Clallam County

Clallam County, Washington — key demographics (U.S. Census Bureau, 2018–2022 ACS 5-year; rounded)

Population

• Total population: ~77,800
• Median age: ~50
• Age distribution: <18: ~18%; 18–64: ~54%; 65+: ~29%

Sex

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Race and ethnicity (mutually exclusive; Hispanic is any race)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~81%
• Hispanic/Latino: ~9%
• American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic): ~6%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ~2%
• Black/African American (non-Hispanic): ~1%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic): <1%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~2%

Households

• Total households: ~33,700
• Average household size: ~2.2
• Family households: ~61% of households
• Married-couple households: ~47% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~20%
• One-person households: ~32% (about 14% age 65+ living alone)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates (tables DP05, S1101).

Clallam County, WA snapshot (estimates)

• Population: ~78,000; density ~44 people/sq mi. Larger towns along US‑101 (Port Angeles, Sequim) have strongest connectivity; western rural areas (Forks/tribal coasts) face more gaps.
• Broadband access: ~86% of households have a broadband subscription (ACS 2018–2022). Remaining households rely on mobile-only or have no internet; satellite options have grown in remote areas.
• Estimated email users: 55,000–60,000 residents. Method: ~82% of residents are adults; applying ~85–90% email adoption among adults (Pew-like rates) plus some teen users.
• Age mix (of email users):
  • 13–24: ~12–15%
  • 25–44: ~28–32%
  • 45–64: ~30–34%
  • 65+: ~22–26% (older adults are ~29% of the county but slightly less likely to use email than younger groups).
• Gender split: ~51% female, ~49% male in the county; email usage rates are similar by gender, so users mirror this split.
• Digital access trends:
  • Continued fiber and cable upgrades in Port Angeles/Sequim; slower buildouts west of Lake Crescent.
  • Public libraries, schools, and tribal programs help bridge access gaps.
  • Smartphone-only households likely in the mid–single digits to low teens percent, reflecting rural geography.

Below is a decision-useful snapshot of mobile phone usage in Clallam County, WA, with estimates derived from national benchmarks (Pew Research Center, CDC/NIHS), federal/state broadband data (FCC National Broadband Map, WA State Broadband Office), and the county’s known demographics (U.S. Census/ACS). Figures are presented as ranges to reflect uncertainty; they are intended for planning, not official statistics. Emphasis is on how Clallam differs from Washington State overall.

Headline differences vs Washington State

• Slightly lower smartphone adoption and higher basic-phone retention, driven by an older age profile and more rural geography.
• Higher reliance on prepaid/MVNO plans and “mobile-only” internet solutions than urban counties with robust cable/fiber.
• Spottier mid-band 5G coverage outside Port Angeles–Sequim and persistent dead zones in and around Olympic National Park; Verizon often strongest in remote stretches, with T-Mobile leading mid-band 5G in town centers.
• Seasonal congestion (tourism, park traffic) and cross-border roaming near the Strait of Juan de Fuca are more salient issues than in most WA counties.
• Affordability pressures (post-ACP pause in 2024) have a larger impact on adoption and plan choice than in higher-income metro areas.

User estimates (2025 planning ranges)

• Population base: roughly 78,000 residents.
• People with a mobile phone (any type): about 68,000–74,000 users.
  • Method: adult cell-phone ownership in the U.S. is ~95%; applying that to ~62k adults in Clallam plus partial adoption among teens yields the range.
• Smartphone users: approximately 60,000–67,000 (about 83%–90% of adults; near-universal among teens).
  • Expect a 10–15 percentage point gap between ages 18–64 and 65+.
• Mobile-only households: meaning no wired voice line and relying primarily or entirely on wireless for voice/data.
  • Voice-only: similar to national norms (most households are wireless-only for voice).
  • Internet: a noticeably higher share than the state average relies on mobile hotspots or 5G fixed wireless as their primary home internet, especially outside Port Angeles–Sequim and in the West End (Forks area).

Demographic breakdown (what’s different locally)

• Age structure
  • Clallam has a much higher 65+ share than WA overall. Among seniors, smartphone adoption trails younger cohorts by 15–25 points, so basic/feature phones are more common here than statewide.
  • Working-age adults (30–64) are near state/national smartphone norms, but plan selections skew more value/prepaid.
• Income and affordability
  • Median household income is below the WA average. This correlates with:
    • Higher uptake of prepaid and MVNO plans.
    • Greater sensitivity to ACP’s 2024 funding pause, with some churn to lower-cost plans or reduced data tiers.
• Rural vs town centers
  • Port Angeles and Sequim: high smartphone penetration, heavier app and telehealth usage, growing adoption of 5G fixed wireless for home.
  • West End and unincorporated areas: more basic phones among seniors, more voice/SMS dependence, and intermittent reliance on Wi‑Fi calling where coverage is weak.
• Tribal communities (Lower Elwha Klallam, Jamestown S’Klallam, Quileute)
  • Adoption patterns are shaped by coverage variability and affordability. Tribal broadband grants (e.g., NTIA TBCP) support new fiber/wireless builds, but mobile service still plays an outsized role for day‑to‑day connectivity and as a redundancy during outages.

