Asotin County

Here are concise, recent Census-derived demographics for Asotin County, Washington.

Population size

• 22,285 (2020 Census)
• About 22.7k (2023 Census Population Estimates)

Age

• Median age: ~45 years
• Under 18: ~21%
• 65 and over: ~23%

Gender

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2019–2023, percent of total population)

• White alone: ~88–90%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~5%
• Two or more races: ~4–5%
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~1–2%
• Asian alone: ~1%
• Black or African American alone: ~0.5–1%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander alone: ~0–0.5%

Households (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: ~9,500
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Family households: ~60% of households (married-couple families ~45%)
• Households with children under 18: ~25–27%
• Nonfamily households: ~38–40%

Sources and vintages

• U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (total population)
• U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (2023 population)
• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates (age, sex, race/ethnicity, households) Note: Hispanic/Latino is an ethnicity and overlaps with race categories. Percentages are rounded.

Asotin County, WA (pop. 22–23k) is rural with low density (30–40 people/sq. mile), concentrated in Clarkston and the Snake River corridor.

Estimated email users

• Adults: ~16–18k users (roughly 90%+ of ~18k adults), based on national/state adoption rates.
• Including teens: total ~18–20k email users countywide.

Age distribution (estimated adoption)

• 18–29: ~95–99%
• 30–49: ~95–99%
• 50–64: ~90–95%
• 65+: ~80–90% Email use is nearly universal among working-age adults; seniors trail but continue to rise.

Gender split

• Roughly even (male/female differences in email adoption are minimal in recent surveys).

Digital access trends

• Household broadband subscription likely in the mid‑70s to mid‑80s percent range, higher in Clarkston, lower in outlying areas.
• Smartphone ownership is high; a noticeable minority are smartphone‑only for internet access.
• Public libraries and schools provide important supplemental access and digital literacy support.

Local connectivity facts

• As part of the Lewiston–Clarkston metro, the Clarkston urban area has denser wired service; upland/rural areas rely more on DSL/fixed wireless where terrain increases buildout costs.
• Ongoing state/federal broadband programs are expanding coverage, narrowing remaining gaps.

Below is a concise, planning‑grade snapshot of mobile phone usage in Asotin County, Washington, with emphasis on how it differs from state‑level patterns. Figures are estimates derived from recent ACS 5‑year computer/Internet indicators for rural WA counties, Pew smartphone adoption trends, and known local infrastructure conditions in the Lewiston‑Clarkston valley.

User estimates (2025)

• Population baseline: ~22–23k residents; ~17–18k adults.
• People with a mobile phone (any type): ~19k–21k (roughly 85–93% of residents). This is a few points below WA statewide, driven by older age structure and lower incomes.
• Adult smartphone users: ~14.5k–16k adults (about 82–90% of adults). Seniors drive most of the gap vs state averages; younger cohorts are near‑universal users.
• Cellular‑only home Internet households: 15–20% in Asotin County vs ~10–12% statewide. Reliance on phone hotspots and fixed wireless is noticeably higher than WA overall.
• Prepaid/discount plan share: higher than WA average, reflecting price sensitivity and the presence of regional carriers.

Demographic breakdown (how usage differs from Washington statewide)

• Age: Asotin County skews older (larger 65+ share). Estimated smartphone adoption by age:
  • 18–34: ≈95%+ (near parity with WA)
  • 35–64: ≈88–92% (1–3 pts below WA)
  • 65+: ≈70–78% (5–10 pts below WA)
• Income: Lower median household income than WA → more prepaid plans, more shared family plans, and longer device replacement cycles (3–4 years vs ~3 statewide).
• Rurality: Higher rural share than WA → greater dependence on cellular for home connectivity, especially outside Clarkston/Asotin city limits and along farm/rangeland corridors.
• Work/commerce patterns: Cross‑river ties to Lewiston, ID mean users often prioritize carriers with strong coverage on both sides of the Snake River.

Digital infrastructure (local characteristics)

• Coverage pattern:
  • Strongest, most consistent service in the Clarkston urban area and along US‑12 by the river.
  • Noticeable gaps or weak signal in canyons, uplands, and along WA‑129 (Rattlesnake Grade) toward Anatone and the Blue Mountains; recreation areas toward Hells Canyon have limited/no service.
• 5G availability:
  • Mid‑band 5G present in the Clarkston core (T‑Mobile 2.5 GHz; Verizon C‑band). Delivers fast speeds in town.
  • Outside the valley, coverage falls back to low‑band 5G or LTE; speeds and capacity drop faster than in most WA metro counties.
  • mmWave is effectively absent.
• Carriers and options:
  • National carriers: Verizon typically offers the most rural reach; AT&T is solid in town/corridors; T‑Mobile has improved markedly in the valley but thins out in the hills.
  • Regional: Inland Cellular serves parts of Asotin and adjacent ID/WA counties and offers both mobile and fixed‑wireless products; local WISPs (e.g., First Step Internet) support off‑grid locations.
• Backhaul and fixed broadband interplay:
  • Cable broadband is available in and near Clarkston; legacy DSL persists in outlying areas; fiber-to-the-home is limited and spotty.
  • Where wired options are weak, residents lean on smartphone hotspots or fixed wireless (CBRS/LTE) more than the WA average.
• Public and anchor connectivity:
  • Libraries, schools, and city facilities provide Wi‑Fi that many residents use as supplemental bandwidth—again, a higher reliance than in urban WA.

