Lagrange County

Lagrange County, Indiana — key demographics (latest available U.S. Census/ACS estimates)

Population

• Total population: ~41,000 (2023 estimate); 40,446 (2020 Census)
• Growth since 2010: up roughly 9%

Age

• Median age: ~32 years (younger than Indiana and U.S.)
• Under 18: ~33%
• 18–64: ~56%
• 65 and over: ~11%

Sex

• Male: ~50.5%
• Female: ~49.5%

Race and ethnicity

• White alone: ~95%
• Black or African American alone: ~0.4–0.5%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0.2–0.3%
• Asian alone: ~0.3%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~7–9%
• White, non-Hispanic: ~88–90%

Households

• Total households: ~11,700–12,000
• Average household size: ~3.3–3.4 (well above state and U.S. averages)
• Family households: ~80% of households
• Married-couple households: ~70% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~45–47%
• Owner-occupied housing: ~78–80%

Insights

• One of Indiana’s youngest counties with notably large households and a high share of households with children, reflecting family-centric demographics and rapid natural increase.

Lagrange County, IN (pop. ≈41,000; density ≈100 people/sq mi) is largely rural and home to one of the nation’s largest Amish communities (roughly half of residents), which materially lowers digital and email adoption.

Estimated email users (2025): ≈17,200 residents use email at least monthly.

• Method: adult and teen adoption modeled from national/rural benchmarks, adjusted for the county’s sizable Amish population (non‑Amish adults ≈92% email use; Amish adults ≈15%; non‑Amish teens ≈80%; Amish teens ≈5%).

Age distribution of email users:

• 13–17: 11%
• 18–29: 17%
• 30–49: 36%
• 50–64: 24%
• 65+: 12%

Gender split among users: ≈49% male, 51% female (email adoption is essentially parity by gender).

Digital access trends and connectivity:

• Overall household broadband subscription is below Indiana’s average due to the county’s rural profile and cultural limits on technology; a meaningful share of non‑Amish users are smartphone‑centric.
• Email access skews to workplaces, schools, libraries, and small businesses for residents without in‑home broadband.
• Connectivity is strongest in and around LaGrange, Shipshewana, Topeka, and along major corridors; sparsely populated townships see patchier fixed broadband and lower adoption.

Implication: Email reach is solid among non‑Amish working‑age residents but notably constrained countywide by rural infrastructure and cultural factors.

Mobile phone usage in LaGrange County, Indiana: a concise snapshot

Population and context

• Residents: 41,000 (2023 estimate), with a notably young median age (32) compared with Indiana overall (~38).
• Cultural composition: One of the largest Old Order Amish communities in the U.S. (roughly 35–45% of county residents), which materially affects device choices and mobile adoption patterns.

User estimates (people with a personal mobile handset)

• Total mobile users: 24,000–28,000 residents (about 59–68% of the population), lower than Indiana’s typical 75–80%.
• Smartphone users: 19,000–22,000 (47–54% of the population; roughly 73–79% of local mobile users), versus Indiana where smartphones account for ~90%+ of mobile users.
• Basic/feature phones: 5,000–6,500 users (about 21–27% of local mobile users), several times the state share—driven largely by religious and cultural preferences that favor limited-function devices.
• Wireless-only households (no landline): 60–65% vs. ~72–75% statewide.
• 5G-capable devices among mobile users: ~55–65% locally vs. ~70–80% statewide.
• Prepaid share of lines: ~35–45% locally vs. ~25–30% statewide.
• Median monthly mobile data per line: ~8–12 GB locally vs. ~14–18 GB statewide.

Demographic breakdown (how usage patterns differ from Indiana norms)

• Youth and young adults (under 35): Locally, device ownership is high, but smartphone penetration is moderately lower than the state norm; app-centric usage (streaming, social video) is curtailed by coverage gaps and cultural factors. School- and work-based Wi‑Fi plays a bigger role in daily connectivity than for peers elsewhere in Indiana.
• Middle-age adults (35–64): Above-average share of basic/flip phones for voice/text; business use concentrates in calling and messaging. WhatsApp and Facebook usage is present but lighter than state averages on a per-capita basis.
• Older adults (65+): Slightly lower smartphone adoption than statewide but not the main driver of the gap; many older non-Amish residents do carry smartphones, though often with conservative data plans.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks present: AT&T (including FirstNet), Verizon, and T‑Mobile all provide LTE and low-band 5G across primary corridors and towns (LaGrange, Shipshewana, Topeka, Wolcottville). U.S. Cellular may appear via roaming just across the Michigan line.
• 5G profile:
  • Low-band (e.g., 600/700/850 MHz) provides broad coverage with modest speeds.
  • Mid-band 5G (e.g., C-band/n77 for AT&T/Verizon; 2.5 GHz n41 for T‑Mobile) is primarily concentrated along the Indiana Toll Road (I‑80/90), US‑20, and in/near town centers. Countywide mid-band density remains lighter than the state average.
• LTE reliability: Strong in towns and along major routes; notable dead zones persist in sparsely populated townships and near large natural areas (e.g., around Pigeon River Fish & Wildlife Area), leading to call and data reliability issues off-corridor.
• Backhaul and fiber: Long-haul fiber along I‑80/90 and regional fiber expansions (including electric co‑op builds) improve backhaul to some towers and community anchor institutions, but last‑mile sparsity still limits where operators deploy higher-capacity 5G.
• Public/anchor connectivity: Libraries, schools, and visitor centers are important Wi‑Fi anchors. Many residents and visitors rely on these for high-bandwidth tasks due to mobile coverage and plan constraints.

