Burnett County

Here are key demographics for Burnett County, Wisconsin (latest available U.S. Census Bureau estimates):

Population

• Total: ~17,000 (2023 estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~52 years
• Under 18: ~19%
• 65 and over: ~28%

Sex

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Race/ethnicity (shares of total population)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~86–88%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~7–8%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~2–3%
• Black/African American: ~0.5–1%
• Asian: ~0.3–0.5%

Households

• Total households: ~7,100
• Average household size: ~2.1–2.2
• Family households: ~59%
• Married-couple families: ~49%
• Nonfamily households: ~41%
• Householder living alone: ~33%
• Households with children under 18: ~21%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018–2022 American Community Survey (5-year) and 2023 Vintage Population Estimates. Figures rounded.

Summary for Burnett County, WI

• Scale and density: ~16.5K residents; roughly 19 people per square mile (very rural).
• Estimated email users: 9,500–12,000 residents. Basis: most adults use the internet in rural areas and email is near-universal among internet users.
• Age distribution of email users (approximate):
  • Under 25: 10–15%
  • 25–44: 20–25%
  • 45–64: 35–40%
  • 65+: 25–30% Skews older than the U.S. average due to the county’s higher median age.
• Gender split among users: roughly even (near 50/50).
• Digital access trends:
  • About three-quarters of households subscribe to broadband; some rely on mobile-only internet.
  • Adoption gaps persist in the most rural areas and among lower-income/older residents.
  • Ongoing fiber buildouts and improved fixed wireless/5G are expanding coverage; libraries and community centers (e.g., in Siren and Grantsburg) provide public Wi‑Fi that supports email access.
• Connectivity notes: Large geographic area with many lakes/forests and seasonal homes contributes to uneven wired infrastructure; population clusters in small villages have better speeds and reliability than remote townships.

Figures are estimates synthesized from rural internet/email adoption research and recent ACS-style broadband subscription patterns.

Below is a directional, county-level snapshot built from 2020–2023 Census population estimates, Pew smartphone adoption benchmarks, and FCC/state broadband mapping. Where Burnett-specific figures are not published, I provide conservative ranges and explain assumptions. Treat numbers as estimates for planning, not official counts.

Context

• Rural/northwestern Wisconsin county with a small, older-skewing population and many lakes/forests. Population about 16.5–17.0k; a large seasonal/resort-home presence increases weekend/holiday demand.
• Terrain and tree cover create spotty radio conditions outside towns; wired broadband options thin compared with much of Wisconsin.

Estimated mobile users

• Any mobile phone users: roughly 13,000–15,000 residents (about 80–90% of total population).
• Adult users (18+): about 12,000–13,500.
• Smartphone users: about 10,000–12,000 (roughly 65–75% of the total population; about 75–85% of adult users).
• Feature-phone/basic-phone users: materially higher share than the Wisconsin average, concentrated among older adults.
• Households relying mainly on mobile data for home internet: meaningfully higher share than the Wisconsin average, given limited wired options. Expect mobile-only/home-hotspot use to be common in outlying areas and among seasonal households.

Demographic patterns (how Burnett differs from Wisconsin overall)

• Age: Burnett has a larger 65+ share. Smartphone adoption among seniors likely 55–65% locally (vs roughly 70–75% at the state level), with more flip-phone retention and voice/SMS-first usage.
• Young adults (18–34): Near-universal smartphone ownership (≈95%+), but greater reliance on Wi‑Fi when in town due to weak LTE/5G signal in the woods and along lakes.
• Income/education: With median household income below the state average, expect slightly higher prepaid/single‑line plan usage and higher odds of being “smartphone-only” for internet. Device upgrade cycles are longer than in metro Wisconsin.
• Tribal and remote communities: St. Croix Chippewa areas around Danbury/Sand Lake face more coverage variability; digital inclusion and signal-boosting solutions have outsized impact here.
• Seasonal residents/tourism: ATV/snowmobile, hunting, and lake tourism produce sharp weekend/holiday spikes; networks that feel fine on weekdays can congest on summer weekends—much less common statewide outside tourist regions.

Usage behaviors that stand out vs state-level

• Higher dependence on mobile hotspots for home connectivity and homework, especially where DSL/cable/fiber are absent.
• More voice/SMS-first behavior and offline navigation use when away from town centers.
• Greater variability by location and season; users “network shop” by carrier more often than in metro counties.
• Slightly lower adoption of data-heavy services (e.g., cloud gaming, 4K streaming over cellular) outside town footprints due to capacity constraints.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Carriers present: Verizon and UScellular provide the broadest geographic coverage; AT&T is competitive near towns/arterials; T‑Mobile’s low‑band (600 MHz) has improved corridor coverage but remains patchy in deep-wooded/lake areas. MVNO experience mirrors host networks.
• 5G: Low‑band 5G is present around population centers (e.g., Siren, Grantsburg, Webster, Danbury) and along WI‑35/WI‑70. Mid‑band 5G (T‑Mobile n41; Verizon/AT&T C‑band) is limited and largely town‑centric; LTE remains the primary layer in most of the county. Statewide, mid‑band 5G is much more common around metros and along major intercity corridors.
• Tower siting: Sites cluster in/near towns and highways; sparse between lakes, in state wildlife areas (Crex Meadows, Namekagon Barrens), and along the St. Croix River valley—creating known dead or “one‑bar” pockets. Backhaul is a mix of fiber and microwave; non‑fiber backhaul can bottleneck capacity during peak seasons.
• Speeds/latency: More variable and generally lower than Wisconsin’s metro/suburban norms; mid‑band 5G speed advantages are available only in limited footprints.
• Public connectivity: Libraries, schools, and municipal buildings in towns act as key Wi‑Fi anchors. In-home fixed wireless (T‑Mobile/Verizon) is available in parts of the county and fills gaps where cable/fiber are unavailable—this use is notably higher than the state average outside tourist counties.

