Webster County

Webster County, Nebraska — Key Demographics (latest Census/ACS)

Population

• Total population: ~3,5oo (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimate; rounded)
• 2020 Decennial Census: ~3,5oo (small rural county; stable-to-declining long-term trend)

Age

• Median age: ~48 years
• Under 18: ~22%
• 18–64: ~54%
• 65 and over: ~24%

Sex

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023; percent of total)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~93%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~4%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~2%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~0.3%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: ~0.3%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: ~0.2%

Households and housing

• Households: ~1,6oo
• Average household size: ~2.2
• Family households: ~60% of households
• Married-couple households: ~50% of households
• One-person households: ~35–36%; living alone age 65+: ~18–19%
• Tenure: ~77–78% owner-occupied; ~22–23% renter-occupied

Insights

• Small, aging, predominantly White rural county with high homeownership, small household sizes, and a sizable share of older adults.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census and American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates (tables for total population, age/sex distribution, race/ethnicity, and household characteristics). Figures rounded for clarity.

• Population and density: Webster County, NE has roughly 3,300 residents across about 575 sq mi (≈6 people/sq mi), indicating very low population density.
• Estimated email users: ~2,600 residents use email (≈79% of total population; ≈90% of adults).
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 13–24: 17% (~440 users)
  • 25–44: 28% (~730)
  • 45–64: 32% (~830)
  • 65+: 23% (~600)
• Gender split among email users: Female 51%, Male 49% (reflecting a slightly older, more female-leaning population profile).
• Digital access and usage:
  • Households with a computer/device: ~86%
  • Households with a broadband subscription: ~74%
  • Adult smartphone ownership: ~88%
  • Smartphone-only home internet: ~11%
  • Daily email checkers among users: ~70%; multiple-account users: ~35%
• Connectivity insights:
  • Access is mixed: DSL and fixed wireless are common; fiber is available in/near town centers and along major corridors, expanding gradually.
  • Mobile LTE/5G covers most populated areas and highways, with weaker signal pockets in sparsely settled zones.
  • Lower density and an older age structure slightly depress email and broadband adoption vs. statewide urban Nebraska, but usage remains near national rural norms.

Mobile phone usage in Webster County, Nebraska — 2024 snapshot

By the numbers (best-available estimates unless noted)

• Population (2020 Census): 3,553; land area ≈ 575 sq mi; density ≈ 6.2 people/sq mi
• Adults (18+): ≈ 2,800
• Mobile phone users (any mobile device): ≈ 2,600 (≈ 93% of adults)
• Smartphone users: ≈ 2,150 (≈ 77% of adults)
• Households: ≈ 1,540
• Wireless-only households (no landline): ≈ 820 (≈ 53% of households)
• Typical median mobile speeds in population centers: 25–40 Mbps down / 3–8 Mbps up
• 4G LTE population coverage: ≈ 95–99%
• 5G population coverage: low-band ≈ 60–75%; mid-band (capacity 5G) ≈ 0–20%, mainly in/near Red Cloud

Demographic breakdown influencing mobile adoption

• Age 65+: ≈ 27% of the population; smartphone adoption ≈ 60–65%; 15–20% retain basic/feature phones; lower wireless-only rates than younger cohorts
• Ages 35–64: ≈ 37%; smartphone adoption ≈ 85–90%; high voice/SMS reliance for work and family coordination
• Ages 18–34: ≈ 16%; smartphone adoption ≈ 95%; highest data and app usage; near-universal wireless-only households in this cohort
• Income mix skews lower than the state average; prepaid share is elevated (≈ 25–30% of lines), with longer device replacement cycles (≈ 3.5–4.5 years) than urban Nebraska

Digital infrastructure and market context

• Carriers with meaningful presence: Verizon, AT&T (including FirstNet for public safety), T‑Mobile, and regional Viaero Wireless
• Coverage topology: macro towers clustered along US‑281 and US‑136; terrain and the Republican River valley create spotty service and dead zones between towns and in low-lying areas
• 5G profile: predominantly low-band 5G (broad reach, modest capacity) from AT&T and T‑Mobile; Verizon’s 5G largely via DSS on LTE bands; mid-band 5G capacity sites are limited and localized
• Backhaul: mixed fiber and microwave; non-fiber backhaul and longer tower spacing constrain peak-time capacity
• Fixed wireless and satellite: notable adoption of fixed wireless (regional WISPs, Viaero) and satellite (including Starlink) for home internet, which moderates mobile hotspot usage but keeps overall mobile data growth below urban Nebraska
• Public safety: FirstNet is a factor for prioritization during storms and wildfire events; coverage continuity favors state and US highways

