Sioux County

Sioux County, North Dakota — key demographics

Population size

• 3,898 (2020 Decennial Census)
• ~4,200 (2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~29 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: ~34–35%
• 18–64: ~55%
• 65 and over: ~10–11%

Gender

• Male: ~50–51%
• Female: ~49–50%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2019–2023; race alone unless noted)

• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~85%
• White: ~12%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Black: <1%
• Asian: <1%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~3%

Households (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: ~1,050–1,100
• Average household size: ~3.3–3.5
• Family households: ~75–80% of households
• Average family size: ~3.8–4.0
• Households with children under 18: ~45–50%
• Tenure: owner-occupied ~60–65%; renter-occupied ~35–40%

Insights

• Predominantly American Indian population with a notably young age profile.
• Larger-than-average household and family sizes and a high share of households with children.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (PL 94-171); American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates (tables DP05, S0101, S1101).

Sioux County, ND has 3,898 residents (2020 Census) across ~1,094 sq mi, ~3.6 people per sq mi. Using ACS 2018–2022 internet-subscription patterns for Sioux County and Pew email-adoption rates among internet users, an estimated 2,100–2,400 residents use email.

Estimated email users by age:

• 13–17: ~7%
• 18–34: ~32%
• 35–54: ~34%
• 55–64: ~15%
• 65+: ~12%

Gender split among email users: approximately even (about 50% female, 50% male), mirroring the county’s population balance.

Digital access and trends:

• About 70–75% of households subscribe to home broadband; roughly 10–15% report no home internet, with the remainder relying on cellular-only access.
• Smartphone-dependent connectivity is common (about 15–20% of connected households), shaping email use toward mobile.
• Sparse settlement and long loop lengths constrain fixed-line options; coverage and speeds are uneven outside towns, but access is improving via recent fiber builds and mobile network upgrades.
• Public institutions (schools, libraries, tribal offices) remain important access points.

Sources: U.S. Census 2020; ACS 2018–2022 (Computer & Internet Use); Pew Research Center (email use among internet users).

Summary of mobile phone usage in Sioux County, North Dakota

Topline

• Sioux County’s residents are far more likely than the state average to rely on smartphones and cellular data as their primary or only internet connection. Fixed-broadband adoption is materially lower, and 5G coverage is spottier outside the main towns, shaping a mobile-first usage pattern distinct from the North Dakota norm.

User estimates

• Population base: 3,898 (2020 Census). A relatively young age structure means a larger share of mobile users within the total population than the state average.
• Estimated adult smartphone users: approximately 2,100–2,300 adults use smartphones regularly, reflecting high household smartphone availability paired with below-average fixed broadband adoption.
• Household-level access (ACS 2018–2022 5-year):
  • Households with a smartphone: about 86% (North Dakota ≈92%).
  • Smartphone-only internet (cellular data plan with no fixed broadband): about 31% (North Dakota ≈9%).
  • No internet subscription of any kind: about 22% (North Dakota ≈8%).
  • Fixed broadband subscription (cable/DSL/fiber): about 54% (North Dakota ≈81%). These figures underline a heavier dependence on mobile networks for everyday connectivity than is typical statewide.

Demographic breakdown shaping usage

• Racial/ethnic composition: About 84% American Indian/Alaska Native, substantially higher than the state average. This aligns with higher mobile-only reliance due to limited fixed-network options and income constraints.
• Age: Median age around 30, notably younger than the state, supporting high smartphone adoption among working-age adults and teens.
• Income/affordability: Poverty rates are several times the state average, historically driving greater uptake of prepaid plans, Lifeline (tribal), and, until its 2024 wind-down, the Affordable Connectivity Program. Affordability dynamics contribute to higher smartphone-only households and shared device/plan usage.
• Household structure: Larger, multigenerational households increase device sharing and the importance of strong indoor cellular coverage where fixed broadband is unavailable or unaffordable.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage footprint: 4G LTE from national carriers is present along primary corridors and population centers such as Fort Yates, Cannon Ball, Solen, and Selfridge. Coverage gaps persist in outlying rangeland and river valleys.
• 5G availability: Concentrated around towns and highways; reliable outdoor 5G reaches a minority of residents, versus broad 5G population coverage at the state level. Indoor 5G remains inconsistent outside core communities.
• Typical performance: LTE speeds commonly in the 5–25 Mbps range in rural stretches, with 5G delivering higher peaks where available but dropping to LTE in fringe areas. This is materially below the urban/suburban North Dakota experience.
• Backhaul and tower spacing: Wider inter-site distances than metro North Dakota create dead zones and weaker indoor penetration, reinforcing mobile-first but not always high-speed experiences.
• Emergency and public-safety overlays: FirstNet/AT&T coverage supports public-safety users; however, commercial user experience still tracks with the rural topology and backhaul constraints.

