Benson County

Here are key demographics for Benson County, North Dakota. Unless noted, figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019–2023 American Community Survey (5-year estimates).

Population size

• Total population: ~6,600

Age

• Median age: ~29–30 years
• Under 18: ~33%
• 65 and over: ~12%

Gender

• Female: ~49%
• Male: ~51%

Race and ethnicity

• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~55–60%
• White alone: ~35–40%
• Black or African American alone: <1%
• Asian alone: <1%
• Two or more races: ~4–6%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~2–4%

Households

• Total households: ~2,100
• Average household size: ~3.1–3.2 persons
• Family households: ~75–77% of households
• Married-couple families: ~40–45%
• Female householder, no spouse: ~20–25%
• Households with children under 18: ~45–50%

Note: Figures are ACS estimates and may not sum to 100% due to rounding. For exact point estimates and margins of error, see ACS 2019–2023 tables (e.g., DP05, S0101, S1101).

Benson County, ND (pop. 6,800) is very rural (5 people per square mile) and includes much of the Spirit Lake Reservation, shaping digital access.

Estimated email users

• Adults: ~4,500. Email users: ~3,200–3,900 (70–85% of adults), reflecting rural/tribal access gaps vs. national norms.
• Gender split: roughly even (49–51%).

Age distribution among email users (est.)

• 13–17: 60–70% (school-driven accounts)
• 18–34: 90%+
• 35–64: 80–90%
• 65+: 55–70% (rising with telehealth/benefits use)

Access and device trends

• Home internet: ~70–80% of households have a subscription; 10–15% lack home internet.
• Smartphone-only users: ~15–25% rely mainly on mobile data for email.
• Devices: Smartphones are common; computer ownership trails state averages in lower‑income/remote areas.
• Connectivity: Fiber and fixed wireless are expanding via rural providers; mobile coverage is strong along main corridors but can be spotty in outlying areas.
• Affordability: The end of ACP subsidies in 2024 may reduce subscriptions among cost‑sensitive households.

Implication: Email use is widespread but constrained by affordability and last‑mile coverage; younger and working‑age adults show near‑universal adoption, with seniors closing the gap.

Summary Benson County’s mobile phone adoption is widespread but shaped by its rural geography, lower incomes, and large Native American population (Spirit Lake Nation). Compared with the North Dakota average, residents are more likely to rely on smartphones as their primary internet connection, use prepaid plans and Lifeline/ACP-style discounts, and face spottier 5G/mid-band capacity outside town centers and highways.

User estimates (order-of-magnitude, method noted below)

• Population base: roughly 6–7k residents; adult population about 4.5–5.0k.
• Adult smartphone users: approximately 3.8–4.4k (roughly 80–88% adoption, slightly below urban ND but in line with rural/low-income benchmarks).
• Households using smartphones: about 1.9–2.2k households have at least one smartphone.
• Smartphone-only internet households: likely 20–30% of households (roughly 2x the statewide share), driven by affordability and limited fixed broadband in remote areas.
• Prepaid/Lifeline share: meaningfully higher than statewide; with the 2024 ACP wind-down, expect downgrades to lower-cost plans and increased churn.

Demographic patterns that shape usage

• Native American residents: a majority in the county; nationally this group shows higher smartphone-only reliance, which is echoed locally on the reservation where fixed broadband is less consistent.
• Age: younger median age than the state overall; teens and young adults are heavy smartphone users, often depending on school or tribal Wi‑Fi for large downloads. Older adults (65+) adopt smartphones at lower rates and use more voice/SMS, but rely on mobile for telehealth due to distance to services.
• Income and device mix: lower median incomes increase use of Android and refurbished devices, prepaid plans, and hotspotting in multi‑person households.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage: All three national carriers are present. LTE is the baseline across towns and main corridors (e.g., ND‑19/ND‑20); 5G low‑band exists on corridors and near population clusters, but mid‑band 5G capacity is limited outside towns.
• Dead zones/variability: Coverage drops in low-lying areas and between small towns; tree belts and terrain around lake basins can impede signal. Off-corridor farm and prairie areas see lower throughput.
• Backhaul and towers: Fiber backhaul follows state routes; some rural sites still rely on microwave, which constrains capacity during peak hours. New small cells are sparse outside town centers and tribal/public buildings.
• Fixed alternatives: Rural telcos and tribal projects have expanded fiber and fixed wireless to parts of the county, but availability remains uneven; many households fall back to mobile hotspotting. Community Wi‑Fi (schools, libraries, tribal facilities) is an important supplement.
• Public safety: FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) coverage is present along major roads and towns; off-corridor reliability can vary during weather events.

