Ward County

Ward County, North Dakota — key demographics (latest available Census Bureau data)

Population

• 70,700 (2023 estimate)
• 69,919 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~32 years
• Under 18: ~24%
• 18–64: ~62%
• 65 and over: ~14%

Gender

• Male: ~52%
• Female: ~48%

Race and ethnicity

• Race (alone, percent of total; sums ~100):
  • White: ~86%
  • Black or African American: ~5%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native: ~5%
  • Asian: ~2%
  • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: <1%
  • Two or more races: ~4–5%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~7%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~80%

Households

• Households: ~28,500
• Average household size: ~2.45–2.50
• Family households: ~60–62% of households
• Married-couple households: ~45–47%
• Households with children under 18: ~30–32%
• Nonfamily households: ~38–40%
• Living alone: ~28–30%

Notable insights

• Younger and more male than the U.S. average, influenced by Minot Air Force Base.
• Less racially diverse than the U.S. overall, with relatively higher American Indian/Alaska Native and growing Hispanic shares.
• Household size near the national average, with a majority of households being family households.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates; 2023 Population Estimates Program. Figures rounded for clarity.

Ward County, ND (2023 pop ~70,000; density ~34 people/sq mi; ~70% live in/near Minot).

Email usage

• Estimated adult email users: ~50,000 (≈93% of adults), based on Pew email adoption rates applied to local age mix.
• Age distribution of users (approximate counts and shares):
  • 18–34: ~19,700 (39%)
  • 35–54: ~16,600 (33%)
  • 55–64: ~6,300 (13%)
  • 65+: ~7,700 (15%)
• Gender split: roughly ~52% male, ~48% female, mirroring county demographics; no meaningful difference in adoption by gender.

Digital access and trends

• Households with a computer ≈94%; with a broadband subscription ≈89% (ACS 2018–2022), indicating strong baseline connectivity.
• Minot has broad fiber/cable availability (SRT FTTH, Midco DOCSIS) with 100 Mbps–gigabit tiers; rural townships see more variability but benefit from expanding fixed wireless and 5G along US‑2/US‑83 corridors.
• High connectivity and a young-leaning population (large 18–34 cohort tied to Minot AFB and regional employment) support near-universal email use among working-age adults; usage remains strong but modestly lower among 65+.

Mobile phone usage in Ward County, North Dakota (2024)

At-a-glance estimates

• Population baseline (2020 Census): 69,919 residents; roughly 28,000 households.
• Adult smartphone users: ≈47,000; teen (13–17) smartphone users: ≈4,000; total smartphone users ≈51,000.
• Cell phone users of any type (adults): ≈51,000.
• Households with a cellular data plan (phone/tablet): ≈20,000.
• Mobile-only internet households (cellular or 5G fixed wireless as primary home internet): ≈4,000.

How these numbers were derived

• Adults are assumed at ~75% of population, consistent with recent ACS age structures for Ward County’s younger profile.
• Adult smartphone ownership pegged at ~89% (national 85% per Pew; Ward trends higher given its younger, military- and college-influenced population).
• Cell phone ownership (any type) among adults at ~97% (Pew).
• Teen smartphone ownership at ~95% (Pew for U.S. teens), with teens ~6–7% of county population.
• Household cellular plan presence estimated ~70–72% (ACS cell-data-plan measure, adjusted upward for Ward’s younger mix).
• Mobile-only internet households estimated ~14% (above North Dakota’s statewide ~11–12% due to Minot/Minot AFB demographics and 5G FWA availability).

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age: Ward County skews younger than North Dakota overall (state median ~35; Ward is lower due to Minot AFB and Minot State University). Result: higher smartphone penetration and heavier mobile data usage among 18–34s; this cohort is roughly 5–8 percentage points larger in Ward than statewide.
• Military influence: Minot AFB raises the share of 18–34, multi-line postpaid plans, and high device turnover/upgrade rates compared with the state average.
• Income and plan mix: Similar median household income to the state, but a higher share of mobile-only broadband among renters and young families in Minot. Prepaid uptake remains present but is likely below national averages due to employer/military discounts on postpaid plans.
• Race/ethnicity: Ward has a somewhat more diverse population than the state average (notably higher Black and Hispanic shares tied to the base), which correlates with above-average mobile-first engagement compared with the statewide profile.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• 5G footprint: All three national carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) offer 5G in and around Minot, with mid-band 5G (C-band for Verizon/AT&T; 2.5 GHz for T-Mobile) concentrated in population centers and along US-2 and US-83. By population, 5G covers the vast majority of Ward residents; far-north and far-west rural sections remain LTE-priority.
• Fixed Wireless Access (FWA): Verizon 5G Home and T-Mobile 5G Home are widely marketed within Minot and adjacent communities, driving the elevated mobile-only internet share versus the state.
• Fiber and backhaul: SRT Communications and other providers have extensive fiber-to-the-home/business in Minot and fiber-fed fixed wireless in rural areas, supporting strong cellular backhaul. Fiber presence in population centers enables better mid-band 5G performance than many rural ND counties.
• Rural gaps: Outside Minot/Burlington/Surrey corridors, service relies on lower-band LTE with fewer sectors per site. Drive-time corridors are well served; farm and river-valley pockets can see capacity dips during peak hours.

