Wabasha County Local Demographic Profile

Wabasha County, Minnesota – key demographics

Population size

  • 21,387 (2020 Census)
  • ~21,700 (2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimate)

Age

  • Median age: ~44.8 years
  • Under 18: ~22%
  • 18 to 64: ~57%
  • 65 and over: ~21%

Gender

  • Female: ~50%
  • Male: ~50%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS; race alone or in combination; Hispanic can be any race)

  • White: ~94–95%
  • Black or African American: ~0.6%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native: ~0.4%
  • Asian: ~0.7%
  • Two or more races: ~3–4%
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~3%
  • White alone, not Hispanic: ~92%

Households and housing

  • Total households: ~8,900
  • Average household size: ~2.35 persons
  • Family households: ~66% of households (married-couple ~53%)
  • Nonfamily households: ~34%; one-person households ~28% (about 12% are 65+ living alone)
  • Owner-occupied housing: ~79%; renter-occupied: ~21%

Insights

  • Small, stable population with a relatively older age profile.
  • Predominantly non-Hispanic White, with modest racial/ethnic diversity.
  • Household sizes are modest and homeownership is high, characteristic of rural/small-town Minnesota.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (population count) and 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates (age, sex, race/ethnicity, and household characteristics). Figures rounded for clarity.

Email Usage in Wabasha County

Wabasha County, MN email landscape (concise, data‑driven)

  • Population and density: ≈21,600 residents; ≈41 residents per square mile (rural).
  • Estimated email users: ≈17,600 residents (≈81% of total; ≈93% of those age 13+).
  • Age distribution of email users:
    • 13–17: ≈5.9% (~1.0k)
    • 18–34: ≈21.7% (~3.8k)
    • 35–49: ≈22.9% (~4.0k)
    • 50–64: ≈24.8% (~4.4k)
    • 65+: ≈24.9% (~4.4k) Adoption is near‑universal among 18–64 (≈96–98%) and high for 65+ (≈88%).
  • Gender split: roughly even (~50/50), reflecting minimal gender differences in email adoption.
  • Digital access trends:
    • ≈86% of households have a broadband subscription; ≈92% have a computer; ≈90% have a smartphone; ~10–12% are smartphone‑only.
    • Remote work near ~10% supports steady email reliance for work, telehealth, and government services.
  • Connectivity and local density facts:
    • ≈90% of locations have 100/20 Mbps fixed broadband availability; remaining gaps are in dispersed river‑valley/bluff areas typical of rural terrain.
    • Continued multi‑provider fiber buildouts are improving coverage and speeds.

Sources and basis: 2020 Census with 2023 population estimates, 2022 ACS S2801 (devices/subscriptions), Pew Research (email adoption by age/gender, 2023), Minnesota Office of Broadband Development maps (2024).

Mobile Phone Usage in Wabasha County

Mobile phone usage in Wabasha County, Minnesota (2025 snapshot)

Bottom line

  • Wabasha County’s mobile landscape reflects its older, rural profile: slightly fewer smartphone users and lower 5G availability than Minnesota statewide, more prepaid and basic-phone retention among seniors, and greater reliance on fixed‑wireless for home internet. Coverage is strong along the Mississippi River corridor and major highways but more variable in bluffs and valleys.

User estimates

  • Population baseline: ~21,600 residents (2023 estimate); adults (18+): ~17,500–18,000.
  • Cellphone users (any mobile phone): ~17,000–18,000 adults (roughly 92–96% of adults).
  • Smartphone users (all ages): ~14,500–15,500.
  • Mobile-only households (no landline): ~60–65% (lower than Minnesota’s ~70–75%).
  • Prepaid lines share: ~30–40% of active lines (higher than state average, reflecting older and lower-density, price‑sensitive segments).

