Thomas County

Thomas County, Nebraska — key demographics

Population size

• 722 (2020 Decennial Census)

Age (ACS 2018–2022)

• Median age: ~52 years
• Under 18: ~20%
• 65 and over: ~28%

Gender (ACS 2018–2022)

• Male: ~53%
• Female: ~47%

Race/ethnicity (ACS 2018–2022)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~95%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~1–2%
• Other race groups each: <1%

Households (ACS 2018–2022)

• Total households: ~320
• Average household size: ~2.1–2.2
• Family households: ~64% of households (majority married-couple)
• Households with children under 18: ~24%
• Nonfamily households: ~36%
• Householder living alone: ~29%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~80%+

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates. Small-population margins of error apply.

• Population and density: ~669 residents (2020 Census) across ~714 sq mi; ~0.9 persons per sq mi.
• Estimated email users: 500 residents (75% of the population) use email at least monthly.
• Age distribution of email users (approx.): Under 18 5% (25); 18–44 32% (160); 45–64 39% (195); 65+ 24% (120).
• Gender split among email users: Male ~53% (≈265); Female ~47% (≈235).
• Digital access and trends: About three-quarters of households subscribe to a broadband service and roughly 85–90% have a computer. Connectivity is strongest in and around Thedford; many outlying areas rely on fixed wireless or satellite. Adoption is stable-to-rising but remains below state and national averages among seniors and in the most remote parts of the county.
• Key insight: Ultra-low population density raises last‑mile costs and limits fiber deployment, so mobile and fixed‑wireless connections are pivotal for everyday email access and account activity.

Mobile phone usage in Thomas County, Nebraska (2024–2025 snapshot)

Baseline

• Population: 722 (2020 Census); land area ≈714 sq mi; population density ≈1.0/sq mi, among the sparsest in Nebraska.
• Settlement: Thedford is the hub; most residents live on dispersed ranch properties across the Sandhills.

User estimates

• Individuals using a mobile phone: 560–620 residents (≈78–86% of the total population).
• Smartphone users: 470–540 residents (≈65–75% of the population).
• Feature/basic-phone users: 70–110 residents (≈10–15%); roughly 2–3× the statewide share.
• Households relying on cellular as their primary home internet (hotspots or fixed‑wireless gateways): 30–40% of households, materially higher than the Nebraska average (~18–22%).
• Multi‑line prevalence: multiple lines per household (personal + work + hotspot) are common, so active lines exceed the number of users.

Demographic breakdown

• Age 18–34: smartphone adoption ≈95%; heavy app, social, and hotspot use.
• Age 35–64: smartphone adoption ≈85–90%; strong reliance on voice/SMS for work coordination; routine hotspot use for field connectivity.
• Age 65+: smartphone adoption ≈60–70%; highest share of basic/feature phones and voice‑first usage; telehealth and emergency communications via voice/SMS are prominent.
• Youth (under 18 ≈20–25% of population): smartphone access among teens (13–17) ≈85–95%; device sharing within households is common.
• Socio‑geographic factors: predominantly non‑Hispanic White population with limited in‑county carrier competition; ranching and forestry/outdoor work patterns drive on‑the‑move connectivity needs and heavier use of boosters and vehicle-mounted antennas.

Digital infrastructure

• Coverage pattern: 4G LTE is strong along US‑2 and US‑83 corridors and around Thedford; coverage becomes patchy off‑corridor across dune swales and low valleys typical of the Sandhills.
• 5G availability: low‑band 5G overlays from national carriers are present mainly on the primary corridors and in/near Thedford; mid‑band 5G capacity sites are limited; no mmWave.
• Carriers: Verizon and AT&T generally provide the most reliable rural reach; T‑Mobile coverage is strongest along US‑2 and in town areas. Public safety coverage leverages AT&T’s FirstNet where present on the corridors.
• Backhaul: a mix of microwave links with limited fiber backhaul concentrated along the US‑2/BNSF rail corridor through Thedford; this constrains mid‑band 5G density and peak capacity outside town.
• Indoor reliability: many homes and shops depend on Wi‑Fi calling; external antennas and FCC‑certified signal boosters are commonly used on ranches and in vehicles.
• Public access: school and library Wi‑Fi in Thedford support students and residents; commercial hotspots are sparse outside town.

