Woodbury County

Woodbury County, Iowa — key demographics

Population

• 105,941 (2020 Census). Subsequent Census estimates indicate little net change since 2020.

Age (ACS 2018–2022)

• Median age: 36.6 years
• Under 18: 25.1%
• 18 to 64: 58.9%
• 65 and over: 16.0%

Sex (ACS 2018–2022)

• Male: 50.2%
• Female: 49.8%

Race and Hispanic origin (ACS 2018–2022; shares of total population)

• White, non-Hispanic: 68.1%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): 18.9%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: 3.8%
• American Indian and Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: 2.0%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: 2.4%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: 0.2%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: 4.6%

Households and housing (ACS 2018–2022)

• Total households: ~40,900
• Average household size: 2.57
• Average family size: 3.18
• Family households: ~65% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~33%
• Tenure: ~65% owner-occupied; ~35% renter-occupied

Insights

• The county is relatively young for Iowa (median age mid-30s) with a sizable share of children.
• One of Iowa’s more diverse counties, with roughly 1 in 5 residents identifying as Hispanic/Latino and notable Native American and Black communities.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates.

Email usage snapshot for Woodbury County, Iowa

• Scale and density: Population ≈106,000; land area ≈873 sq mi; density ≈121 people/sq mi. Most residents are concentrated in Sioux City, boosting urban connectivity and speeds.

• Estimated email users: ≈73,000 adult email users (about 93% of adults), rising to ≈78,000 when including teens 13–17.

• Age distribution of adult email users (approximate counts): • 18–29: 17.8k (24%) • 30–49: 27.0k (37%) • 50–64: 16.3k (22%) • 65+: 11.9k (16%)

• Gender split: Roughly even; ~50% male, ~50% female among users.

• Digital access and trends: • Households with a computer: ~92%. • Households with broadband subscription (any): ~84–86%. • No home internet: ~11–13% of households. • Smartphone-only internet reliance: ~12–18%, skewing younger and lower-income. • Urban core (Sioux City) enjoys widespread cable/fiber at 100–1,000 Mbps; rural townships show lower subscription rates and more cellular dependence. • Adoption has trended upward since 2019 with continued fiber and fixed-wireless buildouts, narrowing—but not eliminating—the urban–rural gap.

Estimates derived from ACS county data and Pew national usage rates applied to local age structure.

Mobile phone usage in Woodbury County, Iowa — 2024 snapshot

Population baseline

• Residents: ≈106,000
• Households: ≈40,000
• Urban core: Sioux City dominates population, with rural townships to the north/east

User estimates and adoption

• Unique mobile phone users: ≈92,000 (≈87% of residents)
• Adult smartphone users: ≈72,000–75,000 (≈88–91% of adults)
• Households with at least one smartphone: ≈35,000–36,000 (≈88–90% of households)
• Smartphone-only or cellular-only internet households (no fixed broadband): ≈7,000–8,000 (≈18–20% of households)

How this differs from Iowa overall

• Smartphone/cellular-only households are notably higher in Woodbury (≈18–20%) versus Iowa statewide (≈13–15%), indicating greater reliance on mobile data plans rather than fixed broadband
• Overall household smartphone presence is slightly lower or on par (≈88–90% in Woodbury vs ≈90–92% statewide), but dependency on mobile for primary internet access is higher
• Woodbury’s urban core (Sioux City) pushes 5G availability and speeds above the statewide rural average, while the county’s rural edges still resemble broader Iowa rural coverage patterns

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age: A younger age profile than Iowa overall (larger under‑40 share) correlates with higher smartphone adoption and heavier app/social/video usage; seniors 65+ are a smaller share than the state, but those seniors show higher smartphone adoption than rural Iowa peers due to better coverage and device availability in Sioux City
• Income and housing: Median household income trails the Iowa average and renter share is higher; both factors are associated with increased smartphone‑only internet reliance, prepaid plan use, and hotspotting in lieu of home broadband
• Race/ethnicity: Hispanic/Latino residents are ≈3x the state share, alongside small but meaningful Native American and Black communities. These groups show above‑average mobile‑first behavior (e.g., messaging apps, bilingual content, mobile payments), contributing to higher cellular‑only household rates than the state
• Students and younger families: K‑12 and college‑age cohorts in Sioux City report high smartphone penetration and frequent hotspot use for homework in households without cable/fiber subscriptions

