Colfax County

Colfax County, Nebraska — key demographics (latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates, ACS 2019–2023 5-year; rounding, MOE applies)

• Population: ~10.8k (2023 estimate)
• Age:
  • Median age: ~34
  • Under 18: ~31%
  • 65 and over: ~12%
• Gender: ~52% male, ~48% female
• Race/ethnicity (of total population):
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~55%
  • White, non-Hispanic: ~40%
  • Black or African American: ~1%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~1%
  • Asian: ~1%
  • Two or more races: ~2%
• Households:
  • Total households: ~3,200
  • Average household size: ~3.3
  • Family households: ~77% of households
  • Married-couple households: ~60% of households
  • Households with children under 18: ~45–50%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates; Population Estimates Program (2023).

Colfax County, NE snapshot (pop ~10.7k; ~26 people/sq mi)

Estimated email users

• 7,500–8,500 residents age 13+ use email at least monthly.

Age patterns (share of people who use email; and approximate share of all email users)

• 13–17: 60–70% (6–10% of users)
• 18–34: 90–95% (28–32%)
• 35–54: 90–95% (34–38%)
• 55–64: 80–88% (14–18%)
• 65+: 55–70% (12–16%)

Gender split

• Roughly even: ~49–51% female/male among email users.

Digital access trends

• Household broadband subscription is typical of rural Nebraska and rising, approximately in the upper 70s to low 80s percent range.
• Growing smartphone-only access (roughly 12–18% of households), so many residents check email primarily on mobile.
• Public access points (libraries/schools) remain important for lower-income and farm households.

Local connectivity/density facts

• Better fixed broadband along the U.S. 30 corridor (e.g., Schuyler, Clarkson, Leigh); rural sections rely more on fixed wireless or satellite.
• 4G LTE is widespread; 5G availability is mainly in/near towns.
• Low population density and long driveway-to-road distances increase last‑mile costs, contributing to uneven speeds outside town centers.

Note: Figures are estimates derived from rural Nebraska and U.S. usage patterns applied to Colfax County’s size and demographics.

Colfax County, Nebraska — mobile phone usage snapshot

Overall user estimates

• Population base: roughly 10.5–11.0k residents (county seat: Schuyler). Adults are about 7.3–7.8k.
• Adult smartphone users: about 6.3–7.0k (assumes 85–90% adult adoption, boosted by a younger profile).
• Total unique mobile users (including teens): roughly 7.5–8.5k.
• Households with a cellular data plan: the clear majority; mobile-only internet households likely 28–35% here vs ~16–20% statewide, reflecting lower wireline availability/affordability outside towns.

Demographic factors shaping usage (how Colfax differs from Nebraska overall)

• Ethnicity/language: Hispanic/Latino population is a county majority or near-majority (about half or more) vs ~12% statewide. That correlates with higher use of WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Spanish-language plans/support, and somewhat higher prevalence of prepaid lines.
• Age: Median age is several years younger than the state average (low-30s vs ~37), increasing smartphone penetration and heavy mobile app use among teens and young adults.
• Income/education: Median household income and bachelor’s attainment are below the state average; paired with patchy fixed broadband, this drives more mobile-only connectivity and hotspotting for homework and work.
• Household structure: Larger, multi-generational households are more common than statewide, with multiple lines per household but sometimes shared devices.

Usage patterns and plan mix

• Prepaid share is meaningfully higher than statewide, reflecting cost control, credit constraints, and language-friendly retail channels; family plans with international calling features see above-average demand.
• Mobile-only reliance is notably higher: residents use phones for banking/remittances, school communication, and shift scheduling. Hotspot use is common where home broadband is absent or unreliable.
• Social/video: Heavier reliance on Meta apps (WhatsApp/Facebook), YouTube/TikTok for entertainment and news; data consumption spikes around school hours and plant shift changes.

