Dubois County

Dubois County, Indiana — key demographics (latest Census/ACS)

• Population size: ~43.7K (2023 estimate; U.S. Census Bureau)
• Age:
  • Median age: ~40.5 years
  • Under 18: ~25%
  • 65 and over: ~17%
• Gender:
  • Male ~50%
  • Female ~50%
• Race/ethnicity (shares; ACS 2019–2023):
  • Non‑Hispanic White ~86%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race) ~9%
  • Black or African American ~0.7–0.8%
  • Asian ~1–1.3%
  • Two or more races ~2–3%
  • Other (incl. American Indian, NHPI) <0.5%
• Households (ACS 2019–2023):
  • Total households: ~16.9K
  • Average household size: ~2.6
  • Family households: ~71% of households
  • Married‑couple families: ~57% of households
  • Households with children under 18: ~31%
  • Nonfamily households: ~29%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5‑year estimates; 2023 Population Estimates. Figures rounded for clarity.

Dubois County, IN overview (estimates)

• Population: ~44,000; density ~100 people/sq. mile. Largest towns: Jasper, Huntingburg, Ferdinand.
• Estimated email users: 32,000–35,000 residents (roughly 75–80% of the population), based on adult internet/email adoption benchmarks.

Age distribution and adoption

• 18–29: 95–98% use email.
• 30–49: 94–97%.
• 50–64: 90–94%.
• 65+: 80–88%.
• Teens (13–17): many have accounts, but usage trails adults; estimate 70–85%.

Gender split

• Approximately even; county population is near 50/50, so email users mirror this.

Digital access and trends

• Household broadband subscription: ~83–88% (in line with Indiana ACS trends); smartphone ownership ~85–90%.
• Fiber and cable broadband strongest in towns; rural areas rely more on fixed wireless and satellite, with modest gaps in wooded/farm areas.
• 5G and LTE generally cover population centers and major corridors; speeds drop in sparsely populated zones.
• Affordability pressures increased after the 2024 lapse of the federal ACP subsidy, potentially reducing connectivity among low‑income households.

Local connectivity facts

• Highest availability and speeds in Jasper/Huntingburg/Ferdinand; service quality declines with distance from these hubs.
• Public Wi‑Fi and library access help bridge gaps for residents without reliable home service.

Notes: Figures are estimates using state/national benchmarks applied to local population.

Below is a practical, county-level snapshot built from ACS 2019–2023 5‑year Computer/Internet Use (S2801/B28002), Pew Research smartphone adoption patterns by age/urbanicity (2023), FCC mobile coverage maps, and known local providers.

Headline estimate

• Mobile phone (smartphone) users in Dubois County: roughly 31,000–34,000 people.
  • Basis: population ≈44,000; teens 13–17 ≈2,500–2,800; adults 18+ ≈33,000.
  • Adoption assumptions (Pew patterns adjusted for a rural, higher‑income county): 18–44 ~95–97%; 45–64 ~90–93%; 65+ ~70–75%; teens ~92–95%.

How Dubois County differs from Indiana overall

• Lower “smartphone‑only” reliance: A smaller share of households rely solely on cellular data for home internet than the state average (est. 10–12% in Dubois vs ~13–16% statewide). Town centers (Jasper, Huntingburg, Ferdinand) have widespread cable/fiber, and incomes are above many rural peers, reducing mobile‑only dependence.
• Higher dual‑connectivity (mobile + fixed): A larger share of households appear to maintain both a cellular data plan and fixed broadband compared with the state. This complements manufacturing-heavy employment (employer expectations for always‑on contact) and e‑learning needs.
• More multi‑carrier behavior in rural pockets: Because of hilly/forested terrain (e.g., near Ferdinand State Forest/Patoka Lake edge areas) and variable signal by carrier, residents and small firms are more likely than average to maintain backup lines or mix carriers for coverage.
• Slightly older age profile but solid adoption: Despite more seniors than urban Indiana, overall smartphone adoption remains strong, buoyed by higher household incomes and in‑town infrastructure. Net effect: county adoption lands near the state average, not below it as many rural counties do.
• Workplace phones matter more: Manufacturing, logistics, and field-service employers contribute a noticeable share of corporate-paid lines and rugged devices—higher than the state average outside big metros.

User and device estimates (who’s using what)

• Adults 18–64: ~23,000–25,000 smartphone users (high adoption; many also use employer‑provisioned devices).
• Seniors 65+: ~5,000–6,000 smartphone users (adoption around low‑70s percent; growing fastest year-over-year as telehealth expands through local providers).
• Teens 13–17: ~2,300–2,600 smartphone users (very high adoption; heavy messaging/social use).
• Hispanic/Latino residents (≈8–10% of population): Above-average smartphone and messaging‑app intensity (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger) and higher propensity for prepaid/discount carriers; mobile serves as a bridge for bilingual communication and remittances.
• Smartphone-only households: estimated 10–12% of households (below Indiana’s average).
• Households with a cellular data plan: ~78–82% (on par with state), but more of these also keep cable/fiber compared with the state norm.
• Fixed broadband at home: ~84–88% of households in Dubois vs ~86–88% statewide; Dubois towns likely at the high end of that range.

Usage patterns

• Peaks skew earlier/later than metro Indiana: Shift work drives early‑morning and late‑evening mobile data peaks, plus lunch‑hour spikes near industrial parks.
• Video and telehealth growth: Strong adoption among families and seniors; mobile complements rather than replaces home broadband for most.
• Business/field apps: High use of logistics, inventory, time‑clock, and maintenance apps on rugged Android/iOS devices.

