El Paso County

Which reference do you prefer for the figures?

• Latest ACS 1-year (2023) – most current, slightly higher sampling error
• ACS 5-year (2019–2023) – more reliable for detailed breakdowns
• 2020 Decennial Census – benchmark counts (no many household details)

Tell me your preference and I’ll provide concise, numeric results for population size, age (median and key bands), gender, race/ethnicity, and household counts/size.

• Estimated email users: ~520,000 adults. Basis: ~565,000 adults in El Paso County and ~92% of U.S. adults use email.
• Age distribution of users (approx.): 18–34: 28%; 35–54: 27%; 55–64: 12%; 65+: 11%. Usage is near‑universal under 55; slight drop among 65+ means they’re a bit underrepresented versus their population share.
• Gender split: ~51% male, 49% female users, mirroring the county’s population; no meaningful email gap by gender.
• Digital access trends:
  • ~92–93% of households have broadband; ~95% have a computer/smartphone.
  • ~6–8% have no internet subscription; ~10–13% are smartphone‑only at home.
  • Adoption and speeds strongest along the I‑25 corridor; seniors, low‑income, and rural households show higher non‑subscription rates.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population 740,000 over ~2,130 sq mi (350 people/sq mi).
  • Roughly two‑thirds live in Colorado Springs, where cable/fiber coverage is densest.
  • Eastern, lower‑density areas (e.g., Peyton/Calhan/Ellicott) have more connectivity gaps; public Wi‑Fi and devices are available via Pikes Peak Library District branches.

Notes: Email usage estimates apply national adoption rates (Pew) to local population (ACS). Figures are rounded.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in El Paso County, Colorado

User estimates (approximate)

• Population base: ≈730,000–760,000 residents.
• Unique mobile users: ≈580,000–630,000 people carry a mobile phone line.
• Smartphone users: ≈520,000–570,000 (about 88–92% of adults; teens are near-saturation).
• 5G fixed‑wireless (home internet) lines: likely 30,000–45,000 household subscriptions countywide, reflecting strong uptake in single‑family neighborhoods and fringe growth areas.

Demographic factors shaping usage

• Age: Slightly younger than the state median due to military and family households. Teen smartphone adoption is near-universal; seniors show growing but still lower smartphone use than working-age adults.
• Military presence: Roughly 10–15% of residents are active-duty, dependents, or civilian staff tied to Fort Carson, Peterson SFB, Schriever SFB, Cheyenne Mountain, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. This:
  • Increases multi-line family plans and on-base device turnover.
  • Tilts some enterprise/public-safety use toward AT&T (FirstNet) and fosters strong device management/secure-app usage.
• Income and housing mix: Median household income trails the Colorado average, with large single‑family suburban growth (Banning Lewis Ranch, Falcon/Peyton, Fountain). This supports:
  • Higher-than-average adoption of value/MVNO plans in southeast Colorado Springs and unincorporated areas.
  • Greater use of 5G home internet as an alternative to cable/DSL.
• Language and culture: A sizable Hispanic community supports strong use of WhatsApp and international calling features; bilingual customer support and international add-ons see above-average demand.

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

• 5G footprint:
  • T-Mobile: Broad mid-band 5G along I‑25, Powers Blvd/CO‑21, and major suburban corridors.
  • Verizon: C‑Band is well-deployed in the urban core and along highways; strong mountain‑edge coverage legacy.
  • AT&T: 5G and FirstNet coverage is robust around bases and public-safety corridors; mid-band growth continues.
  • mmWave/small cells: Targeted nodes in dense venues and downtown areas; otherwise a macro‑first county relative to Denver/Boulder.
• Terrain-driven variability: Strong urban/suburban service contrasts with weaker performance or gaps in:
  • Foothills/west side (terrain shadowing near Garden of the Gods, North Cheyenne Cañon).
  • Heavily wooded Black Forest pockets.
  • Rural eastern plains (Calhan/Ramah corridor) where LTE/low‑band 5G dominates and capacity can be thin.
• Densification hot spots: New macros and infill along Marksheffel, Banning Lewis Ranch, Falcon/Peyton, Fountain, and Monument; small cells added on key arterials and near high‑traffic venues (e.g., academy events, entertainment districts).
• Backhaul/fiber: Colorado Springs Utilities and regional fiber providers (including local ISPs such as StratusIQ, plus national carriers) supply dark fiber and backhaul that enable 5G upgrades and small‑cell growth.
• Public safety: County agencies use the Pikes Peak Regional Communications Network for radio and have widespread FirstNet adoption; E‑911 supports text‑to‑911. Carriers have invested in site hardening due to wildfire risk and past large incidents.

