Menominee County

Menominee County, Wisconsin — key demographics

Population size

• 2023 population estimate: ~4,250 (U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, V2023)
• 2020 Census: 4,255

Age

• Median age: ~31 years (ACS 2019–2023 5-year)
• Under 18: ~34%
• 65 and over: ~13%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Racial/ethnic composition (race alone unless noted; Hispanic is an ethnicity)

• American Indian and Alaska Native: ~87%
• White: ~10%
• Black or African American: <1%
• Asian: <1%
• Two or more races: ~5%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~3%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~6–7%

Household data (ACS 2019–2023 5-year)

• Total households: ~1,350
• Persons per household (average): ~3.2
• Family households: ~75–76% of all households
• Average family size: ~3.7–3.8
• Households with children under 18: ~45%
• Female householder, no spouse present (family households): ~27–30%

Insights

• The county is overwhelmingly Native American (Menominee) and has one of Wisconsin’s youngest age profiles and largest average household sizes.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates (tables DP05, S0101, S1101); Population Estimates Program (V2023).

Menominee County, WI snapshot (2024 est.)

• Population ≈4,500; density ≈12 people per sq. mile (WI ≈108). County is coextensive with the Menominee Indian Reservation; fixed broadband is strongest around Keshena and sparser in forested tracts.
• Household digital access (ACS 2018–2022): 87% have a computer; 73% have a broadband subscription; 19% are smartphone–only; 26% have no home internet subscription.
• Estimated email users: ≈3,000 residents (≈67% of total; ≈89% of adults), derived from local internet access rates and national email adoption benchmarks.
• Age distribution of email users (est.): 18–34 ≈900; 35–64 ≈1,450; 65+ ≈450. Youth email use is common via schools but lower than adults.
• Gender split among users: ≈51% female, 49% male (reflecting the county’s near-even sex ratio).
• Trends: Email usage is rising gradually as new fiber/LTE projects and federal tribal broadband programs improve access, but adoption still trails Wisconsin averages due to affordability gaps and limited fixed-service coverage outside population centers. Mobile-first access is notably high, shaping email habits (more smartphone-based, intermittent connectivity).

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Menominee County, Wisconsin (2024–2025)

Context and scale

• Population baseline: 4,255 (2020 Census). The county is coterminous with the Menominee Indian Reservation and has one of the youngest age profiles in Wisconsin and the highest share of American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) residents (roughly nine in ten residents).
• Wireline broadband adoption is materially lower than the Wisconsin average, which drives heavier reliance on mobile devices for everyday internet access.

User estimates (adults and teens)

• Adult mobile phone users (any mobile phone): approximately 2,500–2,900 adults, representing about 90–94% of the adult population.
• Adult smartphone users: approximately 2,200–2,500 adults, or about 80–86% of adults.
• Teen smartphone users (ages ~13–17): roughly 400–500 teens with access to a smartphone, reflecting very high teen adoption.
• Smartphone-only internet households (no home broadband, rely on mobile data/hotspots): estimated 22–28% of households, meaning mobile connectivity is the primary pathway online for a sizable share of residents.
• Prepaid share of mobile lines is notably high (estimated 45–55%), reflecting affordability strategies and participation in telecom assistance on tribal lands.

Demographic usage patterns and differences from state-level

• AIAN-majority community: Smartphone dependence for day-to-day internet use is higher than the state average due to lower fixed broadband availability and affordability constraints. App-centric communication (messaging, social media, video) and hotspot use for school/work are common.
• Younger population: Very high smartphone adoption among youth and young adults. This lifts overall mobile adoption above what would be expected for a rural county.
• Older adults (65+): Smartphone adoption lags the county average and the statewide rate for this age group; basic phones and shared-family devices are more common than elsewhere in Wisconsin.
• Income and plan mix: Budget and prepaid plans, Lifeline-supported service, and device recycling are used more frequently than statewide norms.

Digital infrastructure points

• Radio access
  • 4G LTE: Broad outdoor coverage along primary corridors (e.g., WI‑47 and WI‑55) and population centers (Keshena and nearby communities). Coverage degrades in heavily forested interior areas and low-lying terrain.
  • 5G: Low-band 5G is present near population centers and main roads; mid-band 5G capacity is limited versus metro Wisconsin, with noticeable speed variability indoors.
  • Regional carrier presence: In addition to national operators (AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon), regional carriers such as Cellcom are relevant and can provide competitive coverage/performance locally.
• Backhaul and capacity
  • Limited middle‑mile capacity and sparse tower density create localized congestion during events and school hours. Some sites still rely on microwave backhaul, which constrains peak speeds and uplink performance.
• Wireline and public access
  • Fixed broadband availability and subscription rates trail the state average; this directly increases hotspot use and smartphone‑only households.
  • Public Wi‑Fi and institutional connectivity (tribal government buildings, schools, libraries, College of Menominee Nation) serve as important supplemental access points.
• Funding and programs
  • Tribal Lifeline and Link Up discounts are in active use and are critical to sustaining service for low‑income households on tribal lands.
  • The sunset of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program in 2024 increased cost pressure; churn from postpaid to prepaid and plan downgrades rose relative to the state.
  • Multiple state and federal programs (e.g., Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, BEAD-era projects) are targeting rural tribal areas through 2028; as projects complete, expect gradual improvements in fixed broadband access and, indirectly, mobile capacity via better backhaul.

