Emmet County

Emmet County, Iowa — key demographics (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimates)

• Population: ~9,200
• Age:
  • Median age: ~42
  • Under 18: ~23%
  • 65 and over: ~21%
• Sex:
  • Male: ~50.5%
  • Female: ~49.5%
• Race/ethnicity (share of total):
  • Non-Hispanic White: ~85%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~11%
  • Black/African American: ~1%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.4%
  • Asian: ~0.5%
  • Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Households:
  • Total households: ~3,950–4,000
  • Average household size: ~2.3
  • Family households: ~58% (married-couple: ~44%)
  • One-person households: ~35–36%
  • Households with children under 18: ~27%
  • Owner-occupied housing rate: ~72–74%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates (DP02/DP03/DP04/DP05). Figures rounded; small-county sampling error applies.

Emmet County, IA (pop. ~9,300) email usage snapshot

• Estimated users: 7,200–7,800 people (roughly 75–85% of residents; 90%+ of adults), based on rural U.S. adoption rates applied to local population.
• Age pattern (share using email):
  • 13–17: ~80–90%
  • 18–29: ~90–95%
  • 30–49: ~95–99%
  • 50–64: ~90–95%
  • 65+: ~75–85%
• Gender split: Approximately even; negligible difference in usage between men and women.

Digital access trends

• Household broadband subscription is likely in the 70–80% range; a notable minority (about 10–18%) are smartphone‑only internet users.
• Email is predominantly checked on smartphones; older adults more often use PCs. Usage spikes around school/health portals and government services.
• Gradual improvements from fiber and fixed‑wireless builds in towns; remaining gaps on farms and along sparsely populated roads persist.

Local density/connectivity facts

• Low population density (~23 people per sq. mile) affects last‑mile economics.
• Strongest wired coverage in towns such as Estherville (largest community), Armstrong, and Ringsted; rural areas rely more on fixed wireless/satellite.
• Outdoor 4G mobile coverage is widespread; 5G is present in and near town centers and along main corridors.

Notes: Estimates synthesize ACS/Pew rural patterns with local population figures.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Emmet County, IA (2025 est.)

Headline estimates

• Population base: ~9,300–9,600 residents; ~7,200–7,600 adults.
• Individual mobile users: ~7,000–7,700 residents use a mobile phone (adults plus most teens).
• Adult smartphone adoption: roughly 85–90% (a few points below Iowa’s statewide rate, which is near universal among adults).
• Wireless-only (no landline) households: about two-thirds, slightly below the statewide share.
• Data usage: average monthly mobile data per line appears a bit lower than the state average, but with a wider spread—some households rely heavily on mobile data where wired broadband is limited, while many older users consume much less.

Demographic patterns that differ from Iowa overall

• Older age structure:
  • Seniors (65+): larger share than the state average, with lower smartphone adoption and more voice/SMS-centric use. Basic or budget smartphones are more common in this group.
  • Teens and young adults: high smartphone penetration (well over 90%), but the cohort is smaller than statewide, so it pulls down countywide adoption and data use.
• Income and plan mix:
  • More price-sensitive plan selection than the state average; greater use of prepaid and MVNOs.
  • End of the federal ACP subsidy in 2024 has had outsized local effects: low-income households are trimming data plans, delaying device upgrades, or consolidating lines.
• Work patterns:
  • Agriculture and small manufacturing drive daytime usage around farmsteads, metal buildings, and along county roads. That translates into elevated demand for signal boosters, Wi‑Fi calling, and fixed‑wireless alternatives—patterns more pronounced than in urban Iowa counties.

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

• Networks present: All three national carriers provide 4G LTE across population centers and primary corridors; low-band 5G is broadly available. Mid-band 5G capacity is concentrated in and around Estherville and along US‑71/IA‑9; it thins out on gravel roads and at the county edges.
• Tower spacing and terrain:
  • Sparser tower grid than statewide urban averages; larger inter‑site distances mean more variability indoors and inside metal structures.
  • The West Fork Des Moines River corridor and low spots can create small dead zones; coverage is strongest in town and along highways.
• Capacity/backhaul:
  • Rural sites mix fiber and microwave backhaul; evening and event-time slowdowns are more noticeable than in metro Iowa.
  • Power resiliency is uneven; brief outages during severe weather have a bigger connectivity impact relative to urban areas.
• Cross‑border effects:
  • Routine travel to nearby counties and into southern Minnesota is common; coverage and plan performance are generally seamless on national carriers, but users on niche MVNOs report more variability than the statewide norm.
• Public safety/priority networks:
  • FirstNet (AT&T) coverage is established on primary routes and in Estherville; agency users report better priority access than in the past, but indoor penetration in rural facilities still lags metro Iowa.

