Walsh County

Walsh County, North Dakota — key demographics (most recent Census/ACS)

Population size

• Total population: 10,563 (2020 Census)
• 2010→2020 change: −5.0% (approx.)
• 2023 population estimate: ~10.4k (Census Bureau estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~42 years
• Under 18: ~22%
• 18–64: ~58%
• 65 and over: ~20%

Sex

• Male: ~50–51%
• Female: ~49–50%

Race and Hispanic/Latino origin

• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~18–19%
• Not Hispanic or Latino: ~81–82%, including approximately:
  • White alone: ~75–78%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~2–3%
  • Black or African American alone: ~1%
  • Asian alone: <1%
  • Two or more races: ~3–4%

Households and families

• Households: ~4,400–4,500
• Average household size: ~2.3 persons
• Family households: ~60% of households
• Married-couple households: ~45–50% of households
• Nonfamily households: ~40%
• Average family size: ~2.9–3.0

Housing tenure (context for households)

• Owner-occupied: ~70–75%
• Renter-occupied: ~25–30%

Notes: Figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census DP1 and 2019–2023 ACS 5-year tables DP02/DP04/DP05/S0101). Values are rounded for clarity; small counties have margins of error in ACS-based indicators.

Walsh County, ND has about 11,000 residents across roughly 1,294 square miles (density 8.5 people per sq mi). Estimated active email users: about 8,500 residents (78% of the population).

Age distribution of email users (share of users):

• 18–34: 23%
• 35–54: 32%
• 55–64: 17%
• 65+: 28%

Gender split among users: ~50% female, ~50% male.

Digital access and connectivity:

• North Dakota has one of the nation’s highest home broadband subscription rates (about 87% of households); Walsh County tracks slightly below this, reflecting its rural profile but still supporting widespread email use.
• Fiber-to-the-home is common in population centers like Grafton and Park River, with fixed wireless and satellite filling rural gaps.
• 4G/LTE mobile coverage spans virtually all populated corridors, making smartphones a primary email access point.
• Public Wi‑Fi via libraries, schools, and clinics supplements home access.

Insights: An older age structure modestly lowers overall adoption versus metro areas, but robust fixed and mobile networks keep email penetration high. Seniors constitute a significant share of users, so accessibility (readable fonts, simple layouts) improves engagement.

Walsh County, ND: mobile phone usage snapshot with county-specific estimates and infrastructure context

Core population baseline

• Residents: ≈10,500
• Households: ≈4,350–4,500 (implied by average household size ≈2.3–2.4)
• Adult share (18+): ≈78% of population (≈8,200 adults)
• Age structure skews older than North Dakota overall, with a sizable 65+ cohort and a smaller 18–34 cohort compared with the state average

User estimates (phones and smartphones)

• Total mobile phone users (any mobile device, feature or smart): ≈8,400–8,700 individuals, or ≈80–83% of all residents
  • Basis: adult mobile ownership rates in rural areas are typically mid‑90% plus additional minor users in the 10–17 range
• Total smartphone users: ≈7,200–7,400 individuals, or ≈68–71% of all residents
  • Composition by age (estimated, reflecting rural adoption patterns):
    • 18–24: ≈96% smartphone adoption (≈900 users)
    • 25–44: ≈92–94% (≈2,200–2,300 users)
    • 45–64: ≈82–85% (≈2,150–2,250 users)
    • 65+: ≈60–64% (≈1,320–1,410 users)
    • 13–17: ≈93–96% (≈600–620 users)
• Device mix and plans:
  • Feature phones (voice/text‑centric) are measurably more common than the state average, concentrated in the 65+ group
  • Prepaid participation is higher than the statewide mix, reflecting lower median incomes and seasonal employment patterns
  • Multi‑line family plans dominate in town centers (Grafton, Park River, Minto), with single‑line prepaid more common in outlying areas

Demographic nuances shaping usage (how Walsh County differs from statewide averages)

• Older population share: Higher 65+ share than ND overall depresses countywide smartphone penetration and average mobile data use
• Language and seasonal labor: A higher Hispanic/Latino presence tied to agriculture elevates use of over‑the‑top messaging (WhatsApp, Messenger), international calling add‑ons, and Wi‑Fi offload when at home or work
• Income and plan selection: Lower median household income than the ND average raises price sensitivity, tilting toward prepaid, entry‑tier postpaid, and device longevity beyond typical upgrade cycles
• Home broadband substitution: Because fiber‑to‑the‑home is unusually extensive locally, “mobile‑only internet” households are less common than the statewide share; this shifts mobile usage toward voice/messaging and away from heavy cellular data reliance at home

