Mille Lacs County Local Demographic Profile

Mille Lacs County, Minnesota — key demographics (latest available)

Population

  • Total population: ~26,700 (2023 Census estimate)
  • 2020 Census: 26,459

Age

  • Median age: ~42 years
  • Under 18: ~23%
  • 18 to 64: ~58–59%
  • 65 and over: ~19–20%

Gender

  • Male: ~50–51%
  • Female: ~49–50%

Race and ethnicity (ACS, shares may sum >100% when “alone or in combination”; Hispanic can be any race)

  • White: ~84%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~9–10%
  • Two or more races: ~4%
  • Black/African American: ~1%
  • Asian: ~0.5–1%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~2–3%

Households

  • Total households: ~10,500–10,800
  • Average household size: ~2.45–2.50
  • Family households: ~65–67% of households
  • With children under 18: ~27–29% of households
  • Nonfamily households: ~33–35%; living alone ~27–29% (age 65+ living alone ~11–13%)
  • Housing tenure: owner-occupied ~78–81%; renter-occupied ~19–22%

Insights

  • Older-than-state age profile (higher share 65+).
  • Notable American Indian/Alaska Native population relative to state average.
  • Predominantly owner-occupied, small household sizes typical of rural counties.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 Population Estimates; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Figures rounded for clarity.

Email Usage in Mille Lacs County

  • Population and density: 26,459 residents (2020 Census), ~46 people per square mile; ~10,200 households.
  • Connectivity facts: About 84% of households subscribe to broadband and ~92% have a computer (ACS Computer & Internet Use, 2017–2021). Service is strongest in and between Milaca and Princeton (cable and growing co‑op fiber), with DSL and fixed‑wireless in outlying areas; mobile 4G/5G is robust along US‑169, with patchier speeds around forested and lakeshore areas.
  • Estimated email users: ≈19,000 residents (73% of the population) use email. Method: county age structure applied to established U.S. adoption rates (Pew/NTIA): 18–64 (90% email), 65+ (75%), 13–17 (73%).
  • Age distribution of email users (share of users): 13–17 ≈7%; 18–34 ≈28%; 35–64 ≈44%; 65+ ≈21%.
  • Gender split among email users: ≈51% male, 49% female, mirroring the county’s population; usage rates are effectively equal by gender.
  • Digital access trends: High household device penetration and steadily expanding fiber raise capacity, but rural distance and seasonal lake homes temper subscription rates. Smartphone‑reliant adults (no home broadband) are a meaningful minority in rural Minnesota; expect low‑to‑mid‑teens percent locally, influencing mobile‑first email behavior.

Mobile Phone Usage in Mille Lacs County

Mobile phone usage in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota — key statistics and how they differ from statewide patterns

Scope and sources

  • Primary statistics are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s ACS 2018–2022 5‑year Computer and Internet Use (table S2801). Infrastructure notes reflect FCC mobile coverage filings and Minnesota state broadband program materials current through 2023.

User estimates and adoption

  • Households with a smartphone: 88–89% in Mille Lacs County (Minnesota: ~93%). This equates to roughly 23,000–24,000 residents living in smartphone-owning households in the county.
  • Households with a cellular data plan (for a smartphone or other mobile device): ~77–78% (Minnesota: ~87%).
  • Households with any broadband subscription (cable, fiber, DSL, fixed wireless, or cellular-only): ~81% (Minnesota: ~90%).
  • Smartphone-only internet households (smartphone present but no fixed home broadband): ~13% (Minnesota: ~8%).
  • Households with no internet subscription of any kind: ~13–14% (Minnesota: ~8%).

Demographic breakdown (county vs state)

  • By age of householder:
    • Under 35: smartphone in household ~96–98% (MN: ~98%).
    • 35–64: ~90–92% (MN: ~94–95%).
    • 65 and older: ~72–76% (MN: ~84–86%). Interpretation: The county’s overall smartphone gap vs. Minnesota is concentrated among seniors, reflecting an older age profile and affordability/device literacy barriers.
  • By income:
    • <$25k annual household income: smartphone ownership is common but reliance on smartphone-only internet is high (1 in 3 households), above the statewide rate (1 in 4).
    • $25k–$75k: smartphone ownership high (low 90s%) but fixed broadband take-up lags the state by several points, keeping smartphone-only reliance elevated.
    • $75k: near-universal smartphone ownership and fixed broadband adoption, approaching state norms.

  • Households with children under 18: near-universal smartphone presence (>95%), but a higher share than the state uses mobile as the primary or fallback connection due to patchy or costlier fixed options in parts of the county.

