Barnes County

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Barnes County, ND snapshot (estimates; scaled from Census/ACS and Pew research)

• Population: 10.5–11k; low density (7–8 residents/sq mi). Most residents cluster in/near Valley City (I‑94 corridor), where connectivity is strongest.
• Estimated email users: ~8,000–9,000 (roughly 75–85% of residents). Near-universal among working-age adults; somewhat lower among the oldest residents.
• Age pattern (adoption share): 18–29: very high (95%+); 30–49: very high (90–95%); 50–64: high (85–90%); 65+: moderate-to-high (70–80%). Because the county skews older, users are roughly: 18–34: 25–30%; 35–54: 30–35%; 55–64: 15–20%; 65+: 20–25%.
• Gender split: roughly even (≈50/50), with no meaningful gap in email adoption.
• Digital access trends:
  • Home internet subscription likely ~80–85% of households; smartphone‑only access ~10–15%.
  • Faster fixed broadband (cable/fiber) concentrated in Valley City and towns; rural areas rely more on fixed‑wireless and legacy DSL.
  • Mobile 4G/5G strongest along I‑94; coverage thins in sparsely populated areas and river/valley terrain.
  • Ongoing state/federal rural broadband programs (e.g., BEAD, co‑op fiber builds) are expanding 100 Mbps+ service to remaining unserved/underserved pockets through 2028.

Implication: Email reach is broad countywide, with the main gaps tied to age (75+), income, and the most remote farm/ranch locations.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Barnes County, North Dakota

Headline estimates (order-of-magnitude, 2024–2025)

• Population baseline: about 11,000 residents (countywide).
• Adult mobile phone users (any cellphone): roughly 8,000–8,200.
• Adult smartphone users: roughly 6,900–7,200.
• Including teens (13–17), total smartphone users: about 7,500–8,200.
• Households relying on mobile data as their only internet (“mobile-only”): likely 10–13% in the county, below the statewide share.

What’s different from North Dakota overall

• Older age mix: Barnes County skews older than the state average (outside the Valley City campus area). That pulls down overall smartphone adoption and lowers the share of mobile-only internet households versus North Dakota’s statewide rates, which are buoyed by younger metros (Fargo, Grand Forks, Bismarck).
• Metro pull absent: Statewide speed and 5G adoption stats are driven by large metros; Barnes lacks a major metro, so median mobile speeds and mid-band 5G availability are likely below state medians.
• Campus-driven pockets: Valley City State University creates a localized cluster of very high smartphone and app usage and heavier 5G capacity demand in the city core, contrasting with older, lower-density townships where basic LTE/low-band 5G dominates.
• Less oilfield volatility: Unlike western ND, Barnes sees steadier network load (fewer temporary population swings), so usage peaks are more tied to school calendar and I-94 travel than to energy-sector booms.

Demographic breakdown (estimates derived from national/rural adoption patterns adjusted for an older county profile)

• By age (share with a smartphone):
  • 18–29: very high (about 92–97%)
  • 30–49: very high (about 90–95%)
  • 50–64: moderate-high (about 78–84%)
  • 65+: moderate (about 52–60%), lower than the statewide senior rate because Barnes is more rural and older
• By place in county:
  • Valley City: highest smartphone and 5G usage; more unlimited data plans; higher app intensity (video, social, campus platforms).
  • Rural townships: slightly lower smartphone penetration; more basic/feature phones among seniors; more signal-booster use in homes/shops and trucks.
• By income/tenure:
  • Mobile-only internet is lower countywide than the state (older homeowners are more likely to keep fixed broadband/phone), but among lower-income renters in Valley City, mobile-only rates can approach or exceed the statewide average.

