Pembina County

Pembina County, North Dakota — key demographics

• Population size:

  • 6,844 (2020 Census)
  • Continued gradual decline since 2010 (down from 7,413)

• Age:

  • Median age: ~46 years (2020 Census)
  • Under 18: ~22%
  • 65 and over: ~24%
  • Takeaway: Older-than-average, aging population structure

• Gender:

  • Male: ~51%
  • Female: ~49%

• Racial/ethnic composition (2020 Census):

  • White alone: ~90–93%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~1–3%
  • Black or African American alone: ~0.5–1%
  • Asian alone: <1%
  • Two or more races: ~3–7%
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~2–3%
  • Takeaway: Predominantly non-Hispanic White with small but present Native American, multiracial, and Hispanic populations

• Household data (2020 Census/ACS 5-year):

  • Households: ~3,000
  • Average household size: ~2.2
  • Family households: ~60–63% of households; married-couple majority
  • One-person households: ~32–34%; about half of these are age 65+
  • Owner-occupied housing rate: ~75–80%
  • Takeaway: Small household sizes, high share of one-person and senior households, predominantly owner-occupied

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (Demographic Profile/DP1) and American Community Survey 5-year estimates (latest release).

• Population and density: Pembina County, ND had 6,844 residents (2020 Census) across ~1,119 sq mi, ≈6.1 people per sq mi.
• Estimated adult email users: Adults (18+) ≈5,250. With adult internet access ≈87–90% and email use among online adults ≈92–96%, an estimated 4,600–4,900 adults use email (midpoint ≈4,750).
• Age distribution of email users (estimates):
  • 18–34: ~18–20% of residents; ≈900 email users.
  • 35–64: ~55% of adults; ≈2,700 email users.
  • 65+: ~25% of adults; ≈1,100 email users (slightly lower adoption than younger groups).
• Gender split: County population is roughly 51% male, 49% female; email usage is effectively parity (≈50/50 among users).
• Digital access and trends:
  • Household internet/broadband subscription is roughly 80–85%, with an additional ~7–10% relying primarily on smartphones; overall adult internet access ≈87–90%.
  • Rural fiber and fixed‑wireless buildouts in the 2020s are raising speeds and coverage, narrowing—but not eliminating—the senior and low‑income digital gap.
  • Low settlement density (≈6.1/sq mi) increases last‑mile costs, leaving the most remote farmsteads with slower or pricier options, though county towns have near‑ubiquitous connectivity.

Notes: Counts are derived by applying national email-adoption rates to Pembina County’s population structure and connectivity levels.

Mobile phone usage in Pembina County, North Dakota (2024 snapshot)

User base and adoption (modeled, county-specific estimates derived from the 2020 Census age mix, ACS 5‑year demographics, Pew Research smartphone adoption by age, and rural adjustments)

• Total unique mobile users: ~5,280 residents use a mobile phone regularly (about 77% of all residents).
• Smartphone users: ~4,940 (about 72% of all residents; roughly 93% of mobile users).
• 5G device penetration: ~2,860 users (about 58% of smartphone users), below the statewide norm.
• Plan type: Postpaid lines account for roughly 4 in 5 handset lines; prepaid near 1 in 5—somewhat higher prepaid share than the state overall, reflecting price sensitivity and seasonal/temporary lines.

Demographic breakdown of mobile adoption (age-weighted to Pembina County’s older population)

• Ages 18–29: ~97% smartphone ownership; low 5G-device gaps versus state.
• Ages 30–49: ~95% smartphone ownership; high app and data usage, similar to state.
• Ages 50–64: ~83% smartphone ownership; slower 5G device turnover than state.
• Ages 65+: ~65% smartphone ownership; the chief drag on countywide 5G and app adoption.
• Teens (13–17): ~92% mobile/smartphone adoption; usage profiles align with state but are a smaller share of the local population. Key contrast with North Dakota overall: Pembina’s higher share of residents 50+ and 65+ pushes down both smartphone and 5G device penetration versus the state average, which is buoyed by college towns and younger oil‑patch counties.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Fiber backhaul and fixed broadband: Polar Communications (a regional cooperative) has built extensive fiber-to-the-home across the county’s towns and many rural locations. This deep fiber plant improves mobile backhaul quality and reduces the need for “mobile‑only” home internet compared with many rural U.S. counties.
• 4G LTE: All three national carriers provide LTE along primary corridors (I‑29, ND‑5, ND‑18, ND‑32) and in population centers (Cavalier, Walhalla, Drayton, Pembina, Neche, St. Thomas, Crystal, Bathgate).
• 5G availability:
  • T‑Mobile: Broad “extended‑range” 5G covers most of the county, with mid‑band 5G performance concentrated along I‑29 and in/around towns. Provides the most consistent countywide 5G experience.
  • Verizon: 5G Nationwide (DSS) in towns and along I‑29; C‑band capacity is present near the I‑29 corridor and larger towns but remains spotty westward, falling back to strong LTE elsewhere.
  • AT&T/FirstNet: 5G in towns and on primary routes; LTE predominates in outlying areas. FirstNet Band 14 supports public safety and improves rural resilience.
• Terrain and micro‑gaps: The Pembina Gorge and river valleys around Walhalla introduce localized shadowing and dead zones; coverage is otherwise contiguous on main roads.
• Fixed wireless and satellite options: T‑Mobile 5G Home Internet is widely offered; Verizon 5G/LTE Home is available primarily near I‑29 and larger towns; Starlink is a viable fallback for remote farms and cabins.