Digital infrastructure notes (mobile and fixed)

• Carriers and coverage:
  • Verizon and AT&T: Extensive LTE; mid‑band 5G (C‑band/3.45 GHz) concentrated in and along corridors linking Jasper–Huntingburg–Ferdinand/US‑231 and near I‑64. Strongest capacity in town centers and along highways; forested/low‑lying rural zones see drop-offs.
  • T‑Mobile: Broad low‑band 5G coverage; mid‑band present in/near towns and along major routes.
  • FirstNet (AT&T): Public‑safety coverage is generally strong along main corridors and in towns.
  • Dead‑zone patterns: Pockets near state forest edges, valley bottoms, and lake-adjacent areas.
• Fixed broadband and backhaul:
  • Cable: Spectrum widely available in Jasper/Huntingburg/Ferdinand; anchors high rates of fixed broadband adoption.
  • Fiber: PSC (Perry‑Spencer Communications) and electric‑co‑op builds extend fiber into parts of Dubois; AT&T fiber present in limited town footprints; ongoing rural expansions continue to reduce mobile‑only reliance.
  • Fixed wireless: Regional WISPs fill in gaps where cable/fiber are absent, often used as secondary links by small businesses and farms.
• Public access: Libraries, schools, and municipal buildings provide reliable Wi‑Fi backstops, further lowering smartphone‑only dependence compared to many rural Indiana counties.

What to watch next (local trends vs state)

• Continued rural fiber buildouts likely to push smartphone‑only households even lower than the Indiana average.
• 5G mid‑band densification along US‑231 and near industrial parks should boost uplink reliability for field operations, making corporate device fleets more capable than the state average in rural contexts.
• Aging population and telehealth: Faster senior smartphone adoption than the state’s rural average as local clinics and hospitals increase app‑based services.

Method notes

• Population and household structure from Census/ACS; internet subscription by household from ACS S2801/B28002 (2019–2023 5‑yr).
• Smartphone adoption rates derived by applying Pew 2023 age/rural patterns to Dubois’s age mix, then reconciling with ACS cellular‑plan subscription levels.
• Coverage characterization synthesized from FCC/National Broadband Map layers and carrier public coverage disclosures for southern Indiana corridors.

Below is a concise, county-specific snapshot using the best available public benchmarks (Pew Research Center 2024 U.S. social media adoption, DataReportal U.S. 2024) adjusted for Dubois County’s Midwestern, small‑metro/rural profile and age mix. County‑level, platform‑specific counts aren’t officially published; percentages are estimates.

Headline size

• Population: ≈44,000 (Dubois County, IN).
• Estimated social media users (age 13+): ≈29,000–33,000 residents (about 75–85% of 13+; ~80% of adults).

Most‑used platforms among adults (share of adult residents; estimated)

• YouTube: 75–80%
• Facebook: 65–72% (Messenger: 55–60%)
• Instagram: 40–50%
• Snapchat: 30–38% (heaviest <30)
• TikTok: 28–35% (heaviest <35)
• Pinterest: 28–35% (skews female, 25–54)
• LinkedIn: 20–25% (concentrated in HR/professional roles)
• X/Twitter: 12–18%
• Reddit: 10–15%
• WhatsApp: 10–15% (notably in Hispanic/Spanish‑speaking households)
• Nextdoor: 8–12% (less penetration than big metros)

Age group usage patterns (share using any social platform; platform skews)

• Teens (13–17): 95%+ use; YouTube (~95%), Snapchat (75–85%), TikTok (70–80%), Instagram (65–75%), Facebook low.
• 18–24: 95%+; Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok strong; YouTube near‑universal; Facebook ~55–60%.
• 25–34: 90–95%; Facebook 70–75%, Instagram 60–65%, TikTok 45–55%, Snapchat 40–50%, YouTube high.
• 35–54: 80–90%; Facebook 75–80% dominates; Instagram 40–50%; TikTok 25–35%; Pinterest 35–45%; YouTube high.
• 55+: 60–70%; Facebook 60–70%, YouTube 55–65%; Pinterest 25–30%; Instagram 20–30%; TikTok 10–18%.

Gender tendencies (directional)

• Women: Slightly higher on Facebook and Instagram; Pinterest heavy (≈45–55% of women vs ≈15–20% of men).
• Men: Higher on YouTube, Reddit, and X/Twitter.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is universal across genders; Snapchat concentrated among younger women; WhatsApp pockets in bilingual families.

Local behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: strong participation in local Groups and Pages (buy/sell/trade, yard sales, school/booster clubs, youth sports, churches). Marketplace is a top classifieds channel.
• Event‑driven spikes: Jasper Strassenfest, county fair, school concerts and athletics drive local posting, photo galleries, and live video.
• Local news discovery: High reliance on Facebook shares from outlets like Dubois County Free Press/The Herald; limited native use of X for news.
• Short‑form video growth: Reels and TikTok consumption rising among <35; cross‑posting from Instagram to Facebook common for small businesses.
• Timing: Peaks around 6–8 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., and 7–10 p.m.; weekend mornings perform well. Shift‑work schedules (manufacturing) create early/late activity pockets.
• Engagement style: Many 35+ are “lurkers” (view/share more than post). Contests, giveaways, and “tag a friend” prompts perform. Family, school, and church content outperforms national/news commentary.
• Recruiting: Facebook Groups and Page posts are effective for skilled trades and hourly roles; LinkedIn is niche but useful for HR/professional hiring.
• Messaging norms: Team/club coordination via Facebook Messenger and Snapchat groups; WhatsApp used in some Spanish‑speaking households.

Notes on methodology

• Percentages are estimates extrapolated from 2024 U.S. adult social media adoption (Pew Research Center, DataReportal) adjusted for rural/small‑metro Midwestern counties and Dubois County’s age structure. For planning, treat figures as ranges and validate with page insights/group membership, local ad reach estimates, and school/organization analytics.