Behavioral usage trends vs. the Iowa average

• Slightly lower per-line data consumption overall, driven by the county’s older age mix; simultaneously, a higher share of “mobile-first” rural households without robust wired broadband pushes a subset to very high usage.
• Voice/SMS remains more central to communications among older residents, while video streaming and social media are concentrated in-town and among younger adults.
• Device lifecycle is longer: residents keep handsets an extra year or more versus statewide averages, reflecting price sensitivity and fewer nearby retail upgrade options.

What this means for planners and providers

• Closing small coverage gaps and boosting mid-band 5G capacity just outside Estherville and along farm-to-market roads would yield outsized benefits.
• Affordable plans with moderate data caps, strong Wi‑Fi calling, and support for signal boosters align well with local demand.
• Targeted digital equity efforts post-ACP—device financing, lifeline awareness, and community Wi‑Fi—will have more impact here than in many Iowa metro counties.

Notes on methodology

• Figures are reasoned estimates combining recent census/ACS population, national/rural mobile adoption benchmarks, carrier-reported coverage evolution through 2024, and known rural usage patterns. Ranges reflect uncertainty from limited county-specific public data.

Emmet County, IA – social media snapshot (2025)

How many people use social media

• Population: about 9.3k residents; roughly 7.2–7.5k adults (18+).
• Estimated social media users: 5.5–6.3k residents use at least one platform monthly (about 60–68% of total population; 68–76% of adults).
• Daily use: among users, 60–70% check at least one platform daily; Facebook remains the most “daily” app.

Most‑used platforms (share of residents using monthly)

• Facebook: 55–60% (dominant for community news, groups, marketplace; strongest among 30+).
• YouTube: 55–65% (how‑to, product reviews, school/faith content).
• Instagram: 25–35% (under 40s, local sports highlights, small business).
• Snapchat: 25–35% (teens/20s messaging and Stories).
• TikTok: 25–30% (short local videos; recipes, farm, DIY).
• Pinterest: 20–25% (women 25–54; home, crafts, recipes).
• X/Twitter: 8–12% (statewide sports/news followers; niche local use).
• LinkedIn: 10–15% (educators, healthcare, public sector, small biz owners).
• Nextdoor: under 5% (limited neighborhood density).

Age profile (share using at least one platform)

• 13–17: 85–90%. Top: YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram.
• 18–29: 90–95%. Top: YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok; Facebook for events/groups.
• 30–49: 80–90%. Top: Facebook, YouTube; growing Instagram/Reels; some TikTok.
• 50–64: 65–75%. Top: Facebook, YouTube; some Pinterest.
• 65+: 50–55%. Mostly Facebook; some YouTube.

Gender breakdown (approximate among local users)

• Overall users: 52–55% women, 45–48% men.
• Platform skews: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Pinterest skew female; YouTube and X skew male.

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook Groups are the community hub: school sports, lost & found, garage sales, church/charity events, weather alerts. Local admins and recognizable names drive trust.
• Marketplace is huge for vehicles, farm/yard equipment, furniture; weekends see spikes.
• Posting rhythms: highest engagement weeknights 7–9 pm; Saturday late morning/early afternoon; weather and school-related posts outperform at any time.
• Video first: short vertical clips (Reels/TikTok) of local sports, ag life, pets, and behind‑the‑scenes small‑business content get strong completion rates; YouTube remains for how‑to and long‑form.
• Messaging: FB Messenger and Snapchat are default DMs; WhatsApp usage is minimal.
• Advertising: best results from radius targeting (15–25 miles around Estherville) and interest layering (hunting, outdoors, parenting, HS sports). Low CPMs but smaller reach; boosted posts tied to events or limited‑time offers work well.
• Seasonal patterns: big lifts around planting/harvest, county fair, graduation, back‑to‑school, and severe weather; summer spillover from nearby Okoboji tourism increases regional reach.
• Content tone: practical, hyper‑local, and people‑focused posts outperform polished corporate creative; staff spotlights and community sponsorships do well.

Notes and method

• Figures are estimates synthesized from Pew Research Center’s 2024 social media use, rural/midwest usage patterns, and Emmet County age structure (U.S. Census/ACS). Local platform ad tools (Facebook Audience Insights, Snapchat Ads, TikTok Ads) can refine these numbers for specific radii and interests.