Burt County

Which vintage would you like? I can provide:

• 2020 Decennial Census counts (most precise for population, sex, race, households), or
• Latest ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates (more recent, includes age distribution, household characteristics).

I can also show both side-by-side if you prefer.

• Scope: Burt County, NE has about 6.6k residents across roughly 495 sq mi (~13 people/sq mi). Population is concentrated in Tekamah, Oakland, Lyons, and Decatur; connectivity is strongest in/near towns.

• Estimated email users: 4,200–4,800 residents use email at least monthly. Basis: rural internet adoption around 80–85% of residents and email use among internet users >90%.

• Age distribution of email users (approx.):

  • 18–34: 20–25%
  • 35–64: 50–55%
  • 65+: 20–25% Rationale: older-skewing county, with slightly lower adoption in 65+ but still widespread use.

• Gender split among users: near parity, roughly 49% male / 51% female (mirrors county composition).

• Digital access trends:

  • Increasing smartphone-only households; heavier reliance on public/library and school Wi‑Fi among lower-income and older residents.
  • Fiber and fixed‑wireless expanding in towns and along major corridors; satellite remains a fallback in remote areas.
  • Coverage is strongest along US‑75 and state highways; gaps persist on farms and in river/valley terrain and sparsely populated sections.

Notes: Figures are estimates derived from rural adoption patterns and typical email usage; refine with the latest ACS/FCC county-level internet and age data if precise point values are required.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Burt County, Nebraska (focus on how it differs from statewide patterns)

How many users (estimates)

• Population baseline: ~6.6–6.8k residents (2020–2023 ACS range). Adults (18+) are roughly 5.2–5.5k.
• Any mobile phone ownership (adults): about 90–93% in a rural, older county profile ⇒ ~4.7–5.1k adult mobile users.
• Smartphone ownership (adults): about 80–85% ⇒ ~4.2–4.7k adult smartphone users.
• Teens (13–17): roughly 350–450 teens; 85–95% have smartphones ⇒ +300–420 users.
• Total smartphone users (all ages): on the order of 4.6–5.1k. How this differs from Nebraska overall:
• State-level adult smartphone ownership is closer to urban/Nebraska-wide averages (mid- to high-80s%). Burt County likely runs several points lower because of its older age structure and rural settlement pattern.
• Basic/feature phone retention is meaningfully higher in Burt County than statewide (especially among seniors).

Demographic patterns

• Age:
  • 18–34: near-state levels of smartphone adoption (≈90–95%); mobile-only internet is common in renters and younger workers.
  • 35–64: high adoption (≈88–92%), but slightly more voice/SMS-oriented plans than in metro Nebraska.
  • 65+: lower smartphone adoption (≈65–75%) and higher basic-phone use; this age mix pulls county-wide smartphone share below the state average.
• Income:
  • Median household income trails the state, which correlates with more prepaid and budget plans, mixed family plans, and tighter data caps.
  • A larger share of adults are “smartphone-dependent” for internet (i.e., have a smartphone but limited or no home broadband). Likely a few points higher than the state average due to patchier fixed broadband in the countryside.
• Education and digital skills:
  • Skill gaps among older residents are more pronounced than statewide, elevating reliance on in-person help at libraries, schools, and carrier stores.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Small minority populations mean sample sizes are limited; no strong, statistically reliable differences from statewide usage beyond what income/age explain.

Usage behaviors that differ from the state

• Higher reliance on voice/SMS and lower average monthly data usage per line than in Omaha/Lincoln.
• More conservative handset replacement cycles; refurbished and midrange Android devices are relatively common.
• Split household pattern: many younger households are mobile-only for home internet, while many senior households still keep a landline; this bimodal mix is more pronounced than statewide.
• Affordability pressures: the lapse of the federal ACP benefit in 2024 likely had outsized local impact, increasing plan downgrades and data rationing compared with metro areas.

