Boone County

Boone County, Illinois — key demographics

Population

• Total: 53,448 (2020 Census); ~53.7k (2023 estimate)

Age (ACS 2018–2022)

• Under 5: ~6–7%
• Under 18: ~25%
• 65 and over: ~16%
• Median age: ~38 years

Gender (ACS 2018–2022)

• Female: ~49.7%
• Male: ~50.3%

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2018–2022)

• White alone: ~86%
• Black or African American alone: ~2–3%
• Asian alone: ~1–2%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~1%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~27%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~64% Note: Hispanic origin overlaps with race categories.

Households (ACS 2018–2022)

• Number of households: ~19,000
• Average household size: ~2.9–3.0
• Family households: ~73% of households
• Average family size: ~3.3

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; Population Estimates Program, 2023; American Community Survey 2018–2022).

Boone County, IL snapshot (pop ~54,000; ~280 sq mi; ~190 people/sq mi; majority clustered in/around Belvidere):

• Estimated email users: 36,000–41,000 residents use email at least occasionally (derived from adult share of population and typical U.S. adoption).
• By age (approximate adoption rates applied to local age mix):
  • 18–34: ~10–12k users (≈90–97% adoption).
  • 35–64: ~20–22k users (≈92–98%).
  • 65+: ~6–7k users (≈75–85%).
• Gender split: Email users mirror the county’s demographics—about 50–51% female, 49–50% male; minimal measured difference in usage by gender.
• Digital access trends:
  • Internet subscriptions: roughly 80–88% of households report a broadband subscription (ACS-like county peers), with steady gains; 10–15% are smartphone-only.
  • Access pattern: Cable/fiber prevalent in Belvidere and along the I‑90 corridor; rural townships rely more on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite, which can reduce speeds/reliability and shift email use to mobile.
  • Smartphone ownership and mobile data usage align with national norms (≈80–90%), supporting frequent on-the-go email.
• Connectivity context: Proximity to Rockford and I‑90 yields stronger network density and provider competition in the south/central areas; service quality typically tapers in lower-density northern/eastern tracts.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Boone County, Illinois (with emphasis on what differs from statewide patterns)

Headline estimates

• Population baseline: ~53–55k residents, ~40–42k adults (18+).
• Smartphone users: ~39–43k total users when counting teens; roughly 34–37k adult users. Rationale: adult ownership near upper-80s percent; teen ownership mid-90s percent (Pew/U.S. averages) scaled to Boone’s age mix.
• Active mobile lines: ~45–55k SIMs (phones, tablets, hotspots, work lines), reflecting >1 line per adult user in mixed rural/small-metro markets.
• Cellular-only home internet: Share likely above the Illinois average. Expect a noticeably higher rate of households relying on smartphones or mobile hotspots as primary home internet than the statewide norm.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA): Availability from T-Mobile and Verizon across most populated areas; take‑up likely above the state average due to limited fiber outside Belvidere and patchy cable in rural townships.

Demographic patterns and usage

• Age
  • Teens: Near-universal smartphone access; heavy video/social use; frequent hotspotting for schoolwork when wireline is weak.
  • Seniors: Lower smartphone adoption and more basic/voice-centric plans than Illinois urban counties; however, text/telehealth adoption is rising.
• Income/affordability
  • Higher reliance on prepaid and value/MVNO plans than the Illinois average; more churn between carriers and plans when promotions change.
  • The end of ACP subsidies in 2024 likely increased plan downgrades and cellular‑only reliance among cost‑sensitive households.
• Race/ethnicity and language
  • Boone’s sizable Hispanic population correlates with higher smartphone‑only internet reliance than the state average and greater use of WhatsApp/FB Messenger for communication.
• Work/commute patterns
  • Heavy on‑the‑road usage along I‑90 and between Belvidere–Rockford. Daytime data demand spikes around industrial sites and schools; voice reliability along corridors is valued.

Digital infrastructure snapshot

• Cellular coverage
  • All three national carriers report countywide 4G LTE. Mid‑band 5G is strong along I‑90 and in/around Belvidere; low‑band 5G fills rural fringes. Expect occasional rural dead zones indoors or in low-lying areas compared with metro Illinois.
• Home internet options that shape mobile behavior
  • FWA (T‑Mobile/Verizon) marketed widely; practical speeds often beat legacy DSL outside Belvidere.
  • Cable is concentrated in and near Belvidere; fiber is present but not ubiquitous countywide. Outside these footprints, residents lean on mobile data/hotspots.
• Public/digital inclusion assets
  • Libraries and schools provide Wi‑Fi/device lending and have historically distributed hotspots; these remain important where wired options are limited.

