Langlade County

Langlade County, Wisconsin — core demographics

Population size

• 19,189 (2020 Census)
• Change since 2010: -3.9% (from 19,977 in 2010)

Age

• Median age: ~46 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~21%
• 18–64: ~56%
• 65 and over: ~23%

Gender

• Male: ~50%
• Female: ~50%

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2018–2022)

• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~93–94%
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~2–3%
• Two or more races: ~2%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2–3%
• Asian alone: ~0.5%
• Black or African American alone: ~0.5%

Households (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households (occupied housing units): ~8.4k
• Average household size: ~2.25
• Family households: ~61% of households
• Married-couple families: ~49% of households
• Nonfamily households: ~39% (about one-third living alone)
• Households with children under 18: ~24%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~78%

Key insights

• Small, slowly declining population with an older age profile.
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White, with small American Indian and Hispanic communities.
• Household sizes are modest, with a high share of owner-occupied homes and many nonfamily/individual households.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates (DP05, S1101).

Langlade County, WI snapshot (pop. ≈19,450; density ≈22 residents/sq mi; Antigo ≈8,000 residents):

• Estimated email users: 15,300 (78.6% of residents), with ≈60% of adults checking email daily.
• Age distribution of email users (share of users; approx. counts):
  • 13–17: 6.5% (≈1,000)
  • 18–34: 22.0% (≈3,360)
  • 35–54: 30.2% (≈4,620)
  • 55–64: 19.9% (≈3,040)
  • 65+: 21.4% (≈3,270)
• Gender split among email users: ≈51% female (≈7,800), 49% male (≈7,500).

Digital access and connectivity:

• Households with a broadband subscription: ≈79%.
• About 90% of households have a computer or smartphone; roughly 1 in 8 are smartphone‑only internet users.
• Connectivity is densest in and around Antigo (fiber/cable prevalent). Outside the city, many households rely on DSL or fixed wireless; forested northern/eastern areas experience patchier 4G LTE and slower fixed speeds, which can constrain email reliability for large attachments.
• Trend: Gradual gains in broadband availability and smartphone adoption are lifting email use among residents 55+, while working‑age adults remain near‑universal users. Overall email user counts are edging up in step with incremental fiber builds and expanded fixed‑wireless coverage.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Langlade County, Wisconsin (2023–2024)

User estimates

• Population and base: About 19,300 residents; roughly 8,300 households.
• Adult mobile users (any cell phone): ≈14,800 adults, about 97% of adults.
• Adult smartphone users: ≈12,800 adults, about 84% of adults.
• Teen smartphone users (ages 12–17): ≈1,300, about 95% of teens.
• Total smartphone users (ages 12+): ≈14,100.

Demographic breakdown (usage patterns and estimates)

• By age (distinct from statewide):
  • 18–34: ~3,500 smartphone users; adoption ≈96% (in line with state).
  • 35–64: ~6,500 smartphone users; adoption ≈93% (a few points lower than state).
  • 65+: ~2,800 smartphone users; adoption ≈61% (well below state average due to an older age profile locally).
  • Insight: The county’s larger 65+ share depresses overall smartphone adoption vs Wisconsin’s statewide rate (~90% of adults).
• By income and plan type:
  • Median household income is several thousand dollars below the state median; the share of households under $35k is notably higher than the state.
  • Mobile-dependence is elevated: an estimated ~17% of households rely on a cellular data plan as their only home internet connection (vs a lower statewide share), reflecting affordability constraints and patchier fixed broadband in outlying areas.
  • Prepaid plans and budget Android devices are more prevalent than statewide, consistent with income mix and rural purchasing patterns.
• Urban/rural split:
  • Antigo and adjacent corridors track close to statewide adoption; the rural north and east of the county lag on both smartphone adoption among seniors and mobile data use due to coverage and device affordability.

Digital infrastructure

• Coverage and technology:
  • All three national carriers operate in the county. 4G LTE is the de facto baseline across populated areas and primary highways (US‑45, WIS‑64), with 5G present in and around Antigo and along main corridors.
  • Large forested and lake-dense areas remain LTE‑only or have weaker indoor service; 5G coverage is materially less extensive than the statewide norm.
• Capacity and reliability:
  • Outdoor coverage is generally reliable on major roads and in towns; indoor coverage degrades faster than in urban Wisconsin due to tower spacing and terrain. Seasonal tourism and weekend recreation produce localized congestion near lakes and trailheads.
• Fixed broadband interaction:
  • Cable/fiber options are concentrated in and near Antigo; DSL or wireless ISP service is common in rural tracts. This uneven fixed footprint contributes to the county’s higher cellular-only household share and heavier reliance on smartphone hotspots than Wisconsin overall.

