Clayton County

Here are core demographics for Clayton County, Iowa. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

• Population size (2020 Census): 17,549
• Age (ACS 2019–2023):
  • Median age: ~46 years
  • Under 18: ~21%
  • 18–64: ~56–57%
  • 65 and over: ~22–23%
• Gender (ACS 2019–2023):
  • Male: ~50%
  • Female: ~50%
• Race/ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023; percent of total population):
  • White (non-Hispanic): ~94–95%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2%
  • Two or more races: ~2–3%
  • Black or African American: ~0.5–1%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.2–0.4%
  • Asian: ~0.2–0.3%
• Households (ACS 2019–2023):
  • Total households: ~7,400–7,700
  • Average household size: ~2.3
  • Family households: ~65% of households
  • Married-couple families: ~50–55% of households
  • Households with children under 18: ~25–28%
  • Householder living alone: ~28–30% (about half are 65+)

Clayton County, IA email usage (estimates)

• Estimated users: About 11,000–12,500 residents use email. Method: 2020 population ≈17.5k; ~82% adults; rural internet adoption ~85–88% (Pew); ~90% of internet users use email.

• Age distribution of email users:

  • 18–34: ~18–22%
  • 35–54: ~30–35%
  • 55–64: ~18–22%
  • 65+: ~25–30% (lower adoption than younger groups but still majority)

• Gender split: Roughly even (county population is close to 50/50 male-female; email adoption shows minimal gender gaps nationally).

• Digital access and trends:

  • Household broadband subscription is roughly three-quarters of households (ACS 2018–2022 range for similar rural Iowa counties), with smartphone-only access pockets.
  • Device access is high: most households have a computer and/or smartphone; seniors and low-income households are more likely to rely on mobile-only connections.
  • Rural geography means service quality varies; towns have stronger fixed broadband options than outlying farms.

• Local density/connectivity facts:

  • Population density ≈22 people per square mile (very low), which raises last‑mile costs and contributes to uneven high-speed coverage.
  • Infrastructure investments continue to expand fiber and fixed wireless, improving speeds but leaving some sparse areas with limited choices.

Sources/assumptions: U.S. Census/ACS, Pew Research Center tech adoption benchmarks; county population ≈17.5k (2020).

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Clayton County, Iowa (with emphasis on how it diverges from statewide patterns)

Quick profile

• Rural, low-density county of roughly 17,000 residents, older than the Iowa average and with lower median income. Terrain includes river valleys and bluffs that complicate radio coverage.

User estimates (modeled from state/national benchmarks and adjusted for Clayton County’s older/rural profile)

• Adult population: about 13,500–14,000.
• Adults with any mobile phone: ~12,500–13,000 (≈90–94%).
• Adult smartphone users: ~10,500–11,500 (≈75–82%), materially below the Iowa average (typically mid–80s).
• Adults using basic/feature phones: ~1,300–2,000 (≈9–14%), notably above the state average.
• Wireless-only households (no landline): estimated 55–60%, lower than Iowa overall (roughly upper 60s to low 70s).
• Mobile data consumption per line: modestly below state average, with pronounced weekend/summer spikes in river towns and recreation areas.

Demographic patterns that shape usage (vs. statewide)

• Older skew: A larger 65+ share depresses smartphone and app adoption; higher persistence of flip/feature phones and voice/SMS-first behavior.
• Income and plan mix: More price-sensitive users and MVNO/prepaid plans; slower upgrade cycles mean more LTE-only devices remain in service.
• Work patterns: Agriculture and small manufacturing drive demand for broad-area voice/text reliability and machine-to-machine/IoT on fields and along secondary roads rather than dense-capacity hotspots.

Carrier landscape and behavior

• Coverage preference diverges from Iowa’s metro-driven pattern:
  • UScellular and Verizon are disproportionately chosen due to stronger rural footprints and river-valley propagation engineering.
  • AT&T performs well in towns and along primary corridors; FirstNet is influential for public safety but can trail UScellular/Verizon on remote backroads.
  • T-Mobile has improved low-band reach on main routes and in towns, but mid-band 5G depth thins quickly outside them; adoption lags state average where T-Mobile is stronger in metros.
• Roaming and dual-SIM: Higher-than-average use among field workers who pair a UScellular/Verizon line with another carrier for redundancy.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Terrain-limited macro grid: Bluffs and valleys along the Mississippi and Turkey River create shadow zones; coverage can drop sharply just outside towns and in hollows.
• 5G availability:
  • Low-band 5G is present on main corridors and in larger towns; it mainly offers LTE-like performance and coverage continuity.
  • Mid-band 5G capacity (e.g., C-band or n41) appears in select town sites (Elkader, Guttenberg, Marquette/McGregor), with limited rural reach; far sparser than in Iowa’s metros.
  • No practical mmWave.
• Backhaul: A mix of fiber-fed town sites and microwave-fed rural sites; fewer fully “fiberized” towers than state average, which can cap peak speeds and stability under load.
• Fixed broadband interplay:
  • Independent/co-op fiber (for example, Alpine Communications and similar local providers) covers parts of towns and nearby neighborhoods; rural areas still lean on DSL or fixed wireless.
  • Where home broadband is weak, residents rely on phone hotspots—raising sensitivity to tower load and weather-related fades.
  • 5G fixed wireless from national carriers shows up in town ZIPs; availability drops quickly in the countryside.
• Public assets and resilience:
  • Libraries and schools offer Wi‑Fi and hotspot lending that meaningfully offsets limited home service—more visible in Clayton than statewide average.
  • Emergency and river-corridor traffic require reliable E911 and FirstNet; agencies often keep alternate SIMs/radios due to known dead zones.

