Nelson County

Key demographics for Nelson County, North Dakota

Population size

• 3,015 (2020 Decennial Census)

Age (ACS 2018–2022, 5-year)

• Median age: ~51 years
• Under 18: ~20%
• 65 and over: ~29%

Gender (ACS 2018–2022)

• Male: ~51.5%
• Female: ~48.5%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2018–2022)

• White alone: ~95–96%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~1–2%
• Black or African American alone: ~0–1%
• Asian alone: ~0–1%
• Two or more races: ~2%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~2–3% Note: Hispanic/Latino is an ethnicity and overlaps with race categories.

Household data (ACS 2018–2022)

• Total households: ~1,400–1,450
• Average household size: ~2.0–2.1
• Family households: ~59%
• Married-couple households: ~48–50%
• Households with children under 18: ~20–23%
• One-person households: ~35–37%
• Householders living alone age 65+: ~16–18%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates)

Nelson County, ND snapshot (2024 est.)

• Population: 2,900 across ~980 sq mi (3 people/sq mi), indicating very low residential density.
• Estimated email users: 2,200–2,450 residents (≈75–85% penetration).
• Age pattern of email use: 18–34 ≈16–18% of users; 35–64 ≈50–55%; 65+ ≈28–32% (county skews older, so seniors are a large share). Adoption rates: 18–64 ≈90–95%; 65+ ≈70–80%.
• Gender split among users: ≈51% male, 49% female, mirroring county demographics; usage rates are essentially even by gender.

Digital access and connectivity

• Household internet subscription: ≈75–80%; smartphone ownership ≈80–85% of adults, with ≈10–15% smartphone‑only.
• Fixed broadband (≥100/20 Mbps) available to roughly 70–85% of occupied locations; fiber is present in towns like Lakota and Michigan and expanding outward, while the most remote townships rely on older DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite.
• Typical speeds: towns ~50–200 Mbps; rural stretches ~10–50 Mbps. 4G/LTE coverage is strong along US‑2 and ND‑1 corridors with patchy areas near lakes/valleys.
• Trend: steady fiber buildouts and state/federal programs are lifting rural availability and reliability, narrowing the urban–rural gap, which supports high email adoption even in sparsely populated areas.

Mobile phone usage in Nelson County, North Dakota — summary and county-versus-state perspective

User estimates (latest public data, derived)

• Population baseline: 3,015 (2020 Census). Age structure is older than the state: roughly 30% age 65+, ~34% age 35–64, ~17% age 18–34, ~19% under 18 (ACS 2018–2022).
• Adult mobile users (any mobile phone): about 2,250 residents, based on age-weighted ownership rates typical for rural/older counties (≈98% ages 18–34, ≈96% ages 35–64, ≈85% ages 65+).
• Adult smartphone users: about 2,000 residents, based on age-weighted smartphone ownership (≈95% ages 18–34, ≈90% ages 35–64, ≈70% ages 65+).
• Household smartphone access: on the order of the mid- to upper-80% of households, a few points below the North Dakota average (low-90s) according to ACS “Computer and Internet Use” 5‑year estimates.

Demographic breakdown of use

• Older skew drives differences in device mix:
  • Ages 65+: lower smartphone penetration (around 70%) and higher prevalence of basic/feature phones compared with the state average; more voice/SMS-first behavior.
  • Ages 35–64: high smartphone take-up (around 90%), but slower turnover to newer 5G devices than in urban counties.
  • Ages 18–34: adoption near universal (≈95%+), usage patterns similar to statewide peers (social, video, mobile banking), albeit with more frequent coverage constraints outside towns.
• Connectivity at home and on the go:
  • Households with any internet subscription trail the state by several points; mobile-only internet households (cellular data but no fixed broadband) are somewhat more common than the statewide average in younger/working households, but the large 65+ cohort tempers the overall share.
  • Wireless-only telephone households (no landline) are slightly less prevalent than the statewide average because older residents retain landlines for reliability and medical devices.

Digital infrastructure points

• Coverage footprint:
  • 4G LTE coverage is strong along the US‑2 corridor and in/around towns such as Lakota, Michigan City, McVille, Petersburg, Aneta, and Tolna; gaps and weaker in-building signal persist in low-density townships and along section roads away from highways.
  • 5G low‑band coverage is present primarily along US‑2 and in town centers (all three national carriers), with mid‑band capacity sites sparse outside the corridor. Many farm and lake areas remain LTE‑only.
• Carriers and access technologies:
  • National carriers present: Verizon, AT&T, T‑Mobile. In-town service is generally reliable; between towns, Verizon typically has the most consistent rural footprint, with AT&T close behind and T‑Mobile improving post‑600 MHz buildout.
  • Fixed alternatives intersect with mobile behavior: fiber and cable are available in core town grids via regional incumbents/co‑ops, but much of the countryside relies on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite. This pushes some households toward cellular hotspots as a primary or backup connection.
• Network performance patterns:
  • In-town: stable LTE and entry‑level 5G speeds suitable for app use and HD streaming, with noticeable evening congestion on capacity‑limited sectors.
  • Out-of-town: signal variability and reduced uplink affect real‑time apps (video calls, telehealth) and precision ag uploads; external antennas or boosters are common on farmsteads.
• Resilience and seasonality:
  • Seasonal peaks (planting/harvest, lake traffic) drive localized congestion on highway‑adjacent sectors.
  • Emergency and public-safety coverage is good on major routes, but dead zones remain in interior sections; residents often carry multi-carrier SIMs or rely on Wi‑Fi calling at home.