How Sioux County differs from the state-level trend

• Much higher smartphone-only reliance: About three times the statewide rate, reflecting both infrastructure and affordability factors.
• Lower fixed broadband take-up: A gap of roughly 25–30 percentage points compared with the state, pushing everyday activities onto mobile plans.
• Patchier 5G: Statewide 5G coverage is broad; in Sioux County it remains limited to populated pockets, keeping many users on LTE.
• Greater role of subsidies and prepaid: A larger share of users depend on tribal Lifeline and prepaid offerings; the end of ACP funding in 2024 likely increased smartphone-only households further.
• Younger, tribal-majority population: Demographics support high smartphone adoption but, combined with lower incomes and sparse infrastructure, favor mobile over wireline access.

Implications

• Mobile networks are the de facto broadband for many households, so capacity upgrades (additional spectrum, closer spacing of sites, improved backhaul) will have outsized impact on digital inclusion.
• Investments that expand reliable 5G and enhance indoor coverage in outlying areas will disproportionately narrow the county’s gap with statewide digital experiences.
• Programs targeting device affordability and data plan support are particularly impactful here given the high prevalence of smartphone-only households.

Sioux County, ND — Social media snapshot

Anchor stats (population and demographics)

• Residents: 3,898 (2020 Census).
• Age mix: Sioux County skews young compared with the U.S. overall; about one-third of residents are under 18 and roughly one in eight are 65+.
• Gender: Approximately balanced at about 50% female, 50% male.

Estimated social media reach (adults and teens)

• Adults (18+): About 7 in 10 rural adults use at least one social platform (Pew Research Center). Applying this benchmark locally indicates social media is a mainstream channel for Sioux County adults.
• Teens (13–17): Social media is near-universal nationally (≈95% use at least one platform; Pew). Expect very high teen adoption locally as well.

Most-used platforms and indicative percentages (rural U.S. adults; suitable proxy for Sioux County)

• YouTube: ~75–80% of adults
• Facebook: ~65–70%
• Pinterest: ~28–32%
• Instagram: ~25–30%
• Snapchat: ~20–25%
• X (Twitter): ~18–22%
• TikTok: ~17–22%
• LinkedIn: ~15–18% Notes:
• Among 18–29-year-olds, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok usage rises sharply (majority adoption), while Facebook and YouTube remain widely used across all ages.
• Women tend to over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube and X.

Age-group lens (usage tendencies)

• Teens and 18–29: Heavy on short-form video (TikTok/Instagram Reels/Snapchat), messaging, and creator-driven content; YouTube for how‑to, music, and gaming.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube dominate for news, community updates, events, and marketplace; Instagram is secondary.
• 50+: Facebook and YouTube remain primary; other platforms see lighter use.

Gender lens (tendencies)

• Female users: Strong engagement with Facebook Groups/Pages, local events, school and community communications; higher Pinterest usage for crafts, food, and planning.
• Male users: Higher YouTube consumption (sports, how‑to, equipment reviews); relatively higher X/Reddit usage for news and sports commentary.

Behavioral trends in a rural/tribal-county context

• Community coordination lives on Facebook: Groups and Pages for tribal programs, schools, local government, weather/road updates, sports, and events drive consistent engagement.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube and Facebook Live are key for local sports, announcements, and church/community streams; short-form video cross-posting (Reels/TikTok) is growing.
• Messaging-centric habits: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are critical for family networks and quick coordination across dispersed households.
• Mobile-first usage patterns: Engagement peaks early morning and late evening; weekend posting around local events performs well. Practical, service-oriented posts (deadlines, benefits, jobs, road conditions, health notices) earn above-average interaction.

Sources and basis

• Population and demographics: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census.
• Platform usage rates: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use (adult, 2021) and Teens, Social Media and Technology (2023). Figures shown for rural adults serve as the most reliable proxy for Sioux County’s platform mix.