Dickey County

To keep this precise, which data vintage do you prefer: latest ACS 5-year estimates (2019–2023) or 2020 Decennial Census counts? Also, for “household data,” should I include just number of households and average household size, or also items like family vs. nonfamily share and households with children?

Dickey County, ND snapshot

• Population ≈4,900; density ≈4–5 people/sq. mi.
• Estimated email users: ≈3,800 residents use email at least monthly (about 75–80% of the population; ~90% of ages 13+).
• Gender split among users: ~51% male, 49% female (mirrors county demographics).

Age mix of email users (estimated)

• 13–24: ~16%
• 25–44: ~25%
• 45–64: ~36%
• 65+: ~23% Note: Seniors participate slightly less than younger groups, but a clear majority use email.

Digital access and connectivity trends

• Broadband at home: roughly 80–85% of households subscribe.
• Fiber is expanding via local cooperative providers (e.g., DRN/ReadiTech) in towns and along main corridors; some remote farm/ranch areas still face slower or costlier options.
• Mobile LTE coverage is widespread on highways; smartphone‑only internet households estimated at ~10–15%.
• Trend: gradual shift from DSL/satellite to fiber, rising speeds and reliability.

Method: Estimates synthesize 2020 Census population, ACS rural broadband patterns for similar ND counties, and national email adoption (Pew). Local township-level conditions may vary.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Dickey County, North Dakota

County snapshot

• Rural county in southeastern ND (seat: Ellendale; includes Oakes), population roughly 4,700–4,900, spread across a large land area. Age profile is older than the state average.

User estimates (order-of-magnitude, based on ACS-style population splits and rural U.S. adoption rates from Pew/NHIS)

• Residents 18+: about 3,600–3,900
• Mobile phone users (any cell phone) 18+: about 3,450–3,650 (≈93–96% of adults)
• Smartphone users 18+: about 3,050–3,350 (≈82–88% of adults)
• Teens (13–17): roughly 300–350; smartphone users ≈260–320 (≈85–92%)
• Total smartphone users 13+: approximately 3,300–3,650 Notes: County-wide share of basic-phone users is a bit higher than the state average due to an older age mix.

Demographic breakdown (drivers of adoption and usage)

• Age: 65+ likely around one-quarter of the population (several points above the ND average). This group shows lower smartphone adoption and lower mobile data use, raising the county’s basic‑phone share and lowering per‑capita data consumption vs. the state.
• Income/education: Median household income is typically below the ND average in small, agricultural counties; this correlates with longer device replacement cycles and more value plans.
• Household composition: More single‑older‑adult households; mobile service often used primarily for voice/SMS and emergency contact.
• Race/ethnicity: County is predominantly non‑Hispanic White; unlike parts of ND with sizable tribal lands, disparities by race are less pronounced here; the main digital divide is age and distance from town centers.

Usage patterns observed/expected in a rural ag county

• Strong reliance on voice and messaging for farm and small‑business coordination.
• Seasonal spikes in on‑the‑go data and push‑to‑talk/dispatch during planting and harvest.
• High Wi‑Fi offload in town (fiber-fed homes/offices); higher cellular-only use while in fields.
• More lines for IoT/telematics (equipment trackers, grain bin sensors) per capita than urban ND.

Digital infrastructure touchpoints

• Coverage: Countywide 4G LTE is the baseline; low-band 5G from the national carriers generally covers towns (Ellendale, Oakes) and primary corridors (US‑281, ND‑11/ND‑1). Mid-band 5G capacity is spotty outside town centers; mmWave is not expected.
• Carriers: Verizon historically strongest rural footprint; T‑Mobile’s 600 MHz layer now covers much of the county; AT&T coverage varies but includes FirstNet for public safety.
• Tower density: Sparse compared to urban ND; spacing can lead to edge‑of‑cell performance dips and occasional dead zones in low-lying/riparian areas. Along the South Dakota border, devices may occasionally roam to SD networks.
• Backhaul: Local cooperatives (e.g., Dickey Rural Networks/DRN and neighboring co-ops) have built extensive fiber plant in towns and many farmsteads; this improves mobile backhaul and supports Wi‑Fi calling and offload.
• Home internet alternatives: Strong fiber availability in and around towns; fixed wireless and mobile hotspots fill gaps on remote farms.

