Burke County

To ensure accuracy, do you want the latest Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2019–2023, best for small counties) or the 2020 Decennial Census counts? I’ll provide total population, age (median, under 18, 65+), sex split, race/ethnicity, number of households, average household size, and family vs. nonfamily shares.

Burke County, ND snapshot

• Estimated email users: ~1,800 (range 1,700–1,900) out of ~2,250 residents. Basis: near‑universal email among online adults and strong (though uneven) rural connectivity.

• Age distribution and estimated users

  • Under 18 (~20% of population): ~270 users (lower adoption).
  • 18–34 (~22%): ~470 users (very high adoption).
  • 35–64 (~40%): ~830 users.
  • 65+ (~18%): ~300 users (lower but substantial).

• Gender split: County skews slightly male (~54% male, 46% female); email usage rates are similar by gender, so users split roughly 54/46.

• Digital access trends: Most households have a broadband subscription (roughly 80–85%). Fiber/cable is common in towns (Bowbells, Lignite, Powers Lake, Portal), while many farms/ranches rely on fixed wireless or satellite. Cellular 4G/5G service is strongest along major corridors (US‑52, ND‑5). Public Wi‑Fi is available via schools and libraries. Low population density (~2 people per square mile across ~1,100 sq mi) raises last‑mile costs and leaves a small share of residents on slower plans, but overall email use is widespread and stable, with incremental gains as rural fiber expands.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Burke County, North Dakota (2024)

Quick user estimates

• Population baseline: roughly 2,200–2,400 residents; about 1,700–1,900 adults.
• Mobile phone users (any mobile phone): 1,600–1,800 adults (roughly 92–97% of adults).
• Smartphone users: 1,350–1,550 adults (about 75–85% of adults). Lower than the North Dakota average by a few points, largely due to an older age mix and patchier mid-band 5G.
• Total active mobile lines (including work lines, tablets, hotspots): 2,400–3,000, reflecting multiple devices per user and some non-resident worker lines.
• Likely carrier mix (consumer): Verizon 55–65%; AT&T 25–35%; T-Mobile 5–10%; MVNO/other 0–5%. Verizon’s lead is wider here than statewide; T-Mobile’s share is smaller than its statewide presence.

Demographic patterns that shape usage

• Age: A higher share of residents are 55+ than the state average. Estimated smartphone adoption is roughly:
  • Ages 18–34: 90–95%
  • Ages 35–54: 85–90%
  • Ages 55–64: 75–85%
  • Ages 65+: 60–75%
• Income and occupation: Agriculture, transportation, and energy-related jobs increase on-road and field use; many users prioritize coverage and battery life over premium devices. BYOD and work-issued lines are common in oil- and ag-adjacent roles.
• Plan type and devices: Greater use of value MVNOs (often on Verizon’s network), more Android than iPhone (roughly 60–70% Android share vs closer to 50–55% Android statewide), and longer device replacement cycles among older users.
• Home internet interplay: In-town fiber from local co-ops reduces reliance on smartphone-only internet. Outside towns, some households still lean on mobile hotspots or fixed wireless, but smartphone-only as the primary connection is likely a bit less common than in urban parts of the state.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Network footprint: 4G LTE covers primary corridors (notably US-52) and town centers like Bowbells, Powers Lake, Lignite, and Flaxton. Coverage thins in coulees, around section-line roads, and near the Canadian border.
• 5G status:
  • Low-band 5G from Verizon and AT&T is present along main routes and towns; it behaves like “enhanced LTE” with broad reach but modest speeds.
  • Mid-band 5G (Verizon C-band, T-Mobile 2.5 GHz) is limited or spotty locally; robust mid-band is more common in Minot, Williston, and larger ND metros. This gap reduces average 5G speeds vs the state’s urban centers.
• Capacity and performance: Typical LTE speeds in towns are often 10–40 Mbps down (lower uplink), dropping to single digits in fringe areas. 5G low-band commonly delivers 20–60 Mbps where signal is strong; mid-band bursts are uncommon in-county.
• Towers and backhaul: Sparse macro grid with long inter-site distances (often 10–20 miles). Backhaul is a mix of fiber in/near towns and microwave between rural sites; the latter can constrain peak capacity.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA): T-Mobile 5G Home or LTE Home products may be offered around towns and along US-52; Verizon FWA availability is more limited without broad mid-band. Local adoption is likely 5–10% of households—below statewide growth hotspots.
• Public safety and roaming: FirstNet (AT&T) coverage matters for agencies; Verizon public-safety offerings are also used. Border-proximity can create interference/roaming edge cases northward.