Usage patterns and how they differ from state-level trends

• Lower 5G device uptake: At ~58% of smartphone users, Pembina lags the statewide mix (closer to ~70%), largely due to its older age structure and longer device replacement cycles.
• Slightly higher prepaid and seasonal lines: Agriculture, small businesses, and cross‑border workers lean more on prepaid/seasonal lines than the state average.
• Strong fiber reduces mobile-only reliance: Because Polar’s fiber is prevalent, a smaller share of households rely exclusively on cellular for home internet than in many rural counties; mobile data offload to Wi‑Fi at home is common. This contrasts with parts of western ND where fixed options can be thinner outside towns.
• Border effects unique to Pembina: Proximity to the Pembina–Emerson port of entry means more active Canada roaming controls and plan add‑ons (Rogers/TELUS/Bell proximity). This pattern is not a factor for most ND counties.
• Network capacity is steady but more LTE‑weighted west of I‑29: Unlike ND’s Bakken counties that have denser mid‑band 5G builds for high traffic, Pembina’s capacity profile remains mixed, with LTE carrying a larger share of rural payload outside corridors.

Key takeaways

• About 5.3k residents actively use mobile phones; roughly 4.9k are on smartphones.
• The county’s older demographics depress smartphone and 5G device penetration relative to the North Dakota average.
• T‑Mobile currently offers the most complete 5G footprint; Verizon maintains strong corridor coverage and capacity; AT&T’s FirstNet presence bolsters public safety and rural reach.
• Extensive local fiber (Polar Communications) underpins reliable mobile backhaul and keeps “mobile‑only” home internet usage lower than you’d expect for a rural border county, a notable deviation from many rural U.S. patterns.

Pembina County, ND — social media snapshot

User base

• Population: 6,844 residents (2020 Census). Rural, older-leaning age profile.
• Adult social media users: roughly 70% of U.S. adults use social media; applying that benchmark implies about 3,600–3,900 adult users locally.

Age groups

• Largest active cohorts: 30–49 and 50–64 (Facebook and YouTube–heavy).
• Younger users (13–29): highly active on YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram; smaller share of total population than in urban counties.
• Seniors (65+): meaningful presence, concentrated on Facebook and YouTube; lighter use of Instagram/TikTok.

Gender breakdown

• Overall usage is near parity by gender.
• Women over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube and Reddit.
• Messaging use (Facebook Messenger, Snapchat) is balanced across genders, driven more by age.

Most-used platforms (adult reach; best available benchmarks)

• YouTube: ~83% of U.S. adults (Pew, 2024) — similarly dominant locally; primary for how‑to, news clips, farm/DIY content.
• Facebook: ~68% — highest daily use locally; Groups, Marketplace, school/sports updates, local alerts.
• Instagram: ~47% — moderate locally; strongest under 35.
• Pinterest: ~35% — notably higher among women; recipes, crafts, home/farm projects.
• TikTok: ~33% — strong under 30; growing 30–49 for tutorials and local highlights.
• Snapchat: ~30% — teens/young adults; day-to-day communication.
• WhatsApp: ~29% — niche; family/faith and international ties.
• LinkedIn: ~30% nationally, but typically lower in rural counties; used by educators/healthcare/banking.
• X (Twitter): ~22% — low local penetration; event/news monitoring more than posting.
• Reddit: ~22% — niche; tech, gaming, DIY.

Behavioral trends in Pembina County

• Facebook-first community: local news, weather, school sports, events, and Marketplace drive daily check-ins; Facebook Groups function as neighborhood hubs.
• Utility and “how‑to” video: YouTube used for equipment repair, home/farm projects, product research, and local church/school streams.
• Messaging over posting: Snapchat (youth) and Messenger (all ages) are key for private communication; public posting rates are modest.
• Event- and season-driven spikes: agriculture calendar, hunting/fishing seasons, severe weather, fairs, and tournaments boost engagement.
• Commerce discovery path: Google Search/Maps and Facebook Pages/Marketplace are primary for discovering local businesses and services; Instagram is secondary for visual brands.
• Older users are loyal to Facebook; younger users split time across Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube; Instagram bridges the gap for under‑40s.
• Nextdoor-style neighborhood apps see limited use compared to Facebook Groups in small-population areas.

Notes on figures

• Population is from the 2020 Census. Platform percentages are from Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. adult social media adoption, used as the best available proxy for county-level use in a rural, older-leaning county.