Cowlitz County

Here are key, recent demographics for Cowlitz County, Washington.

Population

• Total: about 113,000 (2023 ACS estimate); 110,730 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~41 years
• Under 18: ~23%
• 18–24: ~8–9%
• 25–44: ~25%
• 45–64: ~25%
• 65+: ~18%

Sex

• Male: ~50%
• Female: ~50%

Race and ethnicity (non-Hispanic unless noted; shares rounded)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~77–79%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~10–11%
• Two or more races: ~6–7%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~1.5–2%
• Asian: ~1.5–2%
• Black or African American: ~1–1.5%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.6–0.8%

Households and housing

• Households: ~43,000
• Average household size: ~2.5–2.6
• Family households: ~66%
• Married-couple households: ~48% of all households
• Tenure: ~67% owner-occupied, ~33% renter-occupied

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates; 2023 ACS 1-year. Figures rounded for clarity.

Cowlitz County, WA email usage (estimates)

• User count: Of ~110–115k residents, roughly 75–95k likely use email at least monthly. This is based on WA’s high internet adoption and typical email use among internet users.
• Age distribution (share using email): 18–34: ~90–95%; 35–64: ~90%+; 65+: ~70–80%. Teens have accounts but rely more on messaging apps.
• Gender split: Near parity; email adoption is effectively 50/50 male/female.
• Digital access trends:
  • Household broadband and smartphone ownership are widespread; a noticeable minority are smartphone‑only.
  • Continued cable/fiber buildouts along the I‑5 corridor; slower speeds and satellite/DSL reliance in sparsely populated eastern/forested tracts.
  • Public Wi‑Fi (libraries, schools, community centers) remains important for lower‑income and rural residents.
  • Growing use of email for telehealth, school portals, and government services; affordability pressures increased after federal subsidy changes in 2024.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population spread across ~1,100+ square miles (≈95–105 people/sq mi), with infrastructure concentrated in Longview–Kelso and Woodland; rural areas have patchier fixed broadband.
  • Mobile coverage is strong along I‑5; terrain causes dead zones off‑corridor.

Notes: Figures are inferred from ACS/FCC patterns for similar WA counties; local surveys may refine them.

Below is a pragmatic snapshot of mobile phone use in Cowlitz County, Washington, with cautious, evidence‑informed estimates and the main ways the county differs from statewide patterns. Where county‑level measurements don’t exist publicly, estimates are derived from Pew’s U.S. mobile adoption rates, ACS/QuickFacts demographics, and the county’s urban–rural mix and income profile.

Topline user estimates (adults)

• Population base: ~113,000 residents; ~88,000 adults.
• Smartphone users: roughly 74,000–78,000 adults (about 84–88% adult adoption). This is a few points lower than Washington’s big‑metro‑skewed average (roughly 88–92%).
• Basic/feature‑phone users: approximately 3,000–4,000 adults (about 3–5%).
• No mobile phone: on the order of 7–11% of adults, concentrated among the oldest and lowest‑income residents.

What looks different from the state average

• Slightly lower smartphone adoption, driven by an older age profile, lower median income, and more rural terrain than the Puget Sound core.
• Higher smartphone dependency for home internet among lower‑income households and in fringe/rural areas (tethering or mobile‑only), reflecting fewer fiber passings and patchier wired broadband compared with metro counties.
• Slower median mobile speeds and more variability: solid 5G along I‑5 and in Longview–Kelso, but noticeable performance drop‑offs toward Toutle, Cougar/Yale/Merwin, and other forested or hilly areas away from highway corridors.
• Higher prepaid share than state average: greater visibility of Metro by T‑Mobile, Cricket, Boost, and other MVNOs relative to postpaid, consistent with income mix.
• Faster uptake of 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) as a cable/DSL substitute than in fiber‑rich metro counties, especially at the edges of Longview–Kelso and in small towns (where it’s available).

Demographic breakdown (indicative)

• Age
  • 18–29: very high adoption (≈95–98%); heavier video/social use; prepaid and family plans common.
  • 30–49: ≈95–97% adoption; highest multi‑line postpaid penetration; work‑related data use.
  • 50–64: ≈85–92% adoption; mix of postpaid and prepaid; growing FWA interest for home.
  • 65+: ≈65–75% adoption; largest share of non‑users and basic‑phone users; text/voice‑centric use.
• Income/education
  • Lower‑income households: higher likelihood of prepaid, Android devices, and mobile‑only internet reliance.
  • Higher‑income/college‑educated: more iOS share, multi‑device bundles, and higher‑tier plans.
• Race/ethnicity
  • Hispanic and younger residents skew more mobile‑first for internet access, reflecting national patterns; language‑support MVNOs have a visible presence.