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

• Carriers and coverage
  • All three national carriers serve the county. T‑Mobile broadly deploys mid‑band 5G in town centers; Verizon and AT&T provide wide LTE/low‑band 5G footprints with generally stronger remote/highway coverage in some stretches.
  • Expect persistent dead zones in and around Olympic National Park, along parts of US‑101 and WA‑112/113, and in mountainous/forested terrain.
  • Seasonal load spikes from tourism (ONP, coastal access, Forks area) can degrade speeds during peak months more than in urban WA counties.
• 5G and fixed wireless
  • 5G mid‑band is concentrated around Port Angeles and Sequim; outside these areas, coverage is typically LTE or low‑band 5G.
  • 5G Home/Fixed Wireless Access is available in and near town centers and is used as a primary home connection by more households than in metro counties with ubiquitous cable/fiber.
• Backhaul and middle mile
  • Fiber backbones track US‑101 and other main corridors; Clallam PUD and open‑access middle‑mile partners help anchor connectivity, but last‑mile gaps remain in scattered rural zones.
• Public safety and special conditions
  • FirstNet (AT&T) coverage has improved along major corridors, though some response zones still rely on land-mobile radio fallbacks.
  • Cross‑border issues: along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, devices can occasionally roam onto Canadian networks; locals often disable roaming near the shoreline to avoid charges.

Behavioral and plan trends vs state-level

• More value/prepaid and MVNO usage; family plans often mixed with older members on basic phones.
• Higher incidence of Wi‑Fi calling at home due to marginal indoor coverage in rural builds.
• Telehealth reliance is significant (distance to specialists), so consistent voice/SMS and app-based video are critical; users report switching carriers to chase signal quality rather than brand loyalty.
• Emergency alerts (WEA) are widely received in towns; gaps persist in remote recreation areas, making offline maps and satellite messengers more common among outdoor users than in most WA counties.

What these differences mean

• Network planners: prioritize mid‑band 5G infill around Port Angeles–Sequim and targeted LTE/low‑band 5G buildouts on West End corridors; add seasonal capacity near recreation hotspots.
• Public sector and NGOs: post‑ACP affordability programs and device support for seniors will move the needle more here than in metro counties.
• Providers/ISPs: FWA has above-average addressable market; partnerships with PUD/tribal builds can accelerate coverage and resilience.

Clallam County, WA — social media snapshot (2025 est.)

User stats

• Adult social media penetration: ~70–75% of residents 18+ use at least one platform monthly; ~55–60% use daily.
• Typical mix: Most active users engage on 2–3 platforms; Facebook and YouTube anchor usage, with Instagram/TikTok as secondary.
• Urban vs. rural: Higher activity in Port Angeles/Sequim; lighter but consistent use in Forks and the West End.

Age profile (share using any social monthly; local estimates adjusted for Clallam’s older skew)

• 18–29: 90–95%
• 30–49: 80–90%
• 50–64: 70–75%
• 65+: 55–60%

Gender breakdown (of active users; reflects county demographics)

• Women: ~52–55%
• Men: ~45–48%
• Nonbinary/other: small but present; not reliably measured

Most‑used platforms (share of all adults; county estimates)

• YouTube: ~65–70%
• Facebook: ~60–65% (80%+ of 50+ users; many in local Groups)
• Instagram: ~30–35% (strongest in 18–39)
• TikTok: ~25–30% (notable growth in 30–49)
• Pinterest: ~20–25% (over-indexes among women, DIY, gardening)
• Snapchat: ~15–20% (teens/young adults)
• Also used: X/Twitter ~10–15%; WhatsApp ~10–15%; LinkedIn ~10–12%; Reddit ~8–12%; Nextdoor up to ~15% in Port Angeles/Sequim neighborhoods but single-digit countywide

Behavioral trends

• Community-first: Heavy reliance on Facebook Groups and pages for local news, road/US‑101 closures, weather/power updates, buy/sell/trade, and events (Sequim Lavender Festival, County Fair).
• Public-sector engagement: High interaction with city/county agencies, school districts, Peninsula Daily News, and tribal governments (e.g., Lower Elwha, Jamestown S’Klallam) on Facebook.
• Outdoor and seasonal content: Strong engagement with Olympic National Park, fishing, hiking, hunting, and beach content; winter storm and wildfire smoke updates spike.
• Video-forward: Short vertical video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) performs best for local businesses (food, lodging, guides, real estate).
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is the default backchannel for appointments and customer service.
• Timing: Peaks before work (7–9 a.m.) and evenings (7–9 p.m.); weekend event posts perform well.
• Younger cohorts: More TikTok/Instagram; use Snapchat for peer communication and school/community sports.
• Trust signals: “Locally owned,” service reliability, and community involvement drive clicks; deal posts and timely updates outperform generic ads.

Notes

• Figures are modeled estimates using recent U.S./WA benchmarks (e.g., Pew Research) adjusted for Clallam’s older, partly rural profile. Validate targeting with platform ad reach tools and a quick local survey if precision is required.