Beltrami County Local Demographic Profile

Beltrami County, Minnesota — key demographics

Population

  • 2020 Census: ~46,200
  • 2023 estimate: ~47,800

Age

  • Median age: ~33
  • Under 18: ~24–25%
  • 65 and over: ~14–15%

Gender

  • Approximately equal; about 50% male, 50% female

Race/ethnicity (shares of total population; approximate)

  • White (non-Hispanic): ~69%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic): ~21%
  • Black (non-Hispanic): ~1–2%
  • Asian (non-Hispanic): ~1%
  • Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~5–6%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3%

Households

  • Number of households: ~18,500–19,000
  • Average household size: ~2.5–2.6
  • Family households: ~60–62% of households
  • Households with children under 18: ~28–30%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates; 2023 population estimate).

Email Usage in Beltrami County

Beltrami County, MN snapshot (estimates scaled from ACS/Pew and state data):

  • Email users: ~34–36k residents (of ~47k) use email regularly; daily checking is common among adults.
  • Age distribution (penetration within each group):
    • 13–17: ~85–90% (≈2.4–2.6k users, driven by school accounts)
    • 18–29: ~95%
    • 30–49: ~95%
    • 50–64: ~88–92%
    • 65+: ~80–85%
  • Gender split: Roughly even (≈49–51% each); usage differences by gender are minimal.
  • Digital access trends:
    • Home broadband subscription around 70–80% of households; 10–15% are smartphone‑only.
    • Fiber coverage is strong in and around Bemidji (Paul Bunyan Communications “GigaZone”), with ongoing expansion via Minnesota’s Border‑to‑Border program.
    • Outside the Bemidji hub, many areas rely on DSL/fixed wireless; speeds and reliability are more variable.
  • Local density/connectivity context:
    • Low population density (~18 people/sq. mile) and heavy tree/water coverage create last‑mile challenges.
    • Best connectivity clusters along Bemidji and US‑2/US‑71 corridors; northern/rural areas and reservation lands see more gaps.

Note: Figures are approximations derived from national/regional adoption rates applied to Beltrami’s population profile.

Mobile Phone Usage in Beltrami County

Mobile phone usage in Beltrami County, MN — what stands out versus statewide

Quick snapshot and user estimates

  • Population base: roughly 47–49k residents, anchored by the Bemidji area and several reservation communities.
  • Unique smartphone users: approximately 32k–36k people, based on rural MN ownership rates (lower than Twin Cities) applied to the county’s adult and teen population.
  • Mobile-only home internet: about 3.5k–4.5k households (roughly 18–24% of households) rely primarily on a cellular data plan for home internet—meaningfully higher than Minnesota overall (about 10–12%).
  • Plan mix: prepaid usage is measurably higher than state average—roughly 25–35% of active lines (vs ~15–20% in MN overall)—driven by lower median incomes, seasonal/temporary work, and younger users. Lifeline participation is visible; Affordable Connectivity Program wind-down in 2024 likely pushed some households to downgrade or go mobile-only.
  • Carrier tendencies (no exact shares): Verizon generally covers rural stretches best; AT&T coverage has improved with FirstNet/public-safety buildouts; T‑Mobile has strong mid-band 5G in Bemidji’s core but more variability in outlying townships.

Demographic patterns shaping usage (how Beltrami differs)

  • Higher American Indian/Alaska Native share than MN overall: This correlates with higher mobile-only reliance on and near reservations, more Lifeline usage, and coverage/performance variation tied to tribal lands where infrastructure is sparser and permitting/backhaul can be more complex.
  • Student and young-adult cluster around Bemidji: Bemidji State University and local colleges concentrate heavy app/video usage and 5G demand near campus and downtown; outside the urban core usage is more voice/text and practical data (navigation, messaging, telehealth).
  • Income and device turnover: Lower median incomes and higher poverty rates than the state average lead to greater use of prepaid plans, less frequent device upgrades, and shared-data or limited-data plans—contributing to more conservative, utility-first usage patterns.
  • Seasonal population swings: Summer tourism and lake-season traffic create episodic congestion along resort corridors and public water access points, a pattern less pronounced statewide outside other destination counties.

Digital infrastructure highlights

  • Coverage pattern:
    • Bemidji and the US‑2/US‑71 corridors see solid 4G LTE and mid-band 5G.
    • Outside town centers, coverage drops to low-band 5G/LTE with more dead zones in forested and lake-dense areas, especially in northern townships and on/near reservations.
  • Backhaul and fiber: Paul Bunyan Communications’ regional fiber (GigaZone) gives Bemidji unusually strong backhaul for small cells and macro sites compared with many rural MN counties; farther out, microwave backhaul and long fiber runs limit capacity and resiliency.
  • Public-safety networks: FirstNet buildouts have improved AT&T reliability for law enforcement/EMS, but handheld coverage gaps remain in low-density areas; agencies still lean on vehicle boosters and satellite failover in fringe zones.
  • Wi‑Fi offload: Dense public and institutional Wi‑Fi in Bemidji (campus, library, clinics, tribal/community centers) offloads traffic; outside town, Wi‑Fi options thin out, reinforcing mobile-only dependence.
  • Funding and builds: State and federal broadband programs are targeting last‑mile fiber and fixed wireless in and around tribal lands and remote townships; until those complete, carriers face higher costs to add 5G capacity off the main corridors.

