Autauga County

Key demographics for Autauga County, Alabama (U.S. Census Bureau):

Population

• Total: ~58,800 (2020 Census)

Age

• Under 5 years: ~6%
• Under 18 years: ~25%
• 65 years and over: ~16%

Gender

• Female: ~51%

Race and ethnicity

• White alone: ~73%
• Black or African American alone: ~21–22%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0.5–0.6%
• Asian alone: ~1%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander alone: ~0.1%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~4–5%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~68–70%

Households

• Number of households: ~21,500–22,000
• Persons per household (avg): ~2.6–2.7

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022; Census QuickFacts for Autauga County, AL.

Autauga County, AL snapshot (estimates)

• Email users: ~39–41k adults use email regularly. Basis: ~59k residents, ~76% adults; 88–90% of adults use email (Pew).
• Age distribution of email users (approx.): 18–34 ≈32%, 35–54 ≈37%, 55–64 ≈16%, 65+ ≈15%. Adoption remains near‑universal under 55 and tapers modestly among seniors.
• Gender split: Essentially even; about 51% female, 49% male among users (mirrors county demographics).
• Digital access:
  • ~85% of households subscribe to broadband; another slice relies on cellular data plans only (≈12–15%). Library/school Wi‑Fi and mobile hotspots augment access for some households.
  • Daily email use: ~60% of adults (Pew national benchmark) ⇒ roughly 26–28k daily users.
• Local density/connectivity:
  • Population density roughly 100 people per square mile, concentrated in and around Prattville (I‑65 corridor).
  • Fixed cable/fiber and 5G are strongest in Prattville and suburban tracts; northern/rural areas show more DSL/satellite dependence and occasional coverage gaps. Most addresses report access to at least 100/20 Mbps, but rural performance varies (FCC map patterns).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (ACS Computer & Internet Use, 2022; county demographics), Pew Research Center (email/internet adoption, 2021–2023), FCC National Broadband Map (availability patterns). Estimates modeled from these.

Autauga County, Alabama — mobile phone usage snapshot

User estimates (2025)

• Population: about 59,000; households: roughly 22,000–23,000.
• Estimated unique mobile phone users: 44,000–47,000 (mainly adults plus most teens).
• Adult smartphone adoption: roughly 88–91% in Autauga (a few points higher than Alabama overall, which is typically mid‑80s).
• Households with a smartphone present: about 92–94% (state ≈ 89–92%).
• Households with a cellular data plan (mobile broadband): about 80–84% (state ≈ 74–79%).
• “Smartphone‑only” internet households (cellular but no fixed broadband): about 11–13% in Autauga vs 18–20% statewide.
• Households with no internet subscription: about 6–8% in Autauga vs 11–13% statewide.

Demographic usage patterns

• Age:
  • 18–44: near-universal smartphone use (>95%); heavy reliance on app‑based services and mobile payments.
  • 45–64: high adoption (~90%); relatively more bundle both mobile and home broadband than statewide.
  • 65+: adoption notably higher than Alabama’s average for seniors, aided by higher incomes and proximity to care/retail in Prattville.
• Income and education:
  • Median household income is higher than the Alabama median; this correlates with more multi‑line family plans, newer devices, and lower smartphone‑only reliance than the state.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • The county’s slightly smaller share of residents in historically underserved groups and its suburban profile correspond to somewhat higher device and plan adoption than the state average; gaps by race are present but narrower than in many rural Black Belt counties.
• Workforce/commuting:
  • Large commuter flows to Prattville/Montgomery create daytime peaks; mobile is a primary channel for navigation, shift coordination, and gig work, raising per‑user data consumption compared with rural parts of the state.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Carriers and 5G:
  • All three national MNOs (AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile) provide 4G LTE countywide outdoors and 5G in population centers.
  • Mid‑band 5G (e.g., T‑Mobile n41, Verizon/AT&T C‑band/3.45 GHz) is live in and around Prattville and along I‑65, yielding substantially higher capacity and speeds than many rural Alabama counties; low‑band 5G fills in elsewhere.
• Capacity and performance:
  • Expect mid‑band 5G median speeds in central corridors typically 150–400 Mbps, with low‑band/rural areas often 20–80 Mbps; indoor performance strongest near Prattville commercial zones.
• Site density:
  • Dozens of macro sites plus rooftop/water‑tank antennas clustered around Prattville, the I‑65 corridor, and major highways; sparser grids west of Prattville lead to occasional dead zones and sector congestion during weather events.
• Fixed wireless and fiber interplay:
  • T‑Mobile and Verizon 5G fixed‑wireless home internet are available in/around Prattville, giving residents an alternative to cable/DSL and helping keep smartphone‑only rates below the state average.
  • AT&T offers fiber in parts of Prattville; legacy DSL remains in rural pockets, influencing heavier mobile data reliance outside town.
• Public safety and resilience:
  • AT&T FirstNet (Band 14) covers interstates and municipalities; carriers deploy COWs/COLTs during severe weather. Tornado‑related power outages can still degrade rural coverage where backup power is limited.

