Columbia County

Here’s a concise snapshot of Columbia County, Washington (small-county data; use caution with margins of error).

• Population

  • 2020 Census: about 4,060
  • 2023 estimate: roughly 4,000

• Age

  • Median age: about 50 years
  • Under 18: ~20%
  • 65 and over: ~25–27%

• Sex

  • Approximately 50% male, 50% female

• Race and ethnicity (share of total population)

  • White alone: ~88–90%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~8–10%
  • Two or more races: ~4–5%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~1–2%
  • Asian, Black, NHPI: each <1%

• Households

  • Total households: ~1,800–1,900
  • Average household size: ~2.2 persons
  • Owner-occupied rate: ~75–80%
  • Family households: ~60–65% of households

Primary sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census) and American Community Survey 5-year estimates (most recent available).

Columbia County, WA overview (estimates):

• Population and density: 4,000 residents across ~870 sq mi (4–5 people/sq mi), very rural.
• Estimated email users: 2,800–3,200 residents (70–80% of total), based on national email adoption applied to local age mix.
• Age distribution and usage:
  • Under 18 (~15–20%): 60–75% use email (school-driven).
  • 18–34 (~15%): >90–95%.
  • 35–64 (~40–45%): >90–95%.
  • 65+ (~25–30%): ~70–85% (lower due to access/comfort).
• Gender split: roughly even; email usage rates are similar for men and women.

Digital access and trends:

• Broadband subscription sits around three-quarters of households, below the Washington state average; access is strongest in and around Dayton/along US‑12.
• Outlying areas often rely on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite; mobile coverage improves along main corridors but dead zones persist in canyons and wheat country.
• Public Wi‑Fi (libraries, schools, downtown Dayton) supplements access; some smartphone‑only households may check email less consistently.
• Trend since 2020: gradual shift from legacy DSL to fiber/fixed wireless as state/federal funds expand 100/20 Mbps coverage; affordability and terrain still limit universal connectivity.

Notes: Figures are reasoned estimates using Census population, rural ACS connectivity patterns, and national email adoption rates.

Below is a concise, county-focused snapshot using the best available public benchmarks (Pew Research Center for device adoption, FCC/state broadband maps for coverage, ACS computer/Internet-use patterns) and rural demography to produce reasonable local estimates. Because Columbia County is small, rural, and older than Washington overall, its mobile profile diverges meaningfully from statewide norms.

Context

• Population: roughly 4,000–4,200 residents; older age structure, heavily rural (Dayton, Starbuck, wide farm/forest areas).
• Terrain: rolling hills/Blue Mountains and river canyons create coverage shadows away from US‑12 and town centers.

User estimates (individuals)

• Any mobile phone (smartphone or basic): about 3,200–3,700 people (roughly 80–90% of residents). This is a few points lower than the statewide norm (~90–95%).
• Smartphones: about 2,700–3,300 people (roughly 65–78% of residents; 75–82% of adults). Washington statewide is closer to 88–92% of adults.
• Basic/flip phones: materially higher share than the state, likely 7–12% of adults (vs ~2–5% statewide), concentrated among older residents and in the most rural areas.
• Smartphone‑only households (no wired home internet, rely on cellular): estimated 15–22% (vs ~11–14% statewide). Two countervailing forces drive this: limited/expensive wired options push smartphone‑only up, while an older population and patchy signal keep it from being even higher.

Demographic breakdown (how usage differs locally)

• Age:
  • 18–34: near-saturation smartphone ownership (≈90–95%), but slightly below metro WA due to device affordability and coverage inside homes/barns/shops.
  • 35–64: high smartphone ownership (≈85–90%), modestly under state average; voice/text still important for work in ag/forestry and trades.
  • 65+: noticeably lower smartphone ownership (≈65–75%); higher basic‑phone use and some no‑mobile at all. This age mix strongly pulls down the county average.
• Income and housing:
  • Lower-income and multi‑family/older housing stock correlate with smartphone‑only reliance and prepaid plans; ACP’s wind‑down in 2024 increased this reliance for some households.
  • Seasonal and shift workers (agriculture, food processing, recreation) skew to prepaid and lower‑cost Android devices.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Gaps largely mirror income and work patterns rather than large cultural differences; Hispanic/Latino households are somewhat more likely to be smartphone‑only when wired broadband is unavailable or costly.
• Work patterns:
  • Field and forest work emphasizes coverage along roads and ridgelines; SMS/voice/Push‑to‑Talk remain common for coordination where data is inconsistent.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks present: Verizon, AT&T (including FirstNet), and T‑Mobile serve the county. Verizon typically has the most consistent rural footprint; AT&T and T‑Mobile have improved along primary corridors.
• Technology mix:
  • 4G LTE is the workhorse countywide.
  • Low‑band 5G (coverage‑oriented) is present in and around Dayton and along US‑12; mid‑band 5G capacity is spotty; mmWave is effectively absent.
• Coverage patterns:
  • Strongest: Dayton, Starbuck, and along US‑12 and open valleys.
  • Weak/variable: canyons (e.g., Tucannon area), forested Blue Mountain slopes, and some low‑lying or shielded farm areas. Indoor signal can be weak in older, metal-roof or thick‑wall structures; boosters are common.
• Backhaul and capacity:
  • Fiber follows main corridors; some rural sites still use microwave backhaul, which can constrain speeds and cause peak-time slowdowns. Harvest season and hunting/recreation weekends bring noticeable congestion.
• Public/anchor connectivity:
  • Libraries, schools, and county buildings provide reliable Wi‑Fi and charging—important for residents with limited at‑home broadband or spotty cellular.
• Emergency/comms:
  • FirstNet rides on AT&T’s footprint; coverage improves along highways and in town but still faces terrain-driven gaps off‑road.

