Barry County

Key demographics — Barry County, Michigan Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates)

• Total population: 62,423 (2020 Census). 2023 estimate: ~63,600.
• Age:
  • Median age: ~43 years
  • Under 18: ~23%
  • 18–64: ~59%
  • 65 and over: ~18%
• Gender: ~50% male, ~50% female
• Race/ethnicity (share of total):
  • White, non-Hispanic: ~92–94%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3–4%
  • Two or more races: ~2–3%
  • Black or African American: ~0.5–1%
  • Asian: ~0.5–1%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.3–0.6%
• Households:
  • Total households: ~24,000–25,000
  • Average household size: ~2.6
  • Family households: ~72–75% of households
  • Married-couple households: ~58–62%
  • Households with children under 18: ~28–32%
  • Single-person households: ~20–25%
  • Owner-occupied housing: ~82–86%

Notes: Shares may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Figures are the most recent Census/ACS estimates available.

Barry County, MI snapshot (estimates)

• Local context: 2020 population ~62,400; population density ~110–115 per sq. mile; largely rural.
• Estimated email users: 41,000–46,000 adults. Method: ~77% of residents are 18+ and 85–95% of U.S. adults use email (Pew), applied to county population.
• Age pattern:
  • 18–29: ~95–99% use email
  • 30–49: ~95–99%
  • 50–64: ~85–92%
  • 65+: ~75–85% Expected share of Barry County email users by age (given an older-leaning mix): 18–34 ≈ 20–25%; 35–54 ≈ 35–40%; 55–64 ≈ 15–18%; 65+ ≈ 20–25%.
• Gender split: roughly even (about 49–51%).
• Digital access trends:
  • Broadband subscription: ~80–85% of households in similar rural MI counties (ACS), with 15–20% smartphone‑only internet access.
  • Connectivity: FCC maps indicate most addresses have at least 25/3 Mbps fixed service, with remaining unserved/underserved pockets in lower‑density, wooded/lake areas.
  • Technology mix: cable and fixed‑wireless are common; fiber availability is expanding via state/federal builds.
  • Public access: libraries and schools provide free Wi‑Fi that supplements home access.

Notes: Figures are approximations combining Census/ACS patterns for rural Michigan and national email adoption rates.

Barry County, Michigan: mobile usage summary (with estimates) — highlighting where it differs from statewide patterns

Population baseline

• Residents: roughly 62,000–63,000; adults ~47,000–49,000.
• Settlement pattern: small towns (Hastings, Middleville, Nashville, Delton) with many rural townships and lakeshore seasonal areas.

User estimates

• Adult smartphone users: about 40,000–42,000 (roughly 82–86% of adults). This is a few points lower than the Michigan average, reflecting the county’s older/rural mix.
• Feature/flip-phone holdouts: about 3–5% of adults, slightly higher than Michigan overall.
• Wireless-only households (no landline phone): about 70–75% of ~24,000 households (≈17,000–18,000), a bit below the statewide share.
• Mobile-dependent home internet (smartphone hotspot or mobile broadband as primary): about 15–18% of households (≈3,500–4,300), higher than the state average due to patchier wireline coverage in rural areas.
• Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) for home internet (e.g., T-Mobile/Verizon 5G Home/LTE): roughly 10–14% of households (≈2,400–3,300), also above the statewide rate.

Demographic usage patterns

• Age
  • 18–34: near-universal smartphone ownership (95%+), heavy app/social/video use; similar to state.
  • 35–64: high ownership (88–92%), strong reliance on messaging, navigation, and mobile banking; close to state.
  • 65+: lower smartphone adoption (roughly 65–70%), with a visible feature-phone segment; below state averages for seniors.
• Income and plan type
  • Lower-income and seasonal workers show higher reliance on prepaid plans and mobile-only home internet than state averages.
• Work and mobility
  • Many commuters to Kent/Kalamazoo metros; weekday daytime mobile use shifts toward corridors (M-37, M-43, M-66) and towns.
  • Agriculture, trades, and outdoor recreation sectors contribute to higher use of messaging, push-to-talk, and hotspotting in the field.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage
  • 4G LTE is broadly available from the national carriers across populated areas; lake/wooded valleys and low-density townships still see weak spots and handoff dead zones.
  • 5G: low-band 5G covers most towns and main corridors; mid-band 5G is concentrated in Hastings/Middleville and along state routes; mmWave is minimal to none.
• Capacity and performance
  • Seasonal congestion: weekend/summer slowdowns around Gun Lake and recreation areas; school-day peaks around towns.
  • Building penetration can be challenging in older structures and lakeside terrain; external antennas/hotspots are common workarounds in rural homes.
• Alternatives and backhaul
  • FWA has become a meaningful alternative where cable/fiber are absent; adoption is above the state average.
  • Wireline options vary: cable in towns; legacy DSL and scattered fiber in rural townships. This unevenness drives higher mobile and FWA dependence than statewide.
• Public safety and resilience
  • FirstNet (AT&T) and carrier rural upgrades have improved coverage for responders, but low-lying and forested zones still exhibit reliability gaps.
  • Power outages during storms can impact tower uptime in a few known pockets until generators kick in.

