Chelan County

Chelan County, Washington — key demographics

Population

• 79,074 (2020 Census). 2023 estimate: ~80,000 (Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).

Age (ACS 2018–2022, 5-year)

• Median age: ~40 years
• Under 18: ~24%
• 18 to 64: ~58%
• 65 and over: ~18%

Gender (ACS 2018–2022)

• Male: ~50.5%
• Female: ~49.5%

Race and Hispanic origin (ACS 2018–2022)

• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~31%
• Non-Hispanic White: ~63%
• Non-Hispanic Black: ~0.6%
• Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native: ~1.7%
• Non-Hispanic Asian: ~1.0%
• Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.1%
• Non-Hispanic Two or more races: ~2–3% (Note: percents may not sum exactly due to rounding.)

Households (ACS 2018–2022)

• Total households: ~30,100
• Average household size: ~2.64
• Family households: ~64% of households
• Married-couple households: ~47% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~28%
• Average family size: ~3.15

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates (tables DP05, S0101, S1101); Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2023.

Chelan County, WA — email usage snapshot

• Estimated users: ~60–65k residents use email at least occasionally. Assumes ~80k population, mid–high 80% household internet access (ACS), and ~90%+ of online adults using email (Pew), yielding ≈80,000 × 0.85 × 0.92 ≈ 62k.
• Age distribution (share of email users, approximated from national adoption applied to local age mix):
  • Teens (13–17): high account ownership but lower frequency; ~7–9%.
  • 18–29: near-universal adoption; ~15–18%.
  • 30–49: highest share; ~30–35%.
  • 50–64: very high adoption; ~25–28%.
  • 65+: slightly lower adoption but substantial; ~18–22%.
• Gender split: roughly 50/50; national data show minimal differences in email adoption by gender.
• Digital access trends:
  • Broadband: mid–high 80% of households report a subscription (ACS). Computer/smartphone access is widespread; some rural households are mobile-only.
  • Infrastructure: Chelan County PUD operates an open-access fiber network and is expanding service to un/underserved rural areas, improving speeds and reliability.
  • Mobile: strong 4G/5G coverage along US‑2/US‑97 corridors and in towns (Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Chelan); patchier in canyons and mountainous areas.
• Local density/connectivity context: ~27 people per square mile across ~2,900 sq mi; sparse, mountainous terrain creates last‑mile challenges outside the Wenatchee urban core.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Chelan County, WA (how it differs from Washington state)

User estimates (adults, rounded; based on ACS population and Pew adoption patterns for rural areas)

• Adults with any mobile phone: about 57,000–61,000 (roughly 93–97% of ~61–63k adults).
• Smartphone users: about 50,000–54,000 (roughly 82–87% of adults; Washington statewide tends to be closer to 88–92%).
• Mobile-only internet households (no home wireline, rely on smartphone/hotspot): roughly 18–23% of households, versus about 10–14% statewide.
• Prepaid/MVNO users: estimated 25–35% of mobile lines locally (Cricket, Metro, Boost, Tracfone, etc.), compared with roughly 15–20% in Washington overall.

Demographic patterns that shape usage (vs state averages)

• Age: Chelan County skews older (about 20–22% 65+, higher than WA’s ~16–17%). This pulls smartphone adoption slightly lower and sustains a small feature‑phone and simplified‑device segment (e.g., large‑button phones) that’s smaller statewide.
• Hispanic/Latino community: roughly 28–32% of the population (well above the state average). Higher Spanish‑first usage and strong reliance on WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger, and prepaid plans. Family/workgroup coordination over messaging and push‑to‑talk apps is common in agriculture and service work.
• Income and work patterns: Median household income trails the Puget Sound metro areas. That, plus seasonal agricultural employment, correlates with:
  • Greater prepaid and bring‑your‑own‑device uptake.
  • Slower flagship upgrade cycles; higher Android share than statewide.
  • More mobile hotspots for home connectivity where wireline is limited.
• Seasonal population swings: Tourism (Leavenworth, Lake Chelan) and harvest periods create short, heavy demand spikes. These are far more pronounced than the state average and can cause temporary congestion even where signal is present.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage geography:
  • Strongest, most contiguous coverage along US‑2 and US‑97 corridors and in population centers (Wenatchee, Chelan, Cashmere, Leavenworth, Entiat).
  • Noticeable gaps in canyons and recreation areas (e.g., Chiwawa/Lake Wenatchee backroads, Icicle/Entiat River valleys, Alpine Lakes). Stehekin remains effectively without cellular service.
• 5G rollout:
  • Low‑band 5G from all three national carriers covers most populated corridors, but mid‑band 5G (faster) is concentrated around Wenatchee and the Chelan/Manson area and thins out quickly in the foothills. mmWave is not a factor.
  • Compared with the Puget Sound region, Chelan has less mid‑band 5G density and fewer overlapping 5G sectors, so real‑world 5G speeds vary more with terrain and distance.
• Carrier performance tendencies:
  • Verizon generally retains the most reliable off‑highway footprint; AT&T is competitive where it has low‑band spectrum and benefits for public safety via FirstNet; T‑Mobile often leads on 5G capacity where it has mid‑band sites (notably in town centers).
  • More residents keep backup SIMs/MVNOs or switch carriers seasonally to chase coverage—behavior less common in metro Puget Sound.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • Chelan County PUD operates an open‑access fiber network that reaches many populated areas and provides robust backhaul for some towers and fixed ISPs. However, fiber is not universal in remote valleys, so some sites rely on microwave backhaul, which can constrain capacity during peaks.
  • Compared with much of rural Washington, Chelan benefits from the PUD’s fiber spine, but last‑mile gaps still drive higher mobile‑only dependence than the state average.
• Public safety and resiliency:
  • Wildfire risk elevates the importance of cell‑based alerts and text‑to‑911 (supported in WA). Terrain‑driven dead zones and power shutoffs can disrupt alerts in ways less common in urban counties.
  • Agencies make use of AT&T FirstNet and deploy temporary cells (COWs/COLTs) during incidents or major events; seasonal needs are more acute than statewide norms.

