Jo Daviess County

Jo Daviess County, Illinois — key demographics

Population

• 22,035 (2020 Census); 2023 estimate ~21,370 (≈−3% since 2020)

Age

• Median age: 50.7 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: ~18.5%
• 65 and over: ~25%

Gender

• Female: ~50.6%
• Male: ~49.4% (ACS 2019–2023)

Race/ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~92.7%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3.4%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~2.1%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~0.7%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: ~0.5%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: ~0.3%
• Other: ~0.3%

Households (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: ~9,850
• Average household size: ~2.22
• Family households: ~61% of households
• Married-couple families: ~50% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~21%
• Single-person households: ~30% (about half are 65+ living alone ~15%)

Insights

• Older age profile (median age ~51) and high 65+ share indicate an aging population.
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White (~93%) with small but present Hispanic community.
• Small household sizes and a sizable share of single-person and senior households.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates; 2023 Population Estimates Program).

• Context: Jo Daviess County has about 21,900 residents (2023 est.) and ~36 residents per square mile, reflecting very rural settlement.
• Estimated email users: ~15,000 residents use email (≈69% of the population; ≈79% of adults), derived from county age structure, rural internet adoption, and Pew email-use rates.
• Age distribution of email users: 18–34 ≈20% (3,000 users); 35–54 ≈33% (5,000); 55–64 ≈19% (2,900); 65+ ≈28% (4,200). Older adoption is lower than younger cohorts but still majority among 65+.
• Gender split: Email users are roughly 51% female and 49% male, mirroring the county’s slight female majority.
• Digital access trends: Roughly 90% of households have a computer and about 80% have a broadband subscription, with steady gains from pre‑2020. Smartphone‑only internet access is around 10%, indicating most email is accessed via fixed or Wi‑Fi connections.
• Connectivity facts: Fixed broadband (cable/DSL) is concentrated in and around towns (e.g., Galena, East Dubuque, Stockton) with expanding fiber pockets; fixed wireless and satellite serve many farms and remote homes. Low density and hilly Driftless‑area terrain increase last‑mile costs and contribute to patchy high‑speed coverage outside the US‑20 corridor and other town centers.

Jo Daviess County, IL — Mobile phone usage summary (with state-level contrasts)

Headline takeaways

• Mobile adoption is high but below Illinois’ urbanized average; coverage is reliable on main corridors but capacity and 5G depth are thinner than statewide norms.
• Older age structure and rural topography drive higher reliance on cellular for home internet, more voice/text usage, and more dead zones than the state overall.

User estimates

• Population baseline: 22,035 (2020 Census).
• Estimated smartphone users: 15,000–17,000 residents. This reflects roughly 80–85% of adults owning smartphones in a rural, older county versus higher statewide adult adoption near the upper 80s. Net share of the total population using smartphones is approximately 72–78%, modestly below Illinois’ statewide share.
• Mobile-only internet households: Estimated 11–15% of households rely primarily on cellular data for home internet, above the statewide share (roughly high single digits). This reflects patchier wired broadband and travel/tourism-driven flexibility needs.

Demographic breakdown shaping usage

• Age: The county’s 65+ share is markedly higher than Illinois overall (roughly mid-20s percent vs. high-teens statewide). Smartphone adoption among older adults trails younger groups, lowering the county’s overall penetration and increasing basic-usage patterns (voice, SMS, simple apps).
• Rurality: Low-density settlement patterns make in-home wired broadband less universal than urban Illinois. As a result, residents are more likely to:
  • Use smartphones as primary/backup internet (hotspots, tethering).
  • Experience variable in-home cellular performance depending on distance to towers and local terrain.
• Income/education mix: Median household income is below the state median. In Illinois counties with similar profiles, this correlates with higher prepaid/MVNO usage and more price-sensitive plan selection, alongside a higher likelihood of single-device households.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Network presence: AT&T and Verizon provide the broadest footprint; T-Mobile coverage is strong on the US‑20 corridor and within towns; UScellular maintains a regional footprint in northwest Illinois. MVNOs ride these networks but can see lower priority during congestion.
• 4G LTE: Generally reliable on highways and in towns (Galena, Elizabeth, Stockton, Warren), with coverage thinning on ridge/valley backroads and near river bluffs.
• 5G:
  • Low-band 5G (broad coverage, modest speeds) is present on major corridors and population centers.
  • Mid-band 5G (capacity layer) is spotty and concentrated in/around towns; large rural areas remain 4G-first. This is a notable gap versus metro Illinois, where mid-band density is substantially higher.
• Terrain effects: Driftless-area topography (bluffs, valleys) creates shadow zones and variable indoor signal, a more frequent issue here than in flatland parts of the state.
• Backhaul: Fiber follows primary routes (notably US‑20) and into town centers; off-corridor sites more often depend on microwave backhaul. This constrains 5G capacity scaling relative to Illinois’ metro counties.
• Emergency and seasonal load: Tourism to Galena produces weekend/holiday congestion spikes. While typical across destination areas, the effect is stronger here than the statewide norm given fewer high-capacity sites.

