Trinity County

Trinity County, California — key demographics

Population size

• 16,112 (2020 Census)
• 16,141 (2023 Census estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~52.0 years
• Under 5 years: ~3.6%
• Under 18 years: ~15%
• 65 years and over: ~28–29%

Gender

• Female: ~48.5%
• Male: ~51.5%

Racial/ethnic composition

• White alone: ~84%
• Black or African American alone: ~0.8%
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~5%
• Asian alone: ~1–1.2%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: ~0.3%
• Two or more races: ~9%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~9%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~76–77%

Households

• Households: ~6,800–6,900
• Persons per household: ~2.15
• Owner-occupied housing unit rate: ~77%

Insights

• Small, aging population with a high share of residents 65+
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White with modest racial/ethnic diversity
• Small household sizes and high owner-occupancy consistent with a rural county

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2023 Population Estimates; American Community Survey 2018–2022; QuickFacts for Trinity County, CA).

• Local context: Trinity County has 16,100 residents across 3,179 sq mi (5 people/sq mi), making it among California’s most sparsely populated counties (2020 Census).

• Estimated email users: ~11,800 adults. Method: applied national age-specific email adoption to Trinity’s age mix (ACS 2018–2022; Pew Research).

  • By age (share of adult users): 18–34 ≈22% (2.6k), 35–64 ≈49% (5.8k), 65+ ≈29% (~3.4k).
  • Gender split: ≈53% men, 47% women among users, reflecting the county’s male-skewed population.

• Digital access and trends (ACS 2018–2022; FCC):

  • Households with a computer: ~88–90%.
  • Households with a broadband subscription: ~75–80% (below California’s ~90%+).
  • No home internet: ~16–20% of households.
  • Smartphone-only access: ~8–10% of households.
  • Connectivity is uneven: mountainous terrain and very low density limit fiber and cable buildout; service outside Weaverville/Highway 299 relies more on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite, and many areas lack robust 100/20 Mbps options.

• Insight: Email is near-universal among working-age adults and substantial among seniors, but overall usage and reliability are moderated by lower broadband adoption and rural connectivity constraints.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Census; ACS 2018–2022), Pew Research Center, FCC National Broadband Map (2023).

Summary of mobile phone usage in Trinity County, California (2025)

Context and scale

• Population: 16,112 (2020 Census); very low density across ~3,179 sq mi (≈5 persons/sq mi), with settlement concentrated along CA-299, CA-3, and CA-36 in and around Weaverville, Hayfork, Lewiston, Trinity Center, and Junction City.
• Age profile: One of California’s oldest counties; median age ~52 and a 65+ share roughly 26–28% versus ~15% statewide.
• Income/education context: Median household income is far below the California median, and bachelor’s attainment rates are well below the state average—both factors that correlate with lower smartphone adoption and greater price sensitivity.

User estimates (adults) Method: Applied recent U.S. smartphone/cellphone ownership rates by age (Pew Research) to Trinity County’s age structure (2020 Census). Figures reflect adults 18+ and represent 2025 conditions.

• Adult population (18+): ≈13,450
• Smartphone users (adults): ≈10,900 (≈81% of adults)
• Any mobile phone (smartphone or feature phone, adults): ≈12,250 (≈91% of adults)

How this differs from state-level

• Smartphone penetration is materially lower than California’s urbanized average (statewide adult ownership is in the upper-80s to ~90% range), primarily because Trinity County has a much older age mix and lower incomes. The county’s overall adult smartphone rate is roughly 8–10 percentage points below the statewide norm.
• A larger share of usage skews to talk/text and basic apps among seniors; data-heavy app usage is comparatively lower than in metro California.

Demographic breakdown and implications for usage

• Age:
  • 65+: ~26–28% of residents; smartphone ownership in this group is ~60–65%, pulling down the countywide average.
  • 50–64: roughly one-quarter of residents; ownership is high but not universal (~80+%).
  • Under 50: high smartphone ownership (~95%), but this cohort is a smaller share of Trinity’s population than in California overall.
• Income and plan mix:
  • Lower median household income implies higher sensitivity to device and plan pricing, with greater reliance on prepaid and MVNO plans than statewide.
  • Multi-line family plans are less prevalent due to household composition and income patterns; single-line and prepaid are more common.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • A substantially higher non-Hispanic White share and smaller Hispanic/Asian shares than statewide; differences in adoption by ethnicity are present but are secondary to age and income in explaining the county’s gap from state averages.

Digital infrastructure and coverage realities

• Terrain-limited radio coverage:
  • Service is clustered along primary corridors (CA-299, CA-3, CA-36) and in towns. Deep canyons, forested slopes, and the Trinity Alps Wilderness create persistent shadow zones and dead spots.
  • Indoor coverage can be weak away from town centers; residents frequently rely on Wi‑Fi calling and, in fringe areas, signal boosters/external antennas.
• Operator presence and 5G:
  • Verizon and AT&T provide the broadest LTE footprints; AT&T’s FirstNet band 14 improves public-safety and general coverage on select sites. T‑Mobile has extended low-band (600 MHz) coverage but remains spottier off the main corridors.
  • 5G exists primarily as low-band coverage in/near towns. Mid-band 5G (e.g., 2.5 GHz n41 or C‑band n77) is limited or absent across much of the county, unlike the extensive mid-band deployments in California’s metro areas.
• Backhaul:
  • Fiber backhaul is constrained but improving. The state’s Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative includes a CA‑299 corridor segment through Weaverville, which, as it comes online, should enable higher-capacity mobile sites and denser deployments. Microwave backhaul remains common on remote towers.
• Power resiliency:
  • Wildfire risk and Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) periodically affect uptime. Carriers have added backup power at priority sites, but prolonged outages in remote areas still occur more often than in urban California.