How Autauga differs from Alabama overall (key trends)

• Higher adoption, lower exclusion:
  • More households with smartphones and mobile data plans; fewer with no internet at all.
• Less “mobile‑only” dependence:
  • Smartphone‑only households are notably lower due to better access to fiber/cable and viable 5G fixed‑wireless alternatives.
• Better mid‑band 5G availability:
  • Proximity to the Montgomery market and the I‑65 corridor has accelerated mid‑band 5G build‑outs relative to many rural Alabama counties, improving capacity and consistency.
• Younger, commuter‑suburban usage:
  • A slightly younger, more suburban population drives higher multi‑line family plans, newer handsets, and heavier app/video usage than the statewide average, with noticeable daytime load in retail/employment hubs.
• Smaller rural gaps:
  • Coverage gaps persist in the county’s western/rural areas, but they are fewer and less severe than in Alabama’s more remote counties.

Notes on method

• Figures are synthesized from recent American Community Survey “Computer and Internet Use” indicators, statewide adoption research (e.g., Pew), FCC broadband/coverage filings through 2024, carrier build‑out patterns around Montgomery/Prattville, and county demographics. Exact carrier footprints and speeds vary by location and device; ranges above reflect typical, not guaranteed, conditions.

Below is a short, decision-ready snapshot. County-specific social metrics aren’t publicly published; figures use the latest U.S. benchmarks (Pew Research Center, 2024) as proxies and are adjusted with local context. Autauga County skews suburban/family-oriented (Prattville-led), so expect Facebook slightly higher and TikTok slightly lower than U.S. averages.

Headline user stats (estimates)

• Population: ~59,000
• Active social media users: ~33,000–37,000 residents (adults + teens), based on national usage rates
• Devices: Heavily mobile-first; growing YouTube viewing on connected TVs

Most-used platforms (share of adults who use each platform; U.S. benchmarks as proxy)

• YouTube: ~80–85%
• Facebook: ~65–70% (likely on the high end locally; Marketplace is very active)
• Instagram: ~45–50%
• TikTok: ~30–35% (likely slightly lower locally)
• Snapchat: ~25–30% (strong among high school/college ages)
• Pinterest: ~30–35% (female-skewed; strong for home, crafts, recipes)
• LinkedIn: ~25–30% (probably lower locally given industry mix)
• X/Twitter: ~20–25% (news, sports, weather)
• Reddit: ~20–25% (male-skewed, niche)
• Nextdoor: ~10–20% (most active in Prattville subdivisions)

Age-group usage patterns (directional, based on U.S. patterns)

• Teens (13–17): Near-universal YouTube; heavy Snapchat and TikTok; Instagram strong; Facebook used mainly for groups/teams via parents.
• 18–29: Very high YouTube; Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok lead; Facebook used but not primary.
• 30–49: YouTube and Facebook dominate; Instagram solid; TikTok growing; Pinterest active among parents/homeowners.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube lead; Pinterest moderate; Instagram/TikTok lighter but rising.
• 65+: Facebook first, then YouTube; limited use of other platforms.

Gender breakdown (directional)

• Facebook: balanced to slightly female-leaning in engagement (groups, Marketplace).
• Instagram/TikTok: slight female tilt.
• Pinterest: strongly female-skewed.
• Reddit and X: more male-skewed.
• YouTube: broadly balanced.

Local behavioral trends to know

• Community coordination: Facebook Groups for neighborhoods, churches, youth sports, school updates; high engagement on local announcements and severe-weather updates.
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace is a top channel for buy/sell/trade; local boutiques and service providers convert via Facebook and Instagram.
• Content formats: Short-form video (Reels/Shorts/TikTok) is the growth engine; photos + short videos perform best for local events, food, and high school sports.
• Timing: Evenings and weekends drive engagement; weekday early mornings see spikes for school/commute and weather.
• Messaging backchannel: Facebook Messenger and GroupMe are widely used for teams, clubs, and church groups.
• Nextdoor: Useful for HOA/utility notices and lost-and-found; strongest in newer Prattville subdivisions.
• Trust cues: Posts with local faces, clear calls-to-action, and practical value (events, deals, safety, weather) outperform generic brand content.

Notes on methodology

• Platform percentages are from Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. adult benchmarks; county figures are inferred by applying those rates to local population/age mix. Local adoption can vary ±5–10 points by platform.