Adams County

Do you want 2020 Census counts or the latest ACS 5-year estimates (2019–2023)? I can provide a concise snapshot (population, age, sex, race/ethnicity, and household metrics) for your preferred source/year.

Adams County, NE snapshot (estimates)

• Population baseline: ~31,000 residents, concentrated in Hastings; sparsely populated townships outside the city.
• Email users: ~24,000–27,000 residents (≈80–88% of total). Based on ~85–90% internet adoption and near‑universal email use among internet users.
• Age distribution of email use:
  • 13–24: ~90–95%
  • 25–54: ~95%+
  • 55–64: ~88–92%
  • 65+: ~70–80% (rises where broadband and smartphones are available)
• Gender split: Roughly even; any male–female gap is small (<3 percentage points).
• Digital access trends:
  • Around four in five households have a broadband subscription (ACS 2018–2022–style estimates); smartphone‑only internet households likely ~10–15%.
  • Hastings addresses generally have cable/fiber options with 100+ Mbps; rural edges rely more on DSL or fixed wireless, with lower speeds and higher latency.
  • Growing fiber buildouts in/near Hastings and expanded fixed‑wireless coverage are narrowing gaps, but affordability and device access still limit some seniors and lower‑income households.
• Local density/connectivity facts: Most connectivity is anchored in Hastings (city ~25k). Lower rural density increases last‑mile costs, creating pockets with slower or no wired broadband, where email use depends on mobile data or public/library Wi‑Fi.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Adams County, Nebraska

Quick size and adoption (estimates)

• Population: about 31–32k; adults 24–25k.
• Adult smartphone users: roughly 20–22k (about 84–88% adoption, slightly below large-city Nebraska but high for a micropolitan county).
• Mobile-only internet households: estimated 16–22% of households, higher than the Nebraska average, reflecting patchier fixed-broadband outside Hastings and recent loss of the federal ACP subsidy.

Demographic patterns that shape usage

• Age: The county skews older than Omaha/Lincoln; older adults are less likely to own smartphones or use mobile data heavily. However, Hastings College and healthcare/retail employment produce a concentrated younger cohort in Hastings that is highly mobile-first.
• Income and education: Lower median income and lower four-year degree attainment than the state average correlate with:
  • Higher reliance on prepaid plans and budget Android devices.
  • Greater likelihood of mobile-only internet access, especially in rental housing.
• Race/ethnicity: A growing Hispanic/Latino community (notably in Hastings) is more likely than county averages to be mobile-first for home internet and to use WhatsApp/Facebook-based communications and bilingual apps.
• Rural workforce: Agriculture and trades use mobile devices for logistics, weather, and precision-ag apps; some farms and co-ops supplement with CBRS/LoRa or carrier fixed wireless where fiber/DSL is weak.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Cellular networks: Multiple national carriers provide countywide LTE and low-/mid-band 5G. Coverage is strongest in Hastings and along US‑281 and US‑6; fringe areas and low valleys can see weaker indoor signal and more band shifting.
• 5G profile: Emphasis on low-/mid-band 5G for broad coverage; ultra‑high‑band 5G is limited to small pockets (if present at all). Mid-band 5G improvements are noticeable in Hastings relative to outlying towns.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA): 4G/5G home internet is available in and around Hastings and selectively in smaller communities; it is a common substitute where cable/fiber are unavailable.
• Wireline broadband: Hastings has at least one cable or fiber provider offering gig-class service; outside town, options drop to DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite. This urban–rural step‑down is steeper than the state’s metro corridors.
• Backhaul and reliability: Most towers near Hastings have solid fiber backhaul; rural sites may still rely on microwave, which can cap capacity at busy times (harvest season, school evenings).
• Public safety and 911: Next‑generation 911 and text‑to‑911 are widely available in Nebraska; verify local status with the county’s PSAP. Coverage gaps in metal buildings and basements remain a complaint in smaller towns.

