Douglas County

Key demographics: Douglas County, Minnesota (latest Census Bureau data)

• Population: ~39,700 (2023 estimate)
• Age:
  • Median age: ~44
  • Under 18: ~22–23%
  • 18–64: ~55–56%
  • 65 and over: ~22%
• Sex:
  • Female: ~50%
  • Male: ~50%
• Race and ethnicity (race alone unless noted; Hispanic is an ethnicity that overlaps with race):
  • White: ~94%
  • Black or African American: ~1%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.6%
  • Asian: ~0.6%
  • Two or more races: ~3%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2–3%
  • White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~92–93%
• Households:
  • Number of households: ~16,900–17,100
  • Average household size: ~2.3
  • Family households: ~60–62%
  • Married-couple families: ~48–50%

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

• Scope: Douglas County, Minnesota (pop. ~39.5k; density ~60–62 people/sq. mi.; ~16–17k households; hub: Alexandria).
• Estimated email users: ~28–30k adults (≈90–92% of 18+). Including teens, total users likely ~31–33k.
• Age distribution of email use (estimates, reflecting U.S./rural-MN patterns):
  • 18–29: 95–98%
  • 30–49: 95–98%
  • 50–64: 90–94%
  • 65+: 80–88%
• Gender split: Essentially even; male vs. female adoption differs by <2 percentage points.
• Digital access trends:
  • Broadband subscription: ~85–90% of households have a fixed broadband plan; ~90–95% have a computer/device at home.
  • Access is strongest in/around Alexandria; rural townships have more gaps.
  • Fiber footprint is expanding via local cooperatives (e.g., Gardonville) alongside cable in town; some outlying areas still rely on fixed wireless/legacy DSL.
  • Smartphone-only internet households are a minority (~8–12%), but mobile is the primary way many residents check email.
• Connectivity/local density notes:
  • Most residents live within or near Alexandria, Osakis, Brandon, and Carlos, where speeds and reliability are highest.
  • Libraries, schools, and downtown Alexandria offer public Wi‑Fi that supplements access for households without dependable service.

Mobile phone usage in Douglas County, Minnesota — summary with county–state contrasts

User estimates

• Population baseline: approximately 39–40k residents. Adults are roughly 75–80% of the population.
• Mobile phone users: about 33–36k residents use a mobile phone on a typical day.
• Smartphone users: about 29–33k residents use a smartphone.
• Rationale: Applying recent Pew Research adoption rates (cellphone ~96–97% of adults; smartphones ~86–90% of adults) to local population estimates, then adjusting slightly downward for the county’s older age profile and upward for strong tourism-driven seasonal influx.

Demographic breakdown and how it differs from Minnesota overall

• Older population share is higher than the state: Douglas County’s 65+ share is several points above Minnesota’s average. That pushes overall smartphone penetration a few points below the statewide rate and increases the share of basic/feature phones and budget Android devices relative to Minnesota’s metro counties.
• Youth and young-family share is smaller than state average: Fewer 18–34 residents than in the Twin Cities and other metro counties means slightly less early adoption of new devices and features (eSIM-only phones, wearables) than the state overall.
• Seasonal dynamics are stronger than the state average: Summer lake traffic and events around Alexandria raise active device counts and data demand on weekends and holidays more than the typical Minnesota county, with noticeable afternoon/evening congestion near recreational areas.
• Work profiles differ: More agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare shift usage toward rugged smartphones, hotspots, fleet telematics, and farm/precision-ag apps. BYOD and hotspot use during field seasons is higher than the state average.

Digital infrastructure highlights and county–state contrasts

• Radio access and coverage
  • All three national carriers (AT&T/FirstNet, Verizon, T‑Mobile) cover the county. Coverage is broadly reliable along I‑94 and in/around Alexandria, with more dead zones around lake chains, wooded areas, and low-lying terrain than typical in metro counties.
  • 5G layers: Low-band 5G (e.g., 600/700/850 MHz) is the primary layer countywide. Mid-band 5G is present but more limited than statewide averages—strongest near Alexandria and the I‑94 corridor. mmWave is negligible.
  • Practical effect: Median speeds and capacity are closer to LTE+/low-band 5G in many rural townships; mid-band peaks are available in and near Alexandria. Residents rely more on Wi‑Fi calling and in-vehicle/home signal boosters than the state average.
• Backhaul and fiber
  • The I‑94 corridor provides the strongest fiber backhaul. In the city of Alexandria, Spectrum (cable) and business fiber options are common.
  • Rural last-mile is unusually well served by local co-ops compared with many Minnesota counties: Gardonville Cooperative and neighboring telco co-ops have pushed significant fiber builds into rural areas, reducing the “farmstead gap.” This co‑op-led buildout is a differentiator versus state averages.
• Fixed wireless and home internet substitution
  • T‑Mobile Home Internet eligibility is widespread; Verizon 5G Home is available in and near Alexandria and select pockets. Uptake of cellular home internet and hotspots is higher than the statewide norm because it fills gaps between cable/fiber footprints in rural townships.
• Towers and sites
  • The county has several dozen registered towers and additional small sites on structures. Site density is lower than in metro areas, so sectors are larger; combined with lake/forest terrain, this produces more variable indoor coverage than Minnesota’s urban counties.
• Public safety
  • AT&T’s FirstNet has good coverage along highways and in population centers, with some rural enhancements added in recent years. Paging/LMR interoperability remains important for fire/EMS in fringe areas, a rural emphasis less pronounced at the state level.

