Gem County

Do you want figures from the 2020 Decennial Census or the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates? For small counties like Gem, ACS 2019–2023 5-year is the most complete source for age, race/ethnicity, and household characteristics. I can provide concise numbers for:

• Total population
• Median age; age distribution (under 18, 18–64, 65+)
• Sex (female/male %)
• Race/ethnicity (White non-Hispanic, Hispanic/Latino, two or more races, etc.)
• Households (number of households, average household size, family vs. nonfamily)

Tell me your preferred data vintage and I’ll return the latest figures.

Estimated scope

• Population: ≈21,000 residents (Gem County). Adult share ≈78%.
• Estimated email users: 15,000–18,000 residents (roughly 75–85% of the population), based on state/national adoption applied to local demographics.

Age distribution of email users (approx.)

• 13–17: 70–80% use email (school-driven).
• 18–34: 90–95%.
• 35–54: 90–93%.
• 55–64: 85–90%.
• 65+: 70–80% (lower adoption but rising).

Gender split

• Near even: ~49–51% male/female among users; differences are minimal.

Digital access and trends

• Household broadband subscription: roughly 80–85% (ACS-style rural Idaho benchmarks); 3–6% with no home internet.
• Smartphone-only internet users: about 12–18%.
• Public access (libraries/schools) and shared household accounts help close gaps.
• Idaho broadband adoption has risen post-2020 due to remote work/schooling.

Local density/connectivity context

• Land area ≈566 sq mi; density ≈35–40 people/sq mi.
• Most residents live in/around Emmett; outlying areas are rural, where fixed wireless/satellite are more common and speeds vary.
• New fiber buildouts tend to concentrate near town centers and highway corridors, with incremental expansion outward.

Notes: Figures are estimates derived from Idaho/US usage patterns scaled to Gem County’s size and rural profile.

Below is a practical, best-available summary using public benchmarks (ACS, FCC mobile/broadband maps, Pew smartphone adoption) and rural Idaho patterns. Figures are modeled estimates and ranges; they should be treated as directional rather than exact.

Headline estimate

• Population base: ~20,000–21,000 residents; adults ~15,500–16,500.
• Mobile phone users (any phone): ~17,000–18,500 (85–90% of total population).
• Smartphone users: ~14,500–15,500 (roughly 82–88% of adults plus most teens).
• 5G-capable device share: ~45–50% of active devices in Gem County (vs ~55–65% statewide).
• Households using cellular as primary home internet (phone hotspot or fixed wireless): ~14–20% in Gem (vs ~9–13% statewide).

Demographic breakdown and how it relates to adoption

• Age: Older than state average. Higher share of 55+ and 65+ depresses top-line smartphone penetration and slows upgrade cycles; feature-phone or “voice/text only” users are more common among seniors.
• Income/education: Median household income and bachelor’s degree attainment trail the Idaho average, tilting the market toward prepaid, family plans, and longer device replacement cycles. This also raises the share of budget Android devices versus premium flagships.
• Hispanic population: Slightly below the statewide share, but bilingual family plans and WhatsApp/VoIP usage are still material. International calling add-ons see steady use among agricultural and seasonal workers.
• Commuter pattern: Many residents commute into Ada County. Daytime device locations shift toward Boise/Eagle/Meridian, with heavier evening and weekend traffic concentrated back in Emmett and along ID‑16.

Usage patterns and plan mix (what’s different vs Idaho overall)

• More cellular-reliant households: Limited wired options outside Emmett push higher use of phone hotspots and fixed wireless access (FWA) plans than the state average.
• Prepaid and value segments over-index: Higher share of prepaid, MVNOs, and budget plans than Idaho overall; device financing and upgrade cadence lag metro areas.
• 5G adoption lags: Fewer mid-band 5G devices and less mid-band coverage; LTE remains the workhorse outside town centers.
• Seasonal swings: Noticeable traffic seasonality tied to agriculture and outdoor recreation; localized congestion during county events and peak harvest/irrigation periods.
• Messaging/voice resiliency: Slightly higher reliance on Wi‑Fi calling where indoor LTE is weak; SMS/MMS remains central for work coordination in ag and trades.

Digital infrastructure snapshot

• Coverage pattern: Strongest around Emmett and primary corridors (ID‑16 to Ada County; ID‑52). Rural north/east sections see terrain-driven shadowing and weaker indoor signal.
• 5G availability: Low-band 5G is present around Emmett/highways; mid-band (e.g., C-band/n41) is spotty to limited. Outside town, LTE performance varies with terrain and site load.
• Capacity: Few small cells; macro sites carry most load. Evening and event congestion is more common than in metro Idaho.
• Backhaul: Mix of fiber-fed macro sites near town/corridors and microwave-fed sites on hilltops. Fiber density is thinner than in Ada/Canyon counties, constraining 5G capacity growth outside Emmett.
• Fixed wireless: FWA from national mobile operators is an important broadband substitute on the fringes of town; performance is sensitive to line-of-sight and tower load.
• Public safety: First responder LTE bands (e.g., FirstNet Band 14) are present on select sites but not as uniformly dense as in Boise metro; coverage gaps persist in canyons/foothills.
• Retail/repair: Fewer carrier retail points than the state average; residents often purchase online or in Ada County, contributing to slower device refresh.

