Brown County

Brown County, Nebraska — key demographics (latest U.S. Census/ACS)

• Population size: 2,903 (2020 Census). Recent ACS estimates keep the county at roughly 2.9K.
• Age:
  • Median age: ~50 years
  • Under 18: ~22%
  • 18–64: ~54%
  • 65 and over: ~24%
• Gender: Male ~51%; Female ~49%
• Race/ethnicity (shares may not sum to 100% because Hispanic is an ethnicity):
  • White alone: ~94–95%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~5–7%
  • Two or more races: ~2–3%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~1%
  • Black/African American: <1%
  • Asian: <1%
• Households:
  • Total households: ~1.3K
  • Average household size: ~2.2 persons
  • Family households: ~60%; married-couple families: ~50%
  • Households with children under 18: ~25%
  • Owner-occupied housing: ~75–80%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census and 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates (rounded).

Brown County, NE email usage (estimates using Census ACS/Pew rural benchmarks):

• Estimated email users: 2,100–2,300 residents (about 70–78% of the ~3,000 population), reflecting ~75–80% internet access and ~90–95% email use among internet users.
• Age mix among email users:
  • Under 18: ~15–18% (school-driven accounts, near-universal among connected teens)
  • 18–34: ~20–25%
  • 35–54: ~30–35% (largest share)
  • 55–64: ~12–15%
  • 65+: ~12–18% (lower adoption but rising)
• Gender split: roughly even (about 49–51% each); no material gender gap in email adoption.
• Digital access trends:
  • Household broadband in the mid-to-high 70% range; notable mobile-only internet use (≈10–15% of households).
  • Email is increasingly mobile-first; older adults more likely to use PCs.
  • Connectivity gaps persist on farms/ranches; fixed wireless and satellite bridge areas lacking cable/fiber.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Very sparse: roughly 2–3 people per square mile.
  • Ainsworth is the main population center with the most robust wired options; speeds and reliability decline in outlying areas, where cellular coverage varies with distance from highways.

Below is a concise, county-focused picture built from public benchmarks (Census/ACS, FCC mobile coverage/broadband maps, Pew smartphone adoption, Nebraska PSC reports) and rural-market patterns. User estimates (Brown County, NE)

• Population baseline: roughly 2,800–3,000 residents; adults ~2,200–2,400.
• Any mobile phone users (including feature phones): about 1,900–2,200 adults.
• Smartphone users: about 1,600–1,900 adults (adoption below the state’s urban-weighted average).
• Mobile-only internet households: materially higher share than the state average (due to limited wired options outside Ainsworth/Long Pine); think “meaningfully above” state but still a minority of households.
• IoT/M2M lines: higher share than typical county average in Nebraska, driven by agriculture (irrigation pivots, telemetry, asset tracking).

Demographic breakdown and patterns that shape usage

• Age tilt: Older than Nebraska overall (notably larger 65+ share). Effects:
  • Lower smartphone adoption among seniors; more feature-phone retention.
  • Slower upgrade cycles (more 3–4+ years per device).
• Household structure: More single- or two-person households vs large family plans; fewer multi-line discounts than in metro Nebraska.
• Income/plan mix: More cost-sensitive plans and regional carrier offerings; hotspot add-ons used in lieu of wired broadband outside towns.
• Work profile: Agriculture and outdoor work drives:
  • Higher reliance on voice/SMS and PTT-like workflows where data is weak.
  • Daytime coverage needs along fields and county roads rather than only in-town.
• App/usage mix: Weather, navigation, farm management/telemetry, and Facebook/Messenger usage relatively high; video streaming on mobile more constrained by coverage/data caps than in metro areas.

Digital infrastructure points (how Brown County differs from state-level)

• Coverage pattern:
  • Solid LTE in and around Ainsworth and along major corridors (US-20, US-183); faster drop-off on gravel/section roads and in draws/river corridors compared with the state’s urban corridors.
  • 5G: Primarily low-band where present; spotty and town-centered. Far less mid-band 5G than Omaha/Lincoln/Grand Island corridors.
• Carriers:
  • Viaero Wireless has an outsized presence versus metro Nebraska; Verizon/AT&T generally usable along highways/towns; T-Mobile more variable off-corridor.
  • FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) typically tracks highways/public-safety sites; outside that, responders still rely heavily on VHF.
• Capacity/backhaul:
  • Fewer macro sites per square mile than state average; reliance on low-band spectrum for reach more than capacity.
  • Backhaul is a mix of microwave and rural fiber laterals; peak-time speeds and deprioritization more noticeable than in cities.
• Towers and build economics:
  • New greenfield towers are sparse; co-location along existing masts or water towers more common. Coverage expansion lags urban counties.
• Wired/fixed alternatives:
  • In Ainsworth/Long Pine, an independent telco/regional provider offers fiber or higher-speed options; outside town, many households fall back to DSL, fixed wireless, or mobile hotspots.
  • 5G fixed wireless/home internet is limited relative to the state’s metro markets.