Usage patterns that diverge from California overall

• Lower data intensity and more variability in day-to-day experience due to coverage gaps and limited mid-band 5G. Typical user speeds and reliability outside towns trail the state’s urban/suburban norm.
• Higher reliance on:
  • Prepaid/MVNO plans and older devices that favor strong low-band LTE coverage.
  • Wi‑Fi calling at home and work to compensate for weak indoor cellular signals.
  • Redundancy strategies (e.g., households maintaining lines on different carriers) to cope with localized dead zones and fire/PSPS disruptions.
• Mobile-only internet as a primary home connection is present but is constrained by coverage and capacity; satellite and legacy fixed options (DSL, fixed wireless) remain comparatively important versus fiber/cable-dominated urban California.

Key takeaways

• Trinity County has roughly 10.9k adult smartphone users and about 12.3k adult mobile users overall, with adoption clearly below the California average because of its older, lower-density, lower-income profile.
• The mobile experience is shaped by mountainous terrain and sparse infrastructure: good corridor/town coverage, significant rural dead zones, limited mid-band 5G, and variable resiliency during wildfire/PSPS events.
• State middle-mile fiber buildouts along CA‑299 are the most important near-term lever for improving mobile capacity and extending reliable coverage, positioning the county for gradual convergence toward state-level performance where feasible.

Trinity County, CA — social media usage snapshot and trends (2025)

Anchor facts

• Population: ~16K residents (2020 Census). Rural, older-than-average age profile.
• Overall penetration: Around 7 in 10 rural U.S. adults use at least one social platform (Pew Research Center). Trinity County is expected to be similar, with usage skewed toward older-friendly platforms due to its age profile.

Most-used platforms (U.S. adult usage; Trinity County likely follows this order, with a tilt toward Facebook/YouTube given its older, rural mix)

• YouTube: ~80%+
• Facebook: ~65%–70%
• Instagram: ~45%–50%
• TikTok: ~30%–35%
• Snapchat: ~25%–30%
• X (Twitter): ~20%–25%
• Reddit: ~20%–25%
• LinkedIn: ~30% (skews to college-educated/professional segments)
• Pinterest: ~30%–35% (skews female)
• Nextdoor: ~15%–20% of adults nationally; availability varies in rural areas

Age-group usage patterns (national benchmarks; local mix skews older)

• 13–17: Very high daily use on YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram; limited Facebook use.
• 18–29: Heavy multi-platform use; Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat lead; YouTube near-universal.
• 30–49: Broad multi-platform use; Facebook and YouTube dominant; Instagram strong; TikTok moderate.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram/TikTok adoption moderate but growing.
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube are primary; limited use of Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat.

Gender breakdown (national patterns reflected locally)

• Women: More likely to use Facebook and Instagram; strong on Pinterest; high engagement in local groups/marketplaces.
• Men: More likely to use YouTube, Reddit, and X; gaming, DIY, and outdoors content are common interests.

Behavioral trends observed in rural Northern California communities like Trinity County

• Information utility: Facebook is the default for local news, emergency/wildfire updates, road closures, school notices, and sheriff/fire agency posts; community and neighborhood groups see high engagement.
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace and local buy–sell–trade groups are key for secondhand goods, seasonal equipment, and services.
• Tourism and outdoors: Instagram and Facebook are used by guides, outfitters, campgrounds, and small hospitality businesses to reach visitors (fishing, hiking, hunting, rafting).
• Video/how-to culture: YouTube is widely used for DIY, homesteading, vehicle/ATV and equipment repair, and outdoor skills.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is prevalent; WhatsApp adoption is lower than California’s urban average.
• Platform cadence: Content that is practical, time-sensitive, and hyperlocal outperforms polished brand creative; posts tied to weather, safety, and local events drive the highest interaction.

What this means for Trinity County targeting

• Primary reach: Facebook and YouTube.
• Secondary reach: Instagram for visual storytelling and younger adults; TikTok for under-35s and visitor audiences.
• Community levers: Facebook Groups, local pages, event listings, and Marketplace are the highest-ROI touchpoints.
• Creative cues: Emphasize utility, local relevance, and video-first formats; schedule posts around mornings and early evenings when engagement is highest in rural communities.

Sources: Pew Research Center’s Social Media Use (latest 2024 update) and urban–suburban–rural breakdowns; U.S. Census/ACS for population and age profile. County-specific platform user counts are not directly published; figures above use nationally representative rates with adjustments typical of rural, older counties.