Parke County

Parke County, Indiana — key demographics

Population size

• 16,156 (2020 Decennial Census)

Age

• Median age: 42.6 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: 21.3%
• 18 to 64: 59.0%
• 65 and over: 19.7%

Gender

• Male: 48.8%
• Female: 51.2% (ACS 2018–2022)

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2018–2022; categories sum to 100%)

• White, non-Hispanic: 92.0%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: 2.8%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: 0.3%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: 0.2%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: 0.0%
• Some other race, non-Hispanic: 0.2%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: 2.9%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): 1.6%

Household data (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~6,200
• Average household size: 2.49
• Family households: 67%
• Married-couple households: 53% of all households
• Nonfamily households: 33%
• Owner-occupied rate: 79% (renter-occupied: 21%)

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates (tables including DP05/B03002).

Parke County, IN snapshot

• Population and density: 16,156 residents (2020 Census); ~36 people per sq mi across ~444 sq mi of land.
• Estimated email users: ≈12,000 residents (about 74–76% of the population), reflecting local broadband and smartphone adoption.
• Age pattern (share using email):
  • 18–29: ~95%
  • 30–49: ~93%
  • 50–64: ~85%
  • 65+: ~68%
  • Teens (13–17): ~90% have/regularly use email, often school-linked
• Gender split among email users: roughly even, ≈51% female, 49% male.
• Digital access and trends:
  • About three-quarters of households maintain a broadband subscription (ACS 2018–2022 five-year estimates for Parke County), with roughly 10–12% lacking any home internet.
  • Mobile-only access is material (≈15% of households), supporting email via smartphones where fixed service is costly or unavailable.
  • Typical fixed speeds range from 25–100 Mbps in most settled areas; fiber service is expanding incrementally through Indiana’s Next Level Connections projects, but coverage remains patchy in sparsely populated zones.
  • Public libraries and schools provide vital Wi‑Fi backstops for residents without reliable home service. Insight: Low population density and rural terrain keep fixed-broadband buildout uneven, but high smartphone penetration sustains broad email use across working-age adults.

Parke County, Indiana: mobile phone usage summary (2024)

Scope and sources

• Population and households: U.S. Census 2020 and ACS 2018–2022 5-year.
• Usage/adoption baselines: Pew Research Center (adult cellphone/smartphone adoption), Common Sense Media (teen adoption), FCC National Broadband Map and carrier public coverage maps (AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile) as of 2024.
• Figures below combine official counts with standard rural-adjusted adoption rates to yield county-specific estimates.

User estimates

• Residents: 16,156 (2020 Census), ≈6,200 households.
• Estimated unique mobile phone users (all ages, any cellphone): ≈12,800 (about 79% of residents).
• Estimated smartphone users: ≈11,500 (about 71% of residents; roughly 90% of mobile users).
• Smartphone-only internet reliance (households that rely on a cellular data plan and do not have cable/DSL/fiber at home): ≈18% in Parke County vs ≈13% statewide. This higher “mobile-only” reliance reflects sparser wireline broadband and lower household incomes than the Indiana average.

Demographic breakdown of users

• Age • 13–24: ≈15% of mobile users; near-universal smartphone use among teens but with lower-plan data caps. • 25–44: ≈27% of users; highest share of multi‑line, unlimited plans and hotspot use for home/work backup. • 45–64: ≈34% of users; mix of midrange Android and older iPhone models; slower upgrade cycles. • 65+: ≈24% of users; smartphone adoption lower than other groups, with a persistent feature‑phone segment.
• Income and plan type • Prepaid and budget MVNOs account for a larger share of lines than the state average, driven by lower median income and price sensitivity. • Hotspot tethering and fixed‑wireless home internet via cellular are more common as substitutes for wireline service.
• Race/ethnicity • A predominantly White, older population yields adoption patterns closer to rural U.S. norms: slightly lower 5G device penetration than Indiana’s metro-heavy average, with more LTE‑only devices still in service.
• Incarcerated population • The Rockville Correctional Facility (women) reduces counted household device penetration versus the state average; excluding the incarcerated population increases the share of mobile users among community residents.

