Dixon County

Here are key demographics for Dixon County, Nebraska (U.S. Census Bureau: 2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimates):

• Population

  • 2020 Census: ≈5,600
  • 2023 estimate: ≈5,550–5,600

• Age

  • Median age: ≈41 years
  • Under 18: ≈24–25%
  • 65 and over: ≈18–19%

• Gender

  • Male: ≈51%
  • Female: ≈49%

• Race and ethnicity (ACS, race alone unless noted; Hispanic is of any race)

  • White alone: ≈91–93%
  • White, non-Hispanic: ≈80–82%
  • Hispanic or Latino: ≈12–14%
  • Black or African American: ≈0.3–0.5%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ≈1–2%
  • Asian: ≈0.3–0.6%
  • Two or more races: ≈2–3%

• Households and housing

  • Total households: ≈2,100–2,200
  • Average household size: ≈2.6
  • Family households: ≈65–70% of households
  • Average family size: ≈3.1
  • Housing units: ≈2,300–2,500
  • Homeownership rate: ≈78–80%

Notes: Figures are rounded ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates (subject to margins of error) and 2020 Census counts where noted. If you need exact point estimates and margins of error for each metric, say the word and I’ll list them.

Dixon County, NE snapshot (estimates)

• Population baseline: ~5,600 residents. Sparse rural density ~12 people per sq. mile; towns like Ponca and Wakefield have better connectivity than outlying farms.
• Estimated email users: ~4,000–4,600 residents use email at least monthly. Method: exclude most under-13s and apply rural NE adoption rates of ~85–95% among teens/adults.
• Age pattern of email use:
  • 13–17: ~70–80% use email (often for school/accounts).
  • 18–34: ~95%+ (daily, mobile-first).
  • 35–64: ~90–95%.
  • 65+: ~70–85% (usage rising but less frequent).
• Gender split: Approximately even (county population near 50/50; no meaningful gender gap in email adoption expected).
• Digital access trends:
  • Household fixed broadband adoption likely ~60–70%, with fiber/cable concentrated in towns; many farms rely on DSL or fixed wireless.
  • Smartphone-only internet households roughly ~15–25% (typical for rural Great Plains), pushing mobile-first email.
  • 4G coverage is common; 5G/fiber expanding but with dead zones in low-density areas.
  • Public access via libraries/schools supplements service for students and lower-income households.

Notes: Figures are reasoned estimates applying national/rural Nebraska patterns to Dixon County’s size and settlement pattern; local surveys may vary.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Dixon County, Nebraska (focus on what differs from statewide patterns)

Topline estimates (modeled)

• Population baseline: about 5,600–5,800 residents, ~4,400–4,700 adults (ACS 2020–2023 range).
• Unique mobile users (any mobile phone): roughly 4,400–4,700 people.
• Smartphone users: roughly 3,900–4,200 people.
• Households primarily relying on cellular or fixed wireless for home internet: about 18–22% (higher than Nebraska’s urbanized areas), driven by limited wired options outside town centers.

How Dixon County differs from Nebraska overall

• Age-driven adoption gap: The county skews older than the state average, which depresses smartphone penetration among 65+ (often mid–50% vs statewide rates closer to low–60s). Overall smartphone share is a few points lower than Nebraska’s average.
• Carrier mix: UScellular retains a meaningful footprint and user base here—larger than in most of Nebraska—alongside Verizon, T‑Mobile, and AT&T. In metro Nebraska, UScellular presence is minimal.
• Coverage character: More low‑band 5G (600/700/850 MHz) and LTE reliance; fewer mid‑band 5G cells than in Omaha/Lincoln/Grand Island, so median speeds are lower and more variable. River bluffs and valleys near Ponca State Park create dead zones uncommon in flat urban parts of the state.
• Internet substitution: A higher share of households are mobile‑only or use cellular/fixed‑wireless as primary home internet. This increases hotspot and data‑cap sensitivity compared with the rest of Nebraska.
• Plan types and devices: Prepaid lines and longer device refresh cycles are more common than statewide averages, reflecting older demographics and lower median incomes.
• App mix: Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp usage tends to be strong relative to population size (notably in and around Wakefield’s Hispanic community), while high‑bandwidth mobile streaming is somewhat constrained by capacity/coverage compared with metro Nebraska.

Demographic breakdown (modeled usage patterns)

• Ages 18–49: Very high smartphone ownership (low‑ to mid‑90%); heaviest mobile data use; most likely to adopt T‑Mobile mid‑band 5G where available.
• Ages 50–64: Smartphone ownership around 80–85%; notable share on large‑screen devices and value/postpaid‑lite plans.
• Ages 65+: Smartphone ownership roughly 55–65% (lower than state average); higher incidence of basic phones and voice/SMS‑centric usage.
• Income and plan choice: Lower‑income households show higher prepaid uptake and mobile‑primary internet use. Spanish‑speaking households show above‑average messaging/app reliance for communication and services.

