Henry County

Henry County, Iowa — key demographics (latest official data)

Population size

• Total population: 20,482 (2020 Census)
• 2023 estimate: ~20.2K (U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates)

Age

• Median age: ~40 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: ~21%
• 65 and over: ~20%

Gender

• Male: ~52–53%
• Female: ~47–48% (Note: The male share is elevated due to the state correctional facility in the county.)

Racial/ethnic composition (shares of total population)

• White alone: ~86–89%
• Black or African American alone: ~4–5%
• Asian alone: ~1–2%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0.3%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander alone: ~0.1%
• Two or more races: ~4–5%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~6–7%
• White alone, not Hispanic: ~83–85%

Households and housing

• Households: ~8,100
• Average household size: ~2.38 persons
• Family households: ~60% of households; married-couple households: ~48–50%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~72%; renter-occupied: ~28%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates; Population Estimates Program). Insights: The county is small and predominantly non-Hispanic White with modest racial/ethnic diversity; an above-average male share and a median age around 40 indicate a mature population structure.

• Scope: Henry County, Iowa (pop. ≈20,500; density ≈47 people/sq. mi.)
• Estimated email users: ≈15,300 residents. Method: applies adult internet-use norms and teen adoption to local population and broadband/computer access.
• Age distribution of email users (estimated share of users):
  • 13–17: 8%
  • 18–34: 25%
  • 35–54: 33%
  • 55–64: 15%
  • 65+: 19%
• Gender split: Roughly even among users (≈50% female, 50% male), mirroring the county’s population.
• Digital access and trends:
  • About 85% of households maintain a broadband subscription and roughly 90% have a computer, supporting near-universal email capability among connected adults.
  • Smartphone-only internet access accounts for roughly 10–12% of adults, making mobile the primary email channel for many rural users.
  • Connectivity is densest around Mount Pleasant (cable/fiber and 100+ Mbps plans common), with rural areas relying more on fixed wireless and DSL; fiber buildouts have expanded town coverage in recent years.
  • Overall broadband subscription rates have inched up over the past five years, narrowing the urban–rural access gap and reinforcing email’s reach for services, commerce, and healthcare.

Henry County, Iowa — mobile phone usage snapshot (2024)

Topline user estimates

• Population base: ~20,000–20,500 residents; ~15,800–16,200 adults (18+).
• Adult mobile phone ownership: ~94–96% of adults, equating to roughly 15,000–15,500 mobile users.
• Adult smartphone adoption: ~86–88% of adults, or about 13,700–14,300 smartphone users.
• Mobile-only internet households (rely on cellular data, no fixed broadband): ~12–15% of households, vs ~8–10% statewide.

Demographic breakdown (usage patterns and adoption)

• Age
  • 18–34: ~96–98% smartphone adoption; heavy data use and app-centric communication.
  • 35–64: ~90–92% smartphone adoption; strong use of messaging, navigation, and work apps.
  • 65+: ~68–72% smartphone adoption (below Iowa’s ~75–78%); higher voice/SMS dependence, rising telehealth use.
• Income
  • Under $35k: ~76–80% smartphone adoption; prepaid plans and mobile-only internet notably higher than state averages.
  • $35k–$75k: ~88–91% adoption.
  • $75k+: ~95–97% adoption; multidevice plans common.
• Race/ethnicity
  • Non-Hispanic White majority with adoption patterns tracking county averages.
  • Hispanic and other minority households show slightly higher mobile-only internet reliance than county average, consistent with income and housing factors.
• Plan mix and devices
  • Prepaid share: ~25–30% of active lines (above Iowa’s ~18–22%).
  • iPhone share modestly below state average; budget and midrange Android devices more prevalent.
  • Unlimited and hotspot-enabled plans are commonly used as home internet substitutes in outlying areas.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Networks present: AT&T (including FirstNet Band 14), Verizon, T-Mobile, and UScellular; MVNOs ride these networks.
• 5G availability
  • Low-band 5G covers most populated areas and major corridors (US-34 and US-218/IA-27).
  • Mid-band 5G (capacity layers: T-Mobile n41; AT&T/Verizon C-band n77) concentrated in and around Mount Pleasant and along the main highways.
  • Estimated mid-band 5G coverage: ~20–35% of land area and ~65–80% of population, below statewide mid-band availability.
• LTE coverage: Near-universal along primary and secondary roads; indoor signal challenges persist in some farmhouses and wooded/riverside tracts.
• Speeds (population-weighted, typical)
  • Download: ~25–45 Mbps countywide; 100–200 Mbps where mid-band 5G is available.
  • Upload: ~3–10 Mbps; better on mid-band 5G.
  • Performance lags Iowa metro averages (~60+ Mbps down) due to sparser mid-band deployment and backhaul constraints in rural sectors.
• Sites and build characteristics
  • Macro network primarily on tall rural towers and highway-adjacent sites; limited small-cell presence outside Mount Pleasant.
  • Backhaul is a mix of fiber and licensed microwave; fiber is strongest along DOT corridors and near the county seat, thinner in remote census blocks.
• Public safety and reliability
  • FirstNet coverage present on priority routes and in the county seat; VoLTE ubiquitous, 3G fully retired.
  • E911 location and Wireless Emergency Alerts supported across major carriers.