Usage patterns and seasonality

• Seasonal surges: The Covered Bridge Festival and warm‑season tourism to Turkey Run and Shades State Parks materially increase daytime device counts and data demand on corridors around Rockville, U.S. 36, and U.S. 41; temporary congestion during peak weekends is more pronounced than in most Indiana counties.
• Work and commuting: Daytime device presence shifts toward Vigo, Montgomery, and Putnam counties on weekdays, concentrating usage on U.S. 36/41 and SR‑59.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Radio access • 4G LTE: Countywide outdoor coverage from all three national carriers on major roads; indoor coverage is uneven in low‑density areas and river valleys. • 5G: Low‑band 5G is available to most residents along the U.S. 36/41 corridors and in/around Rockville; mid‑band 5G (C‑band/n41) is limited and spotty compared with Indiana’s metro counties. • Typical speeds: LTE 10–40 Mbps in rural areas; low‑band 5G 30–100 Mbps; mid‑band (where present) 150–400 Mbps. Peak‑season congestion can halve these figures around event venues.
• Terrain effects and dead zones • Notable coverage shadows in and around Turkey Run State Park, Shades State Park, and portions of the Sugar Creek valley due to topography, tree cover, and siting constraints on protected lands.
• Tower siting patterns • Macro sites cluster along U.S. 36, U.S. 41, and SR‑59, with sparser spacing in the county interior; small‑cell density is minimal outside Rockville.
• Backhaul and core dependencies • Microwave and leased fiber backhaul feed most rural sites; backhaul constraints, not just radio spectrum, are a limiting factor for peak capacity in several sectors.
• Public and anchor connectivity • Libraries, schools, and county facilities in Rockville provide reliable Wi‑Fi offload; beyond town centers, public Wi‑Fi options are limited.
• Interaction with fixed broadband • Fiber is expanding but remains far from universal outside town centers; cable coverage is localized. As a result, cellular fixed‑wireless (including carrier 5G Home) and satellite fill gaps and push more household traffic onto mobile networks than the state average.

How Parke County differs from the Indiana average

• Higher smartphone‑only household reliance (≈18% vs ≈13% statewide), reflecting patchier wireline broadband and lower incomes.
• Lower mid‑band 5G availability and smaller small‑cell footprint; more LTE‑only devices still active.
• Higher prepaid/MVNO share and longer device replacement cycles, especially among 45+ and fixed‑income households.
• More pronounced seasonal congestion tied to tourism and festivals; this seasonality is atypically strong compared with most Indiana counties.
• Coverage gaps associated with rugged parklands and river corridors are more significant than typical for the state.

Implications

• Capacity upgrades that prioritize event corridors (U.S. 36/41) and Rockville sectors will yield outsized benefits during festival season.
• Extending mid‑band 5G and improving backhaul to rural macro sites will narrow the performance gap with state averages.
• Coordinated expansion of fiber and affordable home broadband can reduce smartphone‑only dependence and improve digital equity, especially for students and seniors.

Parke County, IN: social media snapshot (2025)

Population base

• Residents: 16,156 (2020 Census)
• Adults (18+): ≈12,300
• Adults using at least one social platform: ≈8,900–9,100 (about 72% of adults; aligns with Pew’s U.S. adult social-media adoption)

Most-used platforms (share of U.S. adults who use the platform; Parke County patterns closely mirror rural Midwestern counties)

• YouTube: 83%
• Facebook: 68%
• Instagram: 47%
• TikTok: 33%
• Pinterest: 35%
• Snapchat: 27%
• LinkedIn: 30%
• X (Twitter): 22%
• Reddit: 22%
• WhatsApp: 24% Note: Local platform ranks typically place Facebook and YouTube at the top, with Instagram/TikTok growing among younger adults and teens; LinkedIn and Reddit are smaller niches.

Age patterns locally

• Teens (13–17): Very high YouTube and Snapchat/TikTok use; Instagram rising; Facebook mostly for groups/events and family.
• 18–29: Heavy on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube; Facebook for groups/marketplace, less posting.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube dominant; Instagram moderate; TikTok growing; WhatsApp use mainly for family/friend circles.
• 50–64: Facebook is primary; YouTube strong for how‑to; Pinterest notable (recipes, DIY).
• 65+: Facebook remains the main network; YouTube for tutorials and local content; limited Instagram/TikTok.

Gender tendencies by platform

• Skews female: Facebook (slight), Instagram (slight), Pinterest (strong), Snapchat (younger users)
• Skews male: Reddit (strong), X/Twitter (moderate), LinkedIn (slight), YouTube (slight)
• Largely balanced: TikTok overall usage is near even, skewing younger

Behavioral trends in Parke County

• Facebook Groups and Pages are the community hub for school updates, weather alerts, road closures, lost-and-found, and local issues; Marketplace is heavily used for vehicles, farm/ranch, tools, and furniture.
• Event-driven spikes: Covered Bridge Festival (October) and Raccoon Lake summers drive short-form video and photo sharing; local businesses and vendors see best reach via Facebook/Instagram Reels and community groups.
• Messaging is central: Facebook Messenger for adults; Snapchat/Instagram DMs for teens/young adults; SMS still common among older users.
• Content format: Short vertical video outperforms static posts; YouTube remains strong for longer how‑to, outdoors, auto, home improvement, and DIY/crafts.
• Timing: Peak engagement typically early morning (6–8 a.m.) and evenings (8–10 p.m.); weekends show strong marketplace and event interest.
• Connectivity realities: Mobile-first usage with patchy rural broadband; concise videos, compressed images, and clear captions perform better.
• Trust and voice: Locally recognizable people/places, user-generated photos, and community testimonials drive higher engagement than polished creative.
• Targeting that works: Radius targeting of 25–35 miles; interest clusters include outdoors/hunting/fishing, local sports, autos/tractors, home repair, crafts, festivals/tourism.

How to read these figures

• Counts are anchored to the 2020 Census population. Platform percentages reflect Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. adult usage and are the best available proxy for county-level behavior; rural Midwestern counties like Parke typically track within a few percentage points.