Clearwater County

Key demographics for Clearwater County, Idaho (U.S. Census Bureau; ACS 2018–2022 5-year unless noted)

• Population

  • 2020 Census: 8,734
  • 2023 estimate: ~8,900

• Age

  • Median age: ~50 years
  • Under 18: ~18%
  • 65 and over: ~27%

• Gender

  • Male: ~57%
  • Female: ~43%
  • Note: Male share is elevated due to a state correctional facility in Orofino.

• Race and Hispanic/Latino origin

  • White alone (non-Hispanic): ~88%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~5–6%
  • Two or more races: ~5%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~4–5%
  • Black or African American alone: <1%
  • Asian alone: <1%
  • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0%

• Households and housing

  • Households: ~3,500–3,600
  • Average household size: ~2.3
  • Family households: ~60%
  • Owner-occupied housing rate: ~78%

Email usage in Clearwater County, Idaho

• Context: Population 8.8k; very low density (3.5 people/sq mi).
• Estimated email users: 6.4–6.8k. Method: apply ~92% U.S. adult email adoption (Pew) to the county’s mostly adult population, with slightly lower rates among seniors.
• Age mix of email users (approx.):
  • 18–34: 20%
  • 35–54: 32%
  • 55–64: 22%
  • 65+: 26%
• Gender split: ~50% women, ~50% men; usage differences by gender are minimal.

Digital access and connectivity trends:

• Most households have internet, but roughly 15–20% are smartphone‑only or lack home broadband (consistent with rural U.S. patterns).
• Strongest fixed broadband and cellular service in/near towns along the Clearwater River and main corridors (e.g., Orofino); service becomes spotty in upland/forested areas and canyons.
• Public Wi‑Fi via libraries, schools, and community centers helps fill gaps, especially for students and seniors.
• Ongoing state/federal rural broadband programs are expanding fiber and upgrades in small Idaho communities; local adoption continues to rise as options improve.

Note: Figures are estimates based on national/rural-Idaho benchmarks; precise county-level email statistics are not routinely published.

Clearwater County, Idaho — mobile phone usage snapshot (with differences vs Idaho overall)

Quick context

• Rural, mountainous county of roughly 9,000 residents centered on Orofino, with small towns like Pierce, Weippe, and Elk River and large swaths of national forest. Terrain (river canyons, forested plateaus) strongly shapes coverage and speeds.

User estimates

• Total smartphone users: approximately 6,500–7,300 residents. This reflects:
  • A higher median age than the state, which lowers adoption a bit relative to Idaho overall.
  • Strong adoption among working-age adults, but a noticeable drop among 65+.
• Adults using any mobile phone (smartphone or basic): roughly 7,200–7,800.
• Households relying primarily on mobile data for home internet: meaningfully above the Idaho average, especially outside Orofino and along forest roads, where wireline options are sparse. Expect this pattern to be most pronounced on the Pierce–Weippe plateau and around Dworshak Reservoir.

Demographic patterns that shape usage

• Older population mix:
  • Clearwater has a substantially larger share of residents 65+ than Idaho overall. Smartphone adoption in this group is typically 60–70% locally versus 80%+ at the state level.
  • More basic/flip phones, longer device replacement cycles, and greater use of voice/SMS relative to data-heavy apps than in Boise/Coeur d’Alene metros.
• Income and education:
  • Median household incomes trail the statewide average, which correlates with higher prepaid participation and older devices. The end of the federal ACP subsidy in 2024 likely affected affordability more here than in urban Idaho.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Predominantly White, with small Native American and Hispanic populations. Digital equity efforts tend to focus on affordability and geographic gaps rather than language access.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Cellular coverage and technology:
  • Coverage is strongest in and around Orofino and along US‑12; it thins quickly in canyons, forested areas, and on remote roads.
  • 5G is present in small, low‑band pockets (especially near towns) but Clearwater remains largely LTE‑first. Mid‑band 5G (e.g., C‑band/n77 or n41) is limited or absent, unlike Idaho’s urban corridors where mid‑band 5G is now common.
  • Carrier dynamics: Verizon generally has the most reliable rural footprint; AT&T is competitive near towns and along major routes; T‑Mobile’s reach is improving but remains spottier off‑corridor compared with its state‑level gains. A regional provider (e.g., Inland Cellular) also serves parts of the area.
• Backhaul and power:
  • Limited fiber backhaul outside town centers constrains site capacity; several macro sites likely rely on microwave. Storms and wildfire-related outages can affect both power and transport, causing extended rural dead zones.
• Wireline and fixed wireless context:
  • Fiber/cable is mostly confined to Orofino and immediate surroundings; many outlying households rely on DSL, WISPs, or satellite. This pushes heavier reliance on mobile data than the state average when home broadband is unavailable or slow.