Digital infrastructure and coverage (mobile-specific, with context)

• Carrier footprint (as of 2024 public maps and rural NE norms):
  • All three national carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T‑Mobile) provide countywide LTE; 5G is present in and around towns (Tekamah, Oakland, Lyons, Decatur) and along US‑75, with LTE fallback across farm/riverside areas.
  • Low-band 5G covers the widest area; mid-band 5G capacity is more spotty outside town centers. In practice, users see bigger speed gains in town than on rural roads.
• Performance realities vs. state:
  • Compared with Nebraska’s metro corridors, Burt County has more “edge” zones—valley and bluff areas near the Missouri River and sparsely populated sections where signals fade or drop to lower throughput.
  • Peak-time congestion is localized (school events, fairs, along US‑75), but less severe than in cities; median speeds are lower than in metros because mid-band 5G is less ubiquitous.
• Backhaul and local fiber (affects mobile quality):
  • Towns have better fiber backhaul via regional providers (e.g., Fastwyre/American Broadband, Great Plains Communications, and neighboring co-ops), which supports stronger 5G/LTE performance near towers.
  • Rural stretches rely more on microwave links or longer fiber runs; this can cap capacity compared to state urban averages.
• Public and institutional connectivity:
  • Libraries, schools, and city buildings in Tekamah, Oakland, Lyons, and Decatur serve as important Wi‑Fi anchors and device support hubs, a bigger role than in metro Nebraska.
• Cross-border dynamics:
  • Proximity to the Missouri River means some residents see Iowa-side towers during outages or in fringe zones; this improves roaming resilience but can create billing/coverage quirks.

Key takeaways vs. statewide trends

• Adoption: Slightly fewer smartphone users as a share of adults, driven by an older age profile; higher basic-phone retention.
• Affordability and plan mix: More prepaid/budget plans and data caps; ACP’s lapse likely hit harder here than in metro Nebraska.
• Internet substitution: A higher share of mobile-only internet users than the state average, counterbalanced by a sizable senior cohort that still uses landlines—producing a sharper split than seen statewide.
• Network experience: 5G is present but town-centric; LTE still does most of the work outside towns. Coverage gaps and lower mid-band density create more variability than in Nebraska’s urban counties.

Notes on method and uncertainty

• Figures are estimates synthesized from recent ACS population structure, rural adoption patterns from national surveys (e.g., Pew), and carrier coverage norms in rural Nebraska as of 2024. County-level mobile statistics aren’t published directly; ranges above reflect Burt County’s older/rural profile relative to Nebraska overall.

Below is a concise, directional snapshot of social media use in Burt County, Nebraska. Figures are estimates modeled from recent U.S./Nebraska rural benchmarks and local age structure; treat as ranges, not exact counts.

Headline numbers

• Population: ~6,600
• Estimated social media users (age 13+): 4,300–4,800 (about 64–73% of total population; 75–82% of 13+)

User mix (share of social media users)

• By age:
  • 13–17: 12–15%
  • 18–34: 26–29%
  • 35–54: 28–32%
  • 55+: 26–30%
• By gender:
  • Women: 51–53%
  • Men: 47–49%

Most-used platforms (share of social media users; overlaps expected)

• YouTube: 76–83% est.
• Facebook: 72–80% est.
• Instagram: 38–45% est.
• TikTok: 28–35% est.
• Pinterest: 28–35% est. (among women: 42–50%)
• Snapchat: 24–30% est. (concentrated 13–29)
• X (Twitter): 15–20% est.
• LinkedIn: 15–20% est.
• Reddit: 10–15% est.
• Nextdoor: 5–8% est. (limited footprint; Facebook Groups fill this role)

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the hub for community: heavy use of local groups for school updates, county fairs, church/volunteer drives, lost-and-found, obituaries, and city notices. Marketplace is very active (farm/ranch, tools, vehicles, furniture).
• YouTube is leaned on for DIY/home repair, small engines, ag practices, hunting/fishing, and Huskers/high school sports highlights; viewing skews evenings/weekends.
• Short-form video (Facebook Reels/Instagram Reels/TikTok) is rising among 18–44; much cross-posting of TikTok to Facebook.
• Snapchat is the default messenger for high school/college-age residents (private communication, event coordination, streaks) rather than public posting.
• Instagram sees lighter feed posting, heavier Stories; used by younger adults and local businesses for specials and event promos.
• Pinterest is strong among women for recipes, crafts, home projects; seasonal spikes (holidays, back-to-school, harvest).
• X is niche: weather alerts, storm spotters, state news, and sports chatter.
• LinkedIn is used by educators, healthcare/government staff, and small-business owners; job switching/networking more than content consumption.
• Trust and discovery: recommendations from known locals in Facebook groups outperform brand pages; “real local people” photos perform better than polished creative.
• Timing: engagement peaks 6–8 a.m., noon, and 7–10 p.m.; Marketplace browsing is strong on weekend mornings.

Method note

• Derived from 2023–2024 ACS age structure for small rural Nebraska counties and 2024 U.S. platform adoption (Pew and similar), adjusted for rural/older skew. County-level platform data are not directly published; ranges reflect that uncertainty.