Key differences from Washington state overall

• Slightly lower smartphone penetration, higher Android and prepaid share.
• Significantly higher share of mobile‑only households, using phones/hotspots as primary internet.
• More multilingual, app‑centric communication patterns (Spanish‑first, WhatsApp) tied to a larger Hispanic/Latino population and seasonal workforce.
• Greater coverage variability and dependence on highway corridors; more pronounced seasonal congestion.
• Strong local fiber backbone via the PUD, but uneven last‑mile coverage means cellular still fills more gaps than in metro counties.
• Residents are more likely to make carrier choices based on specific valley/corridor performance rather than brand or price alone.

Method notes and assumptions

• Population base from recent ACS estimates; adoption rates informed by Pew and rural–urban deltas observed nationally and in Washington. Figures are presented as ranges to reflect local variation by terrain and season. For planning or investment, validate against carrier RF maps, FCC broadband/coverage datasets, Chelan PUD fiber availability, and on‑the‑ground drive tests in target corridors.

Chelan County, WA — social media snapshot (modeled)

How many users

• Population: ~80K. Adults: ~61–63K.
• Social media users (adults): ~44–48K (about 70–75% of adults).
• Including teens, total social users likely ~48–52K.
• Note: Estimates modeled from ACS county demographics and Pew Research Center U.S. social media adoption; exact county-level usage isn’t directly published.

Age mix among local social users (est.)

• 13–17: 6–8%
• 18–24: 12–14%
• 25–34: 18–20%
• 35–44: 17–19%
• 45–54: 14–16%
• 55–64: 12–14%
• 65+: 12–14%

Gender breakdown (est.)

• Women: 52–55% of social users
• Men: 45–48%
• Nonbinary/unspecified: small but growing visibility in platform tools

Most‑used platforms in Chelan County (share of adult social users, est.)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 65–70% (very strong among 35+, rural communities)
• Instagram: 40–50%
• TikTok: 30–35% (dominant with under‑30s)
• Snapchat: 25–30% (teens/college‑age)
• LinkedIn: 20–25% (lower outside metro professional hubs)
• X/Twitter: 18–22%
• WhatsApp: 20–25% overall; significantly higher among Spanish‑speaking households
• Nextdoor: 10–15% in Wenatchee/Leavenworth/Chelan neighborhoods

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: local groups (buy/sell, wildfire/weather updates, school notices), events, Marketplace. Older adults skew here; bilingual (English/Spanish) pages do well.
• Visual discovery drives tourism: Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts fuel trip planning for Lake Chelan, Leavenworth, hikes, wineries. Peak engagement aligns with tourist seasons (late spring–summer, holidays).
• Strong bilingual audience: About one‑third of residents are Hispanic/Latino; Spanish posts, Stories/Reels captions, and WhatsApp/Messenger replies materially lift reach and conversion.
• Messaging‑first behavior: Many residents DM via Facebook/Instagram for hours, reservations, and quotes; fast replies matter more than phone calls for younger users.
• Youth split: TikTok/Snapchat for entertainment and local trends; Instagram for creators, sports, and school activities. Short‑form video outperforms static posts.
• Older users: Facebook for news and community; YouTube for how‑tos, local meetings, and streaming church/community content.
• Neighborhood apps: Nextdoor used for safety alerts, contractor recs, lost/found; best for hyperlocal service businesses.
• Reviews steer choices: Google Maps, Facebook recommendations, and Tripadvisor/Yelp strongly influence dining, lodging, and activities.

Notes and sources

• Modeled using U.S. Census/ACS Chelan County demographics and Pew Research Center 2023–2024 U.S. platform adoption. Local factors (rural/suburban mix, tourism, bilingual population) applied. For precise targeting counts, use platform ad tools (Meta, TikTok, Snap, Nextdoor, Google) filtered to Wenatchee/Chelan/Leavenworth ZIPs.