How Barry County differs from Michigan statewide

• Slightly lower overall smartphone penetration (driven by a larger senior share) but
• Higher dependence on mobile networks for primary home internet and hotspotting (due to patchy wireline in rural areas).
• FWA adoption is higher than the state average.
• 5G availability relies more on low-band coverage; mid-band capacity is more localized than in Michigan’s urban/suburban counties.
• More pronounced seasonal and weekend congestion around recreation areas than typical statewide.
• A modestly larger feature-phone cohort persists (especially among seniors).

Notes on methods and sources

• Estimates triangulate recent ACS population/household counts, Pew/CDC adoption trends by age/rurality, and FCC Broadband Data Collection coverage data through 2024, adjusted to Barry County’s rural/commuter profile. For planning or funding decisions, check the latest ACS 1-year tables, FCC BDC fabric/maps, carrier coverage tools, and Michigan ROBIN/BEAD award maps for current buildouts.

Barry County, MI — social media snapshot (estimates)

Overall user stats

• Population: ~63,000; adults (18+): ~49,000
• Adults using at least one social platform: ~80–85% (≈39–42k)
• Daily users: ~60–70% of adults (≈29–34k)
• Household internet: roughly 80–90% (rural pockets lower)

Most-used platforms (share of adults, estimated)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 70–75%
• Instagram: 35–40%
• TikTok: 25–30%
• Pinterest: 25–30% (higher among women)
• Snapchat: 20–25% (heaviest under 30)
• X/Twitter: 15–20%
• LinkedIn: 20–25% (higher among commuters/professionals)
• Nextdoor: 5–10% (limited neighborhood coverage)

Age patterns

• Teens (13–17): YouTube and TikTok dominant; Snapchat for messaging; Facebook minimal except for school/community notices.
• 18–29: Heavy on Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat; YouTube near-universal; Facebook used for groups/events, not primary posting.
• 30–49: Facebook + YouTube core; growing Instagram/Reels use; moderate TikTok for DIY, recipes, parenting hacks.
• 50–64: Facebook first, YouTube second; some Instagram; limited TikTok.
• 65+: Primarily Facebook (family, local news) and YouTube; low on other platforms.

Gender breakdown (directional)

• Overall users: slight female majority (~53–55% of active users).
• Platform skews:
  • Female-leaning: Facebook (slight), Instagram (slight), Pinterest (strong).
  • Male-leaning: YouTube (slight), X/Twitter and Reddit (modest).

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-centric: High engagement in local Facebook Groups (schools, youth sports, county fair, churches, buy/sell, road and weather updates).
• Marketplace-first commerce: Strong use of Facebook Marketplace for vehicles, farm/rural equipment, furniture, and seasonal items.
• Video shift: Short-form video (Reels/Shorts/TikTok) rising for how‑to, home/DIY, outdoor, garden, lake life, and local food spots.
• Trust and information: Local pages, school districts, first responders, and weather trackers are key info sources; national news pages see lower engagement.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger ubiquitous; Snapchat messaging common among teens; WhatsApp niche.
• Timing: Engagement peaks evenings (7–10 pm) and weekends; seasonal spikes for summer events/lake season, fall hunting/harvest, and winter storm/closure updates.
• Advertising norms: SMBs favor boosted posts and event promos; effective targeting is 25–54 within commuting radius (Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo), with creative that’s local, family, or outdoors oriented.

Notes on method: County-level social media data aren’t directly published; figures are modeled from 2024 Pew U.S. platform usage, adjusted for Barry County’s age mix and rural/suburban profile, plus ACS population/internet access. Treat percentages as directional ranges.