How Nelson County differs from the North Dakota average

• Adoption level: smartphone and home-internet subscription rates are several points lower than statewide, driven by an older age profile and more dispersed settlement.
• Device mix and upgrade cycle: higher share of basic phones and slower 5G device turnover than in metro counties (Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks), which already benefit from dense mid‑band 5G.
• Mobile-only internet: slightly higher reliance among working-age households where wired options are limited; balanced by a sizable cohort with no internet or landline‑anchored setups, yielding a bimodal pattern that is less pronounced statewide.
• Coverage quality: greater contrast between highway/town coverage and interior rural coverage than the state average; mid‑band 5G capacity sites are fewer per capita, so peak-hour slowdowns are more noticeable.
• Usage behavior: comparatively more voice/SMS and lower per‑capita mobile data consumption, reflecting both demographics and coverage constraints; app usage that is sensitive to uplink/latency (telehealth video, cloud backup) lags state urban norms.

Key statistics at a glance (most recent official baselines and derived estimates)

• Population: 3,015 (2020 Census)
• Adults (18+): ~2,440
• Mobile phone users (any mobile): ~2,250 adults
• Smartphone users: ~2,000 adults
• Household smartphone access: mid-/upper‑80% of households in Nelson vs low‑90% statewide (ACS 2018–2022)
• 5G availability: present in towns/US‑2 corridor; LTE‑only common in outlying areas (FCC Broadband Data Collection, 2023–2024 cycles)

Sources and methodology

• U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Census; ACS 2018–2022 “Computer and Internet Use” for household smartphone and internet subscription rates).
• FCC Broadband Data Collection (2023–2024) for 4G/5G availability by provider.
• Age-specific mobile and smartphone ownership rates from national surveys (Pew Research) applied to Nelson County’s age structure to produce user counts.

Social media usage in Nelson County, North Dakota (2025 snapshot)

Scope and method

• Base population: 3,015 residents (2020 Census). Adult (18+) population ≈ 2,400.
• Figures below are modeled local estimates: Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. platform adoption rates adjusted for rural communities and Nelson County’s older age profile (Census age structure). Percentages refer to share of adults (18+).

Overall adoption

• Adults using at least one social platform: ~75% (≈1,800 adults).

Most-used platforms (share of adults, 18+)

• YouTube: ~72%
• Facebook: ~66%
• Pinterest: ~30%
• Instagram: ~24%
• Snapchat: ~18%
• TikTok: ~18%
• LinkedIn: ~16%
• WhatsApp: ~10%
• X (Twitter): ~11%
• Reddit: ~7%
• Nextdoor: ~2%

Age mix of local social media users (share of users)

• 18–29: ~15%
• 30–49: ~32%
• 50–64: ~28%
• 65+: ~25% Insight: An older county profile shifts usage toward Facebook and YouTube and away from Instagram/TikTok compared with national averages.

Gender breakdown among local social media users

• Women: ~53%
• Men: ~47% Platform skew: Women drive Facebook and Pinterest locally (Pinterest users ≈70% female), while men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, and X.

Behavioral trends observed in rural ND counties like Nelson

• Community-first Facebook: Heavy reliance on Facebook Pages/Groups for county and city notices, schools, churches, volunteer fire/EMS, obituaries, events, and Marketplace. Shares and comments often outperform reactions.
• Video for utility and weather: YouTube used for how‑to/DIY, farm and ranch equipment, hunting/fishing, and severe weather coverage; short, practical videos outperform long narratives.
• Youth channels: Snapchat and Instagram concentrate among teens/younger adults for peer messaging, local sports, and student activities; TikTok usage present but lower than urban areas and skews to 18–34.
• Commerce and classifieds: Facebook Marketplace is the default for buying/selling farm/ranch items, vehicles, tools, furniture; local business promos get best reach when paired with event hooks or limited-time offers.
• Information flow during storms: X and Facebook see spikes for road closures, blizzard updates, and power/broadband outages; posts from NWS, DOT, and local media are amplified via community groups.
• Timing and format: Engagement peaks weekday evenings (6–9 p.m.) and weekend mornings; posts with clear local relevance, faces, or before/after visuals perform best; short-form video (≤60s) outperforms static posts for reach.

Key takeaways

• Facebook and YouTube are the backbone of social media reach in Nelson County.
• Visual, useful, and hyperlocal content wins; Marketplace and Groups are essential touchpoints.
• Younger audiences are reachable via Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok, but overall penetration of these is modest due to the county’s older age mix.

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (Nelson County, ND population and age profile).
• Pew Research Center, “The State of Social Media in 2024” (U.S. adult platform adoption, demographics). Adjusted for rural usage patterns to produce county-level estimates.