90%+).
  • No home internet: ~10–15% of households.
  • Smartphone-only internet: ~10–15% of households.
  • Computer access at home: ~85–90% of households.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Low-density, rural county (~1,150 sq mi; ~19 people/sq mi), which contributes to patchier fixed broadband in outlying agricultural areas versus the I‑5 corridor and town centers.
  • Mix of DSL/cable where available; some residents rely on fixed wireless or mobile data.

Notes: Figures are approximations based on Census/ACS population and connectivity indicators and national email adoption rates; local adoption can vary by neighborhood and provider availability.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Colusa County, CA (with emphasis on how it differs from statewide patterns)

Topline estimate

• Population baseline: about 22,000 people (2020 Census range; modest growth since). Roughly 16,000–17,000 adults.
• Adult mobile-phone users: estimated 14,000–15,000 (about 86–90% of adults). This is a few points lower than California’s big-metro average, but on par with rural counties.
• Smartphone-dependent internet users: likely 20–30% of households rely primarily on a smartphone for internet (vs roughly 11–15% statewide). This is one of the clearest differences from the state average.

Demographic patterns shaping usage (vs California overall)

• Ethnicity and language: Approximately two-thirds of residents are Hispanic/Latino, with a high share of Spanish-speaking households. Compared with the state, there’s greater use of Spanish-language plans/support and OTT apps like WhatsApp/Facebook for calling/messaging.
• Age: Higher share of children/teens than the state average. Teen smartphone adoption is high, but more families manage data on budget or prepaid plans. Senior adoption lags urban California; a small but visible group still uses basic/feature phones.
• Income and work: Lower median household incomes and a large agricultural workforce increase price sensitivity. Compared with the state, Colusa has:
  • Higher usage of prepaid/MVNO plans and family group plans tuned to cost per line.
  • More Bring-Your-Own-Device and paid-in-full devices (less formal financing).
  • Seasonal lines and churn tied to planting/harvest periods and migrant labor.
• Home broadband gaps: Fixed broadband availability/subscription is notably lower than the statewide average, pushing more residents to use mobile data for school, work, telehealth, and government services.

Digital infrastructure and coverage (what stands out vs the state)

• Where service is strongest: Along I‑5 (Arbuckle–Williams–Maxwell corridor) and in/around towns (Colusa, Williams, Arbuckle, Princeton). Major carriers have macro sites on highway corridors and in population centers.
• Where service thins out: Western foothills and canyons (e.g., toward Stonyford/Ladoga and near Mendocino National Forest) and some low-density farm/ranch areas. These “edge” zones and canyons see more drops and slower data than typical California suburban experiences.
• 5G reality: Low‑band 5G is common on highways/towns; mid‑band (e.g., C‑band/n41) is more limited and focused on the I‑5 corridor and town macro sites. mmWave is effectively absent. Result: median 5G speeds and capacity lag California metro norms, and speed variability by location/time is higher.
• Carrier mix: AT&T and Verizon generally provide the broadest rural road coverage; T‑Mobile’s low‑band build-out has improved I‑5/town coverage but still trails off‑corridor. Roaming and network fallback are more common than in urban CA.
• Tower density and small cells: Far fewer sites per square mile than California’s urban counties. Small cells and outdoor DAS are rare; coverage relies on fewer high-power macro sites with broader sectors and higher downtilt—good for reach, less so for in‑building penetration at the edges.
• Backhaul and resiliency: Fiber is concentrated along I‑5 and into town centers; many remote sites use microwave backhaul. Power shutoffs and wildfire seasons (PSPS) cause more frequent site outages than urban California. Backup power exists but is patchier, so residents and businesses experience more service interruptions during disasters.
• Alternatives: Fixed‑wireless ISPs and cellular home internet fill gaps; satellite (e.g., Starlink) adoption is noticeably higher than state average in remote tracts. This interplays with mobile—households will tether when home internet falters and vice versa.

Behavioral/usage differences from state averages

• Greater smartphone-only reliance for everyday tasks (school portals, telehealth, government benefits), often on limited data plans.
• Higher share of prepaid/MVNO subscriptions; more emphasis on cost control, data rollover, hotspot limits, and bilingual customer support.
• More pronounced seasonal traffic spikes (harvest) on corridor sites; off‑peak usage patterns to conserve data and avoid congestion.
• Emergency communications are more salient; residents pay closer attention to carrier coverage during wildfires/PSPS and keep car chargers/power banks handy.

