Modoc County

Modoc County, California — Key demographics

Population size

• 8,700 (2020 Decennial Census)

Age (ACS 2019–2023)

• Median age: 47.8 years
• Under 18: 21.0%
• 18–64: 55.0%
• 65 and over: 24.0%

Gender (ACS 2019–2023)

• Male: 52.0%
• Female: 48.0%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2019–2023; Hispanic is of any race)

• White, non-Hispanic: 73.5%
• Hispanic or Latino: 16.8%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: 5.6%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: 2.8%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: 0.7%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: 0.5%

Household data (ACS 2019–2023)

• Average household size: 2.22
• Family households: 63% (married-couple families: 48%)
• One-person households: 31% (65+ living alone: 14%)
• Tenure: 71% owner-occupied, 29% renter-occupied
• Households with children under 18: 23%

Insight

• Small, sparsely populated, older age profile; predominantly non-Hispanic White with a notable American Indian/Alaska Native share; high owner-occupancy and relatively small household sizes. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Census and ACS 2019–2023.

• Population and density: ~8,700 residents in ~3,500 households; ≈2.1 people per square mile across 4,203 sq mi (one of California’s most sparsely populated counties).
• Estimated email users: ~6,700 residents (≈77% of the population).
• Age distribution of email users: 13–17: 6%; 18–34: 19%; 35–49: 24%; 50–64: 28%; 65+: 23%.
• Gender split of email users: 51% male, 49% female.
• Digital access:
  • Households with any internet subscription: ~84%.
  • Households with a broadband subscription: ~78%.
  • Cellular-data–only households: ~8%.
  • Households with no home internet: ~16%.
  • Among connected adults, daily email use is ~60%, with most remaining users checking weekly.
• Trends and context: Email adoption is high among connected adults but overall penetration lags the California average due to sparse settlement and long distances from backbone infrastructure. Connectivity is strongest in and around Alturas; many outlying ranchland/forest areas depend on fixed wireless or satellite, with incremental gains from ongoing fixed-wireless and fiber buildouts. Public libraries and schools serve as important access points, supporting email use for residents without reliable home broadband.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Modoc County, California

Headline numbers

• Population baseline: 8,700 residents; nonmetropolitan, very low density (2 people per square mile).
• Adult mobile users (estimate): 6,100–6,600 adults use a mobile phone (roughly 72–78% of residents), including 5,300–5,800 adult smartphone users.
• Household cellular data subscriptions (estimate): 60–66% of households subscribe to a cellular data plan, versus roughly 78–80% statewide. Method notes: County user estimates are derived by applying age-specific smartphone ownership rates from recent national surveys (Pew Research Center) to Modoc’s older age profile from Census/ACS, and by benchmarking ACS S2801 “cellular data subscription” rates for rural California counties against the statewide average.

Demographic breakdown and implications

• Age structure: Modoc has a markedly older population (roughly one-quarter 65+ versus ~15% statewide). Using age-specific ownership rates (approx. 95% for ages 18–49, ~80–85% for 50–64, ~60–65% for 65+), the county’s adult smartphone penetration sits in the upper 70s to low 80s percent—below California’s late-80s/near-90s percent. Impact: a higher share of basic/feature phone use and greater reliance on voice/SMS among seniors compared with the state.
• Income and affordability: Household incomes skew lower than the state average. Applying income-tier smartphone adoption benchmarks (mid-70s to low-80s percent for <$35k; high-90s percent for $75k+), Modoc shows a wider adoption gap by income than California overall. Impact: elevated sensitivity to plan prices, more prepaid/MVNO usage, and greater data rationing (hotspot caps, deprioritization) compared with the state.
• Race/ethnicity and rurality: The county’s population is predominantly non-Hispanic White with small but meaningful Native communities and a minority Hispanic population. Smartphone adoption among Hispanic adults is generally high statewide, but sparse rural coverage in outlying areas dampens realized mobile internet use. Impact: adoption is less constrained by interest and more by coverage gaps and cost in remote zones.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Network footprint: 4G LTE is anchored to Alturas and primary corridors (US‑395, SR‑299, SR‑139), with large service holes in the Warner Mountains, Modoc National Forest, and near Lava Beds National Monument. Coverage is materially patchier than the California average once off-corridor.
• 5G availability: Low-band 5G is present in/around Alturas and along parts of primary highways; countywide 5G population coverage remains limited relative to urban California. Mid-band 5G capacity is sparse, so median 5G speeds lag state averages outside town centers.
• Site density and backhaul: The county has only a few dozen macro sites spread across ~4,200 square miles, leading to long inter-site distances and fringe coverage. Backhaul relies heavily on microwave outside town; fiber presence is concentrated along main corridors and into Alturas. This constrains peak capacity and slows restoration after severe weather.
• Carrier mix and roaming: All three national carriers have a presence in town; Verizon and AT&T generally hold the more reliable rural footprint; T‑Mobile coverage is improving but remains corridor-centric in remote areas. MVNO users may see reduced roaming and lower priority during congestion compared with postpaid subscribers.
• Public safety: FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) adds resiliency on key corridors and in/near Alturas, but wilderness areas remain communications-challenged. Power outages and winter weather can isolate sites without hardened backup.