How El Paso County differs from Colorado overall

• Higher military influence:
  • More FirstNet-enabled infrastructure and device provisioning.
  • Higher share of multi-line family plans tied to military discounts and relocations.
• Stronger 5G fixed‑wireless uptake:
  • Single‑family housing and fringe sprawl produce above‑average adoption of T‑Mobile and Verizon home internet compared with dense Front Range cities where fiber/coax is more ubiquitous.
• Coverage dispersion:
  • Wider spread between excellent urban/suburban performance and rural east/foothill dead zones than the typical county average; Denver/Boulder see more uniform urban densification with greater mmWave presence.
• Carrier balance:
  • Verizon and AT&T retain durable shares linked to coverage and FirstNet/public-safety commitments; T‑Mobile’s mid‑band capacity gains are notable but mmWave density lags Denver/Boulder.
• Value/MVNO penetration:
  • Slightly higher in southeast and outer-ring neighborhoods relative to statewide averages, reflecting mixed incomes and transient populations.
• Event-driven capacity needs:
  • Large defense, training, and academy events create periodic, localized surges, pushing carriers to deploy portable cells and targeted small‑cell capacity more frequently than in comparable Colorado counties.

Method notes

• Estimates synthesize U.S. Census/ACS population structure, Pew Research smartphone adoption rates, carrier 5G deployment patterns in the Front Range, FCC coverage filings, and regional ISP/fiber footprints as of 2023–2024. Figures are rounded ranges to reflect uncertainty and local variability.

Social media usage in El Paso County, CO — short breakdown

How many users

• Adults (18+): ≈560,000 (based on ACS share of adults in a ~740–750k county).
• Adults using at least one social platform: ≈470,000–490,000 (≈82–86% of adults, applying Pew U.S. rates).

Most‑used platforms (estimated share of county adults; counts in parentheses)

• YouTube: 83% (466k)
• Facebook: 68% (382k)
• Instagram: 47% (264k)
• Pinterest: 35% (197k)
• TikTok: 33% (185k)
• Snapchat: 30% (169k)
• LinkedIn: 30% (169k)
• WhatsApp: 29% (163k)
• X/Twitter: 22% (124k)
• Reddit: 21% (118k)
• Nextdoor: 20–25% (112–140k) — likely on the higher end locally given suburban neighborhoods

Age-group patterns (local mix skews slightly younger due to military/college presence)

• 18–29: Very high on YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok; Facebook secondary. Heavy short‑form video, DM groups, and campus/community event discovery.
• 30–49: Facebook + YouTube dominant; Instagram strong; WhatsApp and LinkedIn notable. Uses Facebook/Nextdoor for schools, safety, services; Marketplace heavy.
• 50–64: Facebook + YouTube core; Pinterest and Nextdoor grow; Instagram moderate; TikTok emerging for recipes, travel, DIY.
• 65+: Facebook first; YouTube/Nextdoor meaningful; Pinterest moderate; Instagram/TikTok lower. High engagement with local agencies and neighborhood groups.

Gender skews (mirroring U.S. patterns)

• Skew female: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Nextdoor.
• Skew male: YouTube, Reddit, X/Twitter, LinkedIn.
• Near‑parity with slight female tilt: TikTok, Snapchat, WhatsApp.
• Overall local split of social users is close to county population (roughly 50/50), with platform‑specific skews as above.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community and safety: Facebook Groups and Nextdoor are primary for school closures, weather/wildfire updates, road conditions, crime/safety notices, lost/found pets, HOA issues.
• Military influence: Fort Carson, Peterson/Schriever SFB, and USAFA drive active Facebook Groups, Marketplace activity (PCS moves), and WhatsApp family chats; usage spikes around duty shift changes.
• Local commerce: Facebook Marketplace is a top channel for furniture/gear; Instagram reels and TikTok are key for restaurants, coffee, breweries, and outdoor rec (Garden of the Gods, Manitou, trails).
• Civic and agencies: County/municipal offices, CSPD/EP Sheriff post primarily on Facebook, cross‑posting to X; storm and fire updates see rapid spike engagement.
• Neighborhood identity: Nextdoor participation higher in suburban tracts; strong use for contractor recs and code/animal control issues.
• Content formats: Short‑form video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) growing fastest; photo carousels for hikes/scenery perform well; Reddit r/ColoradoSprings used for Q&A, service recs, and news digests.
• Language/community: Notable Hispanic/Latino population supports Spanish‑language Facebook pages and WhatsApp groups for events and services.

Method and sources

• Percentages primarily reflect Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. adult platform usage; applied to El Paso County’s adult population from recent ACS estimates to size local users. Nextdoor adjusted upward slightly for suburban composition. Local behaviors reflect known patterns in Colorado Springs/El Paso County (agencies, military presence, weather/fire seasonality).