Faribault County Local Demographic Profile

Here are concise, up-to-date demographics for Faribault County, Minnesota.

Population size

  • 2020 Census: 13,921
  • 2019–2023 ACS estimate: ≈13,500

Age

  • Median age: ≈45–46 years
  • Under 18: ~21%
  • 18–64: ~56%
  • 65 and over: ~23%

Sex

  • Male: ~50%
  • Female: ~50%

Race/ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023)

  • White (non-Hispanic): ~89%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~6–7%
  • Two or more races: ~2–3%
  • Black or African American: ~1–2%
  • Asian: ~1%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.5–1%

Households (ACS 2019–2023)

  • Total households: ≈6,000
  • Average household size: ≈2.25
  • Family households: ~60% of households
  • Nonfamily households: ~40%
  • Owner-occupied housing rate: ~78–80%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates.

Email Usage in Faribault County

Faribault County, MN snapshot (estimates)

  • Population/density: 13.5k residents across ~720 sq mi (19 people/sq mi), largely rural.
  • Email users: ~10–11k residents use email (≈78–85% of total; ≈88–92% of those age 13+).

Age mix of email users (share of users)

  • 13–17: 5–6%
  • 18–29: 12–14%
  • 30–49: 32–35%
  • 50–64: 26–28%
  • 65+: 18–22%

Gender split of users

  • Roughly even; ~51% female, ~49% male (reflecting a slightly older/female-skewed population).

Digital access and trends

  • Home broadband subscription: ~75–82% of households; trending upward with state-funded fiber expansions (Border-to-Border Broadband grants). Highest speeds most common in towns; rural edges rely more on DSL/fixed wireless.
  • Mobile: 4G/LTE widely available; 5G present in larger towns, with more variable performance in sparsely populated farm areas.
  • Device access: smartphone-only internet users likely ~10–15% of adults, influencing email via mobile clients.
  • Availability: Most residents have access to 100/20 Mbps service (>85–90%); gigabit options are expanding but concentrated near town centers.
  • Community connectivity: Libraries, schools, and civic buildings offer public Wi‑Fi that supplements rural access.

Mobile Phone Usage in Faribault County

Here’s a concise, locally tuned snapshot of mobile phone usage in Faribault County, Minnesota, emphasizing where it differs from statewide patterns. Figures are approximate ranges modeled from recent Pew/NTIA adoption baselines, FCC/MN broadband infrastructure data, and the county’s age/income profile.

Mobile user estimates

  • Population context: ~14,000 residents; ~11,000 adults; ~6,000 households.
  • Any mobile phone (of any type): roughly 93–96% of adults (about 10.2k–10.6k users).
  • Smartphone users: roughly 78–86% of adults (about 8.6k–9.5k users), a few points below Minnesota overall (~88–92%).
  • Wireless-only households (no landline): a majority, but likely a bit below the state share due to an older population mix.
  • Smartphone-only internet at home: about 10–15% of households, higher than the statewide average (roughly 7–10%), reflecting more cost-conscious connectivity and patchier fixed broadband in some rural areas.

Demographic patterns (how Faribault County differs from Minnesota overall)

  • Older adults (65+): Larger county share than MN average, with lower smartphone adoption (often 55–70%) and more basic/flip-phone use. Practical upshot: heavier reliance on voice/SMS and Wi‑Fi calling; lower use of app-heavy services without support.
  • Lower-income and cost-sensitive users: Slightly higher reliance on prepaid plans and data-capped tiers; above-average share of smartphone-only or hotspot-based home internet. The sunset of the federal ACP subsidy has had a noticeable local impact on plan affordability and continuity.
  • Younger working families and Latino/Hispanic residents: Comparable or higher smartphone reliance than state averages, with strong usage of messaging/social apps; prepaid and retail MVNOs (e.g., Straight Talk, Cricket, Metro) are common.
  • Work patterns (agriculture, trades, logistics along I‑90): Frequent use of hotspots, signal boosters, and external antennas to overcome metal buildings and field distance; reliability prioritized over top-end speeds.

