Carlton County Local Demographic Profile

Here are current, high-level demographics for Carlton County, Minnesota. Figures are rounded; primary source is the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2019–2023 5-year; 2023 Population Estimates).

Population size

  • Total population: about 36.5–36.7k (2023 estimate)

Age

  • Median age: ~41–42 years
  • Under 18: ~22–23%
  • 65 and over: ~19%

Gender

  • Male: ~51%
  • Female: ~49%

Race (alone)

  • White: ~84–85%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~6–7%
  • Black or African American: ~1–2%
  • Asian: ~0.6–1%
  • Two or more races: ~6–7% Ethnicity
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2–3%

Households

  • Total households: ~14.6–15.1k
  • Average household size: ~2.4–2.5
  • Family households: ~60–62% of households
  • Households with children under 18: ~26–28%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates (tables DP05, S1101) and 2023 Population Estimates.

Email Usage in Carlton County

Carlton County, MN snapshot (estimates)

  • Population: ~36–37k; adults ~28k.
  • Email users: ~24–27k adults (about 80–90% of adults), consistent with MN/US norms.

Age profile of adult email users (approx.):

  • 18–29: 95–99%
  • 30–49: 95–99%
  • 50–64: 88–94%
  • 65+: 70–85% (rising yearly)

Gender split: Essentially even (≈50/50).

Digital access and usage:

  • Households with a broadband subscription: roughly low–mid 80% (ACS-style measures).
  • Device access: ~90%+ of households have a computer and/or smartphone; an estimated 10–15% are smartphone‑only internet users.
  • Trends: Continued fiber/cable buildouts in/near towns; rural areas still lean on DSL or fixed wireless. Minnesota’s Border‑to‑Border initiatives are expanding 100/20 Mbps availability, but some rural pockets remain below state goals.

Local density/connectivity facts:

  • Low population density (well under 50 people per square mile), with residents concentrated in and around Cloquet, Scanlon, Moose Lake, and along the I‑35 corridor.
  • Best wired options in towns; mobile LTE/5G strongest along I‑35, with patchier coverage in more forested townships. Public Wi‑Fi and devices available at libraries and community centers.

Mobile Phone Usage in Carlton County

Here’s a concise, decision‑oriented snapshot of mobile phone usage in Carlton County, Minnesota, with emphasis on how it differs from statewide patterns. Figures are estimates synthesized from recent national usage benchmarks, Minnesota rural trends, and the county’s demographics and geography.

Top takeaways versus Minnesota overall

  • Slightly lower overall smartphone penetration due to an older age profile, but higher reliance on mobile as the primary internet option in rural households.
  • Coverage is strong along the I‑35 corridor (Cloquet–Scanlon–Carlton–Moose Lake) but more variable in interior townships; this creates bigger carrier-performance gaps than the state average.
  • Fixed‑wireless (5G/LTE home internet) adoption is higher than the state average in outlying areas, offsetting limited wired options.

User estimates (people and households)

  • Population baseline: ~36–37K residents; ~14–15K households.
  • People with any mobile phone: ~30–32K (≈82–86% of residents). Slightly below the MN average because of higher 65+ share.
  • Smartphone users: ~24–27K (≈65–74% of residents; ≈80–85% of mobile users). A few points below statewide.
  • Mobile‑only home internet households (no wired broadband): ~16–20% of households, notably above statewide norms (typically low‑teens).
  • Prepaid share: modestly higher than statewide, reflecting lower median income pockets and coverage‑driven carrier switching.
  • Multi‑line households: common in town centers; single‑line or hotspot‑centric setups more common in rural townships.

Demographic patterns that shape usage

  • Age: 65+ population share is higher than Minnesota’s average. This pulls down smartphone adoption and app intensity, and raises the incidence of basic/feature phones and longer device‑replacement cycles.
  • Income and housing: Household incomes trail the state average in several rural tracts; more detached housing on large lots reduces indoor signal quality without boosters and nudges some households toward fixed‑wireless or mobile‑only solutions.
  • Tribal communities: The county includes the Fond du Lac Reservation. Compared with statewide averages, tribal households are more likely to report gaps in wired broadband availability/affordability, which increases mobile‑only or hotspot‑based connectivity. Community centers and libraries are important access points.
  • Commuters and students: Along I‑35 and in Cloquet/Scanlon, commute and school needs drive higher smartphone and data‑plan intensity than surrounding rural areas.

Digital infrastructure and performance

  • Macro coverage (all carriers):
    • I‑35 corridor and towns (Cloquet, Scanlon, Carlton, Moose Lake): generally strong LTE and commercially available 5G from multiple carriers.
    • Interior/rural townships (e.g., Blackhoof, Mahtowa, Holyoke, Wrenshall areas): more dead zones and lower indoor signal; performance varies markedly by carrier.
  • 5G footprint and quality:
    • Availability: Mid‑band 5G clustered around towns and the highway; low‑band blankets wider areas but with modest speeds. Population‑based 5G availability is likely 70–80% in the county vs roughly 90%+ statewide.
    • Speeds: Mid‑band 5G in town centers commonly delivers 100–300 Mbps; rural LTE often ranges 5–30 Mbps with drops at terrain/forest edges.
  • Carrier differences (qualitative):
    • Verizon: Typically strongest rural reach and in‑building reliability away from the corridor.
    • T‑Mobile: Competitive or leading 5G mid‑band capacity in towns/along I‑35; weaker in forested interiors.
    • AT&T: Solid on the corridor and for FirstNet users; more variable off‑corridor than Verizon.
  • Fixed wireless and alternatives:
    • T‑Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G/LTE Home are available in and around towns and along I‑35; adoption is above the state average in edge‑of‑town and rural blocks.
    • Cable/fiber exist in town centers; DSL or legacy copper persists in some rural tracts, pushing households toward mobile/fixed‑wireless.
  • Public/anchor connectivity:
    • Libraries, schools, and tribal/community centers provide essential Wi‑Fi and device charging—more heavily used than statewide due to patchier residential coverage.
  • Resilience:
    • Winter storms and power outages can impact rural sites; backup power and backhaul constraints create bigger service interruptions off the corridor than typical in metro Minnesota.

