Huerfano County

Huerfano County, Colorado — key demographics (latest Census/ACS)

Population size

• 6,820 (2020 Decennial Census)
• ~6.7k (2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~51 years
• Under 18: ~17%
• 18–64: ~53%
• 65 and over: ~30%

Gender

• Male: ~52%
• Female: ~48%

Racial/ethnic composition (mutually exclusive)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~58%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~36%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: ~2%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~1%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: <1%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~2%

Households

• Total households: ~3,100
• Average household size: ~2.1
• Family households: ~56% of households
• Married-couple families: ~42% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~18%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~76%

Insights

• Older age profile with nearly one-third 65+, small household sizes, high owner-occupancy, and a large Hispanic/Latino community. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

• Population and density: Huerfano County has roughly 6,900 residents over ~1,593 sq mi, about 4.3 people per sq mi.
• Estimated email users: ~5,450 residents use email (age 13+ adoption applied to local age mix).
• Age distribution (population → email users):
  • 13–17: ~306 → ~260 users
  • 18–34: ~1,104 → ~1,050 users
  • 35–64: ~2,622 → ~2,440 users
  • 65+: ~2,070 → ~1,700 users
• Gender split among email users: approximately 50% female, 50% male (gender differences in email adoption are minimal).
• Digital access and trends:
  • Broadband subscription: ~70–75% of households; computer ownership ~80–85%.
  • Smartphone-only internet households: ~10–15%, supporting high email access even where fixed broadband is limited.
  • Connectivity is strongest along the I‑25 corridor (Walsenburg/La Veta) with 4G/5G coverage; service degrades in outlying ranchland and mountain areas.
  • Public access: libraries and community centers in Walsenburg/La Veta provide Wi‑Fi and devices, important for lower-income and older residents.
  • Work-from-home and telehealth usage have increased post‑2020, reinforcing routine email use across adults, including seniors.
• Insight: Despite very low population density and patchy last‑mile infrastructure, email penetration is high across all adult age groups; seniors comprise roughly one‑third of email users, so accessibility and mobile‑friendly communication matter.

Mobile phone usage in Huerfano County, Colorado (2024 snapshot)

Population baseline

• Residents: ≈6,900 (U.S. Census estimates)
• Households: ≈3,200
• Age structure skews older relative to Colorado: ≈29–30% age 65+ (vs ≈15% statewide)

User estimates (modeled from Census demographics, rural ownership patterns, and Pew age-specific smartphone adoption)

• Distinct mobile phone users (age 12+): ≈5,700 users, ≈83% of total population (≈95% of residents age 12+ own a cell phone)
• Smartphone users: ≈5,100 users, ≈74% of total population (≈86% of residents age 12+)
• Mobile-only internet households (no home fixed broadband, rely primarily on a smartphone/data plan): ≈650–750 households, ≈20–23% of households, notably higher than Colorado’s ≈9–12%

Demographic breakdown of usage

• Seniors (65+; ≈29–30% of residents): smartphone adoption ≈65–70%, materially below Colorado seniors (≈75–80%); voice/SMS use rates are high, and app-intensive usage is lower
• Adults 35–64 (≈38% of residents): smartphone adoption ≈85–90%; data use moderated by coverage and income constraints compared with metro Colorado
• Young adults 18–34 (≈14–16% of residents) and teens 12–17 (≈6%): smartphone adoption ≈95%+; this cohort accounts for a disproportionate share of streaming and social traffic
• Hispanic/Latino residents (roughly one-third of the county): overall smartphone ownership is comparable to non-Hispanic peers, but mobile-only internet reliance is higher due to lower fixed-broadband availability and affordability

How Huerfano differs from statewide patterns

• Lower smartphone penetration: ≈74% of all residents vs Colorado’s ≈80%+ (all-ages view), driven by an older age structure and lower incomes
• Higher mobile-only internet dependence: ≈20–23% of households vs ≈9–12% statewide, reflecting patchier fixed broadband and price sensitivity
• Coverage is more corridor-centric: reliable 4G/5G along I-25 and in Walsenburg/La Veta; large rural tracts remain LTE-only or have fringe coverage, unlike Colorado’s Front Range metros with dense 5G
• Device mix skews older: lower 5G handset penetration and more basic/older smartphones than the state average
• Seasonal load spikes are more pronounced: summer tourism and wildfire events cause localized congestion that is less common in well-provisioned metro networks

