Crawford County

Key demographics – Crawford County, Iowa Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year; 2023 population estimate)

• Population: ~16,400 (2023 estimate)
• Age:
  • Median age: ~36.8 years
  • Under 18: ~27%
  • 65 and over: ~16%
• Sex:
  • Male: ~51%
  • Female: ~49%
• Race/ethnicity (mutually exclusive; Hispanic can be any race):
  • Hispanic or Latino: ~36%
  • White, non-Hispanic: ~57%
  • Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~2%
  • Asian, non-Hispanic: ~1%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: ~1%
  • Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~3%
• Households (ACS 2019–2023):
  • Total households: ~6,000
  • Average household size: ~2.8
  • Family households: ~68%
  • Households with children under 18: ~35%
  • Average family size: ~3.3

Crawford County, IA — email usage snapshot (estimates)

• Estimated users: 11,000–13,000 residents use email regularly. Basis: population ~16.5k; ~75% adults; 90–95% adult email adoption, plus some teens.
• Age adoption:
  • 18–29: ~98%
  • 30–49: ~97%
  • 50–64: ~95%
  • 65+: ~85–90% Younger teens use email less often; most access via school accounts.
• Gender split: Roughly even (≈50/50); no meaningful usage gap.
• Digital access trends:
  • Broadband subscription is typical for a solid majority of households (roughly 75–85%); the remainder are smartphone‑only or use public/shared connections.
  • Outside town centers, fixed wireless and mobile broadband are common; fiber/cable is concentrated in Denison and nearby communities.
  • Public Wi‑Fi (libraries/schools) remains important for lower‑income and homework access.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population ≈16.5k spread over ≈715 sq mi → ~23 people/sq mi (rural). Low density increases per‑user infrastructure costs and slows wired buildout.
  • Connectivity is strongest in and around Denison and along major corridors; coverage and speeds drop in rural townships, where 4G/5G and fixed‑wireless often fill gaps.

Note: Figures are county‑level estimates based on national adoption patterns and rural Iowa access trends.

Below is a pragmatic, data-informed summary of mobile phone usage in Crawford County, Iowa, with estimates and comparisons to statewide patterns. Figures are modeled from 2020–2024 public data patterns (ACS, FCC maps, Pew) and rural market norms; treat them as reasonable ranges, not exact counts.

Snapshot and user estimates

• Population baseline: ~16,000–16,700 residents; ~12,000–12,500 adults.
• Smartphone users: roughly 11,000–13,000 residents use a smartphone.
  • Adults: ~10,000–11,500 (85–90% adult adoption in a rural county).
  • Teens (13–17): 800–1,000, with very high adoption (90–95%).
• Mobile-only internet households (cellular data plan but no fixed broadband): estimated 22–28% in Crawford vs ~12–16% statewide. This reflects more households depending on phone hotspots or unlimited phone data than the Iowa average.
• Prepaid vs postpaid: prepaid likely 30–40% of active lines in Crawford vs ~20–25% statewide, driven by income mix, credit constraints, and migrant/seasonal worker preferences.
• Feature phones/limited-data users: among residents 65+, an estimated 25–30% rely on feature phones or very limited data plans vs ~20% statewide.

Demographic factors shaping usage (how Crawford differs from Iowa overall)

• Higher Latino share: Crawford’s Hispanic/Latino population is several times the Iowa average, contributing to:
  • More mobile-first behavior (smartphone as primary internet), heavier use of WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and international calling/remittance apps.
  • Greater prevalence of prepaid and family plans with shared data.
• Age and household structure: slightly larger households and more children than the state average support higher device counts per household but also more line sharing.
• Income and affordability: median household income trails the state, so price sensitivity is higher. The wind-down of the Affordable Connectivity Program in 2024–2025 likely pushed additional households to mobile-only solutions faster than in wealthier Iowa counties.

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

• Cellular network
  • 4G LTE: countywide baseline coverage from national carriers along the main corridors (US 30, US 59); weaker signal persists in some valleys and tree-lined areas off the highways.
  • 5G: low-band 5G is broadly present; mid-band 5G with higher speeds is concentrated in/near Denison and along US 30. Expect:
    • Low-band 5G/strong LTE: roughly 25–100 Mbps typical.
    • Mid-band 5G pockets: roughly 100–400+ Mbps near Denison/major road corridors.
  • Coverage gaps: more frequent on gravel roads and in low-lying areas away from Denison and the highways; indoor penetration can be an issue in older farmhouses with metal siding.
• Backhaul and towers
  • Backhaul is strongest where fiber follows US 30 and in Denison. Outside towns, more sites still rely on longer microwave hops or limited backhaul capacity, which constrains peak speeds under load.
  • Macro towers are sited primarily along highways and near towns; small cells are rare. That means bigger cell sizes and more congestion during evening peaks than in urban Iowa.
• Competing home broadband (affects mobile reliance)
  • Denison: cable and some fiber options are available; speeds and prices are closer to state norms.
  • Smaller towns and rural areas: legacy DSL, fixed wireless from local providers/co-ops, and emerging fiber pockets; coverage is patchy and upload speeds can be limited. This uneven fixed-broadband landscape makes cellular data plans and phone hotspots a more common primary connection than statewide.
• Community access points
  • Public Wi‑Fi at schools, libraries, and municipal buildings sees heavier use relative to population than in many Iowa counties, especially after ACP subsidies waned.