What’s different from North Dakota overall

• Adoption gap at older ages: Overall smartphone penetration trails the state by roughly 3–6 percentage points, driven by an older age profile and more coverage-constrained areas.
• Carrier dynamics: Verizon’s dominance is stronger than statewide; T-Mobile’s share is meaningfully smaller due to thinner mid-band and fewer local sites.
• Technology mix: A higher share of Android devices than the ND average; more MVNO usage for cost and coverage reasons.
• 5G experience: More low-band 5G, less mid-band. Average 5G speeds and consistency lag urban ND markets (Fargo, Bismarck, Minot).
• Dependability over speed: Users prioritize reliable voice/text and baseline data along farm and oil-service routes; premium speed tiers matter less than in cities.
• Internet substitution: Thanks to co-op fiber in towns, smartphone-only households are likely slightly less prevalent than in ND cities, but mobile hotspots are a common backup where wired options are absent or unreliable.
• Device lifecycle: Handsets are kept longer than the state average, especially among 55+ users; repair and battery swaps are more common than upgrades.

Notes on method

• Counts are derived by applying national/state adoption benchmarks (Pew/NHIS for phone/smartphone ownership), rural adjustments, and local age structure to Burke County’s population. Carrier share and infrastructure assessments reflect typical patterns in northwestern ND (tower spacing, highway coverage, limited mid-band 5G outside larger cities) and the presence of rural telecom cooperatives providing fiber in town centers. Ranges are provided to reflect uncertainty at small-county scale.

Below is a concise, data-informed snapshot for Burke County, ND. Because county-level social media metrics aren’t directly published, figures are estimates extrapolated from Pew Research Center platform usage (rural/US), state/rural adoption, and ACS county demographics. Treat numbers as directional, not exact.

Quick snapshot

• Population: ~2,200; adults ~1,700. Estimated adults using at least one social platform: ~1,100–1,250.
• Skew: Slightly older and slightly more male than national average (energy/agriculture region), which dampens Instagram/TikTok and lifts Facebook/YouTube.

Most-used platforms (estimated adult reach in Burke Co.)

• YouTube: 70–80% of adults
• Facebook: 60–70%
• Instagram: 30–40%
• TikTok: 25–35%
• Snapchat: 20–30%
• Pinterest: 20–30% (notably higher among women)
• X/Twitter: 15–20%
• LinkedIn: 10–20%
• Nextdoor: <10% (limited in low-density areas)

Age-group patterns (who uses what)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube ~90%+, TikTok/Snapchat each ~60–70%, Instagram ~60%; Facebook minimal except for community sports/events.
• 18–29: YouTube 85–90%; Instagram 70%+; Snapchat 60%+; TikTok ~60%; Facebook ~55–60%.
• 30–49: Facebook 70%+; YouTube 75–85%; Instagram 40–50%; TikTok 25–35%; Snapchat ~25–35%.
• 50–64: Facebook 65–75%; YouTube 60–70%; Instagram 20–30%; TikTok/Snapchat 10–20%.
• 65+: Facebook ~55–65%; YouTube 45–55%; other platforms low single to low double digits.

Gender breakdown tendencies

• Women: More active on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok; higher engagement with local groups, school/activities, health, community events.
• Men: Slightly higher on YouTube, X/Twitter, Reddit (small base); strong interest in ag/DIY/mechanics, hunting/outdoors, local sports.

Behavioral trends to expect locally

• Local-first usage: Heavy Facebook Groups and Marketplace for buy/sell/trade, road conditions, weather, school sports, county fair, church and community events.
• Private channels: Facebook Messenger, Snapchat DMs, and texting for coordination; community news often circulates in groups before official sites.
• Event-driven spikes: Blizzards, harvest, road closures, school updates drive surges on Facebook and YouTube; X/Twitter used during severe weather/news.
• Video habits: Practical, how-to, farm equipment, hunting/fishing, local sports highlights on YouTube/Facebook; short-form TikTok/Reels among younger users.
• Timing: Peaks early morning (5:30–7:30 a.m.) and evenings (8–10 p.m.); weekend midday for events and Marketplace.
• Access constraints: Mobile-first usage; patchy broadband in spots can limit long streaming; favors short videos and cached content.
• Trust patterns: Strong weight on posts from county/city, school districts, Extension office, churches, volunteer fire/EMS, and known local business owners.

How these estimates were derived

• Pew Research Center (2023–2024) platform adoption by age, rural vs. urban, and teen usage; applied to Burke County’s older-leaning profile.
• U.S. Census Bureau ACS (county population and age structure) to size adult base.
• Rural Great Plains usage norms (Marketplace/Groups reliance, mobile-first).

Tip for local validation: Check Facebook Ads Manager reach estimates for zip codes in Burke County, school/booster club page insights, and YouTube channel analytics for local sports/organizations to fine-tune these numbers.