Sherman County

Sherman County, Nebraska — key demographics

Population

• 3,001 (2020 Decennial Census)
• 2,93x (2023 population estimate; slight decline since 2020)

Age

• Median age: ~49 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: ~21%
• 18 to 64: ~52%
• 65 and over: ~27–28%

Sex

• Male: ~51%
• Female: ~49%

Race and ethnicity (mutually exclusive; ACS 2019–2023 and 2020 Census patterns)

• Non-Hispanic White: ~92–94%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~4–6%
• All other groups combined (Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, Two or More Races, non-Hispanic): ~2–3% total, each group typically <1% individually

Households (ACS 2019–2023)

• Households: ~1,30x
• Average household size: ~2.2 persons
• Family households: ~60–65% of households
• Married-couple households: ~50–55%
• Households with children under 18: ~25%
• Nonfamily households: ~35–40%
• Living alone: ~33–35% of households; about half of these are age 65+

Key insight

• Sherman County is small and aging, with a predominantly non-Hispanic White population, modest Hispanic presence, and many smaller and nonfamily households, reflecting rural out-migration and older age structure.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates; Population Estimates Program (2023). Figures are rounded to reflect margins of error for small-population geographies.

Summary for Sherman County, Nebraska (estimates grounded in 2020 Census/ACS and national email-adoption surveys)

• Population and density: 3,001 residents across ~565 sq mi; ~5.3 people per sq mi (very low-density rural).
• Estimated email users: 2,330 residents (78% of total; reflects ~92% of adults 18+ and ~88% of teens 13–17 using email).
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 13–17: ~8%
  • 18–34: ~22%
  • 35–64: ~49%
  • 65+: ~21%
• Gender split among users: ~50% female, ~50% male, mirroring the county’s population.
• Digital access and connectivity:
  • ~76% of households subscribe to fixed broadband.
  • ~12% are smartphone‑only (no home fixed service).
  • ~12% have no home internet subscription.
  • ~90% of households have a computer and/or smartphone.
  • Fixed wireless and legacy DSL/cable serve most populated areas; fiber is primarily in town centers; 4G mobile coverage is widespread with limited 5G along main corridors.
• Trends and insights: Email is near‑universal among working‑age adults and students; adoption among seniors continues to rise. Low population density and long loop distances make fixed wireless and mobile data important, with gradual fiber infill improving reliability and speeds in town.

Mobile phone usage in Sherman County, Nebraska — 2025 snapshot

Sources and method: Figures below are modeled from the latest available American Community Survey (ACS 2023 5‑year), FCC Broadband Data Collection (2024), and recent national/rural adoption benchmarks (Pew, industry reports). County-level adoption is estimated by applying age- and rural-specific rates to the county’s demographic structure. Values are rounded; where appropriate, a plausible range or margin is shown.

County context

• Population: roughly 2,900–3,050 residents; about 1,250–1,350 households
• Age structure: notably older than Nebraska overall; seniors (65+) make up about 27–30% locally vs roughly 17% statewide
• Density: about 5–6 residents per square mile (statewide ≈27), which materially affects tower spacing and indoor coverage

User estimates (adults 18+)

• Any mobile phone (smartphone or basic): about 2,100 ±120 adult users, ≈92% of adults (Nebraska ≈95–96%)
• Smartphone users: about 1,900–2,000 adults, ≈82–86% of adults (Nebraska ≈88–90%)
• Smartphone-only home internet (households that rely on cellular data and have no fixed broadband): approximately 20–25% of households (Nebraska ≈12–15%)
• Total active mobile lines (including secondary lines, hotspots, and minors): roughly 2,700–3,000

Demographic breakdown (modeled adoption among adults)

• 18–24: ~6% of residents; smartphone adoption 96–98% (near-universal)
• 25–44: ~19% of residents; smartphone adoption 94–96%
• 45–64: ~26–27% of residents; smartphone adoption 86–90%
• 65+: ~27–30% of residents; smartphone adoption 68–72%
• Income effects: lower-income households show 5–8 percentage points lower smartphone adoption and are overrepresented among cellular-only internet users, reflecting affordability and limited fixed-broadband options

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Radio access: County coverage is anchored by macro towers on low-band spectrum (for reach) with pockets of mid-band 5G near towns/transport corridors; large agricultural tracts remain LTE/low-band 5G–only
• Typical performance:
  • LTE/low-band 5G: about 10–60 Mbps down, variable indoors at the fringes
  • Mid-band 5G (where present): roughly 100–300 Mbps down with better capacity in town centers or along major roads
• Coverage gaps: More frequent dead zones in river valleys, around shelterbelts, and inside metal farm structures; reliable indoor service often requires boosters or Wi‑Fi calling
• Backhaul: Mixed fiber and microwave; the sparse fiber plant outside towns can constrain capacity during peak periods
• Public safety: FirstNet low-band coverage is broadly present; outdoor coverage is generally reliable, but in-building performance depends on proximity to a macro site
• Alternatives: Fixed wireless access (FWA) and limited fiber exist in towns; outside town limits, many households use cellular hotspots as primary home internet