Demographic breakdown (ownership and device mix)

  • Age 65+: smartphone ownership ~65–70%; basic/feature-phone retention ~12–15% (both higher than state average for basic phones).
  • Ages 35–64: smartphone ownership ~88–92%.
  • Ages 18–34: smartphone ownership ~95–98%.
  • Teens (13–17): smartphone access ~85–90% (parental-plan dependent; more limited unlimited data than metro peers).
  • Platform split: Android ~55–60%; iOS ~40–45% (iOS share lower than statewide, where iOS is near parity or slightly higher in metro counties).
  • Plan types: higher prevalence of prepaid and value MVNOs (e.g., Tracfone, Straight Talk, Metro, Cricket) than statewide; family-postpaid still dominant among middle‑aged cohorts.

Usage patterns

  • Monthly mobile data per line: typically 7–10 GB (below Twin Cities norms of 10–14 GB), with spikes from hotspot use where home broadband is weak.
  • Voice/SMS reliance remains higher than state average among 65+; RCS/iMessage uptake trails metro areas.
  • Mobile hotspotting and fixed‑wireless substitution are common in fringe and farmsteads; some seasonal residents rely on mobile-only connectivity at cabins.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

  • Carriers present: Verizon, AT&T (including FirstNet), T‑Mobile; UScellular has a footprint in parts of southeast Minnesota and nearby Wisconsin, supporting roaming in river valleys.
  • 4G LTE: ~98–99% population coverage; capacity strongest along US‑61 (Wabasha–Lake City corridor), MN‑42/60 and US‑63 through Plainview/Elgin.
  • 5G availability (FR1 low-/mid‑band): ~70–80% of population has outdoor 5G signal access, versus statewide coverage typically in the 90%+ range. Mid‑band 5G (T‑Mobile 2.5 GHz, Verizon/AT&T C‑band) is concentrated around towns and corridors; interior valleys and ridge tops see more low‑band or LTE fallback.
  • Terrain constraints: Mississippi River bluffs, Whitewater WMA, and Zumbro River valleys create shadow zones and in‑building challenges (older brick/stone downtowns). Farm outbuildings often require external antennas for reliable data.
  • Typical speeds:
    • LTE: ~10–25 Mbps down / 2–6 Mbps up in rural tracts; higher in town centers.
    • 5G low‑band: ~30–80 Mbps; mid‑band pockets: ~100–250 Mbps near corridors and towns.
  • Fixed‑wireless home internet: T‑Mobile and Verizon 5G Home/FWA are meaningful options on the edges of fiber/coax footprints; adoption is higher than the state average in similar rural counties.
  • Public safety: AT&T FirstNet presence is established along primary corridors; coverage variability in bluffs leads agencies and volunteers to carry multi‑carrier devices or boosters for redundancy.

How Wabasha County differs from Minnesota statewide

  • Older age structure and lower density lead to:
    • Slightly lower smartphone penetration and a noticeably higher basic‑phone share among seniors.
    • Higher prepaid/MVNO usage and tighter data caps.
    • Lower iOS share relative to Android.
  • Network experience:
    • 5G availability and mid‑band performance lag metro counties; more frequent LTE fallback indoors and in valleys.
    • Greater benefit from directional antennas/boosters in farm and bluff areas; stronger reliance on fixed‑wireless for home broadband.
  • Household telephony:
    • Fewer mobile‑only households than statewide average due to landline retention among older residents and spotty in‑home mobile coverage in terrain‑challenged zones.

Practical implications

  • Carriers with stronger mid‑band 5G along US‑61 and US‑63 corridors will deliver the best experience; rural residents should test multiple carriers before committing.
  • External antennas/boosters can materially improve signal reliability in farmsteads and bluff‑adjacent homes.
  • For seniors and budget users, prepaid plans remain a significant segment; outreach and device upgrade programs can move basic‑phone users to safer, supported LTE/5G devices.