Usage trends that diverge from Minnesota overall

  • Higher share of mobile-only households, tied to income, rurality, and gaps in wired broadband outside Bemidji.
  • Greater reliance on prepaid and Lifeline; ACP sunset had a sharper local effect than in metro counties.
  • Bigger urban–rural performance gap: mid-band 5G in Bemidji vs LTE/low-band elsewhere, with more dead zones than typical statewide averages.
  • Distinct Indigenous community needs and infrastructure constraints on/near reservations (rarer elsewhere in the state).
  • More pronounced seasonal and student-driven demand spikes, creating localized congestion despite overall low population density.

Practical implications

  • Carriers: Prioritize infill sites and small cells around lake corridors and tribal population centers; leverage Paul Bunyan fiber for backhaul where available; coordinate with tribal governments for siting and middle-mile.
  • Public sector/tribal partners: Maintain device/plan assistance post-ACP; expand public Wi‑Fi and emergency coverage in known dead zones; align BEAD/tribal broadband projects with cellular backhaul routes.
  • App/services teams: Optimize for low-band/LTE conditions and data caps outside Bemidji; ensure robust offline modes and low-data settings for users who are mobile-only.

Notes on estimates and confidence

  • Figures are rounded ranges derived from county population, rural smartphone adoption studies (Pew and similar), ACS device/Internet indicators, and observable coverage patterns in northern MN. Exact penetration and carrier shares vary by neighborhood; on-reservation conditions can differ markedly from adjacent townships.

Social Media Trends in Beltrami County

Beltrami County, MN social media snapshot (2025)

Context

  • Population ~47,000; adults (18+) ~36,000.
  • Mix of college-town (Bemidji State University), rural communities, and sizable American Indian populations (Red Lake Nation, Leech Lake Band). Smartphone-only internet access is common in some areas, shaping platform and content preferences.

Overall reach (adults)

  • Roughly 80–85% of adults use at least one social platform (benchmarked to U.S. averages). That’s about 29,000–31,000 people locally.

Most‑used platforms (adults), with estimated local counts Note: Percentages are U.S. adult usage rates (Pew Research Center, 2024) applied to Beltrami’s adult population; local adoption typically runs a bit higher for Facebook and a bit lower for LinkedIn/X in rural areas.

  • YouTube: 83% (30,000 adults)
  • Facebook: 68% (24,500)
  • Instagram: 47% (17,000)
  • Pinterest: 35% (12,600) – strongly female‑skewed
  • TikTok: 33% (11,900) – under‑30 skew
  • Snapchat: 30% (10,800) – under‑30 skew; teen use is higher
  • LinkedIn: 30% (10,800) – concentrated in education/health/public sector
  • WhatsApp: 26% (9,400)
  • X (Twitter): 22% (7,900) Local note: Nextdoor presence is limited outside in‑town neighborhoods; Facebook Groups fill that “neighborhood” role.

Age patterns (who uses what)

  • Teens (13–17): Snapchat and TikTok dominate; Instagram secondary; YouTube nearly universal. Facebook mainly for groups/events.
  • 18–29 (college/early career): YouTube + Instagram + Snapchat/TikTok are core; Facebook used for Marketplace, events, and community groups.
  • 30–49: Facebook + YouTube anchor use; Instagram growing; Pinterest strong among parents; TikTok moderate.
  • 50–64: Facebook primary for news/groups; YouTube for how‑to/outdoors; Pinterest moderate.
  • 65+: Facebook (church, community, health info) and YouTube; Messenger common for family comms.

Gender breakdown

  • Overall social usage is roughly even (about 50/50).
  • Platform skews:
    • More women: Facebook (daily use), Instagram, Pinterest (largest female skew).
    • More men: YouTube, Reddit, X.
    • Slight female tilt: TikTok, Snapchat. Local implication: Campaigns aimed at moms/families perform well on Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest; outdoor/DIY content performs well on YouTube and Facebook among men 25–64.

Behavioral trends to know

  • Facebook is the community hub:
    • High engagement with local news, weather/road conditions, school closings, public safety alerts (county/city/tribal agencies), and lost/found posts.
    • Facebook Groups and Marketplace are heavily used for buy/sell/trade, housing, jobs, and event coordination.
  • Short‑form video is surging:
    • TikTok/Reels/YouTube Shorts drive reach among under‑35; outdoors, fishing/ice reports, youth sports highlights, and campus life perform especially well.
  • YouTube for utility and leisure:
    • How‑to, small engine repair, hunting/fishing tactics, homesteading, and product reviews. Longer watch time than other platforms.
  • Messaging habits:
    • Facebook Messenger (cross‑generational), Snapchat (youth), and group chats for event logistics and sports teams.
  • Timing:
    • Peak local activity: early mornings (6–8 a.m.), lunch (11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.), evenings (7–10 p.m.); weekend mornings for outdoor content. Weather events cause sharp spikes on Facebook.
  • Access realities:
    • In rural and reservation areas, smartphone‑only access and variable broadband make lightweight, vertical video and concise posts more effective than large downloads or long external links.

Method and sources

  • Population: U.S. Census Bureau (ACS recent estimates).
  • Platform reach: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (applied to local adult population to estimate counts). Expect ±5–10 percentage‑point variation locally by platform due to rural/college/tribal mix.
  • Teen patterns reflect national benchmarks and typical college‑town effects; actual teen adoption for Snapchat/TikTok is higher than adult rates.