How Boone County differs from Illinois overall

• Higher reliance on mobile as primary internet
  • More cellular‑only and smartphone‑only households than the Illinois average, reflecting rural coverage gaps and affordability constraints.
• Greater FWA adoption
  • FWA is a more common substitute for cable/fiber than in Chicago/collar counties; marketing and eligibility are broader relative to wired alternatives.
• Plan mix and devices
  • Prepaid/MVNO share above state average; slightly lower iPhone share and higher Android share than Illinois urban counties due to price sensitivity.
• Coverage and performance
  • Outdoor coverage is broadly good, but indoor reliability and peak‑hour speeds in rural edges lag state averages, especially compared to Chicago‑area 5G mid‑band density.
• Digital divide contours
  • The gap is less about smartphone possession and more about quality/affordability of home internet. Students and low‑income households are more likely to depend on phones/hotspots for homework and streaming than their statewide peers.

Notes on method and confidence

• Figures are estimates synthesized from national adoption rates (Pew), census/ACS age structure, FCC/NTIA broadband availability patterns, and carrier deployment norms as of 2023–2024. Exact county‑level smartphone counts and plan mix are not directly published; ranges reflect Boone’s rural–small‑metro profile and known infrastructure constraints relative to Illinois statewide averages.

Below is an estimate-based snapshot, since platform publishers rarely release county-level figures. Percentages reflect best-available US data (Pew 2024) adjusted slightly for rural/Midwest patterns and Boone County’s size.

County snapshot

• Population: ~54,000; adults 18+: ~41,000.
• Estimated social media users: 34,000–38,000 residents age 13+ (about 75–80% of adults; teens are higher).

Most-used platforms (share of Boone County adults who use the platform)

• YouTube: ~80–83%
• Facebook: ~65–70%
• Instagram: ~40–47%
• TikTok: ~25–30%
• Snapchat: ~22–28%
• Pinterest: ~25–30%
• WhatsApp: ~18–24%
• X (Twitter): ~18–22%
• LinkedIn: ~18–24%
• Reddit: ~14–18%
• Nextdoor: ~8–12% (strongest in denser neighborhoods/subdivisions)

Age patterns (who’s using what)

• 13–17: Near-universal YouTube; heavy Snapchat and TikTok; Instagram strong; Facebook minimal except for groups/events.
• 18–29: Nearly universal social use; Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok lead; YouTube daily; Facebook mainly for groups/Marketplace.
• 30–49: Very high use; Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram moderate; TikTok growing for short-form entertainment and how-to.
• 50–64: High Facebook and YouTube; Instagram modest; TikTok/Pinterest niche.
• 65+: Majority on Facebook and YouTube; other platforms limited.

Gender tendencies

• Women: Slightly higher overall use; more active on Facebook and Pinterest; strong Instagram engagement.
• Men: Slightly higher YouTube, Reddit, and X usage; Facebook still common.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first: Facebook Groups and local pages are primary for town news, schools, sports, and events; Marketplace is a top buy/sell channel.
• Video-forward: YouTube for tutorials, repairs, DIY, and local sports; short-form (Reels/TikTok) gains across 18–49.
• Messaging ecosystems: Facebook Messenger is default for most; WhatsApp usage rises within bilingual/Latino networks; Snapchat is the teen/young adult backchannel.
• Local credibility: Posts featuring recognizable places, teams, and faces outperform generic creative; UGC and micro-influencers (local coaches, small businesses) drive engagement.
• Deal-seeking: Promotions, limited-time offers, giveaways, and clear value props perform well; seasonal content (school year, holidays, yard/auto) spikes.
• Timing: Evenings (6–9 pm) and weekend mornings see the highest engagement; snow days and major local news cause short-term surges.
• Device reality: Mobile-first consumption dominates; vertical video and short captions work best.

Notes on method

• Figures are inferred from 2024 Pew Research national platform adoption and typical rural/Midwestern deltas, applied to Boone County’s adult population. Treat as planning ranges, not exact counts.