Jackson County

Key demographics — Jackson County, Iowa

Population

• 19,485 (2020 Census)
• 19,471 (2023 estimate; essentially flat since 2020)

Age

• Median age: ~45 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~21%
• 18 to 64: ~56%
• 65 and over: ~23%

Gender

• Male: ~50%
• Female: ~50%

Race and ethnicity (2020 Census; Hispanic can be of any race)

• White alone: ~95%
• Black or African American alone: ~1%
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~0.3%
• Asian alone: ~0.4%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: ~0.1%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~2–3%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~93–94%

Households (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~8,200
• Persons per household (average): ~2.3

Insights

• Population is stable with an older age profile than state and national averages.
• County is predominantly non-Hispanic White with small but present racial/ethnic diversity.
• Household size is modest, consistent with rural Midwestern counties.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey (ACS) 2018–2022; Population Estimates Program (2023).

Jackson County, Iowa — Email Usage Snapshot

• Population and density: ≈19,500 residents; ≈31 people per square mile (predominantly rural).
• Estimated email users: ≈15,000 residents (≈77% of total population) use email regularly, derived from local internet access rates and national email adoption among internet users.
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 13–17: 7%
  • 18–34: 22%
  • 35–54: 34%
  • 55–64: 15%
  • 65+: 21%
• Gender split among email users: ≈51% female, ≈49% male (mirrors county demographic mix).
• Digital access and connectivity:
  • Home broadband subscription: ≈82% of households.
  • Fixed broadband availability: ≈96% of residents have access to at least 25/3 Mbps; ≈88% to 100/20 Mbps.
  • Smartphone ownership: ≈90% of adults; ≈10% are smartphone‑only internet users (no home broadband).
  • Around 18% of households lack a home broadband subscription; gaps are concentrated in lower‑density townships.
• Trends and local density effects: Fiber and cable are common in Maquoketa, Bellevue, and town centers, with fixed‑wireless and satellite filling rural gaps. Lower population density increases last‑mile costs and slows fiber expansion, but recent builds and fixed‑wireless upgrades are improving reliability and speeds across the US‑61 corridor and surrounding areas.

Mobile phone usage in Jackson County, Iowa — summary with county-specific estimates, demographic context, and infrastructure notes, emphasizing differences from statewide patterns

Snapshot and scale

• Population and households: About 19,500 residents (2020 Census) across ~8,300–8,600 households; land area ~636 square miles (low density ~30–31 residents/sq mi).
• Age and rurality: Older and more rural than Iowa overall. Residents 65+ are roughly 22% (vs ~18% statewide). About two-thirds of residents live in rural areas, well above Iowa’s average.

User estimates (adults and households)

• Adult smartphone users: Estimated ~12,800–13,400 adult smartphone users countywide. Basis: ~15,300 adults (18+) with an estimated 83–87% smartphone adoption in a rural, older-leaning Iowa county.
• Feature-phone users: ~1,600–2,100 adults likely rely on basic/feature phones or minimal mobile data.
• Mobile-only internet households (no fixed home broadband): ~1,100–1,400 households (roughly 13–16% of households), a higher share than Iowa’s overall rate. This reflects pockets with limited or costly fixed broadband.
• Tablet/hotspot lines: ~1,200–1,600 active cellular-connected tablets/hotspots, with usage concentrated among mobile-only households, small businesses, agriculture operations, and travelers along US-61/IA-64/US-52.
• Average mobile data use: Per-smartphone monthly usage is likely in the mid-to-high teens (GB) with a notable tail of heavy users (25–40+ GB/month) among mobile-only households substituting for home internet.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age 18–34: Near-universal smartphone adoption (~95%+). Video-first and app-heavy behavior; higher use of T-Mobile and budget MVNOs for cost/value.
• Age 35–64: High adoption (~85–90%). Heavy use of work apps, navigation, and social media; frequent hotspot use for field work and commuting to Dubuque/Clinton/Quad Cities.
• Age 65+: Lower but steadily rising smartphone adoption (~55–65%), lagging state averages due to the county’s older mix. Voice/SMS and basic apps dominate; larger share on simplified plans and devices.
• Income and education: Lower median household income than Iowa overall correlates with higher prepaid/MVNO use and higher odds of mobile-only internet plans, especially outside Maquoketa and Bellevue.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Carrier presence: All national operators—AT&T (FirstNet anchor), Verizon, T‑Mobile—and UScellular have coverage; UScellular and Verizon tend to be stronger in rural stretches than in Iowa’s urban centers.
• 4G LTE: Broadly available countywide and remains the coverage baseline.
• 5G: Low-band 5G covers most traveled corridors and towns. Mid-band 5G is concentrated around Maquoketa, Bellevue, and along primary highways; coverage thins in outlying townships and river bluffs.
• Terrain effects: Mississippi River bluffs, wooded valleys, and metal-sided structures create localized dead zones and indoor attenuation; signal reliability varies more than in flatter central Iowa counties.
• Backhaul and fiber: Multiple rural fiber initiatives and co-ops serve parts of Jackson County; fiber and cable are solid in town cores, with patchier reach in low-density areas. Where fixed fiber isn’t present, carriers rely more on long backhaul runs and selective microwave links, which can limit peak capacity at edge sites.
• Tower distribution: Macro sites are spaced widely in agricultural areas, with denser siting along US‑61/IA‑64/US‑52 and near population centers. This spacing supports broad coverage but can limit mid-band 5G capacity compared with Iowa’s metros.
• Public safety: AT&T FirstNet coverage is established along major corridors and critical facilities; LMR/VHF remains primary for responders, with cellular used for data and redundancy.

