Wells County

Here are concise, sourced demographics for Wells County, North Dakota.

Population size

• 3,982 (2020 Decennial Census)

Age (2019–2023 ACS 5-year)

• Median age: about 49–50 years
• Under 18: ~21–22%
• 18–64: ~53–55%
• 65 and over: ~24–26%

Gender (2019–2023 ACS 5-year)

• Male: ~51%
• Female: ~49%

Race and ethnicity (2019–2023 ACS 5-year; Hispanic is an ethnicity, overlaps races)

• White alone: ~95–96%
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~2%
• Black or African American alone: ~0–1%
• Asian alone: ~0–1%
• Two or more races: ~1–2%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~2–3%

Households (2019–2023 ACS 5-year)

• Total households: ~1,750–1,850
• Average household size: ~2.1–2.2
• Family households: ~60–62% of households
• Average family size: ~2.6–2.8

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates. These figures reflect the latest comprehensive small-area estimates available.

Wells County, ND snapshot (2020 pop. 3,982; land density ≈3.1 residents/sq mi):

• Estimated email users (age 13+): ~3,070 residents (≈77% of total).
• Adult email users (18+): ~2,880.

Age distribution among adult email users (counts; share):

• 18–29: ~390 (≈14%)
• 30–49: ~840 (≈29%)
• 50–64: ~920 (≈32%)
• 65+: ~730 (≈26%)

Gender split among email users: effectively even (≈50% women, 50% men), mirroring the county’s population balance.

Digital access and connectivity:

• About 82% of households have a broadband subscription and ~90% have a computer (ACS 2018–2022), enabling routine email use across age groups.
• Fiber and high-speed fixed broadband serve population centers (Fessenden, Harvey) and many rural locations via regional cooperatives; LTE/5G covers primary corridors (US‑52/ND‑15), supporting on‑the‑go access.
• Sparse settlement and farm/small‑town patterns shape usage: email is near‑universal among residents under 65 and substantial among seniors, with continuing broadband upgrades sustaining gradual growth.

Insights: With strong household connectivity and cooperative fiber builds, Wells County’s email adoption is high for a rural area, dominated by working‑age and pre‑retirement users, while seniors’ participation continues to rise as access and devices improve.

Mobile phone usage in Wells County, North Dakota—2024 snapshot

Context and population

• Population: 3,982 (2020 Census) across ~1,271 square miles; density ~3.1 residents per square mile. Very rural with small towns (e.g., Fessenden, Harvey) and large farm/ranch areas.
• Age structure: Significantly older than the North Dakota average, which depresses smartphone and 5G device uptake compared with the state.

User estimates (modeled from Census age mix and recent national adoption by age)

• Residents with a mobile phone (any type): ~3,000–3,300 users (about 75–83% of total residents; roughly 90%+ of adults).
• Smartphone users: 2,700–3,000 users (about 68–75% of residents), lower than North Dakota overall (80%+).
• 5G-capable device users: 1,500–1,800 (about 38–45% of residents; 55–60% of smartphone users), notably below the state average (65–70% of smartphone users).
• Mobile-only households (no landline): ~55–65% of households in Wells County versus roughly 70–75% statewide, reflecting an older population and patchier rural coverage.
• Prepaid share: Higher than statewide norms, driven by lower population density and cost sensitivity; postpaid family plans remain common among multi-line households.

Demographic breakdown of use (directional differences vs state)

• Age:
  • 18–29: Very high smartphone adoption (~90–95%), broadly on par with state.
  • 30–49: High adoption (~85–92%), modestly below state due to slightly lower 5G device penetration.
  • 50–64: Solid adoption (~75–85%), trailing state by several points.
  • 65+: Moderate adoption (~60–70%), well below state urban centers; flip phones/basic LTE handsets remain visible.
• Income and plans:
  • Low- to moderate-income households more likely to use prepaid or limited-data plans and delay 5G handset upgrades.
  • Unlimited data plan penetration is lower than in the state’s metro counties; hotspot add-ons are used but often constrained by rural speeds.
• Work patterns:
  • Agriculture and energy-adjacent work increase demand for rugged devices, vehicle boosters, and low-band coverage; simultaneous need for farm telemetry and precision ag connectivity drives selective use of fixed wireless or satellite where mobile data is weak.

Digital infrastructure and coverage characteristics

• Technology mix:
  • 4G LTE is the primary coverage layer countywide; dependable in towns and along highways, with drop-offs between sites in sparsely populated sections.
  • 5G availability is present but predominantly low-band (extended-range) outside towns; mid-band 5G capacity (C-band/n41) is limited compared with North Dakota’s metro corridors.
• Spectrum in use (typical for rural ND, including Wells County):
  • Low-band for reach: 600 MHz (Band/n71, T-Mobile), 700 MHz (Band 12/13/14 for AT&T/Verizon/FirstNet), and 850 MHz (Band/n5, AT&T).
  • Capacity bands in towns and highway nodes: PCS/AWS (Bands 2/25 and 4/66) with selective mid-band 5G (n41/n77) at a small number of sites.
• Site density and performance:
  • Macrocell spacing is wide by necessity; signal is strong near towns and major routes, but indoor performance at farmsteads can be weak without boosters.
  • Typical user experience: 4G/low-band 5G speeds in many rural spots, with faster mid-band 5G bursts near upgraded sites. Peak urban-like speeds seen in ND metros are uncommon in Wells County.
• Backhaul:
  • Mixed microwave and fiber. Town sites tend to be fiber-fed; remote sectors often rely on microwave backhaul, limiting capacity relative to state metro sites.
• Public safety:
  • FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) enhances coverage for first responders; the band’s propagation benefits also help general rural coverage where deployed.
• Fixed broadband interplay:
  • Fiber is present in town centers; outside those areas, fixed wireless and legacy copper persist. Where fixed service is weak, residents lean more on mobile data and signal boosters; where fiber is available, households offload most data to Wi‑Fi, reducing mobile congestion locally.

