Decatur County

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Summary for Decatur County, Iowa (estimates)

• Estimated email users: ~4,800–5,300 residents use email at least monthly. Basis: county population ~7.5k, adult share ~75–78%, and typical rural email adoption of ~80–90% of adults.
• Age distribution (share using email):
  • Ages 13–17: ~60–70% (school-driven accounts)
  • 18–34: ~90–95%
  • 35–64: ~88–93%
  • 65+: ~65–80% (lower where home broadband is absent)
• Gender split: Roughly even (≈50/50); differences, if any, are within a few percentage points.
• Digital access trends:
  • Home broadband subscription likely ~70–75% of households, below Iowa’s urban averages.
  • 15–25% are smartphone‑only internet users, boosting mobile email reliance.
  • Public Wi‑Fi (libraries, schools, Graceland University in Lamoni) supplements access for students and lower‑income households.
  • Outside towns, many rely on fixed wireless/satellite; fiber is concentrated in Leon/Lamoni with limited rural reach.
• Local density/connectivity context:
  • Low population density (~14 people/sq. mi.) increases last‑mile costs and uneven speeds.
  • Service is strongest in Leon and Lamoni and along the I‑35 corridor; rural dead zones persist for both cellular data and fixed broadband.

Notes: Figures are derived from state/rural benchmarks applied to Decatur County’s size and demographics.

Here’s a concise, locality-aware snapshot of mobile phone usage in Decatur County, Iowa, with emphasis on how it differs from statewide patterns.

User estimates (order-of-magnitude, based on rural U.S. ownership rates and local age mix)

• Population context: About 7,500–8,000 residents, with a sizable college presence in Lamoni (Graceland University) and many residents in sparsely populated rural townships.
• Mobile phone users (any mobile phone): Roughly 6,000–6,500 users.
• Smartphone users: Approximately 5,400–5,800 people. How this was derived:
• Rural adult smartphone ownership typically runs ~80–85%, with total mobile phone ownership ~90%+.
• Teen smartphone ownership is very high (roughly 90%+), adding to the total.
• Some older adults still use basic/feature phones; conversely, a subset of users carry more than one line, roughly balancing out at the county scale.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age mix:
  • Outside Lamoni, the county skews older than the state average, which correlates with slightly lower smartphone adoption and slower device upgrade cycles.
  • Lamoni’s student population pushes 18–24 adoption and data consumption up sharply in that census tract—heavier use of social/video apps and campus Wi‑Fi offload.
• Income and plan types:
  • Lower median incomes than the Iowa average translate to higher use of prepaid/MVNO plans (e.g., Cricket, Straight Talk, Boost, Visible) and longer device replacement intervals.
• Work and lifestyle:
  • Agriculture and small business usage is prominent: hotspots, cellular fixed wireless substitutes, and machine telemetry on farms (modems in equipment, remote sensors) are more common than the statewide average.
• International/roaming needs:
  • Graceland University’s international student body increases demand for Wi‑Fi calling, app-based messaging, and international calling features more than a typical rural Iowa county.

Digital infrastructure and coverage (what’s on the ground)

• Macro coverage:
  • UScellular and Verizon are generally the most reliable across the county’s rural areas.
  • AT&T is workable around towns and highways; T‑Mobile coverage is strongest along I‑35 and in Lamoni/Leon, with weaker reach in outlying areas.
• 5G availability:
  • 5G is present primarily along the I‑35 corridor and town centers (low-band and some mid-band where deployed). Away from highways, LTE remains the practical baseline.
• Capacity and speeds:
  • Typical LTE experiences range from single-digit Mbps in fringe areas to tens of Mbps in town; 5G along I‑35 can be markedly faster but is not uniformly available countywide.
• Fiber and Wi‑Fi offload:
  • Local cooperatives (notably GRM Networks) have built out fiber in key towns and some rural stretches. This boosts home and campus Wi‑Fi usage, reducing cellular load in Lamoni and Leon.
• Fixed wireless and satellite:
  • In farmsteads and hollows lacking wired service, fixed wireless and satellite remain important. Many households rely on Wi‑Fi calling to stabilize voice service.
• Towers and geography:
  • Sites are concentrated along I‑35 and near towns; terrain and tree cover create dead spots on county roads. Southern border areas sometimes lean on Missouri-side towers.
• Retail and support:
  • Limited carrier storefronts in-county; many residents purchase online or visit larger nearby towns, reinforcing the appeal of prepaid/MVNO options.

