Forest County

Forest County, Wisconsin – key demographics (most recent Census/ACS data; rounded)

Population

• Total population: ~9.1k (2023 estimate). 2020 Census: 9,179.

Age

• Median age: ~49 years
• Under 18: ~20%
• 65 and over: ~27%

Gender

• Male: ~51%
• Female: ~49%

Race/ethnicity

• White (non-Hispanic): ~78–80%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~16–17%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• Black: ~0.3%
• Asian: ~0.2%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~2–3%

Households

• Number of households: ~3,900–4,000
• Average household size: ~2.2
• Family households: ~60% of households
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~80–82%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year; Population Estimates Program (2023).

Forest County, WI email usage (estimates; derived from 2020 Census/ACS patterns and Pew internet-use rates):

• Population/density: About 9,000 residents across ~1,000 square miles; roughly 8–9 people per square mile. Large tracts of national forest and lakes make last‑mile broadband expensive.
• Digital access: ~70–75% of households have wired broadband; ~10–12% are smartphone‑only; ~10–15% lack home internet. Fixed wireless and satellite fill many gaps; fiber is expanding via recent state/federal grants.
• Estimated email users: Adults ≈ 7,200–7,700. With 85–90% of adults using email, that’s roughly 6,100–7,000 email users countywide.
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 18–34: 90–95% use email.
  • 35–64: ~90%.
  • 65+: ~70–80% (lower where home broadband is unavailable).
• Gender split: Approximately even (near 50/50). Any difference is small and largely reflects the county’s overall gender mix rather than behavior.
• Trends: Gradual growth in home broadband and smartphone adoption; more residents check email primarily on mobile. Community anchor institutions (libraries, schools, tribal/community centers) are key access points. Remote work/telehealth demand is nudging adoption upward, but scattered shoreline/camp areas and forested terrain remain challenging for wired buildouts.

Note: Figures are modeled estimates; local surveys or ISP/PSC reports would refine them.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Forest County, Wisconsin

Quick context

• Population and households: About 9,000 residents and roughly 3,800–4,000 households. Older age profile and significant Native American communities (Forest County Potawatomi and Sokaogon Chippewa), with highly rural, forested terrain.

User estimates (rounded, method-based ranges)

• Adults with any mobile phone: 6,700–7,200.
• Adults with a smartphone: 5,600–6,200.
• Households with at least one smartphone: 3,200–3,500.
• Households that rely on cellular as their only at‑home internet: about 15–22% (notably higher than Wisconsin overall at roughly 10–12%). How these were derived: county population/household counts, ACS “computer and internet” indicators for rural counties, and rural/age-adjusted ownership rates from Pew; expressed as ranges due to sampling error and fast-changing networks.

Demographic breakdown (how usage looks within the county)

• Age
  • 65+ share is well above the state average. Smartphone adoption among seniors is lower (roughly 60–70% vs 80%+ statewide), with more basic/feature phones and voice‑first plans.
  • 18–34 adoption is near universal but leans more to prepaid and budget MVNOs than statewide averages; data usage per line is lower where coverage is weaker.
• Income
  • Lower‑income households show high phone ownership but are more likely to be “mobile‑only” for home internet (roughly 30–40% of sub-$35k households), and more sensitive to plan price changes (e.g., ACP wind‑down in 2024).
• Race/ethnicity
  • Native American residents (a larger share than the state average) show similar smartphone ownership to the county average but higher reliance on mobile-only home internet due to limited fixed-broadband options on or near tribal lands.
• Households with kids
  • Nearly all have at least one smartphone, but device-to-student ratios and data limits drive higher use of public Wi‑Fi and school‑issued hotspots than the state average.

Digital infrastructure and coverage (what shapes usage)

• Carrier presence: All three national carriers operate here; practical coverage is strongest in/around Crandon, Laona, Wabeno, and along US‑8, WI‑32/55/70. Large forested interiors and low-density areas still have spotty service and dead zones.
• Network generations: LTE is the workhorse. 5G is present mainly near towns and major corridors; many census blocks remain LTE‑only with variable indoor signal. Extended/roaming coverage appears more frequently than in southern WI counties.
• Capacity and backhaul: Sparse macro‑tower grid; several sites use microwave backhaul. Limited fiber backhaul and long propagation distances can constrain peak capacity, so users encounter slower speeds during summer weekends and events.
• Alternatives/offload: Fixed wireless (various WISPs), satellite, and extensive use of public/tribal Wi‑Fi (libraries, schools, community centers) fill gaps. Wi‑Fi calling is a common workaround for weak indoor signal.
• Resilience: Storms and power outages can degrade service more noticeably than in urban WI; some households retain landlines or keep multiple SIMs for redundancy.

