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.
Table of Contents
Other Counties in Minnesota
- Aitkin
- Anoka
- Becker
- Beltrami
- Benton
- Big Stone
- Blue Earth
- Brown
- Carlton
- Carver
- Cass
- Chippewa
- Chisago
- Clay
- Clearwater
- Cook
- Cottonwood
- Crow Wing
- Dakota
- Dodge
- Douglas
- Fillmore
- Freeborn
- Goodhue
- Grant
- Hennepin
- Houston
- Hubbard
- Isanti
- Itasca
- Jackson
- Kanabec
- Kandiyohi
- Kittson
- Koochiching
- Lac Qui Parle
- Lake
- Lake Of The Woods
- Le Sueur
- Lincoln
- Lyon
- Mahnomen
- Marshall
- Martin
- Mcleod
- Meeker
- Mille Lacs
- Morrison
- Mower
- Murray
- Nicollet
- Nobles
- Norman
- Olmsted
- Otter Tail
- Pennington
- Pine
- Pipestone
- Polk
- Pope
- Ramsey
- Red Lake
- Redwood
- Renville
- Rice
- Rock
- Roseau
- Saint Louis
- Scott
- Sherburne
- Sibley
- Stearns
- Steele
- Stevens
- Swift
- Todd
- Traverse
- Wabasha
- Wadena
- Waseca
- Washington
- Watonwan
- Wilkin
- Winona
- Wright
- Yellow Medicine