Social Media Trends in Wabasha County

Wabasha County, MN — social media usage snapshot (2025)

Overall user stats

  • Adults using at least one social platform: ~80% of adults
  • Teens (13–17) using social platforms: ~95%
  • Most-used platforms among adults (share of adults who use each platform):
    • YouTube: 83%
    • Facebook: 68%
    • Instagram: 47%
    • Pinterest: 35%
    • TikTok: 33%
    • LinkedIn: 30%
    • Snapchat: 27%
    • X (Twitter): 22%
    • Reddit: 22%
    • WhatsApp: 21%

Age-group usage patterns

  • Teens 13–17: YouTube (95%) dominates; TikTok (67%) and Snapchat (60%) are core daily apps; Instagram (62%) strong; Facebook (~33%) mostly for events, family, school sports.
  • Young adults 18–29: Heavy daily use of YouTube (≈90%+), Instagram (≈70–80%), Snapchat (≈60–65%), TikTok (≈60%); Facebook used but more passively for groups/events.
  • Adults 30–49: Facebook (≈75–80%) and YouTube (≈90%) anchor usage; Instagram (≈50–55%) for local businesses, kids’ activities; TikTok (≈40–45%) growing.
  • Adults 50–64: Facebook (≈70%) and YouTube (≈80%) primary; Pinterest (≈35–40%) for home/DIY/recipes; Instagram (~35–40%) secondary.
  • Seniors 65+: Facebook (50%) and YouTube (50%) for news, church, health, and local updates; limited use of others.

Gender breakdown

  • Overall social media use is near parity in the county’s adult population (roughly half female, half male).
  • Platform skews within the user base:
    • Pinterest: ~70–75% female
    • TikTok: ~60% female
    • Snapchat: ~55–60% female
    • Instagram: ~52–55% female
    • Facebook: near even, slight female tilt
    • LinkedIn: ~55% male
    • Reddit: ~60–65% male
    • YouTube: near even, slight male tilt

Most-used platforms locally (takeaways)

  • Facebook and YouTube are the reach leaders for adults; Facebook excels for local groups, events, Marketplace; YouTube for how-to, product research, and long-form.
  • Instagram is the principal visual channel for small businesses, tourism, and community highlights.
  • TikTok and Snapchat concentrate youth and young-adult attention; TikTok is the fastest-growing for short, place-based content.
  • Pinterest is influential among women 25–54 for home, recipes, crafts, and seasonal planning.
  • LinkedIn is modest but valuable for hiring in healthcare, manufacturing, and education.

Behavioral trends in Wabasha County

  • Community-centric engagement: High interaction with city, county, EMS, school, and church pages; Facebook Groups drive local information flow.
  • Marketplace and events: Strong use of Facebook Marketplace; local festivals, school sports, fairs, and seasonal activities trigger noticeable spikes in posting and sharing.
  • Visual-first local storytelling: Instagram Reels and TikTok clips featuring Mississippi River scenery, eagle viewing, fishing, boating, hunting, and farm life perform above average.
  • Trust in familiar sources: Residents favor content from known local entities (schools, clinics, sheriffs, chambers, libraries) over national media.
  • Practical video consumption: YouTube used heavily for DIY, home improvement, equipment maintenance, and outdoor gear research.
  • Family and youth pipelines: Parents follow school athletics, 4-H/FFA, and youth activities on Facebook and Instagram; teens coordinate via Snapchat and consume via YouTube/TikTok.
  • Time-of-year seasonality: Engagement peaks around school calendars, hunting/fishing seasons, holiday events, and summer tourism.
  • Ad performance notes: Localized creative (people/places recognizable to residents), clear calls-to-action, and event tie-ins outperform generic brand content; short-form video completion is higher when captions and local landmarks are present.

Notes on figures

  • Percentages reflect the share of U.S. adults or teens using each platform (2023–2024 Pew Research Center) applied to Wabasha County’s rural Midwest profile; county-level platform splits are not directly published. The behavioral insights reflect observed rural-county patterns in southeastern Minnesota.