Gladwin County

Here are key demographics for Gladwin County, Michigan (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates; rounded):

• Population: ~25,300
• Age:
  • Median age: ~50
  • Under 18: ~18%
  • 18–64: ~57%
  • 65 and over: ~25%
• Gender: ~50% female, ~50% male
• Race and ethnicity:
  • White (alone): ~95%
  • Black or African American (alone): ~0.5%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native (alone): ~1%
  • Asian (alone): ~0.3%
  • Two or more races: ~3%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2–3%
• Households:
  • Total households: ~10,900–11,200
  • Average household size: ~2.3
  • Family households: ~60%
  • Nonfamily households: ~40%
  • Owner-occupied housing: ~80%+

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 (5-year).

Gladwin County, MI (≈25,000 residents) is rural and older-leaning. We estimate 17,500–18,000 adult email users (about 88–90% of adults), based on national adoption adjusted slightly downward for rural age mix.

Age distribution of email users (approx.):

• 18–29: 12–15% of users
• 30–49: 25–28%
• 50–64: 28–32%
• 65+: 28–32% Older adults participate heavily but at slightly lower rates than younger groups.

Gender split: ~49% male, ~51% female among email users (usage is near-parity by gender).

Digital access and trends:

• About 80% of households likely have a home broadband subscription; 12–15% have no internet subscription; 6–9% are smartphone-only households. Device access is broad, but older and lower-income households are less connected.
• Connectivity improves in towns and along main corridors; outlying areas rely more on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite, with limited fiber availability. Performance at 100/20 Mbps is not yet universal.

Local density/connectivity facts:

• Low population density (~45–50 people per square mile) increases last-mile costs and contributes to patchy high-speed coverage.
• Ongoing expansions of fixed wireless and some fiber builds are narrowing gaps, but affordability and geography still shape access.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Gladwin County, Michigan (2024–2025)

Headline differences vs. Michigan overall

• Older, more rural user base: Higher share of seniors and rural households lowers smartphone and unlimited-plan adoption relative to the state average.
• Coverage quality over peak speed: Users prioritize reliability and signal reach (low-band LTE/5G) over top-end 5G speeds common in metro Michigan.
• More prepaid and Android: Cost sensitivity and coverage pragmatism yield a larger prepaid/MVNO and Android share than statewide norms.
• Greater reliance on mobile for home internet where wired options are limited: Fixed wireless (T‑Mobile/Verizon) and smartphone hotspots are used more frequently outside town centers.

User estimates (order-of-magnitude, modeled from census counts and national/rural adoption rates)

• Population baseline: ~25,000 people; adult population ~20,500–21,000.
• Unique mobile phone users (all ages, smartphones + basic phones): ~20,000–23,000.
• Smartphone users (primary device owners): ~17,000–19,000 adults; including teens, ~18,500–20,500 total.
• Wireless‑only households (no landline): materially below the U.S. average; estimated ~45–55% in Gladwin County vs. ~60–70% statewide.
• Plan mix: Unlimited data plans somewhat less prevalent than in Michigan’s metros; higher share of lower-cost capped or prepaid plans.
• Device/platform mix: Android likely majority (roughly 55–65% Android, 35–45% iPhone), opposite of many Michigan metro counties where iPhone share is higher.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age
  • 18–29: Near‑universal smartphone ownership; heavier social/video usage resembles state averages.
  • 30–64: High smartphone adoption but with more price‑sensitive plans and MVNO use than state average.
  • 65+: Smartphone adoption lower than younger cohorts; basic/feature phones still present. More voice/SMS reliance and larger need for coverage boosters or Wi‑Fi calling in fringe areas.
• Income and plan choice
  • Higher prepaid/MVNO penetration than statewide, driven by budget constraints and limited need for high-speed 5G where coverage is variable.
• Work and lifestyle
  • Seasonal residents and outdoor workers emphasize coverage along lakes, forests, M‑18/M‑20/M‑30 corridors; off‑grid or fringe users often add external antennas, boosters, or rely on Wi‑Fi calling.
• App and service usage
  • Telehealth and school communications via mobile are important but can be constrained by patchy signal and data caps in the most rural pockets.
  • Video streaming on mobile is common but more likely managed via downloads/Wi‑Fi to conserve data.

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

• Radio access
  • 4G LTE is the main coverage layer countywide.
  • 5G low‑band is present on major carriers; mid‑band 5G capacity is concentrated in/near Gladwin, Beaverton, and travel corridors; mmWave is unlikely outside specific small zones (if any).
  • Signal gaps persist in wooded/lake areas and low‑density roads, especially indoors and in valleys—more pronounced than the state average.
• Carriers
  • Verizon generally provides the broadest rural reach; AT&T has solid coverage with public‑safety Band 14 in some areas; T‑Mobile has expanded low‑band and selective mid‑band 5G but still shows rural variability. Users often select carrier by address-specific performance rather than price or device ecosystem.
• Home internet overlap
  • Cable and fiber are strong in town centers; outside them, wired speeds and availability drop faster than statewide norms.
  • Fixed wireless access (T‑Mobile Home Internet, Verizon 5G/4G Home) fills many gaps; satellite (Starlink, Viasat, HughesNet) remains a fallback in the most remote parts.
• Resilience and public safety
  • Rural outage impact is higher due to fewer redundant backhaul routes; public-safety network enhancements (FirstNet/AT&T) improve coverage for first responders but don’t fully eliminate civilian dead zones.

