Golden Valley County

Golden Valley County, North Dakota — key demographics

• Population: ~1,750 (2023 estimate; U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program)
• Age:
  • Median age: ~44 years
  • Under 18: ~23–24%
  • 65 and over: ~20–22%
• Gender:
  • Male: ~52%
  • Female: ~48%
• Race/ethnicity (percent of total population):
  • White alone: ~93–95%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~2–4%
  • Black or African American: ~0–1%
  • Asian: <1%
  • Two or more races: ~2–3%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~2–4%
• Households:
  • Number of households: ~800–850
  • Average household size: ~2.2
  • Family households: ~55–60% of households

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates and 2023 Population Estimates Program. Note: Small-population county; figures have margins of error.

Golden Valley County, ND (very rural, roughly 2 people per square mile) has about 1,800 residents. Using rural ND internet and U.S. email adoption benchmarks, estimated email users are roughly 1,200–1,300 people.

Age distribution of email users (approximate):

• Under 30: 20–25%
• 30–49: 30–35%
• 50–64: 25–30%
• 65+: 15–20% Adoption is near‑universal under 50, strong but lower for 65+.

Gender split: roughly even (about 50% women / 50% men among users).

Digital access and trends:

• Around 75–85% of households likely have a home broadband subscription; 10–15% may be smartphone‑only.
• Connectivity clusters in Beach and along I‑94, where cable/fiber and stronger LTE/5G are available; outside town, access often relies on DSL or fixed wireless, with weaker signals on outlying ranchlands.
• Gradual gains from ongoing fiber and fixed‑wireless upgrades; mobile data use is rising. The main remaining gaps are in sparsely populated areas.
• Public anchors (schools, county offices, library) help bridge access for residents without reliable home service.

Notes: Figures are estimates derived from Census/ACS rural ND connectivity rates and national email‑use patterns; local conditions can vary by township and provider footprint.

Golden Valley County, ND: mobile phone usage snapshot (with modeled estimates) Population context

• Residents: about 1,800; roughly 1,400 adults (18+). The county skews older than North Dakota overall and is very rural and sparsely populated (small towns like Beach, Golva, Sentinel Butte and wide ranchland in between).

User estimates

• Adult cellphone users: 1,300–1,350 (about 92–95% of adults; slightly below statewide due to age and rural factors).
• Adult smartphone users: 1,050–1,150 (about 75–82% of adults; lower than the ND average which is closer to the national ~85%).
• Teens (12–17) with smartphones: roughly 120–170 (most have smartphones, but the small cohort size limits totals).
• Seniors (65+): 250–300 likely smartphone users; 35–45% of seniors use basic/flip phones or have no mobile phone, a higher share than the state average.
• Wireless-only households (no landline): 480–540 households (about 60–68%); ND overall is higher, but the county’s older profile pulls this down.
• Households relying on mobile hotspots as primary internet: 10–15% (above the state average), driven by patchy fixed broadband in some ranch areas and convenience for itinerant/seasonal work patterns.

Demographic factors shaping usage

• Age: Older population than the state average depresses smartphone and app-centric usage; voice/SMS remain relatively more important.
• Income/education: Modestly lower household incomes and education attainment than state averages correlate with more price-sensitive plans, longer device replacement cycles, and a modestly higher share of basic phones.
• Occupation/lifestyle: Agriculture, energy, and highway-oriented services mean daytime usage clusters along I‑94 and near service hubs (Beach), with notable seasonal peaks (planting/harvest, hunting season).

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Tower layout: Sparse macro-site grid with sites concentrated along I‑94 and near towns; long inter-site distances create fringe coverage in coulees and shielded valleys. Residents commonly use boosters and Wi‑Fi calling.
• Technology mix:
  • Along I‑94 and in Beach/Sentinel Butte: dependable LTE and some low-band 5G from major carriers; occasional mid-band 5G capacity nodes near town/highway.
  • Off-corridor (ranches, badlands terrain): LTE is common but can drop to weak or no signal; 5G is intermittent or absent.
• Carrier dynamics:
  • Verizon tends to have the strongest rural footprint and likely the largest share.
  • AT&T coverage is solid around the corridor and supports FirstNet (Band 14) for public safety; that improves reliability for responders.
  • T-Mobile’s low-band 5G/LTE covers highways and towns, but off-highway coverage is spottier than statewide averages; Ultra Capacity 5G appears mainly near the corridor.
• Backhaul: Fiber is present along I‑94; many outlying sites rely on microwave backhaul, constraining peak speeds and capacity during events or weather.
• Performance ranges (typical, not guaranteed):
  • I‑94/towns: 30–200 Mbps down on 5G/LTE; 20–50 ms latency.
  • Remote areas: single‑digit to ~20 Mbps, higher latency, and occasional dead zones.
• Cross-border effects: Proximity to Montana can trigger roaming/hand‑offs on western fringes; residents often manage network selection to avoid unintended roaming.