How Langlade County differs from the Wisconsin statewide picture

• Lower overall adult smartphone adoption (≈84% vs ~90% statewide), driven primarily by a larger 65+ population and lower median incomes.
• Higher mobile-only household internet reliance (~17% vs a smaller statewide share), due to limited fixed broadband options in outlying areas and affordability trade-offs.
• Less complete 5G reach; more areas remain LTE‑only, and indoor reliability falls off more sharply outside Antigo than is typical statewide.
• Plan mix trends toward prepaid/budget tiers and Android devices more than statewide, reflecting local income distribution and rural retail availability.

Bottom line

• Nearly all adults in Langlade County use a mobile phone, and about five in six use a smartphone. The county’s older age structure and rural infrastructure yield lower smartphone penetration and higher mobile-dependence than the Wisconsin average, with 5G access and indoor service quality improving but still trailing statewide coverage depth.

Social media usage in Langlade County, Wisconsin (2025 snapshot)

Baseline population and composition (US Census Bureau, ACS 2018–2022, 5‑year)

• Total population: ≈19,300
• Adults (18+): ≈15,300
• Median age: ≈47 (older‑skewed)
• Gender: ≈50% female, ≈50% male
• Age structure (rounded): 13–17 ≈6%; 18–29 ≈14%; 30–49 ≈25%; 50–64 ≈26%; 65+ ≈28%

Overall social media reach (modeled from Pew Research Center, 2024, applied to local adult population)

• Adults using at least one social platform: ≈83% of adults ≈12,700 users

Most‑used platforms among adults (share of all adults; local counts are modeled estimates)

• YouTube: 83% ≈12,700 users
• Facebook: 68% ≈10,400 users
• Instagram: 47% ≈7,200 users
• Pinterest: 35% ≈5,400 users
• TikTok: 33% ≈5,000 users
• Also notable: Snapchat 30% ≈4,600; WhatsApp 26% ≈4,000; X (Twitter) 22% ≈3,400; LinkedIn ~30% ≈4,600

Age and gender usage patterns (local implications from national/rural benchmarks)

• Teens (13–17): Very high video and chat usage (YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok). TikTok/Shorts/Reels drive discovery; Snapchat dominates daily messaging.
• 18–29: Heavy on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat; YouTube is universal. Facebook used primarily for groups/events, not posting.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube are primary; Instagram secondary. High use of Marketplace and local groups for commerce and parenting/school updates.
• 50–64: Facebook most used; strong YouTube “how‑to”/news consumption; Pinterest popular (home, recipes, crafts).
• 65+: Facebook for local news, groups, and events; YouTube for tutorials and entertainment; lower use of Instagram/TikTok.
• Gender tendencies: Women over‑index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over‑index on YouTube and X/Reddit. Local buy‑sell groups and Marketplace skew female participation; outdoor/sports communities skew male.

Behavioral trends in Langlade County (rural Wisconsin patterns)

• Facebook Groups are the community hub: buy/sell/trade, school sports, snowmobile and ATV clubs, church and civic events, local government notices.
• Marketplace is the leading local commerce channel (used gear, autos, farm/outdoor equipment).
• Video is the default format: short‑form (Reels/Shorts/TikTok) for quick updates; YouTube for long‑form DIY, repairs, hunting/fishing tactics, and equipment reviews.
• Strong seasonality: spikes around hunting season, snowmobile/ice‑fishing months, county fair/festival season, and back‑to‑school sports.
• Engagement windows: Evenings (6–10 p.m.) and weekends outperform weekdays; weather events and closures trigger rapid surges in local group activity.
• Trust flows through local voices: posts from schools, clubs, first responders, and well‑known community members outperform brand pages; cross‑posting into groups is key to reach.

Method and sources

• Population, age, and gender: US Census Bureau, ACS 2018–2022 (5‑year) for Langlade County.
• Platform usage rates: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024. Local platform user counts are modeled by applying Pew’s adult adoption percentages to the ACS adult population for Langlade County; figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.