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Network availability
  • All three national carriers (AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon) operate 5G in Sioux City and along the I‑29 corridor; UScellular also serves the area
  • 5G mid‑band (T‑Mobile n41) is broadly available in Sioux City; Verizon C‑band and AT&T mid‑band deployments cover the city and major roadways with expanding footprints
  • Rural townships often fall back to LTE or low‑band 5G; indoor coverage can be inconsistent in farmsteads and river valleys
• Typical performance (user experience)
  • Sioux City: 5G median download often 150–300 Mbps on T‑Mobile; 60–150 Mbps on Verizon and AT&T, with higher peaks near new C‑band sites
  • Rural east/north Woodbury: 10–50 Mbps on LTE/low‑band 5G, variable latency, and occasional capacity constraints at peak hours
• Backhaul and local fiber
  • Strong metro backhaul via regional providers (e.g., Long Lines Communications in Sergeant Bluff) plus national carriers supports 5G capacity in the city
  • Fiber backhaul is sparser in rural portions; carriers rely more on microwave or long fiber laterals, limiting rural sector capacity compared with the metro core
• Public safety and institutions
  • FirstNet coverage is robust in Sioux City with designated Band 14 capacity; schools and libraries benefit from E‑Rate–supported links, but many student households still rely on smartphone hotspots, reinforcing the county’s higher mobile‑only share

Key insights

• Mobile dependency is the defining divergence from state trends: Woodbury has similar smartphone availability to Iowa overall but significantly more households using cellular as their primary or sole internet connection
• Urban 5G leadership within a largely rural region produces a two‑speed county: metro users enjoy above‑state mobile speeds and capacity, while rural residents experience typical Iowa rural constraints
• Demographics amplify mobile‑first behavior: a younger, more diverse, and more renter‑heavy population tilts usage toward smartphones, prepaid plans, and hotspotting, differentiating Woodbury from Iowa’s older, more owner‑occupied, fixed‑broadband‑leaning counties

Data notes

• Figures reflect 2022–2024 American Community Survey device/subscription indicators, FCC coverage filings, and aggregated network performance measurements for the Sioux City market area. Estimates are county‑level roll‑ups aligned to 2024 conditions.

Social media usage in Woodbury County, IA (2024 snapshot)

Overall adoption

• Adults using at least one social platform: ~83% of adults (Pew Research Center, 2024; applied locally)
• Daily use is concentrated on a few platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube), with Facebook and YouTube used across all ages

Most‑used platforms (share of adults; national benchmarks applied locally)

• YouTube: 83%
• Facebook: 68%
• Instagram: 47%
• TikTok: 33%
• Snapchat: 30% These five constitute the dominant mix in the county. Other platforms (Pinterest, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, Reddit, Nextdoor) have smaller but meaningful niches, especially for specific interests or professions.

Age profile of social media use (share using any social media; Pew applied locally)

• 18–29: ~95%
• 30–49: ~84%
• 50–64: ~73%
• 65+: ~45% Implications: 18–29 skew heavily to Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat; 30–49 split time across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube (with notable TikTok growth); 50+ rely most on Facebook and YouTube, with Pinterest usage common among women.

Gender breakdown

• Overall social media user base aligns with county demographics (roughly half female, half male)
• Platform skews: women over‑index on Facebook and Pinterest (and use Instagram steadily across ages); men over‑index on YouTube, Reddit, and X/Twitter

Behavioral trends observed locally (Midwest, Sioux City–anchored market)

• Community and local news: Facebook Groups/Pages are the primary channel for civic updates, school and youth sports, church and neighborhood information, and severe‑weather alerts
• Marketplace and practical utility: Heavy Facebook Marketplace use for autos, household goods, farm/ranch equipment, and rentals; YouTube for how‑to, DIY, and product research
• Events and small business discovery: Facebook Events and Instagram are the first stop for fairs, festivals, food trucks, nightlife, and local retail; short‑form video boosts awareness and attendance
• Messaging and ephemerals: Facebook Messenger (broad) and Snapchat (younger audiences) dominate private sharing; Instagram DMs are central for 18–34
• Video habits: YouTube is the universal backbone (how‑to, local sports highlights, entertainment); TikTok/Reels drive short‑form trends and product discovery among under‑40s
• Shopping: Social commerce occurs most on Facebook and Instagram; TikTok Shop adoption is growing among under‑35
• Language and culture: The county’s sizable Hispanic/Latino community shows above‑average WhatsApp and Instagram use for family, community, and small business communication; bilingual content performs well

What this means for planning

• Reach breadth: Facebook + YouTube provide county‑wide coverage, including 50+
• Growth and youth reach: Instagram + TikTok are essential for 18–34, with Snapchat for incremental daily touchpoints
• Local conversion: Facebook Groups/Pages and Marketplace deliver high intent for local services and resale; Reels/Shorts expand discovery
• Creative format: Short vertical video and authentic, community‑anchored content outperform polished ads; add captions for silent autoplay and accessibility
• Cadence and timing: Evenings and weekends perform best for families and shift workers; early morning posts catch commuters and school routines

Sources and method

• Platform percentages and age patterns: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (U.S. adults), applied to Woodbury County for planning-grade estimates
• Demographic context: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (latest available), for gender/age composition and local characteristics