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Fiber backbone and last‑mile:
  • Rural telecom cooperative fiber is widespread in Walsh County, delivering gigabit‑class fixed broadband across most populated areas
  • Strong fiber presence improves cellular backhaul quality at town sites and enables extensive Wi‑Fi offload in homes, farms, and businesses
• Cellular coverage profile:
  • T‑Mobile: Broad low‑band 5G coverage across rural corridors, with mid‑band 5G available in and around larger towns; generally the widest 5G footprint in sparsely populated areas
  • Verizon: Robust LTE with growing low‑band and localized mid‑band 5G in towns; favored for voice reliability in fringe rural zones
  • AT&T/FirstNet: Solid town and corridor coverage with low‑band 5G; public‑safety FirstNet devices are well supported countywide
  • Outside town centers, service often falls back to low‑band 5G or LTE; building penetration in older structures can be variable, especially away from highway corridors
• Performance ranges observed in similar rural ND counties:
  • In‑town 5G: common real‑world downstream 50–150 Mbps, higher on mid‑band where available
  • Rural fringe LTE/low‑band 5G: often 5–25 Mbps, sometimes lower in topographic depressions or tree cover
• Fixed wireless and 5G Home Internet:
  • Adoption is lower than statewide where fiber is available to the premises, but fixed‑wireless remains relevant on the outer edges and for temporarily occupied dwellings or seasonal workers

Behavioral and traffic patterns

• Voice and SMS usage per line is higher than statewide due to the older age mix; unlimited talk/text on low‑data plans is common
• Mobile data per capita is below the ND average because of heavy Wi‑Fi offload to fiber at home and work, plus a larger share of basic smartphones and feature phones
• Seasonal agriculture drives temporary upticks in prepaid SIM activations and short‑term data add‑ons during harvest and processing periods
• Emergency communications readiness is strong in towns given FirstNet presence and fiber backhaul; some rural pockets still rely on Wi‑Fi calling for indoor coverage

Key takeaways vs North Dakota statewide trends

• Lower smartphone penetration and higher feature‑phone retention, driven by an older demographic structure
• More conservative device upgrade cycles and higher prepaid share
• Less appetite for 5G Home Internet where fiber is available, contrary to statewide growth in fixed‑wireless access
• Heavier reliance on Wi‑Fi and over‑the‑top messaging, with lower cellular data consumption at home
• Coverage is reliable in towns and along main corridors, with expected rural gaps and low‑band dependence away from population centers

Notes on estimation approach

• Population and household baselines align with recent census estimates for Walsh County
• Adoption rates apply nationally observed rural/age‑cohort smartphone and mobile ownership patterns to the county’s older‑leaning age structure, producing county‑level user estimates that are consistent with rural Upper Midwest usage profiles

Social media usage in Walsh County, North Dakota (2024, modeled)

Snapshot

• Population: ~10,500; age 13+ population: ~8,715
• Estimated social media users (13+): ~6,340 (≈73% of 13+; ≈60% of total population)
• Gender among active users: ~53% female, ~47% male

Age breakdown of the active audience (share of social media users)

• 13–17: ~9%
• 18–29: ~19%
• 30–49: ~33%
• 50–64: ~23%
• 65+: ~16%

Most-used platforms (share of people 13+ who use each platform)

• YouTube: ~84%
• Facebook: ~66%
• Instagram: ~48%
• TikTok: ~35%
• Pinterest: ~34%
• Snapchat: ~29%
• LinkedIn: ~28%
• X (Twitter): ~22%
• WhatsApp: ~19%
• Nextdoor: negligible locally

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the default local network for adults 30+, with heavy use of Groups, school/church pages, local news, and Marketplace; event posts reliably drive foot traffic.
• YouTube is universal across ages for how‑to content, farm/DIY, sports streams, and weather; growing connected‑TV viewing increases mid‑evening reach.
• Teens and young adults split time between Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram; communication is primarily via DMs, Stories, and short‑form video; brand discovery skews Reels/TikTok.
• Pinterest is strong among women 25–54 for planning (recipes, home, crafts, weddings), with seasonal spikes.
• LinkedIn use concentrates in healthcare, education, and public sector recruiting; engagement is otherwise light.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger dominates; WhatsApp sees use among Spanish‑speaking residents and seasonal agricultural workers.
• Content preferences: practical and local—weather and road updates, school sports highlights, hunting/fishing, agriculture, local faces; vertical video performs best.
• Timing: engagement peaks 7–9 pm; secondary peaks at weekday lunch; teen activity skews later evening (9–11 pm).

Method note

• Figures are 2024 modeled estimates specific to Walsh County, produced by applying Pew Research Center platform‑use rates (2023–2024; adults and teens) to the county’s age structure (ACS/Census). Percentages reflect users as a share of residents age 13+.