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

  • Network footprint: All three national carriers (AT&T/FirstNet, Verizon, T‑Mobile) provide county coverage. 4G LTE is broadly available along US‑169, MN‑23, and in population centers (Princeton, Milaca, Onamia). 5G low‑band covers most traveled corridors; mid‑band 5G (higher capacity) is concentrated in and around towns and along US‑169 and is less continuous than in metro counties.
  • Coverage gaps: More frequent dead zones and weak indoor coverage occur in forested and lake-adjacent areas, including portions around Mille Lacs Lake, Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, and low-density townships away from the highways. These gaps are more pronounced than statewide averages.
  • Capacity constraints: Seasonal and weekend congestion is common around Mille Lacs Lake recreation areas, where visitor spikes strain limited mid-band capacity; this pattern is more acute than typical statewide rural recreation counties due to the single dominant lake destination.
  • Public safety and resilience: FirstNet coverage is present on primary corridors; off-corridor redundancy is thinner than the state average. Power and backhaul outages have a larger marginal impact because sites are spaced farther apart than in metro counties.
  • Interaction with wireline buildouts: Ongoing Border-to-Border Broadband grants in adjacent and in-county townships are gradually reducing smartphone-only dependence, but the county remains several points behind the state in fixed broadband adoption, keeping mobile a primary access path for many low- and moderate-income households.

How Mille Lacs County differs from Minnesota overall

  • Lower smartphone presence at the household level (by ~4–5 percentage points) and notably lower among seniors (by ~10–12 points).
  • Substantially lower cellular data-plan penetration (by ~9–10 points), indicating more households with smartphones but without active mobile data or relying on Wi‑Fi only.
  • Higher smartphone-only internet reliance (about 5 points above the state), concentrated among lower-income and senior-led households.
  • More pronounced coverage variability: reliable along highways and in towns but with larger peripheral dead zones and weaker indoor service in lake and forest areas than the statewide pattern.
  • Greater seasonal congestion effects around a single flagship recreation area (Mille Lacs Lake), which is atypically concentrated compared to the diversified destinations that spread load in other Minnesota counties.

Bottom line Mille Lacs County is highly mobile-connected but trails Minnesota on nearly every mobile adoption and connectivity metric that depends on either capacity (mid-band 5G, dense site grids) or affordability (data plans, fixed broadband). The county’s smartphone-only internet reliance is materially higher than the state average, driven by lower fixed broadband adoption and an older age structure, while coverage and capacity are strong on major corridors yet inconsistent in low-density and recreational areas.

Social Media Trends in Mille Lacs County

Social media usage in Mille Lacs County, MN (2025 snapshot)

Population base

  • Total population: ~26,500 (2020 Census). Adults (18+): ~20,600.

Most‑used platforms among adults (estimated share using each; Pew Research Center 2024 rates applied to the county’s adult population)

  • YouTube: ~83% ≈ 17,100 adults
  • Facebook: ~68% ≈ 14,000
  • Instagram: ~47% ≈ 9,700
  • Pinterest: ~35% ≈ 7,200
  • TikTok: ~33% ≈ 6,800
  • Snapchat: ~27% ≈ 5,600
  • LinkedIn: ~30% ≈ 6,200
  • X (Twitter): ~22% ≈ 4,500

Age breakdown (usage of at least one major platform)

  • 18–29: ~95% use social media; heavy on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat; YouTube near‑universal.
  • 30–49: ~90%; Facebook and Instagram strong; YouTube universal; TikTok adoption growing.
  • 50–64: ~75%; Facebook and YouTube dominate; Pinterest notable among women.
  • 65+: ~55%; YouTube and Facebook lead; lighter use of Instagram/TikTok.

Gender breakdown

  • Adult population is roughly balanced (≈49% women, 51% men). Among active social media users, women account for a slight majority (~52–53%) due to higher use of Facebook and Pinterest; men over‑index on YouTube and Reddit/X.

Behavioral trends and local patterns

  • Community coordination: Facebook Groups and Pages are central for school district updates, local government, lake/ice conditions, buy/sell/Marketplace, and event announcements.
  • Video‑first consumption: Short‑form video (Reels/TikTok) drives discovery; YouTube remains the go‑to for how‑to, repairs, outdoors (fishing/hunting), and local sports highlights.
  • Messaging: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are widely used for family, team, and group coordination.
  • Seasonality: Engagement spikes around the fishing opener, hunting seasons, county fairs, back‑to‑school, and severe‑weather events.
  • Timing: Highest engagement typically in the evening (7–9 pm) and early morning (6–8 am); weekend mid‑day performs well for outdoor and events content.
  • Commerce: Small businesses rely on Facebook/Instagram for reach; boosted posts and event listings work well within a 15–30 mile radius of Princeton, Milaca, Isle/Onamia, and around Mille Lacs Lake.

Notes on method

  • Platform percentages are from Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. adult usage and applied to Mille Lacs County’s 18+ population to produce locally scaled estimates. Local adoption can vary by a few percentage points.
  • Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020/2023 estimates); Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024.