Digital infrastructure points

• Radio access
  • 5G: Predominantly low‑band coverage county‑wide; patchy mid‑band (e.g., T‑Mobile 2.5 GHz) near larger towns/along corridors; mmWave absent.
  • LTE remains the capacity workhorse, especially indoors and in valleys.
  • UScellular sites supplement coverage in farming areas where the big three have wider spacing.
• Tower geography
  • Macro sites concentrated along NE‑9, NE‑12, NE‑15, and NE‑35 and near Allen, Wakefield, Ponca, Newcastle. River bluffs toward Ponca State Park introduce shadowing; residents report dead spots on park roads and in low draws.
• Backhaul and capacity
  • Mix of fiber and microwave backhaul; non‑fibered sites can bottleneck at peak times (school dismissal, evening streaming).
  • Mid‑band 5G capacity is limited compared with Nebraska’s urban counties, keeping median speeds lower and latency higher.
• Fixed broadband context
  • Fiber/coax clusters in town centers; DSL and older coax at the edges; many outlying homes use WISPs, T‑Mobile Home Internet, or Verizon 5G/LTE home internet. This sustains higher mobile data reliance than state average.
• Public safety
  • FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) present on select sites; volunteer fire/EMS coverage is generally good on ridges/along highways but inconsistent in river valleys.
• Community access
  • Libraries and schools in towns like Ponca and Wakefield provide reliable Wi‑Fi and device charging—important for residents in fringe‑coverage areas.

Method note

• Counts are derived by applying Pew Research smartphone/cell ownership rates by age to Dixon County’s age structure (ACS/Census) and adjusting for rural differentials and carrier footprints typical of northeast Nebraska. Ranges reflect uncertainty in current-year population estimates and coverage variability.

Below is a concise, directional snapshot. County-level social media data isn’t directly published, so figures are modeled from Pew Research Center U.S. adoption rates (2023–2024), rural vs. urban differentials, Nebraska age structure, and small-town platform skews.

Headline user stats (Dixon County, NE)

• Population: ~5,500–6,000; older-leaning age mix; high household internet availability but patchy mobile coverage in spots.
• Social media users: ~3,200–3,700 residents use at least one platform (roughly 65–70% of adults; 90%+ of teens).
• Device mix: Mobile-first. Android slightly ahead of iOS; desktop used for long-form video and Marketplace.

Age mix of social media users (share of the county’s social media users)

• 13–17: 12–15% (near-universal among teens)
• 18–24: 10–12%
• 25–34: 15–18%
• 35–54: 32–36% (largest block; parents and working adults)
• 55+: 25–30% (Facebook and YouTube heavy; growing on short-form video as viewers)

Gender breakdown

• Overall users: roughly balanced, ~51% women / 49% men.
• Platform skews: Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook Groups skew female; YouTube, Reddit, and X skew male. Snapchat and TikTok skew slightly female among under-30.

Most-used platforms (share of social media users in the county)

• YouTube: 75–80% (cross-age reach; tutorials, ag/DIY, local churches, sports highlights)
• Facebook: 65–70% (Pages/Groups, school updates, events, Marketplace)
• Instagram: 35–40% (under-40 lean; Reels consumption rising)
• Snapchat: 30–35% (dominant for teens/college-age messaging)
• TikTok: 30–35% (strong <35; short-form local content, ag/rural creators)
• Pinterest: 22–27% (home, crafts, recipes; female skew)
• X (Twitter): 12–15% (low; mainly sports, news junkies)
• Reddit: 10–12% (lurking for how-to, tech, hunting/outdoors subs)
• WhatsApp: 8–12% (family/intl ties; some use in Hispanic communities)
• Nextdoor: 5–8% (limited; Facebook Groups fill the “neighborhood” role)

Behavioral trends to know

• Local info hub: Facebook Groups/Pages are primary for county news, school sports, severe weather, obituaries, road closures, church and fair updates. Messenger is a default coordination tool.
• Marketplace culture: Heavy use for buy/sell/trade (farm/ranch gear, vehicles, furniture). Cross-posting is common; responsiveness highest evenings.
• Video-first learning: YouTube is the “how-to” engine (equipment repair, home projects, hunting/fishing, recipes). Short-form video (Reels/TikTok) is growing for local promotions and sports clips.
• Youth comms: Snapchat is the day-to-day channel for teens; TikTok/IG for entertainment and local trends; YouTube for long-form.
• Posting vs. lurking: Adults 35+ post sparingly but consume heavily; younger users post stories/reels frequently but keep main feeds curated.
• Timing: Peaks around 6–8 am (weather/news), noon, and 7–10 pm. Weekend spikes for events, Marketplace, and sports; storm days drive share surges.
• Trust/signals: Word-of-mouth dynamics are strong; shares from known locals, schools, churches, and county offices carry outsized credibility. Rumor control during storms is a recurring theme.
• Advertising notes: Geofenced Facebook/Instagram ads perform well; simple creative, phone-call/text CTAs, and clear local cues (school colors, landmarks) lift response. Short vertical video helps reach under-35; static/carousel works for 40+. Boosts tied to paydays, sports seasons, planting/harvest, and county events see better ROI.
• Platform trajectory: Facebook stable but aging; YouTube entrenched; TikTok rising among <35; Instagram steady; X remains niche; Nextdoor minimal.