Baldwin County

Here’s a concise snapshot of Baldwin County, Alabama demographics from recent U.S. Census Bureau data.

Population

• ~250,000 (2023 estimate); 231,767 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~43 years
• Under 18: ~21%
• 65 and over: ~23%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race/ethnicity

• White alone: ~85–86%
• Black or African American alone: ~9%
• Asian: ~1–2%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~1%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~5–6%
• White alone, not Hispanic: ~81%

Households

• ~95,000–100,000 households (ACS 2018–2022)
• Average household size: ~2.5
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~78%

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

Summary of email usage in Baldwin County, Alabama (estimates)

• Estimated email users: 180,000–200,000 people. Basis: ~250k population, high adult share, and national email adoption (>85% of adults; most teens also maintain accounts).
• Age pattern (approx., reflecting national use adjusted for Baldwin’s older-skewing population):
  • 18–29: ~90–95% use email
  • 30–49: ~90–95%
  • 50–64: ~85–90%
  • 65+: ~75–85%
• Gender split: Roughly even (male/female usage differences are minimal).
• Digital access trends:
  • Home internet and smartphone access are widely available; household broadband subscription rates are likely in the mid-to-high 80% range, with strong smartphone reliance among some lower-income and seasonal workers.
  • Connectivity is strongest along the Eastern Shore and coastal cities (Daphne, Fairhope, Spanish Fort, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach) where cable/fiber options are common; central and northern rural areas see more variability in speeds and provider choice.
  • Mobile email is significant due to high smartphone penetration and tourism-driven, seasonal population spikes.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population ~250k across ~1,590 square miles of land (≈150–160 people/sq mi), with growth concentrated in the Daphne–Fairhope–Foley corridor.
  • The county is among Alabama’s fastest-growing, supporting expanding broadband investment and stable email adoption across age groups.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Baldwin County, Alabama

Snapshot

• Baldwin County is a fast‑growing coastal/suburban county (Eastern Shore and beach communities) with rural interior areas. That mix produces usage patterns that differ noticeably from Alabama overall, especially in seasonality and 5G availability.

User estimates

• Resident mobile users: ≈190,000–210,000. Assumes total population around a quarter‑million and near‑universal cellphone ownership among adults, plus high teen smartphone adoption.
• Smartphone users: ≈170,000–190,000 residents. Adult smartphone ownership is likely in the mid‑to‑high 80% range overall (higher under 65, lower 65+).
• Seasonal surge: Summer tourism and events (Gulf Shores/Orange Beach) routinely add tens of thousands of active devices on peak days, driving short‑term loads that are much higher than in most Alabama counties.
• Plan mix: Higher share of postpaid unlimited family plans than the state average (income skew in Eastern Shore/beach areas). Prepaid remains common inland but is likely a smaller share than statewide.

Demographic patterns that shape usage

• Age: Baldwin has an older median age than Alabama as a whole (larger 65+ share). That slightly suppresses smartphone adoption and heavy app use in that cohort, but growth among under‑65 in‑migrants (families, remote workers) keeps overall adoption high.
• Income/education: Eastern Shore (Daphne/Fairhope/Spanish Fort) and coastal tracts have higher household incomes and education levels than the Alabama median, correlating with higher iPhone share, newer devices, and multi‑line unlimited plans. Rural north/central tracts (e.g., around Stockton, Perdido) show more budget devices and prepaid plans.
• Household internet substitution: Mobile‑only home internet is lower than Alabama’s rural average along the coast and Eastern Shore (good cable/fiber), but higher than average in interior rural areas where fixed broadband is sparse. Expect a split: roughly low‑double‑digit percent mobile‑only on the coast/suburbs vs noticeably higher pockets inland.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage: All three national carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile) provide strong LTE along I‑10, US‑98, AL‑59, the Eastern Shore, and the beach corridor. Coverage thins in wetlands, wildlife refuges (e.g., Bon Secour), the Fort Morgan peninsula’s far end, and parts of the Tensaw delta.
• 5G footprint: Mid‑band 5G is broadly available along the coast, I‑10, and Eastern Shore—earlier and denser than in many Alabama counties due to tourism and growth. T‑Mobile’s mid‑band is widespread; Verizon and AT&T mid‑band (C‑band) are established in the I‑10/Eastern Shore/Coastal corridor and expanding inland.
• Capacity/densification: Small cells and temporary capacity are deployed around Gulf Shores/Orange Beach during peak season and major events; new macro sites have gone up along growth corridors (e.g., Baldwin Beach Express/AL‑59). This event‑driven densification is more pronounced than the Alabama norm.
• Backhaul: Robust fiber along the coast and Eastern Shore (incumbent cable, AT&T Fiber, and regional/utility fiber rings) supports 5G and small‑cell backhaul. Inland backhaul is improving but lags the coast, affecting 5G capacity in some rural zones.
• Fixed Wireless Access (FWA): Verizon and T‑Mobile FWA are widely marketed; adoption is strong in exurban/rural tracts as an alternative to DSL or satellite, and as a second connection in rentals/condos—higher take‑up than many non‑tourism Alabama counties.
• Public safety/resilience: Post‑hurricane hardening (backup power, portable COWs/COLTs, priority networks like FirstNet) is a visible planning focus on the coast; resilience investments exceed the typical inland Alabama profile.