How Benson County differs from the state average

• Higher smartphone-only reliance: A notably larger share of households depend on mobile data instead of home broadband.
• Greater prepaid/Lifeline footprint: Discounted plans and prior ACP participation have been higher; the ACP lapse has a larger impact here than statewide.
• More coverage gaps and lower 5G capacity off-corridor: ND overall has strong rural fiber and improving 5G, but Benson’s remote areas still experience dead zones and constrained mid-band capacity.
• Heavier use of public/tribal Wi‑Fi: Residents more often offload to community Wi‑Fi to manage data caps and affordability.
• Device and plan choices: Skews more toward budget Android devices, refurbished phones, and shared hotspot use in multi‑family or multi‑generational households.

Method notes and confidence

• Estimates combine 2020 Census/ACS-like county population/household counts with Pew-style national adoption rates adjusted downward for rural/low‑income areas and upward for youth share. Smartphone‑only share is inferred from ACS “computer and internet” patterns for rural counties with high Native populations and from statewide fiber availability differences.
• For precise, current figures, pull ACS table S2801 (Computer and Internet Use) for Benson County and ND; check FCC/NTIA maps for carrier 4G/5G and BEAD/Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program buildouts.

Below is a concise, best-available snapshot. Exact Benson County–only platform stats aren’t published; figures are estimates combining recent Pew Research platform usage, rural-US patterns, and North Dakota demographics.

Quick snapshot

• Population: ~6.5–7.0k; adults (18+): ~4.2–4.8k
• Adults using at least one social platform: 65–72% (2.8–3.4k people)
• Access notes: higher smartphone-only and Facebook/Messenger reliance; spotty home broadband in some areas; Spirit Lake Nation community pages are central information hubs.

Most-used platforms (adults, estimated reach; multi-home so totals >100%)

• Facebook: 60–70%
• YouTube: 65–75%
• Instagram: 30–40%
• TikTok: 25–35%
• Snapchat: 20–30% (heavily 13–29)
• X (Twitter): 10–15%
• LinkedIn: 10–15% (lower than ND metro areas)
• Nextdoor: <5% (limited presence)
• WhatsApp: 10–15% (family networks; some cross-tribal use)
• Facebook Messenger: ~55–65% (communication backbone)

Age group patterns (adults)

• 18–29: YouTube 85–90%; Instagram 70–80%; Snapchat 60–70%; TikTok 55–65%; Facebook 50–60%
• 30–49: Facebook 70–80%; YouTube 75–85%; Instagram 40–50%; TikTok 25–35%; Snapchat 25–35%
• 50–64: Facebook 70–80%; YouTube 65–75%; Instagram 20–30%; TikTok 10–20%
• 65+: Facebook 55–65%; YouTube 45–55%; others low Note: Local teens mirror national trends—very high YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat; lower Facebook.

Gender breakdown (tendencies among adults)

• Women: More active on Facebook (+5–10 points vs men), Instagram (+3–6), TikTok (+3–6), Pinterest (if used).
• Men: Higher YouTube (+8–12), Reddit (small base), X (+2–5), LinkedIn (+2–5).

Behavioral trends

• Information utility: Facebook Pages/Groups are the default for local news, weather/road closures, school and tribal announcements, public safety, and lost/found. Messenger often replaces email/text for coordination.
• Community and commerce: Heavy use of Facebook Marketplace and local buy/sell/trade groups; event promotion for powwows, school sports, county fairs, and outdoor activities (fishing/hunting).
• Video shift: Short-form video (Reels/TikTok) rising for updates, highlights, and local business promos; cross-posting is common.
• Trust and privacy: Strong engagement in closed groups; local admins and official pages are seen as credible; rumor control posts draw high interaction.
• Connectivity-aware behavior: Higher mobile consumption, off-peak viewing, and preference for shorter videos due to data limits and variable broadband.
• Seasonality and timing: Engagement spikes around storms, road conditions, and school sports; daily peaks evenings (7–10 pm CT) and midday.

Method note: Percentages are localized estimates derived from rural-US and North Dakota patterns (Pew Research 2023–2024) adjusted for county size and connectivity; use for planning, not for precise measurement.