How Sherman County differs from Nebraska overall

• Lower smartphone penetration: about 4–6 percentage points below the statewide rate, driven by an older population share and affordability constraints
• Higher cellular-only reliance: roughly 5–10 points above the state average, reflecting limited fixed-broadband options outside town centers
• More LTE/low-band dependence: a smaller share of residents experience sustained mid-band 5G speeds, so median mobile speeds are lower and more variable than statewide urban/suburban areas
• Device mix and plans: higher prevalence of basic/feature phones among seniors and greater use of prepaid/value plans than the statewide profile
• Usage patterns: heavier reliance on voice/SMS for coordination and telehealth in fringe-coverage areas, with data usage peaking seasonally (e.g., harvest) where capacity is limited

Implications

• Service reliability improvements (additional macro sites or small cells, better backhaul) would translate directly into higher effective smartphone adoption and reduced cellular-only constraints
• Maintaining voice/SMS channels for public services and healthcare is critical given senior adoption patterns and spotty mid-band coverage
• Targeted affordability programs and fixed-broadband buildouts in unserved pockets would likely reduce the county’s elevated cellular-only household share

Social media usage in Sherman County, Nebraska — concise 2025 snapshot

Context and base

• Population baseline: roughly 3,000 residents; ≈2,300–2,400 adults. Rural Nebraska households typically have 70–80% home broadband and notable smartphone‑only use, shaping a mobile‑first, Facebook‑centric ecosystem.
• Important note on data: No platform publishes county‑level usage for Sherman County. Percentages below use the latest U.S. adult benchmarks (Pew Research Center, 2024), which align well with rural Great Plains patterns. Local counts are derived estimates.

Estimated user stats (adults)

• Adults using at least one social platform: ≈70–75% of adults → about 1,600–1,800 people.
• Applying Pew’s U.S. adult adoption rates to ≈2,350 adults yields approximate platform reach:
  • YouTube: 83% → ≈1,950 adults
  • Facebook: 68% → ≈1,600 adults
  • Instagram: 47% → ≈1,100 adults
  • Pinterest: 35% → ≈820 adults
  • TikTok: 33% → ≈780 adults
  • Snapchat: 27% → ≈640 adults
  • LinkedIn: ~30% → ≈700 adults
  • X (Twitter): 22% → ≈520 adults
  • Reddit: 22% → ≈520 adults
  • WhatsApp: ~21% → ≈490 adults
• Rank order locally: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram and Pinterest are mid‑tier; TikTok and Snapchat are meaningful among under‑35; X, Reddit, LinkedIn are niche.

Age groups (usage patterns)

• Teens (13–17): Heavy Snapchat and TikTok; YouTube for entertainment/how‑tos; Instagram secondary.
• 18–29: Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat lead; Facebook retained for events/family groups; YouTube daily.
• 30–49: Facebook is primary community hub; Instagram growing; YouTube for how‑tos; Pinterest common among women.
• 50–64: Facebook + YouTube core; Messenger group chats frequent; light Pinterest.
• 65+: Facebook (local news, churches, schools) and YouTube; minimal elsewhere.

Gender breakdown (directional, based on national usage skews)

• Women: More likely on Facebook and strongly over‑indexed on Pinterest; active in school/church/booster groups, events, crafts/recipes/home content.
• Men: Heavier on YouTube, Reddit, and X; follow agriculture, equipment, outdoors, and sports content.
• Instagram/TikTok: Slight female tilt; Snapchat near parity among younger users.

Most‑used platforms (percentages, U.S. adults; local adoption typically tracks these with slightly higher Facebook and slightly lower Instagram/TikTok in rural areas)

• YouTube: 83%
• Facebook: 68%
• Instagram: 47%
• Pinterest: 35%
• TikTok: 33%
• Snapchat: 27%
• LinkedIn: ~30%
• X (Twitter): 22%
• Reddit: 22%
• WhatsApp: ~21%

Behavioral trends (rural Great Plains patterns that map to Sherman County)

• Facebook Groups and local Pages are the community backbone (city/county, VFD/EMS, schools, churches, youth sports); Marketplace drives weekly logins.
• Private sharing dominates: many conversations move to Messenger group chats rather than public comments.
• Event‑centric engagement: county fairs, school sports, church fundraisers, seasonal events; posts featuring recognizable local people outperform.
• Video consumption: short vertical clips (Reels/TikTok) for quick updates; YouTube for long‑form (how‑tos, meeting recordings, ag content).
• Time‑of‑day: engagement peaks early morning, lunch, and 7–9 p.m.; weekend spikes for events and photo dumps.
• Connectivity realities: patchy broadband outside towns favors mobile‑friendly, lightweight media; large, uncompressed videos underperform.
• Trust/misinformation: locally run pages with consistent moderation earn higher engagement; election cycles and severe weather see rumor spikes and high demand for official updates.

Sources

• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (U.S. adult platform adoption percentages).
• U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (for rural NE demographics and broadband context).