Behavioral and traffic characteristics

• Higher reliance on mobile data for homework, telehealth, benefits management, and social/video apps than statewide norms; tethering to laptops/tablets is common where home broadband is absent.
• Average monthly mobile data use per smartphone is elevated relative to the Wisconsin average due to smartphone‑only households and hotspot reliance, though speeds can be variable because of limited mid‑band 5G and tower density.
• Voice reliability is generally solid along corridors but can drop indoors and in forested pockets; Wi‑Fi calling is frequently used to compensate.

Key ways Menominee County differs from Wisconsin overall

• Much higher share of AIAN residents and a younger age profile, both tied to distinct usage patterns (more smartphone‑centric behavior).
• Lower fixed broadband subscription rates and more gaps in wireline availability increase mobile dependence and hotspot use.
• Higher prevalence of prepaid, Lifeline-supported, and budget plans; greater sensitivity to the loss of ACP subsidies.
• Sparser tower grid and more limited mid‑band 5G lead to bigger performance swings by location and time of day than are typical in metro/suburban Wisconsin.
• Public institutions and community anchor sites play an outsized role in connectivity compared with most Wisconsin counties.

Method note

• User and household figures are estimates triangulated from the 2020 Census population baseline, the county’s known age and AIAN composition, observed rural adoption patterns, and recent national adoption rates by age/income/rurality (e.g., Pew Research). Estimates reflect 2024–2025 conditions.

Social media usage in Menominee County, Wisconsin (2024 snapshot)

Method note: No official, county-specific platform census exists. Figures below are best-available estimates modeled from Menominee County’s ACS demographics and broadband profile, Pew Research Center 2023–2024 platform adoption by age/gender and rural residence, and NTIA broadband use data for tribal/rural areas. Percentages refer to adults unless noted.

User base and access

• Adults using at least one social platform: 68–75% of adults; 55–60% use social daily
• Household internet access: ~70–78% have home broadband; 10–15% are smartphone-only users (higher than state average due to rural/tribal connectivity patterns)
• Typical adult user count implied: roughly 2,000–2,300 social media users countywide

Most-used platforms (any use, adults)

• YouTube: 70–80%
• Facebook: 60–70% (Groups and Marketplace are core touchpoints)
• Instagram: 25–35%
• TikTok: 25–35%
• Snapchat: 20–30% overall; 60–75% among 18–29
• Pinterest: 20–30% (skews female)
• LinkedIn: 8–15%
• X (Twitter): 8–12%
• Reddit: 8–12%
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger 55–65%; WhatsApp 10–15%

Age patterns (platform reach within each age band)

• Teens (13–17): Snapchat 70–85%, TikTok 65–80%, Instagram 55–70%, YouTube ~95%; Facebook used mainly for events/groups, not posting
• 18–29: YouTube 90%+, Snapchat 65–75%, TikTok 55–65%, Instagram 55–60%, Facebook 50–60%
• 30–49: Facebook 70–80%, YouTube 85–90%, Instagram 35–45%, TikTok 30–40%, Snapchat 25–35%
• 50–64: Facebook 65–75%, YouTube 70–80%, Instagram 20–30%, TikTok 15–25%
• 65+: Facebook 55–65%, YouTube 55–65%, other platforms generally <15%

Gender breakdown (adult differentials)

• Women: Higher Facebook (+5–10 pts vs men), Instagram (+3–6), TikTok (+3–6), Pinterest ~25–35% of women vs <15% of men
• Men: Higher YouTube (+5–10), Reddit ~10–15% of men vs <5% of women, X slightly higher among men

Behavioral trends observed in similar rural/tribal counties and reflected locally

• Facebook as community backbone: County/tribal departments, schools, emergency notices, events, and buy/sell/trade rely on Facebook Pages and Groups; Messenger is the default for 1:1 contact
• Video-first consumption: Short-form (TikTok/Reels) growth for entertainment and local highlights; YouTube for how-to, cultural content, and sports
• Youth privacy/ephemeral use: Teens/young adults favor Snapchat for daily messaging; cross-post to TikTok/Instagram; minimal X/LinkedIn usage
• Marketplace-driven commerce: Strong use of Facebook Marketplace and local buy/sell groups; Instagram Shops adoption remains limited
• Peak engagement windows: Evenings (7–9 pm) and weekends; midday spikes around lunch for mobile users
• Cross-posting by organizations: Most local pages mirror content to multiple platforms, but Facebook consistently yields the most reach/comments
• Lower traction platforms: LinkedIn and X used mainly by public agencies, schools, and a few businesses for announcements; limited organic community interaction

Sources (synthesis): Pew Research Center (2023–2024 Social Media Use), U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2022–2023) for Menominee County demographics, NTIA Internet Use Survey (2023) and FCC broadband availability for rural/tribal access patterns.