What’s notably different from Nebraska overall

• Lower smartphone penetration and faster fall-off of data performance outside towns; voice/SMS reliability prioritized.
• Meaningfully higher share of mobile-only or hotspot-reliant households due to sparse wired infrastructure beyond town limits.
• Carrier mix skews more to Viaero/regional solutions; T-Mobile footprint and mid-band 5G capacity are less prevalent than the state’s urban centers.
• Higher relative share of IoT/M2M lines tied to agriculture.
• Older population pulls down countywide smartphone adoption and shortens in-app/video intensity compared with the state average.

Method/assumptions behind the estimates

• Population and age structure based on 2020 Census/ACS trends for Brown County (older median age than state).
• Smartphone adoption anchored to Pew Research national/state rural-urban splits, adjusted downward for senior-heavy mix.
• Infrastructure observations reflect FCC mobile broadband maps, Nebraska PSC broadband mapping, and typical rural carrier footprints.

Brown County, Nebraska — Social Media Snapshot (modeled, 2025)

Context

• Small, rural county (~3,000 residents) with an older-leaning age profile; internet use is widespread but not universal. No official county-level social media dataset exists; figures below are modeled from Pew Research 2024 U.S. platform adoption by age plus rural-Midwest adjustments and the county’s demographics. Treat as directional.

Overall user stats

• Adult social media penetration (18+): 60–75% use at least one platform monthly (≈1,400–1,800 adults)
• Teens (13–17): 85–95% on at least one platform (≈250–400 teens)
• Daily users (any platform): ~40–55% of adults (≈900–1,300 people)

Age breakdown (share of adult social users)

• 18–29: 12–18%
• 30–44: 20–25%
• 45–64: 30–35%
• 65+: 25–30% Notes: Older adults are highly active on Facebook; younger adults split time across Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.

Gender breakdown (adult users)

• Women: 52–56%
• Men: 44–48% Skews: Women lead on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men lead on YouTube, X (Twitter), Reddit.

Most-used platforms (adults, monthly; estimated share of adults)

• YouTube: 70–80%
• Facebook: 60–70%
• Instagram: 20–30% (higher among women 18–44)
• Pinterest: 20–30% (women 25–54)
• TikTok: 15–25% (strong under 35)
• Snapchat: 15–20% (mostly under 30)
• X (Twitter): 8–12% (male-leaning; sports/alerts)
• LinkedIn: 5–10% (limited in a rural labor mix)
• WhatsApp: 5–8% (niche)
• Reddit: 5–8% (male-leaning)
• Nextdoor: <5% (low penetration in small towns) Teens (13–17) skew: YouTube 90%+, Snapchat 70–80%, TikTok 70–80%, Instagram 50–60%, Facebook 25–35%.

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the local hub: community groups, school and high‑school sports updates, farm/ranch buy‑sell, local events, obituaries, weather/road alerts. Native photos of local people/places outperform links.
• Event-driven spikes: storms, wildfires, closures, detours, and sports results produce sharp, short engagement peaks.
• Video is utility-first: YouTube for how‑to/repair, equipment reviews, ag/weather analysis; short vertical video (Reels/TikTok) increasingly used by 18–44 for quick tips and local business promos.
• Messaging matters: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are primary coordination channels for families, teams, and volunteer groups.
• Timing: Highest engagement typically 6:30–8:30 AM, 11:30 AM–1 PM, and 7–9 PM local time; weekends show strong photo/video consumption.
• Trust cues: Local identity and community service (sponsoring school/4‑H/sports, church/community ties) drive clicks and shares. Overly polished “corporate” creative underperforms.
• Commerce: Strong response to practical offers (seasonal services, feed/supply, auto/farm repair), clear pricing, and limited‑time community fundraisers.