Quantitative estimates (how they were derived)

• Smartphone users (~14.5k–15.5k): Adult population x rural smartphone adoption (≈82–86%) plus most teens owning smartphones.
• Any mobile phone users (~17k–18.5k): Total population minus young children and the small “no-phone” share, plus feature-phone users among seniors.
• 5G-capable device share (≈45–50%): Rural lag versus statewide upgrade pace; constrained by coverage and incomes.
• Cellular-as-primary internet (≈14–20%): Higher rural reliance vs state average given limited fiber/cable footprints outside Emmett.

Key ways Gem County differs from Idaho overall

• Higher reliance on cellular for home connectivity (hotspots/FWA).
• Lower 5G device and mid-band 5G coverage penetration; LTE dominates.
• Greater share of prepaid/value plans; slower upgrade cycles.
• More pronounced terrain-related coverage variability and evening/event congestion.
• Commuter-driven traffic shifts between Gem and Ada counties.

What would tighten these estimates

• Latest ACS county tables on device ownership and internet access.
• FCC mobile coverage and FWA availability by census block.
• Operator crowd-sourced performance data (drive tests or apps) along ID‑16/ID‑52 and rural valleys.
• Local school district device/Hotspot program stats and ISP subscriber counts in Emmett versus rural routes.

Below is a concise, best-available estimate for Gem County, ID, based on Pew Research Center 2023–2024 platform usage, rural-U.S./Idaho patterns, and small-county benchmarks. Exact local figures aren’t published; use these as directional ranges.

At-a-glance user stats (est.)

• Population: ~20–21K; adults ~15–16K.
• Social media users (13+): ~12–14K (roughly 75–85% of adults plus most teens).
• Daily users: ~8–10K use at least one platform daily.
• Multi-platform: ~60–70% use 2+ platforms; ~30% use 3+.

Most‑used platforms in Gem County (share of online residents 13+, est.)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 70–75%
• Instagram: 35–45%
• TikTok: 30–40% (skews under 35)
• Snapchat: 25–35% (heavy among teens/20s)
• Pinterest: 20–25% (female skew)
• X/Twitter: 15–20% (news/sports niche)
• LinkedIn: 10–15% (commuters/professionals)
• Reddit: 10–15%
• Nextdoor: 5–10% (Facebook Groups often substitute)

Age patterns (usage tendencies)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube 95%+, Snapchat ~70%, TikTok ~65%, Instagram ~60%, Facebook low.
• 18–29: YouTube 95%+, Instagram 70–80%, Snapchat 60–70%, TikTok 60–70%, Facebook ~60–70%.
• 30–49: Facebook 80%+, YouTube 90%+, Instagram 45–55%, TikTok 35–45%.
• 50–64: Facebook 70–75%, YouTube 80–85%, Instagram 25–35%, TikTok 20–30%.
• 65+: Facebook 55–65%, YouTube 60–70%; others low.

Gender differences (rough)

• Women: More active on Facebook (≈5–10 pts higher than men), Instagram (+5–8), Pinterest (strong skew), TikTok (slight skew).
• Men: Higher on YouTube, Reddit, X/Twitter; gaming/outdoors content.

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: heavy use of Groups (buy/sell, school sports, events), Marketplace, and local news. Shares/word‑of‑mouth drive reach.
• YouTube is for how‑tos, ag, home/auto DIY, hunting/fishing, and faith content; mostly consumption over commenting.
• Instagram is visual storefront for local businesses, realtors, boutiques; Stories/Reels perform better than static posts.
• TikTok growth is youth/young families; adults 35+ are mainly viewers, not posters.
• Snapchat is the default messenger for teens/college‑age; limited business utility unless recruiting or event‑driven.
• Peak times: 7–9 a.m., 12–1 p.m., and 7–10 p.m.; weekends see strong morning engagement.
• Content that works: local faces, school/rodeo/fair highlights, outdoors/agriculture, limited‑time offers, practical tips. Keep copy plain‑spoken and visual.
• Geographic targeting: 15–25‑mile radius around Emmett captures most residents; also reaches commuters to the Boise metro.
• Access notes: mobile‑first usage; some connectivity gaps in outlying areas—optimize for fast loads and vertical video.

How to validate locally

• Check Meta Ads Manager “estimated audience” for a 25‑mile Emmett radius by age/gender.
• Compare with YouTube/Google Ads geo reach and Snapchat/TikTok ads audience estimates.
• Run a short community poll via Facebook Groups to refine platform splits.