How Adams County differs from Nebraska statewide

• Higher mobile-only dependence: A larger share of households rely solely on mobile or 5G FWA for home internet than the state average.
• More prepaid and budget plans: Prepaid share is a few points higher than statewide, driven by price sensitivity and seasonal/agricultural employment.
• Slower median mobile speeds: Typical speeds trail Omaha/Lincoln corridors due to fewer mid-band 5G sectors and more users per rural sector; performance drops noticeably outside Hastings.
• Longer device replacement cycles: Households hold onto phones longer than urban Nebraska; carrier promos drive upgrades mainly in Hastings.
• Coverage variability: Strong town/corridor coverage but quicker signal degradation off main roads and in older, metal‑sheathed buildings—more pronounced than in the state’s metro counties.
• Post‑ACP shift: With federal ACP subsidies lapsed, more lower‑income households in the county have pivoted from wireline to mobile/FWA than the statewide average, widening the urban–rural gap.

Implications for planning

• Prioritize mid-band 5G sector splits and rural backhaul upgrades to stabilize evening loads.
• Expand FWA and fiber laterals to small towns near Hastings to reduce mobile-only dependence.
• Support device affordability and digital skills programs via schools, libraries, and clinics, with bilingual outreach in Hastings.
• Encourage in‑building coverage solutions for clinics, schools, and metal-structure workplaces where indoor signal is weakest.

Notes on method

• Figures are estimates based on county population, rural adoption patterns, and recent U.S. survey trends; they are meant for planning, not for regulatory reporting. For validation, cross‑check with the latest ACS, FCC Broadband Map, carrier coverage tools, and local providers.

Adams County, NE — social media snapshot (estimates, 2025)

Context note: County-level social data isn’t directly published. Figures below are directional estimates based on Pew Research Center 2024 U.S. usage, adjusted for rural Nebraska demographics, applied to a local population of roughly 31,000.

Topline user stats

• Estimated social media users (13+): about 20,000–22,000 (roughly 65–70% of residents)
• Adults (18+) using social media: 80% (18,500–19,500 people)
• Teens (13–17) using social media: 95% (2,000 people)

Age groups (estimated adoption rates)

• 13–17: ~95%
• 18–29: ~90%
• 30–49: ~84%
• 50–64: ~72–75%
• 65+: ~55–60%

Gender breakdown (patterns mirror national/rural trends)

• Overall usage: similar by gender, with women typically 2–4 points higher than men
• Female-skewing platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest
• Male-skewing platforms: YouTube, Reddit, X (Twitter)
• More neutral: TikTok, Snapchat, WhatsApp

Most-used platforms (share of residents 13+, estimated)

• YouTube: ~81%
• Facebook: ~62%
• Instagram: ~46%
• TikTok: ~33%
• Pinterest: ~31%
• Snapchat: ~27%
• WhatsApp: ~25%
• LinkedIn: ~25%
• X (Twitter): ~20%
• Reddit: ~19%
• Nextdoor: ~9–10% (limited presence; Facebook Groups dominate local forums)

Behavioral trends observed in similar rural Nebraska counties

• Facebook is the community hub: school updates, church and civic groups, local government notices, buy/sell/marketplace, event promotion (e.g., county fair, high school sports).
• Event-driven spikes: fair week, severe weather, elections, sports championships.
• Teens and college-age (Hastings area): Snapchat for messaging; TikTok/Instagram for short video, highlights, and trends.
• Small business usage: Facebook and Instagram for promotions, menus, sales; best ROI from tight geo-targeting (10–20 miles around Hastings).
• Content formats that perform: people-centric photos, short vertical video, local pride stories, giveaways, hyper-local news.
• Timing: engagement tends to peak early mornings (6–8am), evenings (7–10pm), and weekend middays; mid-afternoon weekdays are softer.
• Older residents rely on Facebook for family/community updates; YouTube for how-tos, church services, local meetings.

Source notes: Estimates derived from Pew Research Center 2024 social platform usage and U.S. rural vs. urban differences, applied to recent Census/ACS population levels for Adams County. Treat figures as directional rather than exact counts.