Implications for planners, providers, and programs

• Fill coverage gaps west of SR‑16/Highway 20 and in canyons with additional macro sites, colocation on existing vertical assets (silos, water tanks), and targeted small cells in town cores.
• Prioritize mid‑band 5G on I‑5 and in towns for capacity; extend fiber backhaul where possible; increase backup power (8–24 hours) at remote sites to improve PSPS resilience.
• Expand bilingual outreach for Lifeline and low-cost plans; coordinate device distribution and hotspot lending with schools and libraries.
• Map seasonal load and plan temporary capacity (COWs/COLTs) during harvest if persistent congestion appears.
• Support digital navigation in Spanish for telehealth, ag-safety training, and government services, given the higher smartphone‑only user base.

How these estimates were developed

• Population and demographics reflect 2020 Census/ACS patterns; mobile adoption and smartphone dependence are inferred from rural California and agricultural-county benchmarks (Pew, FCC broadband maps/availability trends, CPUC digital divide reporting). Figures are presented as reasoned estimates and ranges due to limited county-specific published metrics.

Below is a concise, county‑level snapshot built from Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 U.S. usage benchmarks (with rural adjustments) applied to Colusa County’s small, largely rural population. Treat figures as reasonable estimates rather than exact counts; local platform providers do not publish county‑specific stats.

Headline size

• Population: ~22,000–23,000 residents (ACS 2023).
• Estimated social media users: ~15,000–17,000 total (roughly 70–75% of residents ages 13+).

Most‑used platforms (share of adult residents; teens differ)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 60–65%
• Instagram: 40–45%
• TikTok: 30–35%
• Snapchat: 25–30%
• WhatsApp: 25–35% (higher among Hispanic/Latino households and for cross‑border family ties)
• X/Twitter: 15–20%
• Nextdoor: 8–12%
• LinkedIn: 8–12%
• Reddit: 10–12%

Age breakdown (estimated adoption by age in Colusa)

• Teens (13–17): 90–95% use at least one platform; heavy on YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram; light on Facebook.
• 18–29: 85–90%; broad mix; short‑video first (TikTok/Reels), Instagram DMs.
• 30–49: 80–85%; Facebook for community/parent groups and Marketplace; Instagram rising.
• 50–64: 68–72%; Facebook and YouTube dominant; some WhatsApp.
• 65+: 45–50%; Facebook and YouTube mainly; limited uptake elsewhere.

Gender snapshot (tendencies among local users)

• Overall user base ≈ even split.
• Skews female: Facebook (≈55–60% F), Instagram (≈54–58% F), TikTok (≈58–62% F), Snapchat (≈55–60% F).
• Skews male: YouTube (≈55–60% M), X/Twitter (≈60–65% M), Reddit (≈65–70% M).
• WhatsApp: near‑even, slight female lead in family/neighbor groups.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community first: High engagement with school sports, county fair, church and fiesta events, youth leagues, wildfire/air‑quality and road/irrigation updates—mostly on Facebook (pages + local groups) and YouTube.
• Marketplace matters: Facebook Marketplace is a primary channel for buy/sell/trade of farm equipment, vehicles, furniture, and rentals.
• Bilingual communication: Strong Spanish‑language presence; WhatsApp and Facebook used for family coordination, church groups, mutual aid, and small business messaging.
• Small‑business playbook: Restaurants, food trucks, and farms prioritize Facebook (events, daily specials) and Instagram (stories/reels); TikTok used for behind‑the‑scenes harvest/food content.
• Youth patterns: Teens favor YouTube + TikTok; Snapchat for close‑friend messaging; Instagram for school/club updates. Facebook mostly used when required by teams or parents.
• Info sourcing: Local government, schools, sheriff/fire post urgent updates on Facebook first; YouTube for longer briefings. X/Twitter has niche use among officials/journalists.
• Rural connectivity effect: Mobile‑first usage; short video and photos perform best. Evening and early‑morning engagement spikes align with agricultural work schedules; seasonal activity lifts around planting/harvest and major school sports.

Notes on method and uncertainty

• Percentages are adapted from recent Pew U.S. platform adoption data, with rural adjustments and consideration of Colusa’s sizable Hispanic/Latino population. They reflect adult usage; teen figures differ as noted. Exact county‑level platform shares are not publicly reported.