How Golden Valley County differs from North Dakota statewide

• Lower smartphone penetration, especially among seniors; higher reliance on voice/SMS and basic phones.
• More coverage gaps and weaker indoor service off the highway grid; heavier reliance on boosters and Wi‑Fi calling.
• Carrier market skews more toward Verizon/AT&T for dependable rural coverage; T-Mobile share likely below the state average.
• Higher share of households using mobile hotspots as primary or backup internet, reflecting uneven fixed broadband in the most remote areas.
• Slower device upgrade cycles and more price-sensitive plan choices than urban ND (Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot).
• Network capacity is concentrated along I‑94; off‑corridor sites face capacity/backhaul limits more often than the state average.

Notes on methodology and uncertainty

• Population and household figures are based on recent ACS/Census ranges; adoption rates blend Pew/national benchmarks adjusted downward for older, rural counties.
• Carrier and performance assessments are synthesized from typical rural ND patterns and corridor-focused deployments; exact coverage varies by micro‑location and terrain.
• For planning or investment decisions, validate with current FCC/National Broadband Map layers, carrier coverage maps, local EMS/FirstNet coordinators, and on‑the‑ground drive tests.

Below is a concise, best-available estimate of social media usage in Golden Valley County, ND. Exact county-level platform data isn’t published; figures are modeled from the county’s small, older-leaning rural profile and recent U.S./rural usage patterns (Pew, FCC/ACS). Use ranges as directional, not absolute.

County snapshot

• Population: roughly 1,700–1,900 residents; older-leaning age mix.
• Adult internet access (est.): 80–85% have smartphones; 70–80% have home broadband.
• Adults using at least one social platform: ~65–70%.

Most-used platforms among adults (share of adults; ranges reflect rural/older skew)

• YouTube: 65–75%
• Facebook: 60–70%
• Instagram: 20–30%
• TikTok: 15–25%
• Snapchat: 15–25% (concentrated in teens/20s)
• Pinterest: 20–30% (skews female)
• X/Twitter: 8–12%
• LinkedIn: 8–12%
• Reddit: 5–8%

Age groups (typical adoption and preferred platforms)

• Teens (13–17): Near-universal YouTube; 80–90% Snapchat; 70–80% Instagram; 60–70% TikTok; minimal Facebook posting.
• 18–29: 90%+ on social; heavy Instagram/YouTube; 70–80% Snapchat; 55–65% TikTok; 25–35% Facebook.
• 30–49: 80–85% on social; 65–75% Facebook; 65–75% YouTube; 35–45% Instagram; 20–30% TikTok.
• 50–64: 70–80% on social; Facebook dominant (70–80%); 60–70% YouTube; 15–25% Instagram; 10–15% TikTok.
• 65+: 50–60% on social; 55–65% Facebook; 45–55% YouTube; others low single digits.

Gender breakdown (directional)

• Overall usage is roughly even by gender.
• Women index higher on Facebook and Pinterest; modestly higher on Instagram.
• Men index higher on YouTube, Reddit, and X/Twitter.
• Messaging: Women more on Facebook Messenger; teens/young men more on Snapchat.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first: Heavy use of local Facebook Groups/Pages for school updates, county alerts, churches, 4-H, high school sports, and volunteer drives.
• Marketplace culture: Facebook Marketplace is a go-to for farm/ranch equipment, vehicles, furniture, and seasonal items.
• Practical video: YouTube favored for weather, road reports, DIY/repairs, ag equipment, hunting/fishing, and oilfield know-how.
• Event-driven spikes: Engagement jumps around school sports, county fair, auctions, hunting season, road closures, storms.
• Posting cadence: Many lurkers; posts cluster evenings (6–9 pm), early mornings (6–8 am), and lunch hour.
• Content that performs: Local faces, short how‑tos, deals/availability today, game scores, closures, and photo galleries from community events.
• Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger is default for adults; Snapchat is dominant among teens/early 20s. WhatsApp use is low.
• Platform roles: Facebook = community hub and classifieds; YouTube = learning/entertainment; Instagram/TikTok = youth/young‑adult social and local business discovery; X/Twitter and LinkedIn are niche.