How Modoc differs from the California pattern

• Lower smartphone and cellular subscription penetration: Adult smartphone adoption sits several points below the state, and household cellular data plan take-up is roughly 12–18 percentage points lower than the statewide average.
• Older-driven usage mix: A significantly larger 65+ share depresses smartphone penetration and increases the proportion of voice/SMS-first usage relative to California’s more app- and data-centric profile.
• Coverage, not just cost, is the limiter: In cities statewide, affordability is the main brake on mobile broadband use; in Modoc, geographic coverage and backhaul constraints are equally decisive. There is a sharper “on/off” experience between towns/corridors and the backcountry than in most California counties.
• Capacity headroom is thinner: With sparse mid-band 5G and microwave backhaul on many rural sites, per-user speeds and consistency lag state urban/suburban medians, especially during tourism peaks or wildfire incidents.
• Greater device/plan conservatism: A higher share of basic phones, prepaid plans, and data-light usage patterns persists, whereas California overall has largely converged on high-cap, postpaid 5G plans.

Actionable insights

• Targeted low-band and mid-band 5G infill along SR‑299/US‑395 and in gaps east of Alturas would lift both coverage and median speeds disproportionately.
• Expanding fiber backhaul to additional macro sites would unlock meaningful capacity gains without requiring dense small-cell builds.
• Senior-focused plans, handset financing, and digital literacy support would move adoption in the age segments that drive the county’s gap with the state.
• Ensuring MVNO parity on rural roaming where feasible would improve experience for price-sensitive users who comprise a larger share of the local market.

Sources underpinning estimates: U.S. Census/ACS (population age structure; ACS S2801 computer and internet subscription benchmarks), Pew Research Center device ownership by age and income, FCC and California Public Utilities Commission mobile coverage/broadband infrastructure mapping, FirstNet coverage disclosures. Calculations apply these benchmarks to Modoc’s demographic profile to produce the user counts and penetration estimates given above.

Modoc County, CA social media usage snapshot (2024–2025)

User stats

• Adult population (18+): ~7,000 of ~8,800 residents (ACS 2023 estimate)
• Social media penetration (18+ using at least one platform): ~80% ≈ 5,600 adults
• Multi-platform behavior: ~55–60% of users use 2+ platforms; ~25–30% use 4+ platforms

Age groups (share of adult social users)

• 18–29: ~18%
• 30–49: ~33%
• 50–64: ~28%
• 65+: ~21% Note: Modoc skews older than the U.S. average, lifting Facebook/YouTube share and lowering TikTok/X relative to urban areas.

Gender breakdown (share of social media users)

• Female: ~54%
• Male: ~46% Platform tendencies: women over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, and X.

Most-used platforms among adults (share of all adults; approximate)

• YouTube: 77% (5.4k adults)
• Facebook: 70% (4.9k)
• Instagram: 32% (2.2k)
• Pinterest: 29% (2.0k)
• TikTok: 26% (1.8k)
• Snapchat: 22% (1.5k; concentrated under 30)
• X (Twitter): 14% (1.0k)
• Reddit: 13% (0.9k)
• Nextdoor: 4% (0.3k; limited in dispersed rural areas)

Behavioral trends

• Community-first Facebook usage: Local groups dominate for wildfire/road conditions, school and youth sports updates, lost-and-found, and buy/sell/trade. Facebook Events are the default for community happenings.
• Video is primarily lean-back: YouTube is a top channel for how-to/DIY, ranching/ag equipment, hunting/fishing, home repair, church services, and local meeting streams; high smart‑TV viewing share.
• Messaging split: Facebook Messenger is the default for most adults; Snapchat is prevalent among teens/young adults; WhatsApp usage is minimal.
• Older-user engagement: 50+ are heavy on Facebook Groups and Pages, responding well to clear service info, local deals, and event reminders rather than trend content.
• Youth patterns: 13–24 skew to Snapchat/TikTok for messaging and short video; Instagram for social identity and school athletics; Facebook mainly for event logistics.
• Content creation vs. consumption: Creation rates are lower than national urban averages (bandwidth and small audience size), but lurker/reader behavior is high; photo albums and short videos outperform long text posts.
• Timing and seasonality: Evening and early‑morning peaks; pronounced spikes during wildfire season and winter road closures; event-driven bursts around school sports and county fairs.
• Ads and outreach: Boosted Facebook posts and Events deliver the most reliable local reach; small population size limits granular targeting and lookalike modeling; geofencing works best around schools, clinics, and grocery hubs.

Method notes: Figures are point-in-time estimates synthesized from 2023–2024 Pew Research platform adoption patterns, rural-vs-urban differentials, and Modoc County’s ACS demographic profile. They reflect likely local usage, not platform-reported counts.