How Henry County differs from Iowa overall

• Adoption skewed by age: Older age structure pulls down 65+ smartphone adoption by several points relative to the state.
• Higher mobile-only reliance: Share of households using cellular as their primary or only home internet is meaningfully higher than the state average.
• Network capacity gap: Mid-band 5G land-area coverage and average speeds trail state averages, with strong service clustered along US-34 and US-218/IA-27 rather than uniformly distributed.
• Plan economics: Prepaid penetration and use of value MVNOs are higher than the state average, aligning with local income mix and limited fixed-broadband alternatives in some areas.
• Carrier mix: UScellular and Verizon retain relatively stronger rural share here than in Iowa’s metros, where T-Mobile’s mid-band density is more pronounced.

Actionable implications

• Businesses targeting Henry County should optimize for mixed connectivity (low-band 5G/LTE) and offline-tolerant app experiences.
• Public services and healthcare can expect higher reach via SMS/voice for seniors; telehealth uptake grows with continued 5G and fiber buildouts.
• Network investments with the biggest near-term impact: additional mid-band 5G sectors on existing towers outside Mount Pleasant, fiber backhaul upgrades on rural sites, and in-building coverage solutions for public facilities.

Henry County, IA social media snapshot (estimated 2025, residents ages 13+)

Population baseline

• Total population: ~20,200
• Residents 13+: ~17,600
• Active social media users (monthly): ~13,500 (≈77% of 13+; ≈67% of total population)

Age mix of active social media users

• 13–17: 8.5% (1,150 users)
• 18–29: 20.7% (2,790)
• 30–49: 33.5% (4,520)
• 50–64: 24.4% (3,290)
• 65+: 12.9% (1,750)

Gender breakdown of active users

• Female: ~54%
• Male: ~46%

Most‑used platforms (share of residents ages 13+, monthly use)

• YouTube: ~70%
• Facebook: ~64%
• Instagram: ~38%
• TikTok: ~28%
• Pinterest: ~26%
• Snapchat: ~24%
• LinkedIn: ~12%
• X (Twitter): ~11%
• Reddit: ~10%
• Nextdoor: ~3%

Behavioral trends and local usage patterns

• Facebook as the community hub: Highest reach and engagement for local news, school updates, faith/community events, obituaries, high‑school sports, and buy/sell via Marketplace. Local groups drive recurring engagement.
• Video-first consumption: Short vertical video (Reels/Shorts/TikTok) dominates discovery and time spent; YouTube remains the go‑to for how‑to, home, auto, and ag content.
• Youth skew: Under 30s cluster on Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok for messaging and entertainment; Facebook is mostly utility (events, groups).
• Midlife and seniors: Heavy Facebook usage for local information; Pinterest use is strong among women for recipes, crafts, home projects; YouTube popular across all older segments.
• Messaging behavior: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are primary DM channels; Instagram DMs growing among 18–34.
• Peak times: Local engagement typically spikes before work (7–9 a.m.), lunchtime (12–1 p.m.), and evenings (7–10 p.m.), with weekend mornings strong for community posts and Marketplace.
• Content that performs: School and sports highlights, weather/road updates, public safety notices, local business promos, county fair/seasonal events, “shop local” features, and short video how‑tos.
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace is the default classifieds venue; Instagram/TikTok drive top‑of‑funnel discovery for boutiques, fitness, salons, and restaurants.
• Geographic radius: Most interactions cluster within 15–25 miles of Mount Pleasant and other population centers, reinforcing hyperlocal targeting.

Notes on methodology

• Figures are modeled from the county’s population profile (U.S. Census Bureau 2023 estimates) and 2024–2025 U.S. platform adoption rates (Pew Research Center; DataReportal), with rural/age adjustments to localize likely usage. They represent best‑fit local estimates rather than a county‑specific survey.

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 Population Estimates (Henry County, IA)
• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024; Teens, Social Media and Technology 2023
• DataReportal, Digital 2024/2025 (United States)