How Clearwater differs from Idaho overall

• Adoption and devices:
  • Overall smartphone adoption is a bit lower than the Idaho average because of the older age mix and affordability factors.
  • Higher share of prepaid plans and older handsets; more use of cell boosters in homes/vehicles.
• Network experience:
  • Slower median mobile speeds and more persistent dead zones than statewide, with fewer mid‑band 5G deployments to lift capacity.
  • Residents are more likely to treat mobile as a primary or backup home internet option due to sparse wireline alternatives.
• Carrier choice:
  • Less competitive parity among carriers than in metro Idaho: Verizon’s rural advantage is more pronounced; T‑Mobile’s statewide 5G leadership is less evident here off main corridors.
• Growth and upgrades:
  • Idaho’s fastest 5G and fiber growth is along I‑84/I‑90 and in larger metros; Clearwater’s upgrades are incremental and often tied to grant-funded fiber/backhaul projects or public-safety coverage needs.

Implications and what to watch (2025–2027)

• Targeted fiber/backhaul builds (e.g., state broadband grants) can unlock better 5G capacity at existing towers.
• AT&T FirstNet fill‑ins and low‑band 5G expansions could reduce canyon dead zones for public safety and residents.
• Continued satellite options (and emerging direct‑to‑cell text/IoT services) may complement coverage in the most remote areas but won’t replace terrestrial capacity where people congregate.

Notes on methodology

• Estimates blend county population and age structure with known rural adoption patterns (e.g., lower smartphone uptake among 65+, higher prepaid use) and typical Idaho carrier footprints. For precise counts, validate with:
  • U.S. Census Bureau/ACS for population and age mix
  • FCC Broadband and Mobile Coverage maps for technology footprints and backhaul
  • Idaho Broadband Office project lists for upcoming fiber builds
  • Carrier coverage maps and crowd‑sourced apps (e.g., nPerf/OpenSignal) for on‑the‑ground performance in Orofino, Pierce/Weippe, Elk River, and along US‑12.

Below is a concise, best-available snapshot. County-level social media data are sparse, so figures are estimates extrapolated from Pew Research (2024 U.S./rural patterns), Idaho demographics, and platform audience tools.

Overall user base

• Population: ~9,000; adults ~7,000.
• Active social media users: roughly 5,000–6,000 residents use at least one platform monthly.
• Devices: predominantly mobile; smartphone adoption ~80–85% among adults.

Age mix of active social users (share of users, not total population)

• 13–17: 6–8%
• 18–29: 14–18%
• 30–44: 22–26%
• 45–64: 30–34%
• 65+: 22–26% Note: Clearwater skews older; Facebook and YouTube dominate 45+.

Gender breakdown (among active social users)

• Female: 52–56%
• Male: 44–48% Trends: Women overindex on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men on YouTube, X/Reddit. Snapchat/TikTok skew female under 30.

Most-used platforms (share of local social media users, monthly)

• Facebook: 80–85% (primary hub; Groups/Marketplace central)
• YouTube: 75–80%
• Instagram: 30–40%
• TikTok: 25–35% (mostly under 35)
• Snapchat: 20–30% (teens/20s)
• Pinterest: 25–30% (women 25–64)
• X/Twitter: 10–15%
• LinkedIn: 10–15%
• Nextdoor: <5%

Behavioral trends

• Peaks: 6–8 a.m., noon hour, 7–10 p.m.
• Content that performs: local news, wildfire/road/weather alerts, school sports, obituaries, hunting/fishing reports, county gov/sheriff updates, buy–sell–trade.
• Heavy reliance on Facebook Groups (schools, youth sports, churches, emergency management) and Marketplace for local commerce.
• Video: Short-form (Reels/TikTok) consumption rising; YouTube used for how‑tos and equipment repair; uploads often tuned for limited bandwidth.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is default; Snapchat DMs for teens/young adults; WhatsApp niche; SMS still common.
• Trust: Highest for posts from known locals/groups; skepticism toward national/political content except near elections.
• Seasonality: Spikes during wildfire season (Jul–Sep), winter storms, hunting season (Oct–Nov), and back‑to‑school.

Practical outreach tips

• Use Facebook Pages + Groups + Events; cross‑post short vertical video.
• Post in peak windows; geotarget within ~25–35 miles.
• For under 30: Instagram Reels/Snapchat/TikTok. For 55+: Facebook posts + simple video.
• Keep copy plainspoken, feature local faces/landmarks; include a phone number for responses.