How Jo Daviess differs from Illinois overall

• Lower smartphone penetration than the state average because of an older age structure and rural coverage constraints.
• Higher reliance on cellular as a primary home connection due to uneven fixed broadband options, exceeding the statewide share.
• Thinner mid-band 5G grid and fewer fiber-fed macro sites, resulting in lower average 5G speeds and greater reversion to 4G during load.
• Usage skews to essential communications (voice/SMS, mapping, weather, ag/tourism apps) more than high-throughput mobile streaming typical in metro Illinois.

Actionable implications

• Carriers: Prioritize mid-band 5G sectors and fiber backhaul along US‑20 and in Galena/Elizabeth/Stockton; add small cells or concealed nodes in Galena’s historic core to handle seasonal peaks; expand band-71/low-band infill on ridge/valley segments to reduce shadowing.
• Public sector: Leverage state/federal broadband and middle-mile funds to extend fiber laterals to rural towers and community anchors, enabling denser 5G and better indoor coverage.
• Community and businesses: Expect variable mobile performance outside towns; for critical operations, use multi-carrier failover (eSIM/MVNO diversity) and external antennas/boosters in known shadow zones.

Jo Daviess County, IL — social media snapshot

User stats

• Population: ~22,000 residents; ~18,000 adults (18+)
• Adult social media users: ~12,500–13,500 (roughly 70–75% of adults use at least one platform); teen use is near-universal

Age groups (share of total social media users; adults)

• 18–29: ~18–20%
• 30–49: ~35–38% (largest cohort online)
• 50–64: ~26–28%
• 65+: ~16–18%
• Teens (13–17): ~10–12% of total users, with very heavy use of TikTok/Snapchat/YouTube

Gender breakdown

• Overall users: ~51% female, ~49% male
• Platform skews: Pinterest is female‑heavy; Reddit and X (Twitter) lean male; Facebook and YouTube are near parity

Most‑used platforms (adults; expected local penetration, anchored to 2024 U.S. usage)

• YouTube: ~80–83%
• Facebook: ~65–70% (often slightly stronger locally due to older/rural profile)
• Instagram: ~45–48%
• TikTok: ~30–35% (very high among teens/18–29)
• Snapchat: ~28–32% (youth‑heavy)
• WhatsApp: ~25–30% (smaller but steady; family/worker communications)
• X (Twitter) and Reddit: ~20–22% each (niche audiences)
• Pinterest: ~33–36% (skews female, home/travel inspiration)
• LinkedIn: ~25–30% nationally; typically a bit lower in rural counties

Behavioral trends to know

• Community hub: Facebook Groups and local Pages are the dominant discovery and engagement layer for civic updates, schools, churches, events, buy/sell/trade, and county services.
• Tourism‑driven content: Instagram and TikTok see spikes tied to Galena tourism, fall foliage, festivals, winery/brewery visits, and weekend getaways; geotags and short Reels perform best.
• Older segment behavior: 50+ relies heavily on Facebook, spends more time in Groups and on link posts to local news; evening and weekend engagement is strongest.
• Youth behavior: Short‑form video (TikTok, Reels, Snapchat Stories) for entertainment and local happenings; DM‑first interactions over public comments.
• Messaging stack: Facebook Messenger is the default for residents and small businesses; WhatsApp presence exists but is secondary.
• Seasonality: Engagement lifts around holiday markets, summer/fall events, and weather incidents; local businesses benefit from timely posts and boosted event reminders.
• Creative/format cues: Authentic local visuals (Main Street Galena, outdoor recreation, farms, supper clubs) outperform stock imagery; short vertical video outperforms static for under‑40 audiences.
• Ads/targeting notes: Facebook/Instagram deliver the most efficient reach; tighten geo‑targets around Galena, Stockton, Elizabeth, East Dubuque and along US‑20; use event‑based and interest targeting (travel, wineries, antiquing, hiking) for tourism pushes and 50+ interests for resident messaging.

Method and sources

• Figures are county‑level estimates derived from the county’s older‑leaning age mix combined with Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. social media adoption rates by platform and age, and recent Census population estimates. Sources: Pew Research Center (Social Media Use in 2024; Teens and Social Media), U.S. Census Bureau population estimates.