Trends that differ from the Iowa average

• Slower 5G device penetration and slower migration to mid-band 5G; a larger LTE-only base persists.
• Higher share of feature phones and landline retention due to age profile.
• Carrier market less diversified: UScellular retains an outsized role versus metros where AT&T/T‑Mobile dominate growth.
• Larger urban–rural performance gap: In-town speeds can mirror state norms, but rural throughput and consistency trail more sharply than Iowa’s overall averages suggest.
• Seasonal congestion is more pronounced relative to baseline usage (river tourism, fairs, hunting seasons) than in metro counties.

Method notes

• Figures are modeled from recent national and Iowa benchmarks (e.g., Pew, CDC wireless-only trends) adjusted for Clayton County’s older age structure, rural density, and known coverage patterns. Ranges reflect uncertainty without current, carrier-released counts.

Clayton County, IA social media snapshot (est. 2025)

Scope note

• County-level social metrics aren’t directly published; figures below are estimates based on U.S. Census/ACS population for Clayton County (≈17–18k), rural Iowa/Midwest benchmarks, and Pew Research Center’s 2024 social media use data. Treat ranges as directional.

User stats

• Estimated social media users: 10,500–12,500 residents (about 60–72% of total population; roughly 70–80% of adults).
• Internet/smartphone context: 80–85% household internet access; smartphone ownership ~80% of adults.
• Activity: ~60–70% of users check at least daily; typical person uses 3–4 platforms monthly.

Age mix (share of local social media users; penetration in parentheses)

• 13–17: 8–10% of users (85–95% use; heavy on Snapchat/TikTok).
• 18–29: 18–22% (90%+ use; Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat).
• 30–49: 32–36% (80–90% use; Facebook, YouTube, Instagram; Marketplace common).
• 50–64: 22–26% (70–80% use; Facebook, YouTube; some Pinterest).
• 65+: 12–16% (55–70% use; Facebook primary, growing YouTube).

Gender breakdown (of users)

• Female: 51–53% (higher engagement with Facebook Groups, Pinterest, Instagram).
• Male: 47–49% (higher on YouTube, Reddit, X; local sports/news follow).

Most-used platforms (monthly reach among residents 13+; estimated)

• YouTube: 70–80%
• Facebook: 65–75%
• Instagram: 35–45%
• TikTok: 28–38%
• Snapchat: 25–35% (concentrated under 30)
• Pinterest: 25–35% (female-skewed, 25–64)
• X (Twitter): 15–22% (mainly news/sports)
• LinkedIn: 12–18% (lower in rural labor mix)
• Reddit: 10–15%
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger 60–70% of residents; WhatsApp 10–15% (family ties, international)

Behavioral trends

• Community-first Facebook use: local news, school updates, churches, youth sports, county services, and buy/sell/Marketplace drive daily checks.
• Video is rising: short-form (Reels/Shorts/TikTok) for local events, farm/DIY, hunting/fishing, and small-business promos.
• Practical content wins: weather alerts, road conditions, closures, seasonal events, and deals outperform generic brand posts.
• Seasonality: engagement dips during planting/harvest; spikes around storms, county fairs, sports seasons, and holidays.
• Trust in local voices: posts from known individuals, schools, county/city pages, and local businesses/groups get higher interaction than national sources.
• Younger users are message-first: Snapchat and Instagram DMs for coordination; public posting less frequent.
• Commerce: Facebook/Instagram for local retail and services; Marketplace is the default for P2P selling. Pinterest influences recipes, home, and crafts purchases.
• Timing: peaks before work/school (6:30–8:00am) and evening (7–10pm); Sunday afternoons strong for community/content browsing.

Confidence and sources

• Based on Clayton County population (U.S. Census/ACS), rural Iowa adoption patterns, and Pew Research Center Social Media Use 2024. For precise targeting, validate with page insights from key local entities (schools, county pages, chambers, major FB groups) and platform ad tools’ reach estimates for ZIPs in Clayton County.