How Wells County differs from North Dakota overall

• Lower smartphone and 5G device penetration driven by an older age profile and lower upgrade cadence.
• Higher reliance on low-band coverage layers and larger cell spacing; fewer mid-band 5G sites per capita than the state’s metro counties.
• Lower share of mobile-only households and higher persistence of basic phones among seniors.
• Greater use of prepaid and budget plans; higher incidence of coverage aids (vehicle/indoor boosters) for farm and ranch use.
• More pronounced performance variability: solid service in towns/highways, with noticeable slowdowns and dead zones in remote sections compared with the more uniformly dense networks around Fargo, Bismarck–Mandan, Grand Forks, and Minot.

Actionable implications

• Network planning: Additional mid-band 5G overlays at town sites and key highway junctions would materially improve capacity without requiring dense builds.
• Consumer guidance: Low-band–friendly devices (supporting Bands 12/13/14/71 and n5/n71), plan options with domestic roaming, and booster compatibility are more impactful here than in ND metros.
• Public services and agriculture: Prioritizing fiber or high-capacity fixed wireless to farm operations and elevating backhaul to rural cell sites will have outsized benefits for both voice reliability and data throughput in the county.

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

How these figures were built

• Modeled from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2018–2022 demographics for Wells County and 2024 Pew Research Center social media adoption by age and platform, with rural adjustments. Small-population uncertainty is reflected as ranges (±3–5 percentage points).

User base and penetration

• Adult social media penetration: 72–80% of adults
• Estimated adult users: roughly 2,200–2,600
• Teen adoption (13–17): very high; a large majority use at least one platform daily, with YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok dominant

Age breakdown of social media users (share of total users)

• 18–29: 16–20%
• 30–49: 34–38%
• 50–64: 26–30%
• 65+: 18–22%

Gender breakdown among users

• Women: 52–55% (higher Facebook and Pinterest use)
• Men: 45–48% (higher YouTube, X, Reddit use)

Most-used platforms among adults (share of adult residents using each at least monthly)

• YouTube: 70–78%
• Facebook: 65–72%
• Instagram: 25–32%
• Snapchat: 22–28% (skews 13–24)
• TikTok: 20–26% (fast growth among 18–34)
• Pinterest: 28–35% (female-skewed)
• WhatsApp: 10–15% (family/long-distance ties)
• X (Twitter): 12–16% (state news, weather, ag markets)
• LinkedIn: 10–14% (niche: education, health care, public sector)
• Nextdoor: 4–7% (limited footprint in sparsely populated areas)

Behavioral trends and local norms

• Facebook is the community hub: school sports, churches, county notices, volunteer drives, and buy–sell groups. Best engagement: event reminders, results/recaps, community photos, and practical info. Peak activity 6–9 pm; weekend mornings are strong.
• Messenger is the default “customer service” channel for 30–60-year-olds; businesses that respond within an hour see notably higher conversion for booking and quotes.
• YouTube is used for how‑to and long‑form viewing (farm equipment repair, DIY home projects, church services) and is often watched on smart TVs in the evening.
• Instagram is concentrated among younger adults and local small businesses; Reels outperform static posts. Daily specials and behind‑the‑scenes Stories drive foot traffic.
• Snapchat and TikTok dominate teen/young‑adult attention. Snapchat is primarily for messaging and friend networks; TikTok for entertainment. Seasonal content (planting/harvest, high‑school sports, county fair) travels well.
• Pinterest usage rises in fall/winter for recipes, home décor, quilting, and crafts; it’s effective for retailers with strong visuals and links.
• X is used by a small but active cohort for live weather, road conditions, and market news; posts with concise, utility-focused info perform best.
• Privacy and civility matter: closed groups are preferred; overt political content and aggressive sales pitches suppress engagement. “Useful + local” consistently wins.
• Advertising: Facebook/Instagram deliver the lowest CPMs for broad local reach; TikTok is efficient for 18–34 awareness; YouTube pre‑roll works for county‑wide branding. Best results come from a 15–40‑mile geo‑radius, clear CTAs to message or call, and creative featuring familiar places or faces.
• Seasonality: During planting/harvest, daytime engagement dips and skews to late evening; severe weather and school calendars cause short, sharp spikes in attention.

Key sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2018–2022, Wells County demographic composition
• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (platform adoption by age; rural vs. urban patterns)
• Pew Research Center, Teens, Social Media and Technology (for youth platform preferences)