Digital infrastructure notes

• Coverage pattern
  • Strong multi‑carrier LTE/5G along I‑5 and in Longview–Kelso, Woodland, and Castle Rock.
  • Coverage and capacity thin out east and north of the I‑5/Columbia River corridors; terrain and timberlands create dead zones and frequent band‑shifts.
• 5G specifics
  • T‑Mobile mid‑band 5G is the most pervasive in populated corridors; Verizon C‑band present in and around Longview–Kelso; AT&T mid‑band is spottier but improving. mmWave is limited to small hotspots.
• Capacity and performance
  • Fewer sites per square mile than Puget Sound counties; more sector loading during peak hours in town centers and at highway nodes; weather/foliage can degrade fringe areas.
• Home internet substitution
  • 5G FWA (T‑Mobile, Verizon) is increasingly used where cable is absent or DSL underperforms; this effect is stronger than statewide because metro counties have more fiber.
• Resilience
  • Wind/ice events and backhaul cuts can cause localized outages; backup power at sites varies, and detours to 3G/low‑band LTE are still observed in remote pockets.

Implications for planning and outreach

• Expect slightly lower overall smartphone penetration than Washington’s average but a higher concentration of mobile‑dependent users outside the I‑5 spine.
• Investments that matter most locally: infill sites or small cells in east‑of‑I‑5 communities and along recreation corridors; mid‑band upgrades on existing towers; and expanded FWA footprints.
• Digital inclusion efforts should target older adults and low‑income households with device affordability, plan discounts, and basic digital skills—these groups account for most of the remaining non‑users and basic‑phone users.

Notes on methods and uncertainty

• Exact county‑level smartphone ownership isn’t directly published; figures above are bounded estimates built from Pew’s national adoption by age, the county’s age/income mix, and Washington’s higher urban average.

Below is a concise, locally tuned snapshot. Note: exact, county-level platform counts aren’t published; figures are estimates based on Cowlitz County’s population and age mix, using recent U.S. usage benchmarks.

Quick context

• Population: ~113,000; adults (18+): ~88,000
• Adults using at least one social platform: 80–85% (70–75k people)
• Daily social users: 65–70% of adults (57–62k)

Most‑used platforms among adults (share of adults; estimates)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 65–70%
• Instagram: 40–45%
• Pinterest: 30–35% (skews women 25–54)
• TikTok: 25–30% (heavier under 35)
• Snapchat: 20–25% (mostly under 35)
• LinkedIn: 20–25% (white‑collar pockets in Longview/Kelso)
• X/Twitter: 15–20% (news/sports followers)
• Nextdoor: 15–20% (homeowner neighborhoods in Longview, Kelso, Woodland, Kalama)
• Reddit: 15–20% (men 18–34)

Age profile (what’s biggest by cohort; rough adoption ranges)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube 90%+, TikTok ~60%+, Snapchat ~60%+, Instagram ~50–60%; Facebook low.
• 18–29: YouTube 90%+, Instagram ~70%, TikTok ~55–60%, Snapchat ~55–60%, Facebook ~50–55%.
• 30–49: Facebook ~75%, YouTube 85%+, Instagram ~50%, Pinterest ~40%, TikTok ~30–40%.
• 50–64: Facebook ~70–75%, YouTube ~75–80%, Pinterest ~35–40%, Instagram ~30%.
• 65+: Facebook ~60–65%, YouTube ~55–60%, Nextdoor ~20–25%, Instagram ~15–20%.

Gender tendencies

• Women: Higher on Facebook/Instagram; much higher on Pinterest; strong participation in local groups, schools, and Marketplace.
• Men: Higher on YouTube, Reddit, X; strong interest in sports, autos, DIY, trades, and outdoor content.

Behavioral trends in Cowlitz County

• Community-first on Facebook: City/county updates, school districts and high‑school sports, lost/found pets, storm/road conditions, and buy‑sell‑trade groups drive the most engagement.
• Marketplace matters: Heavy use for vehicles, tools, furniture, rentals.
• Neighborhood chatter: Nextdoor used for safety alerts, contractor referrals, HOA issues in homeowner areas.
• Video momentum: Short‑form (Reels/TikTok) growing for local food, events, and small business promos; YouTube strong for DIY, hunting/fishing, home projects, and trades training.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is the default; WhatsApp is niche.
• When people engage: Evenings (7–9 pm) and lunch hours on weekdays; weekend spikes around events/Marketplace.
• What performs: Hyper‑local news, weather/closures, before‑after projects, recognizable local faces, giveaways, and community service posts.

How the numbers were derived

• Adult base from county population estimates; platform shares adapted from recent national usage (Pew and similar benchmarks) adjusted for Cowlitz’s slightly older, suburban/rural profile.