How LaGrange County differs from statewide trends

• Lower overall mobile and smartphone penetration, with a substantially higher share of basic/feature phones than typical for Indiana.
• Heavier reliance on prepaid plans and smaller data buckets.
• Lower availability and density of mid-band 5G; speeds are more often LTE-like even under a 5G indicator, with larger pockets of coverage gaps off major roads.
• Greater reliance on Wi‑Fi at community anchors and workplaces to supplement mobile connectivity.
• Seasonal traffic spikes: Tourism in Shipshewana and surrounding attractions produces noticeable, localized congestion during events—seasonality is more pronounced than in many Indiana counties.
• Cross-border dynamics: Proximity to Michigan can create edge-of-cell effects and occasional roaming behaviors near the state line.

Key insights

• Cultural factors (notably the large Amish population) and rural settlement patterns are the primary drivers of below-average smartphone adoption, higher basic-phone usage, and lighter data consumption.
• For operators, incremental mid-band 5G builds along secondary roads and improved rural backhaul would yield outsized reliability gains relative to population, especially where dead zones persist between towns.
• For public agencies and community groups, sustaining and expanding high-quality Wi‑Fi at libraries, schools, fairgrounds, and tourist hubs materially offsets connectivity gaps and supports residents who intentionally limit personal device capabilities.

Social media usage in LaGrange County, IN (2024–2025 snapshot)

Overall user base

• Population: about 41,000 residents.
• Estimated monthly social media users: 18,000–22,500 residents (roughly 45–55% of the population). This is materially lower than Indiana/statewide norms because LaGrange has one of the nation’s largest Old Order Amish communities, many of whom limit or avoid internet and social platforms.
• Among non-Amish residents, platform adoption closely mirrors U.S. rural averages (per Pew Research Center, 2024).

Age mix among local users

• Skews adult and family-centric: approximately 60–65% of local users are 18–44; 25–30% are 45–64; 8–12% are 65+.
• Teens and young adults (13–24) are heavy users of TikTok and Snapchat; adults 30+ concentrate on Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest.

Gender split among local users

• Slight female majority among active users: about 52–55% female and 45–48% male, in line with Facebook/Instagram patterns seen in rural markets.

Most-used platforms locally (share of total county residents reached monthly, estimated)

• YouTube: 45–50%
• Facebook: 35–40%
• Instagram: 22–28%
• TikTok: 20–25% (notably higher among under-35)
• Snapchat: 18–22% (primarily under-30)
• Pinterest: 15–18% (female skew; home, recipes, crafts)
• X (Twitter): 10–12%
• LinkedIn: 9–11% Note: Among active users 13–24, TikTok and Snapchat typically outrank Facebook for daily use; among 35+, Facebook and YouTube dominate.

Behavioral trends and content preferences

• Community-first engagement: Facebook Groups are central for school sports, local events, yard sales, auctions, road/winter updates, and church/community benefits.
• Event-driven spikes: Local happenings (Shipshewana events, flea market season, festivals, school calendars) drive bursts of posting, shares, and RSVPs.
• Video is the attention driver: Short-form video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) outperforms static posts; how-to, behind-the-scenes, and family-friendly content resonate.
• Practical utility wins: Coupons, limited-time offers, and clear calls to action (RSVP, call, directions) convert better than brand-only messaging.
• Evenings/weekends peak: Engagement typically rises after 6 p.m. and on weekends; weather-related content also over-indexes during storms and winter travel advisories.
• Trust and tone: Conservative, family-oriented messaging performs best; overtly polarizing content underperforms. Local faces, recognizable landmarks, and community partnerships increase credibility.
• Business usage patterns: Many tourism-facing businesses and markets maintain active Facebook and Instagram pages; some Amish-owned enterprises market indirectly via non-Amish partners, local chambers, and event organizers rather than direct social posting.

Sources and method notes

• Platform percentages reflect Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. social media adoption as a baseline, adjusted downward to reflect LaGrange County’s sizable Plain Anabaptist population and rural composition. Gender and age skews follow observed patterns on Facebook/Instagram/TikTok in rural Midwest markets.