Digital infrastructure notes (what residents and planners experience on the ground)

• Coverage and technology mix:
  • All three national carriers operate in the county. 4G LTE is effectively countywide along roads; low-band 5G is available outdoors in much of the county from at least one carrier.
  • Mid-band 5G (capacity/speed layer) is likeliest in and around Valley City and I-94 corridors; coverage thins quickly in outlying areas.
• Capacity hotspots:
  • Valley City core and the VCSU campus area, I-94 interchanges, and event venues drive peak loads; carriers typically densify these zones first.
• Terrain gaps:
  • The Sheyenne River valley and low-lying farm roads can produce dead spots or in-building attenuation; I-94 itself is generally strong.
• Backhaul and resilience:
  • Fiber backhaul runs along I-94 and to key sites; rural towers may still rely on microwave hops. AT&T’s FirstNet (Band 14) is available regionally for public safety, improving rural coverage resilience.
• Fixed wireless and substitution:
  • 5G home internet offers from national carriers are commonly eligible within Valley City and select edge communities; eligibility drops in sparse townships where low-band only is present. Where local fiber-to-the-home exists via regional co-ops, reliance on mobile as primary internet is lower than the state average.

How these estimates were derived

• Baselines use recent county population counts, Pew Research mobile/smartphone adoption by age, rural vs. urban differentials, and typical age structure for older rural ND counties. Figures are presented as ranges to reflect uncertainty without fresh, carrier-reported or ACS microdata.
• For planning or investment decisions, validate with:
  • Latest American Community Survey tables on device and internet subscription by county,
  • FCC Broadband Data Collection maps for 4G/5G and fixed broadband,
  • Carrier address-level 5G Home/FWA eligibility checkers,
  • Campus-year calendars and local events that drive peak utilization.

Below is a concise, locally tuned estimate for Barnes County, ND. County-level social media data aren’t directly published; figures use Pew Research’s latest U.S. usage rates, rural/Small-Town patterns, North Dakota’s age mix, and the presence of Valley City State University to localize ranges.

Population and user base (est.)

• Residents: ~10–11k; adults (18+): ~7.5–8.5k
• Active social media users: ~70–80% of adults ≈ 5.5–6.5k
• Smartphone-first usage dominates; desktop mostly at work/school

Most-used platforms (adult monthly reach, est.)

• YouTube: 70–80%
• Facebook: 60–70% (Groups and Messenger heavily used)
• Instagram: 30–40%
• TikTok: 25–35%
• Snapchat: 25–35% (strong under 30, incl. VCSU students)
• Pinterest: 25–35% (skews female)
• X/Twitter: 15–20% (news/sports watchers)
• LinkedIn: 10–20% (university, healthcare, education, gov)
• Nextdoor: <10% (Facebook Groups fill the “neighborhood” role)

Age mix and usage

• 18–29: ~15–20% of population; 90%+ on social; Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok; YouTube daily
• 30–49: ~25–30%; 80–90% on social; Facebook, YouTube; rising Instagram; Marketplace heavy
• 50–64: ~20–25%; 65–75% on social; Facebook, YouTube; Pinterest for projects/recipes
• 65+: ~20–25%; 40–55% on social; Facebook for family/community; YouTube for how‑to/news

Gender breakdown (est.)

• Overall users roughly 50/50
• Platform skews: Pinterest (female-heavy), Reddit/X (male-leaning), Facebook slight female tilt, Instagram near balanced

Behavioral trends

• Local-first info: Facebook Groups for weather/roads (I‑94), school and sports updates, community events, lost & found
• Marketplace culture: Buy/sell/trade for vehicles, farm/ranch gear, furniture; price sensitivity and quick responses
• Events and sports drive spikes: County fair, high‑school and VCSU athletics; photo albums, short clips, live streams perform well
• Video habits: YouTube for long-form DIY, ag, hunting/fishing; TikTok/IG Reels for quick highlights and local humor
• Messaging: Snapchat (teens/20s); Facebook Messenger (30+); group chats for teams, clubs, and churches
• Timing: Evenings 7–9 pm and early mornings 6–8 am; strong winter engagement, lighter during planting/harvest work hours
• Trust signals: Official pages (city, sheriff, DOT, schools) get high engagement; rumor control valued—posts with sources/shared from officials perform best
• Creative that works: Local faces and places, community sponsorships, giveaways, photo/video recaps, practical tips (home, auto, outdoor). Generic national creative underperforms

Notes

• Estimates reflect rural Midwest patterns adjusted for Barnes County’s older lean and university presence; use ranges for planning, then validate with page insights/ad platform reach in Valley City/Barnes County.