Adams County

To ensure accuracy, which data vintage would you like? I recommend the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimates for county-level demographics, but I can also provide 2020 Decennial Census figures.

Adams County, Indiana (pop. 36,000) spans ~339 sq mi (105 people/sq mi). Largest towns: Decatur (10k) and Berne (4k).

Estimated email users

• 24,000–26,000 residents (about 65–72% of the population). Range reflects strong email use among non‑rural adults and lower adoption in the county’s sizable Amish population.

Age distribution of email users (share of users)

• 18–64: ~72–78%
• 65+: ~12–18% (lower than midlife adults but steadily rising)
• 13–17: ~5–8%
• Under 13: ~2–5% (limited, parent-managed accounts)

Gender split

• Approximately even (49–51% female/male), with negligible difference in usage rates.

Digital access and trends

• Home broadband adoption is solid in town centers, with growing fiber in and around Decatur/Berne; rural townships remain spottier.
• Smartphone‑only internet users likely 20–25% of adults (higher than urban Indiana), sustaining email use via mobile.
• Public Wi‑Fi (libraries, schools) is an important access point for students and lower‑income households.
• Cellular coverage is strongest along major corridors (e.g., US‑27); performance diminishes in some rural areas.

Notes: Figures are estimates derived from U.S./Indiana benchmarks (Pew, FCC/Census) adjusted for the county’s rural profile and demographics.

Mobile phone usage in Adams County, IN — summary and how it differs from statewide trends

Topline user estimates

• Population baseline: roughly 36,000 residents.
• Unique mobile users (any mobile phone): estimated 26,000–29,000 (about 70–80% of residents). This is modestly below Indiana’s overall share, largely due to the county’s sizable Plain/Amish population that limits or avoids smartphone use.
• Smartphone users: estimated 22,000–24,000 (about 60–70% of residents). Among non-Plain adults, smartphone adoption looks similar to statewide (roughly mid‑80s to low‑90s percent); the countywide rate is pulled down by Plain-community norms and more basic/feature-phone use.
• Feature‑phone (non‑smartphone) users: materially higher share than state average; estimated 3,000–4,000 regular users countywide.
• “Cellular data–only” households for home internet: meaning they rely on mobile hotspots/phone plans rather than fixed broadband—estimated 12–16% in the county, a few points higher than the state average.
• Households with no home internet subscription: estimated 14–18%, also above the statewide share.

Demographic patterns behind usage

• Cultural/faith communities: The Plain (Amish/Mennonite) population is a primary driver of below‑state smartphone uptake and a higher share of basic phones; some households permit limited or shared phone access, which reduces per‑person device counts.
• Age:
  • Teens and 18–34: high smartphone adoption where permitted; closer to state levels in towns (Decatur, Berne).
  • 35–64: mixed; strong adoption among non‑Plain residents, but more basic phones than statewide.
  • 65+: smartphone adoption lags the state, with more voice‑and‑text‑only usage.
• Income and education: Lower‑income households more often rely on prepaid plans and cellular‑only home internet; this reliance appears higher than the state average.
• Household size: Larger family sizes increase multi‑line family plans but can also mean shared devices in Plain households, lowering the per‑capita device count compared with Indiana overall.
• Urban vs rural within the county: Town residents look closer to statewide usage patterns; the rural townships show less smartphone use and more coverage-driven behavior (e.g., voice/SMS reliance where data performance is weaker).

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage and technology mix:
  • LTE is the default outside town centers; 5G is present in/near Decatur and Berne and along main corridors but covers a smaller portion of land area than the statewide average.
  • Mid‑band 5G capacity is limited in the outer rural areas; low‑band 5G (and LTE) fill in but with lower speeds.
• Carriers: All three national carriers operate in the county; UScellular presence may be felt via roaming just outside the county. Carrier choice is more constrained by local signal quality than in urban Indiana.
• Performance patterns:
  • In‑town: better speeds and signal reliability; some evening congestion near schools and manufacturing sites.
  • Rural fringe: more dead zones and building‑penetration issues; voice/text coverage extends farther than usable mobile data.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • New and planned fiber builds (via state programs like Next Level Connections/BEAD and local utilities/co‑ops) are improving tower backhaul on key routes. Benefits to mobile users show up first as more stable LTE/5G capacity around towns and along U.S. 27 and state highways.
• Fixed‑wireless/home mobile internet:
  • 4G/5G home internet products from carriers are available around towns and selected rural pockets but are not yet countywide. Uptake is higher than the state average among households lacking wired broadband options.
• Public access points: Libraries, schools, and municipal buildings provide important Wi‑Fi offload in Decatur/Berne; reliance on these is higher than average for the state in rural residents’ device use.