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Carriers and radio access: all three national carriers serve the county; 5G is present primarily as low-band along I-25 (Walsenburg, near La Veta) with mid-band capacity limited; many outlying areas remain LTE-only
• Topography-driven gaps: canyons, passes, and the Spanish Peaks create shadow zones and dead spots (notably west and northwest of Walsenburg and in sparsely populated valleys)
• Tower siting pattern: macro sites clustered along major corridors (I-25, US‑160, CO‑12); sparse site density off-corridor leads to larger cells, weaker indoor signal, and lower median speeds than state averages
• Backhaul and middle-mile: regional fiber (including routes serving Walsenburg/La Veta) underpins corridor sites; off-corridor towers often rely on longer microwave backhaul, which constrains capacity
• Public safety and resiliency: FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) improves coverage for first responders on main routes; weather and wildfire events periodically disrupt commercial coverage in outlying zones

Actionable implications

• Services targeting Huerfano should assume more LTE-only coverage, lower 5G device penetration, and higher reliance on mobile data as a primary internet connection than in Colorado’s metros
• SMS, lightweight mobile web, and offline-capable app features will reach more users than bandwidth-heavy, app-only experiences
• For field operations, plan for coverage gaps and provide offline workflows, Wi‑Fi calling fallbacks, and external antennas/boosters in canyoned or mountainous areas

Notes on methodology

• Counts and percentages are derived from U.S. Census/ACS population and age structure, combined with Pew Research Center smartphone ownership by age and rurality, and FCC mobile coverage patterns current through 2023–2024. Estimates are rounded for clarity.

Huerfano County, CO social media snapshot (2025)

Baseline

• Adult population (18+): approximately 5,700–5,900 (county total ~6,800–7,000; older-skewing age profile)
• Internet access: roughly 80–85% of adults have reliable internet/smartphone access

Overall social media reach

• Adults using at least one social platform: about 79% of adults (≈4,400–4,700 people)

Gender breakdown (users)

• Female: ~54%
• Male: ~46%
• Note: Nonbinary/other not reliably captured in public datasets

Age profile of users (share of all social users)

• 18–29: ~13–16%
• 30–49: ~28–32%
• 50–64: ~28–31%
• 65+: 24–27% Adoption rates by age are highest among 18–29 (90–95%), solid for 30–49 (85–90%), moderate for 50–64 (70–75%), and meaningful but lower for 65+ (~58–62%), with older residents concentrated on Facebook and YouTube.

Most-used platforms among adults (estimated share of adults in Huerfano County)

• YouTube: ~78%
• Facebook: ~66%
• Instagram: ~36%
• Pinterest: ~30%
• TikTok: ~26%
• Snapchat: ~22%
• X (Twitter): ~18%
• LinkedIn: ~16%
• Nextdoor: ~6% (limited neighborhood coverage; niche use)

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the community hub: heavy reliance on local Groups and Pages for county updates, school announcements, wildfire/weather alerts, events, and buy/sell (Marketplace). Engagement is strongest on practical/local content.
• Video-first habits: YouTube dominates for how-to, DIY, homesteading/ranching, outdoor recreation, auto/RV, and local music/culture; short-form video (Reels/TikTok) is growing among under-50s.
• Tourism and seasonal content: Instagram use clusters around small businesses, arts, and outdoor/tourism (La Veta, Cuchara, Spanish Peaks); activity rises in summer/fall.
• Cross-county information flow: Many residents follow pages in Pueblo, Trinidad, and Colorado Springs; regional news and event pages influence local feeds.
• Device and timing: Smartphone-first usage (most activity in early morning 7–9 a.m. and evening 6–10 p.m.; weekends see higher leisure browsing). Data caps and patchy broadband make concise, mobile-optimized posts perform better.
• Younger users: Snapchat and TikTok drive daily communication/entertainment for teens and younger adults; content discovery often cross-posted to Instagram Reels.
• Older users: High Facebook loyalty, strong participation in Groups, and consistent YouTube consumption; lower adoption of TikTok/Snapchat.

Method and sources

• Figures are modeled for Huerfano County using: US Census Bureau ACS for population/age structure; Pew Research Center (2024) social media adoption by platform and by rural/age cohorts; state/national internet access benchmarks for rural areas. Estimates are localized by applying rural/age-weighted adoption rates to the county’s older-skewing demographics.