Digital infrastructure highlights

  • Coverage mix by carrier:
    • Verizon and AT&T: Broad LTE/low-band 5G coverage across the county; generally strongest rural reach, with capacity drops in the most sparsely populated sections.
    • T‑Mobile: Solid in towns and along I‑90/MN corridors; mid-band 5G often concentrated in Blue Earth, Wells, and other population centers; rural gaps persist.
    • UScellular presence/roaming remains relevant near the Iowa border and in some rural pockets.
  • 5G reality check: Low-band 5G is widespread but behaves like good LTE for many users. Mid-band 5G (the real speed/capacity jump) is mostly in towns and highway corridors; mmWave is essentially absent. Net result: median mobile speeds are notably below Twin Cities and larger MN metros, with town/rural performance gaps.
  • Towers and backhaul: Fewer cell sites per square mile than metro areas; most highway/town sites are fiber-fed, but some rural sectors still rely on microwave backhaul, which constrains peak capacity and uplink.
  • In-building coverage: Metal-sided farm and commercial buildings often require boosters or Wi‑Fi calling; tree cover and river valley terrain create localized dead zones (e.g., along portions of the Blue Earth River).
  • Fixed alternatives that shape mobile behavior:
    • Fiber is strong in and around some towns (e.g., local providers like Bevcomm), but not yet wall-to-wall countywide.
    • 5G Home Internet (T‑Mobile, and to a lesser extent Verizon) is available in towns; adoption is growing where fiber/cable is limited.
    • WISPs and CBRS fixed wireless fill gaps but can be capacity/line-of-sight constrained.
  • Public safety and reliability: FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) enhancements have improved corridor coverage; text-to-911 works countywide (statewide program), but rural sector capacity can still degrade during weather events or large gatherings.

Key ways Faribault County trends differ from Minnesota statewide

  • Slightly lower overall smartphone adoption driven by an older age profile.
  • Higher share of smartphone-only/home hotspot users due to affordability and patchy fixed broadband in rural tracts.
  • Greater reliance on voice/SMS and Wi‑Fi calling; more basic/flip phones among seniors.
  • More pronounced town-versus-country performance gap: mid-band 5G capacity clustered in towns and along I‑90; rural areas see LTE/low-band 5G with lower median speeds.
  • Higher use of prepaid/MVNO plans and signal boosters; slower device refresh cycles compared with metro households.

Social Media Trends in Faribault County

Below is a concise, best-available estimate using Faribault County’s size/age profile and recent U.S./rural Midwest social media patterns (e.g., Pew Research 2024). County-level, platform-by-platform data aren’t published, so figures are estimated ranges.

Snapshot

  • Population: ~13.5–14.0K residents; older-than-average age profile.
  • Adult social media users: ~7,800–8,800 (about 70–78% of adults).
  • Teen users (13–17): ~650–800 (majority on at least one platform).

Most-used platforms among adults (share of adults using each)

  • YouTube: 78–85%
  • Facebook: 65–75%
  • Instagram: 25–35%
  • Pinterest: 25–32% (higher among women)
  • TikTok: 20–30%
  • Snapchat: 15–25% (concentrated under 35)
  • LinkedIn: 12–20% (lower in rural/labor-trades mix)
  • X (Twitter): 10–15%
  • Reddit: 8–12%
  • Nextdoor: 3–8% (patchy local adoption)

Age patterns

  • 13–17: Very high use; Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube dominant; Instagram strong; Facebook used for teams/schools but less “cool.”
  • 18–29: YouTube near-universal; Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok heavy; Facebook for events/Marketplace.
  • 30–49: Facebook central (school updates, groups, Marketplace); YouTube strong; Instagram moderate; TikTok rising.
  • 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominant; Pinterest popular; TikTok/Instagram lighter but growing.
  • 65+: Facebook for family/community; YouTube for news/how‑tos; lower on others.

Gender breakdown and tendencies

  • Overall user mix likely ~51–54% women, 46–49% men (older female Facebook/Pinterest activity nudges female share up).
  • Women: More Facebook Groups/Marketplace, Pinterest (recipes, crafts, home), Instagram.
  • Men: More YouTube (DIY, equipment, sports), Reddit, X; Facebook still widely used.

Behavioral trends (local/rural tilt)

  • Community-first usage: Heavy reliance on Facebook Groups and Pages for local news, school/sports, churches, town events, buy/sell/trade, and farm/yard equipment.
  • Marketplace utility: Facebook Marketplace is a top local commerce channel.
  • Video/how‑to: YouTube used for DIY, repairs, ag/equipment tutorials, and product research.
  • Short-form growth: TikTok gaining among under-40s; often entertainment + local happenings.
  • Messaging: Facebook Messenger is default; Snapchat for teens/young adults; WhatsApp niche.
  • Timing: Engagement peaks evenings (7–10 pm) and weekends; noon-hour bumps on weekdays.
  • Format: Photos of local people/places, short videos, and clear event info outperform links; “human” posts beat polished corporate creative.
  • Trust and reach: Local names, schools, and organizations carry outsized credibility; shares within community groups drive most organic reach.
  • Ad performance: Facebook/Instagram best for broad local reach; video (Reels/shorts) boosts recall; clear offers and phone-friendly landing pages convert better.

Notes

  • Ranges reflect national platform penetration adjusted for rural Midwest and older age mix (e.g., Pew Research Center Social Media Use in 2024). True local counts depend on group/page adoption and provider coverage.