Digital infrastructure points (local specifics)

• Carriers present: AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all serve the county. Coverage is strongest along US-30 and NE-15 (Schuyler corridor) and around towns such as Schuyler, Clarkson, Howells, and Leigh; north/east rural sections have spottier signal.
• 5G profile:
  • Extended-range/low-band 5G covers most populated areas outdoors.
  • Mid-band 5G (e.g., T-Mobile n41) may reach the Schuyler corridor; AT&T/Verizon mid-band (C-band) appears limited compared with metro Nebraska. Expect lower median 5G speeds than the state average (which is pulled up by Omaha/Lincoln).
• Towers/backhaul: Sites cluster near towns and along the rail/US-30 corridor, with fiber backhaul following those routes. Outside those corridors, fewer sites mean more coverage holes and slower uplink.
• Fixed broadband context: Cable and/or fiber exist in town cores (e.g., Schuyler), but many rural addresses rely on DSL, fixed wireless ISPs, or satellite; this availability gap directly increases mobile dependence.
• Community access: Libraries and schools provide critical Wi‑Fi access (often E‑Rate supported); parking-lot Wi‑Fi usage persists during off-hours for homework and forms.

How Colfax trends diverge from statewide norms

• Higher mobile-only household share and heavier hotspot use, driven by rural last‑mile gaps and cost sensitivity.
• Greater prevalence of prepaid and Spanish-language customer support needs; heavier WhatsApp adoption.
• Network performance and 5G capacity trail the state average because Nebraska’s mid-band 5G build is concentrated in larger metros; Colfax relies more on low-band 5G/LTE, except near main corridors.
• Younger population skews usage toward video/social and school-related mobile use compared with the state overall.

Notes and confidence

• Figures are best-available estimates based on 2020–2023 census/digital adoption patterns, rural network build-outs, and ACS internet-subscription trends. For planning-grade precision, validate with the latest ACS 5-year Table S2801 (Internet Subscriptions), S0101 (Age), race/ethnicity tables, and current FCC/National Broadband Map and carrier coverage updates.

Colfax County, NE social media snapshot (estimated, 2025)

User stats

• Population ~10.5–11k; adults ~7.5–8k.
• Adult social-media adoption: 78–82% (~6.0–6.5k adult users). Teens (13–17): 90%+ use at least one platform.
• Daily users: ~60–65% of residents use social daily (mostly on mobile).

Gender breakdown (among adult users)

• Approx. 52% female, 48% male.
• Skews: Facebook and Instagram slightly female-leaning; YouTube more male; Snapchat/TikTok skew female among teens and young adults.

Most-used platforms (adults; share of adults using)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 70–75%
• Facebook Messenger: 60–65%
• Instagram: 40–45%
• WhatsApp: 30–40% (higher among Spanish-speaking households)
• TikTok: 30–35%
• Snapchat: 25–30%
• X (Twitter): 18–22%
• LinkedIn: 12–15%
• Reddit: 10–12%
• Nextdoor: <5%

Age groups and usage patterns

• Teens (13–17): YouTube 90%+; Snapchat 70–80%; TikTok 65–75%; Instagram 60–70%; Facebook 20–30% (often via family).
• 18–29: Heavy on Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat; Facebook for events/groups; YouTube ubiquitous.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube dominant; Instagram moderate; TikTok rising; Messenger/WhatsApp for parenting/team chats.
• 50–64: Facebook + YouTube core; Messenger/WhatsApp common; lighter TikTok/Instagram.
• 65+: Facebook primary; YouTube for news/how‑to; limited use of other platforms.

Behavioral trends to know

• Local-first: Facebook Groups are the hub for schools, youth sports, churches, weather/road notices; Marketplace is the main buy/sell channel.
• Bilingual communication: English/Spanish content performs best; WhatsApp groups widely used for family and community coordination.
• Messaging over posting: Many conversations move to Messenger/WhatsApp group chats (neighborhoods, shift crews, teams).
• Video-first consumption: Short vertical video (Reels/TikTok) and live streams of local events outperform static posts.
• Trust and reach: Posts from schools, county/city pages, churches, and major local employers earn higher engagement and shares.
• Time-of-day peaks: Early morning (before work/school) and late evening see the most activity; weekend spikes during games and community events.
• Commerce behavior: Local services and microbusinesses rely on Facebook Pages, Marketplace, and Instagram DMs; simple payment links (Cash App/Venmo) common.
• Youth habits: Snapchat streaks, TikTok trends, and YouTube for music/how‑to; little X/Twitter adoption among teens.
• Low footprint: LinkedIn and Nextdoor usage is small; X is niche (news/sports followers).

Notes

• Figures are estimates based on Pew Research Center 2023–2024 U.S. platform adoption, rural/Midwest patterns, and Colfax County’s demographic profile (not a county-specific survey). For precision, validate with local school, library, and employer page analytics.