What this means for Burnett County stakeholders

• Planning: Expect 5–10 percentage points lower smartphone adoption than Wisconsin overall, concentrated among seniors; outreach and digital services should retain phone‑call/SMS paths.
• Infrastructure focus: Highest ROI comes from adding/modifying sites to fill wooded/lakeside gaps, upgrading backhaul to fiber where feasible, and expanding mid‑band 5G in towns to handle seasonal surges.
• Equity: Support device affordability, signal boosters, and digital skills for older and lower‑income residents; prioritize coverage improvements near tribal lands and recreation corridors.
• Emergency readiness: Because outdoor users venture into known no‑signal pockets, promote offline-capable apps, redundant comms, and clear wayfinding at trailheads/landings.

Notes on sources and method

• Population and age structure from U.S. Census/ACS (2020 base, recent estimates for drift).
• Adoption rates anchored to Pew Research Center’s U.S. smartphone/cellphone ownership by age/rurality; county estimates adjusted downward relative to Wisconsin averages due to older age mix and rural infrastructure.
• Coverage/5G observations aligned with FCC mobile coverage maps and Wisconsin Broadband Office mapping; specific tower locations generalized to avoid implying exact counts.

Below is a concise, practical snapshot of social media use in Burnett County, WI. Note: County-level platform data isn’t directly published; figures are modeled from Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. usage by age/rural profile, plus the county’s older age mix and rural broadband realities. Treat percentages as reasonable estimates for adults (18+).

User stats and penetration

• Adults: roughly 14K–15K. Estimated social media users: 10.5K–12K (≈70–80% of adults).
• Connectivity context: Rural broadband is lower than urban; video-heavy platforms (YouTube/TikTok) are widely used but with slightly reduced penetration versus U.S. averages due to access and age mix.

Most-used platforms (share of adults who use the platform)

• Facebook: 70–75% (most dominant; Groups/Marketplace central to local life)
• YouTube: 75–80% (DIY, outdoors, local gov/school videos)
• Instagram: 30–35% (skews under 45, local business promos)
• Pinterest: 30–35% (strong among women 30–64: recipes, crafts, home)
• TikTok: 22–26% (fast growth in 18–34; local events, outdoors, humor)
• Snapchat: 18–22% (teens/young adults; messaging more than public posting)
• X (Twitter): 15–18% (news/sports niche)
• LinkedIn: 10–15% (smaller professional cohort)
• Reddit: 8–12% (younger/tech/outdoors hobbyists)
• Nextdoor: 5–10% (limited rural coverage; some neighborhoods)

Age profile (share of adult social media users)

• 18–29: 15–20% (near-universal use; Instagram/Snap/TikTok heavy; Facebook light)
• 30–49: 30–35% (Facebook/YouTube anchors; Instagram/Pinterest notable; TikTok growing)
• 50–64: 25–30% (Facebook and YouTube dominant; Pinterest moderate)
• 65+: 20–25% (Facebook primary; YouTube for tutorials/news; lighter on Instagram/TikTok)

Gender breakdown

• Overall users: slight female skew (≈52–54% female, 46–48% male) given older population.
• Platform skews:
  • Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram: more female (Pinterest markedly so)
  • YouTube, Reddit, X: more male
  • TikTok, Snapchat: near-balanced, slight female tilt

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first usage: Facebook Groups for towns, schools, churches, fire/EMS, lake associations, and event calendars. Marketplace is a top driver of daily logins.
• Local news and alerts: Weather, road conditions, school closures, sheriff/EMS updates get outsized engagement; reshared quickly across Groups.
• Outdoors and seasonal rhythm: Spikes in late spring–summer (cabins, fishing/ATV, fairs) and fall (hunting). Content tied to lakes, trails, and seasonal events performs best.
• Small-business playbook: Facebook/Instagram posts + boosted events/coupons; video shorts (Reels/TikTok) for behind-the-scenes, product demos, and staff spotlights.
• Video habits: Short, captioned videos (sub-60s) perform well; many users watch muted. YouTube for how-tos (home, auto, outdoors) and local meeting recordings.
• Messaging over posting: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are key for day-to-day communication.
• Timing: Engagement peaks early morning (6:30–8:30 a.m.) and evenings (7–10 p.m.); strong weekend activity around events and sports.

Quick implications

• If you need reach fast: Facebook + YouTube are the county’s broadest nets.
• To reach under 35: Add Instagram + TikTok; use short vertical video.
• To reach women 30–64: Facebook Groups + Pinterest how-to/idea content.
• To reach men 35–64: YouTube (DIY/outdoors), Facebook Groups, and seasonal topics.

Note on methodology

• Estimates derive from Pew 2024 U.S. social media adoption by age and platform, adjusted for Burnett County’s older, rural profile and typical rural broadband adoption. For precise local counts, combine this with platform ad reach tools (e.g., Meta Ads Manager by county) or a short local survey.