Trends that differ from Washington state

• Lower smartphone penetration and higher basic‑phone use, driven by an older population and terrain-limited coverage.
• Higher dependence on smartphone‑only access for home internet than the state average, despite coverage gaps—lack of affordable wired options pushes cellular reliance.
• Slower uptake of 5G mid‑band and advanced features; many users remain on LTE and older handsets longer.
• More pronounced rural dead zones and indoor coverage issues; signal boosters and Wi‑Fi offload matter more.
• Seasonal congestion is a bigger factor relative to subscriber base (harvest, hunting, events), whereas metro areas face steadier high demand.
• After ACP’s wind‑down, a measurable shift toward prepaid and lower‑data plans; this affordability pressure is sharper here than in higher‑income metro counties.

Data notes and confidence

• Benchmarks blend Pew national/state adoption rates with ACS computer/Internet-use indicators and rural age/income profiles; FCC and Washington State Broadband Office maps inform infrastructure patterns. Because county-level mobile ownership is not directly published in a single source, figures are reasoned estimates presented as ranges. For planning, pair this with the latest ACS table on “Households with a smartphone,” FCC mobile coverage layers, and state broadband reports.

Here’s a concise, county‑level snapshot using ACS population structure for Columbia County (≈4,000 residents; ≈3,100–3,300 adults) combined with Pew Research Center platform adoption for rural adults. Small population means wide margins of error; figures are best‑fit estimates.

Overall user stats

• Estimated active social media users: 2,300–2,700 residents (about 70–80% of adults; most teens).
• Typical weekly usage: Facebook and YouTube daily; Instagram/TikTok several times per week (younger users daily).

Age mix (share of local social media users)

• 13–17: 6–8%
• 18–29: 12–15%
• 30–49: 30–35%
• 50–64: 25–30%
• 65+: 18–22% Notes: County skews older than the U.S. overall; adoption is highest 30–64. Teens are heavy users but are a small slice of the population.

Gender breakdown (among users)

• Women: ~52–55%
• Men: ~45–48% Platform skews: Women over‑index on Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest; men on YouTube/Reddit/X.

Most‑used platforms (share of adult residents using each at least monthly; estimates for a rural, older county)

• YouTube: 70–80%
• Facebook: 60–70%
• Instagram: 20–30% (higher under 40)
• TikTok: 20–30% (higher under 30)
• Snapchat: 15–25% (mostly teens/20s)
• Pinterest: 20–30% (women 25–54)
• X/Twitter: 8–12%
• LinkedIn: 8–12% (work/commute ties)
• Reddit: 8–12%
• Nextdoor: 3–7% (limited coverage)
• WhatsApp: 5–10% (messaging more than social)

Behavioral trends to expect locally

• Community-first engagement: Local news, school sports, lost‑and‑found, buy/sell/trade, fundraisers, county services. Facebook Groups and Marketplace are the primary hubs.
• Utility content performs: Weather/road closures, wildfire info, outages, public meetings, hunting/fishing and farm season updates.
• Trust and familiarity matter: Posts from known people or recognizable local places outperform polished, corporate creative.
• Video habits: YouTube for how‑to, repairs, equipment, DIY, outdoors; short vertical video (Reels/TikTok) for quick local scenes, events, and tips.
• Messaging over broad posting: Facebook Messenger (and SMS) are common for coordinating services and sales; WhatsApp presence is modest.
• When to post: Peaks around 6–8 a.m. and 7–9 p.m.; weekday mornings for announcements, weekends for events and sales.
• Ad response: Strongest for clearly local offers, seasonal services (e.g., home/land, ag, outdoor), and community benefit. Geo‑tight targeting and presence in established Facebook Groups work best.

Notes and sources

• Population base: ACS 5‑year estimates for Columbia County, WA.
• Platform adoption and rural/age/gender patterns: Pew Research Center (2021–2024) U.S. social media use. Figures localized by applying rural and age adjustments to county demographics. Actual platform analytics may vary; verify with platform ad tools and local page insights when possible.