How Decatur County differs from Iowa overall

• Coverage variability is greater: The gap between highway/town coverage and rural backroads is wider than the state average.
• 5G adoption lags off-corridor: The county relies more on LTE outside I‑35 and town centers, whereas many Iowa metros now enjoy broader mid-band 5G.
• Higher prepaid/MVNO share: Budget constraints and limited storefront access push more users to prepaid and online-first carriers than typical statewide.
• Heavier Wi‑Fi reliance in specific hubs: Campus and co‑op fiber in Lamoni/Leon drive significant Wi‑Fi offload, a sharper town-versus-country split than in many Iowa counties.
• Distinct student-driven segment: The university creates a pocket of high-intensity, app-centric usage and international connectivity needs uncommon for a small rural county.
• Above-average ag/IoT use: A larger share of lines and data usage tied to agriculture (equipment, sensors, cameras) than the statewide norm.

Bottom line

• Expect roughly 5,400–5,800 smartphone users and 6,000–6,500 total mobile users across the county, with strong usage pockets in Lamoni/Leon, patchier service on rural roads, and a distinctive mix of student-heavy data demand, budget-conscious plan selection, and agriculture-driven connectivity compared with Iowa overall.

Below is a concise, county‑specific snapshot using modeled estimates based on Pew Research platform usage by age/gender, rural vs. urban differentials, and Decatur County’s rural demographics. Treat figures as directional, not exact.

Overall user stats (Decatur County)

• Population context: Small, rural county (~7.4–7.8K residents).
• Estimated social media users (13+): 4.4–5.2K people use at least one platform monthly.
• Adult (18+) adoption: ~65–72% use at least one platform; daily users: ~55–60% of adults.

Most‑used platforms (estimated share of residents 13+ using monthly; multiple platforms per person)

• YouTube: 70–78%
• Facebook: 58–65% (Messenger ~52–60%)
• Instagram: 35–45%
• TikTok: 28–38%
• Snapchat: 20–28%
• Pinterest: 25–32% (skews female)
• X/Twitter: 15–20%
• WhatsApp: 8–12%
• LinkedIn: 8–12% (lower in rural counties)
• Reddit: 10–15%
• Nextdoor: 2–5% (limited footprint in small towns)

Age patterns (who’s where)

• Teens (13–17): Heavy on YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat; Instagram strong; Facebook used mainly for groups/events.
• 18–29: Multi‑platform; Instagram, TikTok, YouTube daily; Snapchat for messaging; Facebook for local ties and Marketplace.
• 30–49: Facebook is the hub (groups, Marketplace, school/sports updates), YouTube for how‑to and entertainment; Instagram moderate; TikTok rising for short video.
• 50–64: Facebook dominant for news/community and buy/sell; YouTube for DIY, ag, outdoors content; Instagram modest; TikTok selective.
• 65+: Facebook still primary (family, church, local gov/schools); YouTube for tutorials and news clips; limited use of others.

Gender tendencies (share of each platform’s local user base)

• Facebook/Messenger: Slight female majority (~55–60%).
• Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat: Slight female majority (~53–60%).
• Pinterest: Female‑heavy (~70–80%).
• YouTube: Slight male majority (~55–60%).
• X/Twitter, Reddit: Male‑leaning (X ~60–65% male; Reddit ~70–80% male).
• LinkedIn: Balanced to slightly male.

Behavioral trends in Decatur County (rural Midwest patterns)

• Facebook is the community backbone: school announcements, high‑school sports, church updates, local government/EMS notices, lost & found, and buy/sell via Marketplace and local swap groups.
• Groups > Pages: Engagement concentrates in private/local groups over official brand pages; word‑of‑mouth and admin trust matter.
• Short‑form video is rising: Reels/TikTok for events, small‑business promos, real estate, and farm/livestock clips; authenticity beats polish.
• YouTube is practical: “How‑to” (home, auto, equipment), ag practices, hunting/fishing, and local highlights.
• Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger dominates family/community comms; Snapchat among younger users; SMS still common with older adults.
• Content timing: Peaks evenings (7–10 pm) and Sundays; secondary bump at midday breaks.
• Local commerce: Boosted Facebook posts outperform most other paid options for small businesses; Marketplace crucial for used goods and services.
• News/trust: Higher engagement with known local sources and identifiable admins; skepticism of anonymous pages; shares spike around weather and school/sports.

Method note

• Figures are modeled from recent Pew Research U.S. platform usage by age/gender, adjusted for rural counties and Decatur County’s likely age mix; ranges reflect uncertainty at the county level. For campaign planning, validate with a quick local survey or page/group insights.