How Baldwin County differs from Alabama overall

• Seasonality: Far larger device traffic swings due to tourism; networks are engineered for peak coastal loads uncommon elsewhere in the state.
• Faster growth: Subscriber and traffic growth outpace the Alabama average, tracking population and housing growth in Eastern Shore and coastal areas.
• 5G availability: Earlier, denser mid‑band 5G in the coastal/I‑10 corridor than in many Alabama counties; more small‑cell use for event coverage.
• Plan/device mix: Higher iPhone share and postpaid unlimited penetration in coastal/suburban tracts; the statewide average skews more toward prepaid outside metros.
• Home internet substitution: Lower mobile‑only share in coastal/suburban areas (because cable/fiber are prevalent) but higher reliance on mobile/FWA inland; statewide, mobile‑only is highest in persistently rural counties without strong coastal tourism.
• Network constraints: Unique coastal dead zones (refuges, barrier peninsulas) and hurricane risk shape build‑outs and backup strategies more than in most of Alabama.

Implications

• Carriers prioritize capacity and resiliency on the coast and Eastern Shore; rural interior still needs additional mid‑band 5G and backhaul.
• Public entities and ISPs can reduce inland mobile‑only reliance by accelerating fiber builds; on the coast, continued small‑cell/venue solutions will matter for peak seasons.
• Businesses should expect strong 5G and FWA options in growth corridors, but plan for redundancy in known coastal dead zones and during severe weather.

Here’s a concise, planning-ready snapshot of social media usage in Baldwin County, Alabama. Figures are modeled from recent Pew Research, U.S. Census/ACS, and platform ad-planning tools, scaled to local age mix; treat them as directional.

Topline users

• Population (2024 est.): ~245k–255k. Adults 18+: ~190k–205k.
• Social media users (18+): ~155k–175k (≈80–85% of adults).
• Daily users: ~110k–125k (≈55–60% of adults).

Age mix of social users (approx.)

• 13–17: 8%
• 18–29: 20%
• 30–49: 35%
• 50–64: 22%
• 65+: 15% Notes: Baldwin skews slightly older than the U.S.; 65+ adoption is lower overall but Facebook and YouTube usage remain strong in this cohort.

Gender breakdown

• Social users: ~53–55% women, ~45–47% men (county population is slightly female-skewed).
• Platform tilt: Women over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube and Reddit.

Most-used platforms (share of adult residents using monthly; estimates)

• YouTube: 76–80%
• Facebook: 70–75%
• Instagram: 40–45%
• TikTok: 30–35%
• Pinterest: 25–30% (notably higher among women 25–54)
• Snapchat: 20–23% (concentrated among teens and 18–24)
• X (Twitter): 15–18%
• LinkedIn: 18–22% (higher in professional/managerial pockets)
• Reddit: 12–15%
• Nextdoor: 10–14% (higher in HOAs/subdivisions around Daphne, Fairhope, Spanish Fort)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook remains the community hub: City/neighborhood groups, school sports, church updates, local news (storm/hurricane alerts, traffic on 98/59, beach/bridge/Express updates), Marketplace and buy-sell-trade groups. Older adults are heavy daily users.
• Short video growth: Reels and TikTok drive discovery for dining, beach activities, local boutiques, and real estate walk-throughs (Fairhope, Daphne, Gulf Shores/Orange Beach). Hospitality hiring also uses short-form video.
• Visual lifestyle content: Instagram and Pinterest are strong for coastal travel planning, beach weddings, home decor/renovations, and new-home move-in ideas (fast-growing housing market).
• Seasonality: Spikes in March–August (spring break/summer tourism) and during hurricane season (Aug–Oct) for emergency info. Back-to-school drives community group and retail chatter.
• Youth patterns: Snapchat and TikTok dominate teens; location-based Lenses/filters see upticks at school sports and festivals (e.g., Hangout Fest).
• YouTube utility: Local news recaps, fishing/boating, DIY/home projects, church/municipal streams. High watch time among men 25–64.
• Nextdoor/HOA usage: Utilities, wildlife/lost pets, neighborhood safety, vendor recommendations in subdivisions.
• Shopping and deals: Strong response to localized offers and limited-time promos; Facebook/Instagram drive foot traffic via Events, Stories, and DMs; Facebook Marketplace widely used for furniture, baby/kids, and coastal-gear resale.

Notes on sources and method

• Based on Pew Research Center 2023–2024 U.S. platform adoption, U.S. Census/ACS age mix for Baldwin County, and platform ad audience tools scaled to Alabama and Gulf Coast metros. County-level platform reporting isn’t published; figures are modeled estimates for planning.