How Forest County trends differ from Wisconsin overall

• Lower smartphone adoption among seniors and a higher share of basic phones.
• Higher rate of mobile‑only households for home internet; heavier reliance on public Wi‑Fi and school hotspots.
• Patchier 5G footprint and more frequent extended/roaming coverage; LTE remains dominant.
• Greater use of prepaid/MVNO plans and price-sensitive behavior (exacerbated by the ACP wind‑down).
• Strong seasonality: tourism and cabin use create sharper weekend/summer peaks that stress limited tower capacity.
• Terrain-driven variability: dense forest canopy and lakes/wetlands make indoor coverage and consistent data speeds harder to achieve than statewide norms.

Notes and sources

• Estimates synthesized from U.S. Census Bureau ACS (computer and internet indicators, 2019–2023 5‑year), FCC mobile coverage/broadband maps (2023–2024), Pew Research Center device adoption benchmarks, and carrier-disclosed coverage. Figures are presented as ranges to reflect sampling error, rapid network upgrades, and rural variability.

Here’s a concise, best-available snapshot. Precise, public county-level social media stats aren’t published; figures below are reasoned estimates for Forest County based on 2020–2023 Census demographics, rural-Midwest usage patterns, and recent Pew Research Center platform reach.

Population and user base

• Population: ~9,200 (small, older-leaning, rural)
• Adult social media users: ~4,600–5,200 (≈64–72% of adults)
• Teens (13–17): very high adoption (≈85–95% use at least one platform), but a smaller share of the county’s total population

Age mix of users (est.)

• 13–17: 8–12% of local social media users; very heavy on Snapchat and TikTok; school athletics and events drive spikes
• 18–29: 14–18%; Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat heavy; YouTube universal
• 30–49: 28–32%; Facebook and YouTube dominant; Instagram rising; uses Messenger for coordination
• 50–64: 26–30%; Facebook and YouTube core; Pinterest for projects/recipes
• 65+: 22–28%; Facebook first, YouTube second; light Instagram use

Gender breakdown (est.)

• Overall user base ≈50/50 (county sex split is near even)
• Platform skews:
  • More women: Facebook (55–60% women), Instagram (55% women), Pinterest (75–80% women), TikTok (55–60% women), Snapchat (~55% women)
  • More men: YouTube (roughly even to slight male tilt), Reddit (65–75% men), X/Twitter (55–60% men), Discord (~65% men; small base)

Most-used platforms among adults in Forest County (est. share of adults)

• YouTube: 60–70%
• Facebook: 55–65%
• Instagram: 25–35%
• Snapchat: 20–30% (but 60–75% among teens/20s)
• TikTok: 20–30% (50–60% among under-30)
• Pinterest: 20–30% (primarily women 30–64)
• WhatsApp: 8–15% (family, small businesses)
• LinkedIn: 10–15% (lower in rural labor mix)
• X/Twitter: 10–15% (news/sports followers)
• Reddit: 8–12% (younger men)
• Nextdoor: <5% (limited neighborhood density/coverage)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub
  • Heavy use of Groups: buy/sell/trade, hunting/fishing, ATV/snowmobile trail conditions, garage sales, school sports, church bulletins, public safety and county notices
  • Local news, weather alerts, closings, and event promotions get the highest reach and comments
• Video is utility- and community-driven
  • YouTube for how-tos (home/auto/small engine), outdoor gear, local church services, and high school sports highlights; short-form Reels/Shorts cross-posts from TikTok/Instagram
• Messaging
  • Facebook Messenger for families and events; Snapchat for teens/young adults; SMS still common for older residents
• Posting and engagement rhythm
  • Evenings and weekends peak; seasonal spikes for deer season, fishing opener, trail grooming, county fairs/powwows, and weather events
  • Older users share/reshare local info; younger users post Stories/Reels more than static posts
• Business and org use
  • Local restaurants/taverns, guides/outfitters, resorts, and clinics rely on Facebook and Instagram for promos; job posts perform well (healthcare, schools, seasonal tourism)
• Trust and moderation
  • Residents favor hyperlocal pages/groups; admins actively moderate to keep discussions civil and on-topic
• Access considerations
  • Mixed broadband quality means mobile-first behavior; short video and image-heavy posts perform better than long external links

Notes on methodology

• Figures are estimates adapted from Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 U.S. platform reach and rural usage patterns, scaled to Forest County’s age structure (Census) and typical rural Midwest behavior. Use them as planning ranges, not exact counts.