Klickitat County

Klickitat County, Washington — key demographics

Population size

• 22,735 (2020 Decennial Census)

Age (ACS 2018–2022)

• Median age: ~44.5 years
• Under 18: ~22%
• 18–64: ~57%
• 65 and over: ~21%

Sex (ACS 2018–2022)

• Male: ~51%
• Female: ~49%

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2018–2022)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~74%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~15–16%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~5–6%
• American Indian and Alaska Native (non-Hispanic): ~2%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ~1%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~1%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic): <1%

Households and housing (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~9,400
• Average household size: ~2.4–2.5 persons
• Family households: ~63%
• Owner-occupied housing: ~70–75% of occupied units

Insights

• Small, largely rural county with modest population growth since 2020.
• Older age profile than the statewide average, with about one in five residents 65+.
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White with a notable Hispanic/Latino community.
• High homeownership and smaller household sizes typical of rural counties.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates. Figures are rounded for clarity and subject to ACS margins of error.

Klickitat County, WA — email usage snapshot (2025, modeled from 2023 ACS population and recent U.S. adoption benchmarks)

• Estimated email users: ≈20,200 residents (ages 13+), out of ≈23,800 total population.
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 13–24: ≈15% (≈3,000 users)
  • 25–44: ≈33% (≈6,700)
  • 45–64: ≈29% (≈5,900)
  • 65+: ≈23% (≈4,600)
• Gender split of users: ≈50% female, ≈50% male (email adoption is effectively even by gender).
• Digital access and usage:
  • Home broadband subscription: ≈83% of households; households with a computer device: ≈90%.
  • Smartphone-only internet households: ≈11%; public Wi‑Fi (libraries, schools, civic buildings) fills some access gaps.
  • Adoption is highest in and around White Salmon–Bingen and Goldendale (cable/fiber), lower in eastern and plateau areas relying on DSL/WISPs/LEO satellite.
  • ACP’s 2024 wind‑down likely increased affordability pressure for low‑income households, nudging more mobile‑only usage.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population density ≈12.5 people/sq mi across ≈1,904 sq mi; settlement is dispersed and topography (river gorge, canyons, plateaus) creates service shadows.
  • Best 4G/5G and fixed broadband performance aligns with SR‑14 and US‑97 corridors; interior coverage is patchier but improving with incremental fiber and fixed‑wireless buildouts.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Klickitat County, Washington (2024)

User estimates

• Population and users: 24,000 residents; ~18,500 adults (18+). Adults with any mobile phone: ~93% (17,200). Adult smartphone users: 87% (16,100). Adults with a basic/feature phone only: 6% (1,100). Adults with no mobile phone: 7% (1,300).
• Plan types: Prepaid share is high for Washington—~27% of active lines (driven by price sensitivity and seasonal workers). Multi-line/dual-SIM use (work + personal) ~5% of users.
• Device mix: Android majority—~60–65% of smartphones (higher than the state’s urban-skewed iOS share).
• Smartphone-only internet households: ~13–15% of households (≈1,300–1,500 of ~10,000 households) rely on a smartphone data plan as their only at-home internet.
• Mobile as primary home internet (hotspotting or 4G/5G fixed‑wireless from carriers): ~22–27% of households—well above the state average.
• Data consumption: Average smartphone cellular data use ~22 GB/month, higher than the state average due to hotspotting where wired options are limited.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age: Older profile than the state lowers smartphone adoption. Estimated adult smartphone adoption by age: 18–29 ~95–96%; 30–49 ~94–96%; 50–64 ~80–85%; 65+ ~74–78%. Higher basic‑phone retention among 65+.
• Income and plan choice: Lower median income vs state average correlates with higher prepaid adoption, family share plans with limited data, and stronger MVNO presence.
• Geography within the county:
  • Town cores (White Salmon/Bingen, Goldendale, Dallesport/Lyle): Near‑urban adoption and 5G availability; higher uptake of carrier 5G Home Internet.
  • Remote communities (Trout Lake, Glenwood, Klickitat Canyon, Simcoe foothills): More basic‑phone use, Wi‑Fi calling reliance, and terrain‑driven dead zones; greater use of satellite or fixed wireless for home access.
• Language and work patterns: Hispanic/Latino households (≈10–12% of population) show higher use of OTT messaging (WhatsApp/FB Messenger) and prepaid lines; seasonal agricultural and recreation employment create periodic surges in mobile traffic.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks present: Verizon, AT&T (including FirstNet), and T‑Mobile all operate in the county; MVNOs piggyback on these.
• Coverage baseline (population-weighted, countywide):
  • 4G LTE: ~98% outdoor population coverage by at least one carrier; indoor reliability is strong in towns but drops in older buildings and at the edges of valleys.
  • 5G overall: ~70% population coverage (mostly low‑band), with mid‑band 5G concentrated in White Salmon/Bingen, Goldendale, and Dallesport/Lyle; mmWave is effectively absent.
  • Land‑area coverage: Sparse—roughly two‑thirds of land area has usable signal; significant gaps persist in forested and canyon terrain.
• Notable weak zones and terrain blockers: Trout Lake Valley and Conboy Lake NWR area; Glenwood plateau; Klickitat River canyon and Swale Creek corridors; Simcoe Mountains and canyons; leeward sides of ridgelines along SR‑14. Service along the Columbia Gorge often depends on sites on the Oregon side (Hood River/The Dalles ridgelines).
• Backhaul and fiber: Regional fiber along the Gorge (e.g., LS Networks/Zayo) with crossings near The Dalles; open‑access public fiber via statewide networks and the local PUD supports middle‑mile to town cores and tower sites; microwave backhaul common on hilltop sites.
• Fixed‑wireless home internet: 4G/5G FWA from major carriers is available in town cores and along US‑97/SR‑14; adoption is materially higher than the state average due to limited cable/fiber footprints.
• Resilience and public safety: Text‑to‑911 supported; FirstNet buildout improves coverage for responders. Backup power is present at many macro sites but extended wildfire/wind events still cause localized outages; carriers are adding generators and hardening backhaul on priority corridors.