How Ward County differs from North Dakota overall

• Higher smartphone and mobile-only internet penetration driven by a larger 18–34 cohort, Minot AFB, and university presence.
• Greater 5G availability by population (Minot-centric mid-band deployments), whereas many ND counties remain primarily LTE outside the metro trio (Fargo–West Fargo, Bismarck–Mandan, Grand Forks).
• Faster uptake of 5G FWA as a primary home connection in the Minot area, while much of North Dakota leans more uniformly on fiber or DSL replacements in rural exchanges.
• Heavier postpaid, multi-line plan mix (military discounts and employer plans) versus the state’s rural counties, which show relatively higher prepaid share.

Key takeaways

• Approximately 51,000 people in Ward County use smartphones, and roughly 70%+ of households maintain a cellular data subscription.
• Ward’s younger, military-influenced demographics and strong fiber backhaul underpin above-average 5G usage and higher mobile-only internet adoption than the statewide norm.
• Coverage is robust in Minot and along major routes, with rural fringe areas still contingent on LTE and wider cell spacing, shaping a dual experience: urban-grade 5G in the core and coverage-first LTE at the edges.

Ward County, ND social media snapshot (2024)

How this was built

• Population and age/gender: U.S. Census Bureau (latest estimates).
• Platform reach: Pew Research Center (2023–2024 adults; 2022 teens).
• County figures are modeled by applying national age-specific adoption to Ward County’s age mix; counts are rounded.

Population and demographics

• Total residents: ≈70,000 (2023 est.)
• Gender: 51.3% male, 48.7% female
• Age: ≈24.4% under 18; ≈13.7% 65+

Social media user base

• Adults (18+): ≈83% use at least one social platform → ≈44,000 users
• Teens (13–17): ≈95% use social → ≈4,300 users
• Total users 13+: ≈48,000 (≈84% of residents 13+; ≈69% of all residents)

Most-used platforms in Ward County (residents 13+, modeled)

• YouTube: ≈84% → ≈48,000 users
• Facebook: ≈65% → ≈37,000
• Instagram: ≈48% → ≈28,000
• TikTok: ≈36% → ≈21,000
• Snapchat: ≈32% → ≈18,000
• Pinterest: ≈32% → ≈18,000
• LinkedIn: ≈28% → ≈16,000
• WhatsApp: ≈27% → ≈15,000
• X (Twitter): ≈22% → ≈13,000
• Reddit: ≈21% → ≈12,000
• Nextdoor: ≈18% → ≈10,000

Age-group usage patterns

• Teens (13–17): YouTube (95%), TikTok (67%), Instagram (62%), Snapchat (59%); Facebook (~32%) is secondary
• 18–29: Heavy across platforms; Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok strongest after YouTube; Facebook widely used for groups/marketplace
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram common; Pinterest strong among women
• 50–64: Facebook first; YouTube for news/how‑to; Pinterest and LinkedIn moderate
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube lead; limited adoption of others; some Nextdoor uptake

Gender breakdown and skews

• County baseline: 51.3% male, 48.7% female
• Platform skews (national patterns reflected locally): Pinterest skews female; Reddit and X skew male; LinkedIn slightly male; Facebook and Instagram roughly balanced; TikTok/Snapchat lean female among younger users

Behavioral trends

• Community and commerce: Facebook Groups and Marketplace are the hub for local news, buy/sell/trade (vehicles, household, farm/ranch), events, and lost-and-found
• Real-time utility: Spikes in Facebook activity during winter storms, road closures, school alerts; local agencies and media drive traffic
• Video-first habits: YouTube for DIY, auto/home repair, hunting/fishing, and local news; TikTok/Reels for entertainment and quick local promotions
• Messaging centrality: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are primary channels for coordination; many small businesses handle customer inquiries via Messenger
• Work-shift cadence: Noticeable late-night/early-morning engagement tied to Minot AFB and energy-sector shifts
• Trust dynamics: Recommendations in local Facebook groups carry outsized weight vs standalone reviews; creator-style content from recognizable locals performs well
• Advertising: Paid reach is concentrated on Facebook/Instagram; YouTube pre-roll used by larger regional brands; TikTok ads growing for hospitality, events, and recruitment

Note: Counts are modeled estimates for 2024 based on Ward County’s demographics and the latest platform adoption rates.