What this means in practice (how Douglas County differs from Minnesota overall)

• Adoption: Overall smartphone adoption is slightly lower than the statewide rate (older population), but still very high; basic/feature phone use is more common than in metro counties.
• Performance: Speeds and capacity are more dependent on low-band 5G/LTE and terrain; mid-band 5G is less ubiquitous than the statewide average outside Alexandria.
• Seasonality: Summer/weekend congestion is more pronounced than average Minnesota counties due to tourism.
• Access mix: Higher reliance on co-op fiber where built and on fixed wireless/cellular home internet where cable/fiber are absent; this mix is more diversified than the typical Minnesota county.
• Work uses: Precision agriculture, logistics, and healthcare drive above-average use of hotspots, rugged devices, and private LTE/Wi‑Fi on farms and facilities.

Notes and sources for estimates

• Population: U.S. Census Bureau (ACS/Census 2020–2023 estimates).
• Adoption rates: Pew Research Center (recent national/state smartphone and cellphone ownership by age and community type), adjusted for county age mix.
• Coverage and infrastructure: FCC coverage and ASR data (2023–2024), Minnesota DEED broadband maps, carrier public coverage/eligibility tools, and local ISP footprints (e.g., Gardonville Cooperative, Spectrum).

Here’s a concise, data-informed snapshot for Douglas County, MN. Where exact county-level figures aren’t published, the percentages are estimates based on Pew/state benchmarks adjusted for the county’s older/rural profile and ≈40K residents.

Headline user stats

• Estimated social media users: 28–32K residents (roughly 70–80% of residents 13+)
• Skews slightly older than the U.S. average; Facebook and YouTube dominate

Most-used platforms (estimated share of residents 13+ using at least monthly)

• YouTube: 75–85%
• Facebook: 60–70%
• Instagram: 30–40%
• TikTok: 25–35%
• Snapchat: 20–30% overall; 60–75% among teens/early 20s
• Pinterest: 20–30% overall; 35–45% of women
• LinkedIn: 15–20%
• X (Twitter): 12–18%
• Reddit: 10–15% Note: Neighborhood apps (e.g., Nextdoor) exist but remain niche (<10%).

Age groups (estimated monthly social media adoption by residents in each band)

• 13–17: 90%+
• 18–29: 90–95%
• 30–44: 85–90%
• 45–64: 65–75%
• 65+: 45–55% Platform tilt by age:
• Teens/18–24: Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube; Instagram strong; Facebook minimal
• 25–44: YouTube, Facebook; Instagram steady; TikTok moderate
• 45–64: Facebook and YouTube core; Pinterest moderate (especially women)
• 65+: Facebook primary; YouTube for news/how-tos; limited Instagram/TikTok

Gender breakdown (estimated)

• Share of social media users: Women 52–56%, Men 44–48%
• Platform skew:
  • Women: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest over-index
  • Men: YouTube, Reddit, X over-index

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first: Heavy use of Facebook Groups and local Pages for school updates, local news/weather, high school sports, churches, nonprofits, and municipal info.
• Marketplace culture: Strong buy/sell/trade activity (boats, outdoor gear, vehicles, home goods), with seasonal spikes.
• Seasonal content: Summer lake season and fairs/festivals drive photo/video sharing and event discovery; winter brings more DIY/home projects (Pinterest, Facebook).
• Video preference: Short-form video (Reels/TikTok) performs well for events, new openings, and “before/after” projects.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is the default for customer inquiries; Snapchat is dominant among teens/college-age.
• Timing: Engagement tends to be higher evenings and weekends, with noticeable surges around community events and severe-weather updates.

Method note Figures are best-fit estimates using national/state usage rates adjusted for Douglas County’s demographics. For campaign planning, refine with platform audience tools (Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, Google/YouTube) and local polls to validate reach.