Behavioral and usage trends that differ from state-level

• Higher share of mobile-only households and heavier reliance on smartphone hotspots for homework, telehealth, and streaming.
• Greater prepaid penetration and budget-oriented plans; device upgrade cycles tend to be longer.
• Messaging/video apps (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger) and Spanish-language content see above-average usage.
• Coverage variability is more pronounced away from Denison, with more residents using signal boosters or traveling to corridors for better data performance.
• Ag and food-processing work patterns (shift work, outdoor/plant environments) drive strong demand for durable devices and reliable voice/text in fringe coverage areas.

What would refine these estimates quickly

• Latest ACS Table S2801 (Computer and Internet Use) for “cellular data plan only” households at the county level.
• 2024–2025 FCC National Broadband Map to confirm fixed-wireline competition by census block.
• Carrier coverage/performance maps and drive tests along US 30/59 and rural secondaries.
• Local school district tech coordinator and library Wi‑Fi session counts for community-use validation.

Bottom line Crawford County’s mobile usage is more “mobile-first” than the Iowa average, with a larger prepaid share, a higher proportion of mobile-only internet households, and more pronounced coverage/performance differences between the Denison corridor and outlying rural areas. These differences stem from demographics (higher Latino share, lower median income, larger households) and uneven fixed-broadband options, which collectively push residents to rely on smartphones and cellular data more than the state as a whole.

Note: County-level social stats aren’t published directly. Figures below are best-available estimates derived from Pew Research’s 2024 U.S. (rural) benchmarks, platform ad-reach norms, and the size/makeup of Crawford County (~16–17k residents). Treat percentages as directional ranges.

At-a-glance user stats

• Active social media users (18+): ~9,000–11,000 adults (about 75–85% of adults), plus ~2,000–3,000 teens using at least one platform.
• Access/device: Mobile-first; most activity happens on phones. Home broadband is common but not universal, so off-peak mobile usage is prominent.

Most-used platforms (share of online adults)

• YouTube: ~80–85%
• Facebook: ~65–70%
• Facebook Messenger: ~60–70%
• Instagram: ~38–45%
• Pinterest: ~25–30% (skews female)
• TikTok: ~25–33% (much higher under 30)
• Snapchat: ~22–30% (dominant among teens/early 20s)
• WhatsApp: ~20–30% (notably used in Spanish-speaking households)
• X/Twitter: ~12–18%
• LinkedIn: ~12–18%
• Reddit: ~10–15%
• Nextdoor: very low

Age patterns

• Teens (13–17): YouTube 95%+, Snapchat 75–85%, TikTok 70–80%, Instagram 60–70%, Facebook 20–30% (mostly for teams, school, family).
• 18–29: 90%+ on social; heavy Instagram/Snap/TikTok; YouTube ubiquitous; Facebook used for groups and Marketplace.
• 30–49: 85–90% on social; Facebook is the hub (Groups, Events, Marketplace), Instagram moderate, short-form video rising.
• 50–64: 75–80% on social; Facebook and YouTube dominate; Pinterest meaningful; TikTok/Reels adoption growing.
• 65+: ~55–65% on social; Facebook for family/church/community; YouTube for news/how‑to.

Gender breakdown (directional)

• Overall social users: ~52–55% women, ~45–48% men.
• Platform skews: Pinterest (70% women), Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat (slightly more women), Facebook (55% women), YouTube/X/Reddit (slightly more men).

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community backbone: High reliance on Groups (schools, youth sports, churches, buy/sell/trade), Events, and local news shares. Marketplace is a top commerce channel (vehicles, rentals, farm/ranch equipment, furniture).
• Short-form video is surging: TikTok and Instagram/Facebook Reels drive discovery; simple, local, face-to-camera clips outperform polished ads.
• DM-first communication: Many interactions move to Messenger or Snapchat DMs; quick replies and chat availability increase conversion.
• Local trust signals matter: Content from known people, local businesses, and community orgs carries more weight than national pages.
• Bilingual reach: A notable Spanish-speaking community engages well with bilingual posts, captions, and subtitles; WhatsApp and Facebook are key here.
• Timing: Peaks before work/school (6–8am), lunch (12–1pm), and evenings (7–9pm). Weekend spikes for Marketplace and event planning.