What’s different from the Indiana state picture

• Lower countywide smartphone penetration, driven by Plain-community norms and a larger share of feature‑phone users.
• Higher shares of households that are mobile‑only for internet or have no home internet at all.
• Smaller and patchier 5G footprint; heavier dependence on LTE outside towns, with more variable data speeds.
• Greater rural signal gaps and building‑penetration challenges; carrier selection is more location‑sensitive.
• Larger households and cultural factors lead to more shared devices and lower per‑capita device ownership even when total lines are comparable.
• Mobile app–centric services (e.g., app‑based transit, always‑on mobile banking) show slower uptake outside towns than statewide, reflecting both coverage and cultural adoption differences.

Notes on methodology

• Estimates combine recent ACS patterns for rural Indiana counties (household device and subscription types), statewide smartphone adoption benchmarks, and Adams County’s distinct demographic/cultural profile. Values are presented as ranges to reflect local variability and the influence of Plain communities on device adoption.

Social media in Adams County, IN — short breakdown

Snapshot (modeled)

• Population: ~36,000. Estimated social media users (age 13+): 18,000–22,000.
• Adult adoption: roughly 65–72% (slightly lower than U.S. average due to rural profile and sizable Amish/Anabaptist community; many in that community abstain or limit use).
• Daily use: ~65–75% of users check at least once per day.

Most‑used platforms (share of residents 13+ using at least monthly; approximate)

• YouTube: 70–80%
• Facebook: 55–65%
• Instagram: 35–45%
• TikTok: 30–40%
• Snapchat: 30–40%
• Pinterest: 20–30%
• WhatsApp: 15–25%
• X (Twitter): 12–18%
• LinkedIn: 10–15%
• Reddit: 10–15%
• Nextdoor: 5–10%

Age patterns

• Teens (13–17): Very high YouTube; TikTok and Snapchat ~60–70%; Instagram ~55–65%; Facebook low.
• 18–29: Heavy on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat (each ~60–80%); YouTube ~90%+; Facebook ~40–55%.
• 30–49: Facebook strongest (75–80%), YouTube ~85%+, Instagram ~45–55%, TikTok ~30–40%.
• 50–64: Facebook 70–80%, YouTube 70–80%, Pinterest ~30–40%, Instagram ~25–35%.
• 65+: Facebook 60–70%, YouTube 55–65%; others limited. Note: Amish/Anabaptist households often opt out entirely, reducing countywide penetration in all age bands.

Gender skews (directional)

• Women over‑index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (Pinterest majority female; Facebook/Instagram slightly female‑leaning).
• Men over‑index on YouTube, Reddit, X (Twitter); LinkedIn modest male tilt.
• Snapchat is close to gender‑balanced among younger users.

Behavioral trends (local)

• Community‑centric Facebook use: high engagement in local groups (buy/sell, school sports, churches, county fair/4‑H), and Facebook Marketplace for classifieds and farm/household goods.
• Short‑form video growth: TikTok and Instagram Reels for local events, sports highlights, DIY and small business promos; YouTube for how‑to, equipment, and church content.
• Peak times: early morning (6–8 a.m.) and evenings (7–10 p.m.); spikes around weather events, school closings, and Friday game nights.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger common across ages; Snapchat dominant for teen/young adult messaging; WhatsApp used by some families and workgroups.
• Access patterns: smartphone‑first; rural connectivity means shorter videos and image‑heavy posts perform better; live video best during evenings.
• Cultural note: Many Amish/non‑tech households are reached via offline channels; social media primarily reaches non‑Amish residents in Decatur, Berne, Monroe, Geneva, and unincorporated areas.

Method and caveats

• County‑level platform stats are not directly published; figures are modeled from Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 U.S. usage benchmarks, adjusted for rural Midwest patterns and Adams County’s demographics. Treat ranges as directional, not precise counts.