How Dickey County differs from North Dakota overall

• Adoption levels: Smartphone adoption is modestly lower (by a few percentage points) and basic‑phone retention is higher due to a larger 65+ share.
• Data consumption: Per‑capita mobile data usage tends to be lower than the state average (skewed up by ND’s metro/university centers), with more voice/SMS reliance—except for seasonal ag peaks.
• Network performance: Average speeds are lower and more variable than ND’s statewide average because of fewer mid‑band 5G sectors and wider cell spacing; reliability can dip away from corridors.
• Carrier mix: Market share skews more toward the historically strongest rural coverage providers; residents often prioritize coverage reliability over price or peak speed.
• Digital divide profile: Less about race/tribal geography (a factor in parts of ND) and more about age, farm distance from towers, and power/backup constraints during storms.
• Cross‑border effects: Proximity to South Dakota slightly increases roaming and edge‑coverage considerations compared to counties in central ND.

Method notes and confidence

• Figures are estimates derived from county population ranges, typical rural age splits, and national rural adoption benchmarks (e.g., Pew Research smartphone ownership; CDC/NHIS wireless‑only household trends), plus FCC/carrier public coverage patterns as of 2024. For a hard-number brief, I can pull the latest ACS 5‑year age structure, FCC Broadband/Data Collection layers, and carrier 5G footprints for Dickey County and refine these estimates.

Below is a concise, best-available snapshot. County-level social media data aren’t directly published; figures are estimates modeled from Pew Research (2023–2024) platform adoption adjusted for Dickey County’s older, rural age mix and population (~5,000).

Headline user stats (13+)

• Estimated social media users: 3.1k–3.4k (about 60–68% of total population; roughly 73–78% of residents age 13+)
• Adults (18+): 2.8k–3.1k users (about 70–77% of adults)
• Internet access and rural context slightly reduce overall adoption but increase reliance on a few platforms (Facebook, YouTube)

Most-used platforms (Adults, estimated % who use each at least monthly)

• YouTube: 75–80%
• Facebook: 65–70%
• Instagram: 30–35%
• Snapchat: 25–30%
• TikTok: 25–30%
• Pinterest: 25–30% (heavier among women)
• X/Twitter: 15–20%
• LinkedIn: 15–20%
• WhatsApp: 10–15%
• Nextdoor: <5% (low fit for sparse rural neighborhoods)

Age-group usage (share using at least one platform; top platforms)

• 13–17: 90–95%; YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram
• 18–29: 90–95%; YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok (Facebook secondary)
• 30–49: 80–85%; Facebook, YouTube, Instagram; growing TikTok
• 50–64: 70–75%; Facebook, YouTube; light Instagram/TikTok
• 65+: 55–60%; Facebook, YouTube; minimal on others

Gender breakdown (tendencies, not exact counts)

• Overall users roughly track county demographics (near parity). Platform skews:
  • Women: overrepresented on Facebook (≈55–60% of FB users), Instagram (~60%), Pinterest (≈75–80%)
  • Men: overrepresented on YouTube (≈55–60%), X/Twitter (~60–65%), Reddit (small base, mostly male)
  • Snapchat close to even

Behavioral trends observed in similar rural Great Plains counties

• Facebook is the community hub: local news, school updates, high-school sports, church and civic events, buy/sell/trade groups, storm/road alerts. Facebook Messenger is a default communication tool.
• YouTube is strong for how-to, ag equipment maintenance, hunting/fishing, DIY, and local government meeting streams or uploads.
• Under 35: heavy on Instagram Stories/Reels, Snapchat (messaging-first), and TikTok for short-form video; event discovery still often happens via Facebook even for this group.
• Posting vs lurking: many residents consume/reshare more than they post original content; engagement spikes around weather, closures, fundraisers, and sports.
• Seasonality and timing: more posting around severe weather and harvest; peak engagement early morning (6–8 am) and evenings (7–10 pm).
• Advertising/organizational outreach tips:
  • Use Facebook Events and Groups for reach; pair with Messenger replies.
  • Short vertical video (Reels/TikTok) performs best for under-35; photo + clear CTA posts work best for 50+.
  • Geotargeting within a 20–40 mile radius captures most of the active audience.

Notes

• These figures are modeled estimates, not a local survey. For higher precision, run a short community poll or pull platform insights from local pages/groups you manage.