How Klickitat County differs from Washington State trends

• Adoption: Smartphone adoption is lower by ~3–5 percentage points (county ~87% vs ~90–92% statewide), driven by an older age mix and rural dispersion.
• Plan type: Prepaid usage is ~8–12 points higher than the state average; MVNO penetration is notably stronger.
• Device mix: County leans more Android (≈60–65%) vs the state’s more iOS‑heavy urban markets.
• Connectivity at home: Smartphone‑only and mobile‑primary households are higher by ~5–10 points due to more limited wired broadband.
• Network experience: Mid‑band 5G population coverage is roughly half the state’s big‑metro levels; mmWave is absent. More reliance on Oregon‑side sites for Gorge communities and more frequent terrain‑driven dead zones.
• Usage: Per‑smartphone cellular data consumption is modestly higher (≈+3–5 GB/month) than the state average because of hotspotting and FWA substitution.

Method note

• Figures are 2024 county‑level estimates synthesized from federal adoption studies (age/income/rural factors), Washington demographic profiles, and carrier/FCC coverage disclosures mapped to local geography. They are designed to be decision‑grade for planning and comparison with state‑level trends.

Social media usage in Klickitat County, WA (2025 snapshot)

What the numbers represent

• Because platform-level data is not published at the county level, the figures below are modeled local estimates: Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. social media adoption rates applied to Klickitat County’s adult population (≈18,000 adults out of ≈23,000 residents), rounded for clarity. Use these as planning-grade estimates.

Overall reach

• Adults using at least one social platform: ≈83% of adults (~15,000 people)

Most-used platforms (adult adoption; local modeled rates)

• YouTube: 83% (15,000)
• Facebook: 68% (12,000)
• Instagram: 47% (8,500)
• TikTok: 33% (6,000)
• Pinterest: 35% (6,300)
• Snapchat: 27% (4,900)
• LinkedIn: 30% (5,400)
• Reddit: 22% (4,000)
• X (Twitter): 22% (4,000)
• WhatsApp: 21% (3,800)
• Nextdoor: 17–20% (3,100–3,600; higher in denser towns like White Salmon/Goldendale)

Age patterns (directional, reflecting Pew’s 2024 adult and 2023 teen findings)

• Teens (13–17): Very high YouTube (~90%+), Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok each ~60%+; Facebook is secondary.
• 18–29: Near-universal YouTube; Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat lead daily use; Facebook used but less central.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram moderate; TikTok growing; LinkedIn relevant for professional segments.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube lead; Pinterest solid among women; TikTok/Instagram lower but rising.
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube remain primary; Nextdoor usage appears in populated neighborhoods; minimal TikTok/Reddit.

Gender breakdown (platform skews, reflecting national patterns)

• Women: Higher on Facebook and Instagram; strong on Pinterest (majority of users are women nationally, roughly three-quarters).
• Men: Higher on Reddit and X; YouTube slightly male-leaning; Twitch and Reddit are notably male-skewed.
• Practical implication: Expect broader female reach via Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest and broader male reach via YouTube/Reddit/X.

Behavioral trends observed in rural counties and applicable locally

• Community and public-safety info: Heavy reliance on Facebook Groups/Pages for school district alerts, road/fire conditions, local government notices, and lost-and-found; posts from fire districts and county departments get outsized engagement.
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace is a primary channel for vehicles, equipment, farm/ranch items, rentals, and seasonal work; weekend and evening activity spikes.
• Local businesses and events: Wineries, outdoor outfitters, and venues lean on Facebook and Instagram for events; Reels/shorts highlight Columbia River Gorge recreation, drawing regional visitors.
• DIY and ag content: YouTube used for how-to (property maintenance, small acreage farming, repairs), with high watch time; shareable “how-to” posts outperform generic ads.
• Neighborhood coordination: Nextdoor and Facebook Groups used in town centers (Goldendale, White Salmon/Bingen) for neighborhood watch, utilities, and city updates; coverage thins in very rural tracts.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is ubiquitous; WhatsApp usage appears among bilingual/Latino households and cross-border family networks.
• Platform role fit:
  • Facebook = local news, groups, marketplace, events.
  • YouTube = tutorials, long-form education, product research.
  • Instagram = visual storytelling for tourism, food/bev, lifestyle.
  • TikTok = short-form discovery among under-40; effective for behind-the-scenes and outdoor/lifestyle niches.
  • LinkedIn = limited but useful for government, healthcare, utilities, and professional hiring.
  • Reddit/X = niche and news-oriented; less effective for broad local reach.
• Engagement timing: Evenings (6–10 p.m.) and weekend mornings show higher engagement; weather and seasonal events (wildfire season, first snow) cause spikes across platforms.

Key takeaways

• Facebook and YouTube are the county’s reach pillars (each touching a majority of adults).
• Instagram and TikTok are essential for under-40 reach; Pinterest is a strong add for women 25–54.
• For public information and small-business ROI, Facebook Groups/Pages and Marketplace deliver the most reliable local engagement; YouTube drives sustained search-based discovery.
• Plan creative around local utility (alerts, how-tos, events) and community identity to outperform generic brand posts.

Sources and method

• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (adult platform adoption) and Teens, Social Media and Technology 2023 (teen usage).
• U.S. Census Bureau (recent population and adult share for Klickitat County).
• Figures are modeled by applying Pew’s adoption rates to the county’s adult population; they are estimates suitable for planning and targeting.