Behavioral and service trends different from the state

  • Higher share of households relying on smartphones/hotspots for home internet; heavier use of data-capped or prepaid plans.
  • More frequent use of signal boosters and Wi‑Fi calling in homes and small businesses outside town centers.
  • Carrier switching is more coverage‑driven than price‑driven compared with metro Minnesota; trial SIMs and MVNOs are used to test reception.
  • Messaging and voice substitution: Text and app‑based calling are popular in weak‑signal areas; landline abandonment remains high but is partially offset by VoIP over fixed‑wireless in rural homes.

Implications for planning and outreach

  • Network investments that add mid‑band 5G sectors and rural macros between town clusters would close the county–state gap quickest.
  • Programs targeting seniors (device training, affordability options) can lift smartphone uptake.
  • Supporting fixed‑wireless backhaul and rural small‑business coverage can materially reduce the above‑average mobile‑only dependence.

Note on methodology and uncertainty

  • These figures are county‑level estimates based on Minnesota rural patterns, national adoption benchmarks, and Carlton County’s population, age, and settlement pattern. For program design or siting decisions, validate with current carrier coverage maps, Minnesota DEED broadband maps, and local surveys (libraries, schools, and the Fond du Lac community).

Social Media Trends in Carlton County

Social media in Carlton County, MN (short 2025 snapshot – estimates)

Quick stats

  • Population ~36,000; adults (18+) ~28,000
  • Home internet: roughly 80–85% of households; smartphone adoption ~85–88%
  • Adult social media users: about 22,000–23,000 (≈78–82% of adults). Including teens, total local users ≈24,000–26,000

Most‑used platforms among adults (estimated share of adults who use each)

  • YouTube: 75–85%
  • Facebook: 65–70%
  • Instagram: 33–40%
  • Pinterest: 30–35% (skews female)
  • TikTok: 28–34% (skews under 35)
  • Snapchat: 22–28% (strong with teens/20s)
  • LinkedIn: 18–25% (professionals, educators, healthcare)
  • X/Twitter: 15–20%
  • Reddit: 14–20% (skews male/younger)
  • Nextdoor: 6–12% (patchier in small towns)
  • Messaging: Facebook Messenger 55–65%; WhatsApp 9–15%

Age patterns (localized from national norms; higher = more use)

  • Teens (13–17): Near‑universal use; heavy on YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok; Instagram strong; Facebook relatively low
  • 18–29: Very high overall; top: YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok; Facebook moderate
  • 30–49: High overall; Facebook and YouTube lead; Instagram moderate; TikTok growing; Snapchat lower
  • 50–64: Solid Facebook and YouTube; lighter Instagram/TikTok
  • 65+: Majority on Facebook; YouTube moderate; others minimal

Gender breakdown

  • Social users roughly 52–55% women, 45–48% men (women slightly higher due to Facebook/Pinterest)
  • Platform skews: Pinterest (heavily female), Facebook (slight female skew), Instagram (slight female skew), Reddit and X/Twitter (male‑leaning), YouTube (slight male skew), TikTok relatively balanced

Behavioral trends observed in similar rural/small‑metro Minnesota markets (applies well to Carlton County)

  • Facebook is the community hub: city/county/school pages, local news shares, road/weather alerts, buy‑sell‑trade, lost & found
  • Marketplace is big: used vehicles, outdoor gear, DIY/home goods; evening and weekend peaks
  • Short‑form video growth: TikTok/Reels for local humor, DIY, hunting/fishing, snow/mud/road conditions, storm coverage
  • Groups > Pages for engagement: youth sports, school boosters, neighborhood/rural township groups, volunteer and church communities
  • Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger is default for families and local commerce; Snapchat dominates among teens/college‑age
  • Posting/engagement times: commuter and evening windows (7–9 am, noon hour, 7–10 pm); weather/sports/news drive spikes
  • Content that performs: practical/localized info (closings, detours, events), deals, human faces, recognizable places; plain‑spoken tone works best
  • Trust dynamics: strong word‑of‑mouth; local admin‑run groups and known organizations outperform generic brand pages
  • Advertising tips: tight geofences (10–25 miles around Cloquet/Moose Lake); interests like outdoors, hunting/fishing, DIY, youth sports, home improvement; creative with local people/landmarks beats stock imagery
  • Seasonality: winter storms and school sports drive Facebook group traffic; summer fairs/lakes/outdoors boost Instagram/TikTok

Notes on method and certainty

  • County‑level platform stats aren’t officially published. Figures above are reasoned estimates combining: Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. social media adoption by age/platform, rural vs. urban usage gaps, Minnesota broadband/smartphone adoption, and Carlton County’s age/sex mix (ACS). Treat platform percentages and counts as ranges, not exact measurements.

Sources

  • Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (U.S. adults, platform and age splits)
  • U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (Carlton County population/age/sex, 2019–2023)
  • Minnesota broadband adoption summaries and FCC broadband data (for access context)