How Thomas County differs from Nebraska overall

• Smartphone penetration is lower: ≈65–75% of residents vs roughly 90% of Nebraska adults statewide, driven by an older age profile and coverage constraints.
• Feature‑phone use is higher: ≈10–15% vs ~5% statewide, reflecting voice‑centric needs and reliability preferences among seniors and field workers.
• Cellular as primary home internet is far more common: ≈30–40% of households vs ~18–22% statewide, due to limited cable/fiber availability and long distances to exchanges.
• Coverage is corridor‑centric: reliable service on US‑2/US‑83, markedly more variability off‑highway; statewide, metro counties enjoy broader mid‑band 5G and denser site grids.
• Provider choice is narrower: many residents have a single viable carrier at their home location, so device and plan decisions are coverage‑driven rather than price‑ or feature‑driven; urban Nebraska typically has true three‑carrier choice.
• Network features are used differently: Wi‑Fi calling, boosters, and satellite‑enabled SOS on newer phones are mainstream reliability tools locally; these are niche in metro counties.
• Capacity experience: 5G brings reach (low‑band) more than speed; Thomas County sees fewer mid‑band 5G “capacity” sites than urban Nebraska, so peak throughput and indoor penetration lag in many ranch areas.

Operational and planning notes

• Expect incremental improvements along US‑2/US‑83 and around Thedford as carriers add FirstNet-capable sectors and upgrade rural sites; wide‑area interior infill will remain slow given terrain, permitting, and very low density.
• Fixed‑wireless (licensed bands, CBRS) and satellite broadband are important complements; many households will continue to pair these with mobile hotspots for redundancy.

Thomas County, NE social media snapshot (modeled 2025 estimates)

How this was built: County population and age mix from the 2020 Census/ACS, combined with 2023–2024 Pew Research Center rural social-media adoption rates. Because direct platform stats aren’t published at the county level, treat figures as best-available estimates for Thomas County’s population size and rural profile.

User base

• Residents (2020 Census): 669
• Residents age 13+: ≈535–550
• Social media users (13+): ≈380–420 (about 70–75% of 13+)
• Gender split among users: ≈52% male, 48% female (mirrors county demographics)

Most-used platforms (share of social media users)

• YouTube: ~82–85%
• Facebook: ~70–75%
• Instagram: ~35–40%
• TikTok: ~28–33%
• Snapchat: ~24–30%
• Pinterest: ~28–32% (skews female)
• X/Twitter: ~12–18% (news, sports)
• LinkedIn: ~10–14% (small base) Note: Shares exceed 100% because most people use multiple platforms.

Age-group usage pattern (share of each age group using the platform)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube ~95%, Snapchat ~60%, TikTok ~65–70%, Instagram ~60%, Facebook ~30–35%
• 18–29: YouTube ~95%, Instagram ~70–75%, TikTok ~50–60%, Snapchat ~45–55%, Facebook ~65–70%
• 30–49: YouTube ~90%, Facebook ~80%, Instagram ~45–55%, TikTok ~30–40%, Pinterest ~35–45%
• 50–64: YouTube ~80–85%, Facebook ~70–75%, Instagram ~25–35%, TikTok ~15–25%, Pinterest ~25–35%
• 65+: Facebook ~50–55%, YouTube ~50–55%, Instagram ~12–20%, TikTok ~8–15%

Gender differences (share of men vs. women who use each platform)

• Facebook: women ~72–76%, men ~65–70%
• Instagram: women ~36–42%, men ~30–35%
• TikTok: women ~30–35%, men ~25–30%
• Pinterest: women ~40–45%, men ~15–20%
• YouTube: men ~85–88%, women ~80–84%
• X/Twitter: men ~15–20%, women ~10–15%

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the community hub: school and county pages, local sports, church/fair events, buy–sell (Marketplace), and weather/road updates drive recurring engagement.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube for how‑to, repairs, ag/ranch content; TikTok/Instagram Reels among teens and young adults for entertainment and local highlights.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is near-universal among Facebook users; SMS remains common for coordination; WhatsApp usage is modest.
• Time-of-day peaks: Evenings (7–10 pm) and lunch hours; weekend afternoons for events and sports photos.
• Commerce: Local services, farm/ranch gear, livestock listings, and seasonal work commonly promoted via Facebook and community groups.
• Professional networking is niche: LinkedIn usage is low; X/Twitter activity concentrates around state news, Husker/school sports, and weather.

Notes and sources

• Population/age structure: U.S. Census/ACS (Thomas County, NE, 2020 baseline).
• Platform adoption benchmarks: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2023–2024 (with rural/age/gender cuts).
• Figures are modeled to Thomas County’s small, rural profile; expect wide margins of error at this population size.