Key trends that diverge from state‑level

• Slightly lower overall smartphone adoption—driven by a larger 65+ population—despite near‑universal adoption among younger adults.
• Higher dependence on mobile data for primary home Internet, especially outside Clarkston.
• Greater share of prepaid/regional carrier usage and longer device replacement cycles.
• Urban‑rural performance gap is wider: mid‑band 5G in the valley can match state speeds, but coverage and capacity drop off more sharply in surrounding terrain.
• Coverage gaps on secondary highways and in recreation areas remain more pronounced than typical for WA as a whole.

Notes on uncertainty

• County‑level mobile usage data are sparse; figures above are ranges meant for planning. For decisions that depend on exact counts or neighborhood‑level coverage, validate with current ACS S2801 cross‑tabs, carrier coverage maps/drive tests, and local providers (Inland Cellular, WISPs, and cable/telecom incumbents).

Below is a planning-grade snapshot for Asotin County, WA. Exact county-level platform counts aren’t published; figures are estimates based on the county’s demographic mix (ACS), national/rural usage patterns (Pew Research 2024), and regional behavior. Use as directional guidance.

At-a-glance user stats

• Population: ~22,000
• Households with broadband: ~82–88%
• Social media users (any platform): ~14,000–17,000 residents (≈75–85% of adults; >90% among ages 13–34)

Most‑used platforms (estimated share of adults 18+ using each)

• YouTube: ~78–82%
• Facebook: ~62–70% (dominant locally)
• Instagram: ~35–45%
• TikTok: ~30–38%
• Snapchat: ~28–35% (higher in teens/20s)
• Pinterest: ~30–38% (skews female)
• LinkedIn: ~18–24% (professionals/college‑educated)
• X (Twitter): ~15–20%
• Reddit: ~12–18%
• Nextdoor: ~8–12% (patchy coverage; more in Clarkston)

Age patterns (who uses what)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube 90%+, Snapchat 70%+, TikTok 70%+, Instagram 60%+; Facebook <30%.
• 18–34: Instagram 60%+, Snapchat 50%+, TikTok 50%+, Facebook ~55–60%, YouTube 90%+.
• 35–54: Facebook 70%+, YouTube 85%+, Instagram 40–50%, Pinterest 40–50%, TikTok ~30–35%.
• 55+: Facebook 65%+, YouTube 75%+, Pinterest 30–40%, Instagram ~25–30%, TikTok ~20–25%.

Gender breakdown

• Overall social media audience mirrors population (~51% women, 49% men).
• Skews by platform:
  • More women: Facebook (+5–10 pts), Pinterest (≈70–75% of users), Instagram (slight).
  • More men: Reddit (≈65–70% men), X (≈55–60% men), slight male lean on YouTube.

Local behavioral trends

• Facebook is the community hub: heavy use of Groups and Marketplace (buy/sell/trade, yard sales, lost & found, school sports, road/wildfire updates). County/city/sheriff posts get strong shares during incidents.
• Event discovery: Facebook Events drive attendance for Asotin County Fair & Hells Canyon Rodeo, farmers markets, school activities; reminders the week-of perform best.
• Short-form video growth: Instagram Reels/TikTok used for outdoor rec (Snake River, Hells Canyon), youth sports highlights, small-business spotlights; location tags (Clarkston/Asotin/LC Valley) boost reach.
• Messaging: Under‑35s lean on Snapchat and Messenger for coordination; WhatsApp niche.
• Cross‑border behavior: Many residents follow Idaho-side Lewiston/Nez Perce pages; campaigns perform better when targeted to the broader LC Valley.
• Timing: Engagement peaks 7–9 pm PT; secondary bump 11:30 am–1 pm; weekend mornings strong for Marketplace and event posts.
• Content that works: Practical local info (closures, weather/smoke, river levels), community service stories, school athletics, hunting/fishing and motorsports; images/video with clear local landmarks increase trust and shares.

Notes on methodology/sources

• Demographics: U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 1‑year/5‑year, latest available).
• Platform usage baselines: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (applied to rural/small‑metro profile).
• Broadband: WA broadband reporting and ACS device/connection indicators.
• Figures are estimates; validate with page insights/ad platform reach when planning campaigns.