How Webster County differs from Nebraska overall

• Lower smartphone penetration: ≈ 77% of adults vs a higher statewide rate driven by Omaha/Lincoln; the county’s older age structure is the key driver
• Fewer wireless-only households: ≈ 53% county vs ≈ mid‑60% statewide; seniors sustain landline retention
• Slower mobile speeds and less capacity 5G: county medians around 25–40 Mbps vs much higher statewide medians in metro corridors; limited mid-band 5G deployment suppresses peak and indoor performance
• Higher prepaid and regional-carrier usage: prepaid line share ≈ 25–30% and a measurable Viaero footprint, compared with metro areas where postpaid national carriers dominate
• More pronounced coverage gaps: shadowing in river valleys and on county roads away from highways is more common than the state average
• Device turnover is slower and plans skew to lower-cost tiers, reducing per-user data consumption relative to statewide patterns

Usage patterns and implications

• Voice and SMS remain comparatively important for older users and farm/ranch operations
• Data demand spikes seasonally (planting/harvest) and around community events; capacity pinch-points occur where backhaul is microwave-fed
• Offloading to home fixed wireless/satellite reduces reliance on mobile hotspots, but limited mid-band 5G keeps indoor performance uneven in larger homes and metal buildings

Notes on estimation

• Population counts are from the 2020 Census; adult share, wireless-only rates, and smartphone adoption are derived by applying rural-Nebraska and national benchmarks to Webster County’s older age mix and settlement pattern
• Coverage and speed figures reflect the prevailing footprint and typical rural performance in south‑central Nebraska, emphasizing conditions that differ from urban corridors in the state

Webster County, Nebraska social media snapshot (modeled 2024 estimates)

• Population baseline: ~3,500 residents; ~2,700 adults (18+).
• Social media users: ~1,800–1,950 adults (≈67–72% of adults) plus ~250–300 teens 13–17, totaling ~2,100–2,250 users countywide.

Most‑used platforms among adults (share of adults using each at least sometimes)

• YouTube: ~75%
• Facebook: ~64%
• Facebook Messenger: ~60%
• Instagram: ~33%
• Pinterest: ~31%
• TikTok: ~28%
• Snapchat: ~24%
• WhatsApp: ~13%
• X (Twitter): ~12%
• LinkedIn: ~11%
• Reddit: ~10%
• Nextdoor: ~6%

Age‑group adoption and platform patterns (share of each age group using social media; top platforms)

• Teens 13–17: 95% use social media. Leaders: YouTube (95%), Instagram (70%+), Snapchat (65–70%), TikTok (65%). Facebook usage comparatively low (30%).
• Adults 18–29: 90–95%. Leaders: YouTube (90%+), Instagram (75–80%), Snapchat (60–65%), TikTok (60%+), Facebook (60–70%).
• Adults 30–49: 85–90%. Leaders: Facebook (75–80%), YouTube (85–90%); Instagram (45–50%), Pinterest (40%), TikTok (30–35%), Snapchat (~25–30%).
• Adults 50–64: 70–75%. Leaders: Facebook (70–75%), YouTube (80%); Pinterest (30–35%), Instagram (25–30%), TikTok (20%).
• Adults 65+: 50–55%. Leaders: Facebook (60%+), YouTube (65–70%); Pinterest (15–20%), Instagram (15–20%), TikTok (10–12%).

Gender breakdown among social media users

• Overall users: ~52% women, ~48% men.
• Platform skews: Facebook (more women, ~55–60%), Pinterest (heavily women, ~70–80%), Instagram and Snapchat (slight female tilt), TikTok (slight female tilt), YouTube (slight male tilt), X/Twitter and Reddit (male‑skewed), LinkedIn (slight male tilt).

Behavioral trends observed in rural Great Plains counties of similar size, applicable to Webster County

• Facebook is the community hub: school/sports updates, church and civic groups, local government notices, buy/sell via Facebook Marketplace (farm/ranch equipment, vehicles, household).
• YouTube is utilitarian: how‑to repairs, ag equipment maintenance, DIY, weather briefings, and local sports/event streams.
• Short‑form video growth: Facebook Reels and TikTok see steady use for entertainment and local events; Instagram Reels used by younger adults and local businesses for announcements.
• Messaging norms: Facebook Messenger dominates for day‑to‑day; Snapchat common among teens/young adults; WhatsApp niche (family ties out‑of‑area).
• Timing patterns: peaks before work (6–8 a.m.) and evenings (8–10 p.m.); during planting/harvest, midday engagement dips; severe weather and school sports drive spikes.
• Discovery and conversion: users respond best to practical, hyper‑local content—hours, specials, service availability, event reminders, and posts with a clear call‑to‑action; community goodwill and sponsorships outperform generic ads.
• Platform avoidance: low Reddit/Nextdoor penetration; X/Twitter used mainly by news/sports enthusiasts and public officials; LinkedIn minimal outside hiring/professional circles.

Notes on methodology

• Figures are county‑level estimates derived from the county’s age/sex profile (ACS 2018–2022), national/rural social media adoption and platform usage rates (Pew Research Center 2023–2024), and rural Nebraska internet‑use benchmarks (NTIA/FCC). Expect a ±3–5 percentage‑point margin on platform shares and adoption rates.