How these differ from Michigan statewide trends

• Adoption: Smartphone and wireless‑only household rates trail the state due to older demographics and rural coverage constraints.
• Plans and devices: Higher prepaid/MVNO and Android share than metro Michigan.
• Performance: Lower average mobile speeds and fewer mid‑band 5G zones; users trade speed for reach.
• Infrastructure: Greater dependence on fixed wireless and satellite to supplement limited wired broadband outside towns.

Notes on methodology

• Estimates are derived from county population and age structure (2020 Census/ACS baselines with modest 2024 updates), combined with national smartphone adoption by age, urban–rural differentials (e.g., Pew Research), and CDC wireless‑only household trends, adjusted downward for an older, rural county. Carrier coverage and technology mix reflect typical rural mid‑Michigan deployments and public carrier disclosures as of 2024–2025. For planning or investment, validate at the address level with current FCC maps, carrier maps, and on‑site testing.

Gladwin County, MI — social media snapshot (estimates)

Context

• Population: ~25,000 (roughly 20,000 adults). Rural, older-than-average age profile; home broadband access likely ~75–80% of households.
• Sources/method: Estimates triangulated from Pew Research Center 2023–2024 U.S. social media use (with rural and age adjustments), U.S. Census age structure, and common rural-Midwest usage patterns. Treat as indicative ranges, not official counts.

User stats

• Adults using at least one social platform: ~13,000–15,000 (≈65–72% of adults).
• Daily social users: ~10,000–12,000 (≈75–80% of local social users).
• Primary access: Facebook app and YouTube on mobile; Messenger common; some mobile-only households.

Age mix (share of local social users; platform lean)

• 18–29: ~12–15% of users. Very high usage; heavy on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok; Facebook for events/groups.
• 30–49: ~25–30% of users. Broadest mix; Facebook and YouTube dominant; Instagram moderate; TikTok rising.
• 50–64: ~30–35% of users. Facebook first; YouTube strong; Pinterest popular (especially women); Instagram light.
• 65+: ~20–25% of users. Facebook and YouTube core; lighter use of others.

Gender breakdown (among local social users)

• Female: ~52–55%
• Male: ~45–48%
• Notable skews: Pinterest heavily female; Reddit and YouTube skew male; Snapchat and TikTok slightly female.

Most‑used platforms (estimated percent of adult residents using monthly)

• Facebook: 60–70% (75–85% of local social users). Groups and Marketplace are key.
• YouTube: 70–80%. Strong across ages; how‑to, repairs, hunting/fishing, local events.
• Instagram: 25–35%. Stronger under 40; used by local boutiques, salons, eateries.
• Pinterest: 25–35% overall; 40–55% of women.
• TikTok: 20–30%. Younger adults; short local/business videos gaining.
• Snapchat: 15–25%. Concentrated among teens/20s.
• X (Twitter): 10–15%. Niche for sports/news watchers.
• LinkedIn: 10–15%. Lower due to job mix; used by educators/healthcare/admin.
• Reddit: 8–12%. Hobby/tech/outdoors subs; little local focus.
• Nextdoor: 3–8%. Patchy adoption in rural areas.

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the community hub: school and road updates, local government, churches, yard sales, lost/found pets, buy/sell/trade, seasonal events (county fair, festivals).
• Marketplace matters: high engagement for vehicles, tools, outdoor gear, home goods; weekend spikes.
• Video-first growth: YouTube for DIY, small‑engine repair, home projects, outdoor recreation; Facebook Reels/TikTok for short local promos and event highlights.
• Local news gap: Many rely on Facebook groups/pages for headlines and weather/utility alerts; reposting from regional outlets is common.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is default; Snapchat for youth. WhatsApp minimal outside family groups.
• Timing: Evenings (6–10 pm) and weekend mornings show highest engagement; storm days and summer lake season drive spikes.
• Content that performs: Practical tips, limited‑time offers, giveaways, before/after photos, local faces, volunteer/fundraiser calls, and clear calls to action (“message to reserve,” “comment SOLD”).
• Misinformation risk: High resharing in groups; posts with sources and plain‑language summaries earn more trust.

Notes

• Percentages are county‑level estimates inferred from national/state patterns adjusted for Gladwin’s rural, older profile. For campaign planning, validate with page insights, small local surveys, or platform geotargeting tests (15–25‑mile radius around Gladwin/Beaverton).