How Jackson County differs from Iowa overall

• Adoption level: Overall smartphone adoption is a few points lower than the statewide rate due to an older demographic and higher rural share.
• Access modality: A notably higher share of mobile-only internet households than the Iowa average, driven by gaps or higher costs in fixed broadband for remote addresses.
• Carrier mix and performance: UScellular and Verizon have relatively stronger rural presence than in urbanized Iowa counties; T‑Mobile’s mid-band 5G reach is improving but remains spottier outside towns compared with its statewide footprint.
• Capacity vs coverage: Coverage is adequate for voice/SMS and basic apps across most of the county, but sustained mid-band 5G capacity is less consistent than in Iowa’s urban counties, producing lower median speeds and more variability.
• Usage behavior: Heavier reliance on hotspots and mobile data as a substitute for home internet in rural pockets; seniors more likely to be voice/SMS-centric, keeping overall county smartphone intensity below the state average.

Actionable implications

• Network planning: Additional mid-band 5G sectors and indoor coverage solutions (especially in metal-roofed farm/residential buildings) would yield outsized benefits versus urban-focused build priorities.
• Affordability and literacy: Senior-focused device support and ACP/low-income plan outreach can reduce the adoption gap that is wider here than statewide.
• Fixed-mobile interplay: Fixed wireless access (FWA) using mid-band 5G can effectively address the county’s higher mobile-only household share where fiber buildout is still underway, especially along the US‑61 and IA‑64 corridors and in outlying townships.

Social media in Jackson County, IA — snapshot and trends (2025)

Scope note: No provider publishes verified, platform-by-platform user counts at the county level. Figures below are modeled from the county’s age mix (U.S. Census ACS) and U.S. adult social media adoption (Pew Research Center, 2024), calibrated for a rural, older-skewing Midwestern county. Use as best-available local estimates.

Topline user stats

• Residents: ~19.5k; adults (18+): ~15–16k.
• Adults using social media: ~12.5k–13.5k (≈80–85% of adults).
• Teens (13–17) using social media: ~1.2k–1.4k (≈90%+ of 13–17s).
• Gender split among adult social media users: roughly female 51–53%, male 47–49% (reflects near-even population plus slightly higher Facebook/Pinterest use among women).

Most-used platforms among adults (modeled penetration; multi-platform use means totals exceed 100%)

• YouTube: ~80–85%
• Facebook: ~70–75%
• Instagram: ~40–45%
• Pinterest: ~30–35% (skews female)
• TikTok: ~25–30%
• Snapchat: ~20–25% (skews 13–29)
• LinkedIn: ~15–20% (lower in rural areas)
• X (Twitter): ~15–20%
• Reddit/Discord: ~12–18% (skews male, under 35)
• Nextdoor: ~5–10% (limited footprint outside larger metros)

Age-group patterns (adoption of any social media; platform tendencies)

• 13–17: 90%+ use social media; heavy on YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram; light Facebook use except for school/sports updates.
• 18–29: ~95% use; daily on YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok; Facebook used for events/groups but not primary.
• 30–49: ~85–90% use; Facebook and YouTube anchor usage; Instagram growing; TikTok consumption rising, posting moderate; Pinterest common among parents.
• 50–64: ~75–80% use; Facebook dominant for news/groups/Marketplace; YouTube strong for DIY/ag/home improvement; lighter Instagram/TikTok.
• 65+: ~50–60% use; Facebook-first (family, church, civic groups); YouTube for how‑tos and local content; minimal TikTok/Instagram.

Gender breakdown (behavioral)

• Women: higher likelihood to use Facebook and Pinterest; strong engagement with local groups, school and community pages, health/wellness content, and small-business promos.
• Men: higher likelihood to use YouTube, Reddit, and X; strong engagement with agriculture, outdoors, sports, and DIY/repair content.

Behavioral trends and engagement patterns

• Facebook as the community hub: Groups (schools, youth sports, churches, buy/sell/trade, county alerts) and Marketplace drive repeat daily visits; event posts and lost/found outperform average reach.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube for longer-form how‑to, equipment reviews, outdoor content; short‑form (Reels/Shorts/TikTok) steadily gaining across 18–49.
• Messaging ecosystems: Facebook Messenger is ubiquitous among adults; Snapchat is the default for teens/college‑age; WhatsApp usage remains niche.
• Local trust premium: Content from recognizable local people, businesses, schools, and county offices outperforms national sources; photos of known places/people increase shares.
• Posting vs. lurking: Majority are “viewers” rather than frequent posters; engagement spikes on useful/urgent local info (weather, closures, road conditions, obituaries, school sports results).
• Timing: Engagement typically peaks early morning (6:30–8:30 a.m.) and evening (7–10 p.m.) on weekdays; weekends concentrate around late morning to mid‑afternoon.
• Advertising implications: Geotargeted Facebook/Instagram reach saturates quickly in-county; rotate creative and cap frequency to avoid fatigue; video and event ads outperform static posts; call-to-action to message/call works better than site clicks for older users.
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace is the primary P2P channel; local boutiques, service providers, and seasonal events convert well via Facebook/Instagram with simple video and clear offers.

Notes on methodology and sources

• Population and age structure: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (latest 5‑year release).
• Platform adoption benchmarks: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (applied to local age mix with rural adjustments).
• Figures are modeled estimates specific to Jackson County’s demographic profile; exact platform user counts at county level are not directly published by platforms.