Calhoun County

Key demographics for Calhoun County, Alabama (latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates; figures rounded)

Population

• Total: ~118,000 (2023 population estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~39–40 years
• Under 18: ~22–23%
• 65 and over: ~18–19%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race and ethnicity

• White (non-Hispanic): ~69–72%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~21–22%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~5–6%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• Asian: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.5%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.1%

Households

• Number of households: ~46,000–47,000
• Average household size: ~2.4–2.5
• Family households: ~65–70% of households

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 Population Estimates; 2023 American Community Survey (1-year). Figures are estimates and rounded for readability.

Calhoun County, AL email usage (estimates)

• Estimated users: ~75,000–85,000 residents use email (midpoint ≈80,000). Basis: ~90k adults and 85–92% email adoption from national surveys.
• Age adoption: 18–29: ~95%+; 30–49: ~93–96%; 50–64: ~85–90%; 65+: ~70–80%. Non‑use is concentrated among older adults.
• Gender split: Roughly even (~50/50 among users); the county population is about 51% female.
• Digital access trends: 80–85% of households have a broadband subscription; 10–15% lack home internet; 15–20% are smartphone‑only. Home computer access ~85–90%. Trend: slow broadband gains, with affordability and rural gaps keeping a mobile‑only segment.
• Local density/connectivity: Population ≈117,000 across ≈610 sq mi (≈190 people/sq mi). Connectivity is strongest in the Anniston–Oxford–Jacksonville corridor (more cable/fiber); coverage is spottier in eastern foothills/rural areas. Public libraries/schools provide key Wi‑Fi access points; cellular LTE/5G is strong along I‑20 and urban centers.

Sources: U.S. Census/ACS Computer & Internet Use tables, Pew Research on email adoption, FCC broadband availability maps. Estimates tailored to county demographics.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Calhoun County, Alabama (focus on how it differs from statewide)

User estimates

• Population baseline: roughly 115–120k residents; about 90k adults.
• Adult smartphone users: 75–82k (assuming Alabama-level adult adoption in the mid-to-high 80% range, with Calhoun a touch lower due to age/income mix).
• Teens with smartphones: 6–8k (nearly universal among high-school and college-age, boosted by Jacksonville State University).
• Total smartphone users countywide: approximately 82–90k.
• Mobile-only internet households: meaningfully above the Alabama average. Given lower fixed-broadband availability and incomes, Calhoun likely has a notably higher share of smartphone-only or mobile hotspot–reliant homes than the state overall.

Demographic usage patterns

• Age/student effect: Jacksonville State University concentrates heavy mobile data use (social/video, campus apps). Senior adoption trails the state average slightly; more basic/feature-phone and text/voice-first usage among older residents in rural precincts.
• Income/plan type: Lower median household income than the state average correlates with:
  • Higher reliance on prepaid/MVNO plans.
  • Longer device replacement cycles and a higher Android share.
  • Greater use of installment plans and refurbished devices.
• Race/ethnicity: Black and Hispanic residents are more likely to be smartphone-dependent for internet access than White residents, reflecting cost and fixed-broadband availability gaps.
• Urban/rural split: Anniston–Oxford–I-20 corridor residents see faster 5G and more in-building reliability; ridge/valley terrain in and around Jacksonville, Piedmont, Ohatchee, and Choccolocco produces pockets of weaker indoor coverage and more carrier switching/dual-SIM behavior.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage and 5G:
  • Strongest along I-20, Oxford/Anniston retail/medical hubs, and the JSU area. Mid-band 5G (C-band/n41) is present in the corridor; low-band 5G extends wider but with modest speeds.
  • Northern and eastern ridges and Talladega National Forest–adjacent areas show more dead zones and indoor challenges than typical Alabama counties with flatter terrain.
• Carriers:
  • AT&T and Verizon generally provide the most consistent rural coverage; T-Mobile performance is strongest near the corridor and towns, with more variability in valleys.
  • AT&T FirstNet supports public safety across the county; this has improved resilience and coverage near critical sites.
• Capacity/backhaul:
  • Fiber-fed sites along I-20 support higher peak throughput; some rural sectors still rely on microwave backhaul, showing evening slowdowns.
• Fixed alternatives and substitution:
  • Cable/fiber are solid in the urban core but patchier outside it. As a result, 5G Home/Fixed Wireless Access from Verizon/T-Mobile has picked up in suburbs and small towns as a DSL/cable substitute.
  • With the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) lapsed in 2024–2025, budget-sensitive households have shifted further toward mobile-only connectivity or downgraded fixed service, increasing mobile network dependence.

How Calhoun County differs from Alabama overall

• Higher mobile-only dependence: A larger share of households rely primarily on smartphones/hotspots than the statewide average due to patchier fixed broadband and tighter budgets.
• More uneven coverage: Terrain-driven variability (ridges/valleys) creates bigger gaps and indoor issues than many Alabama counties, even as the I-20 spine has strong 5G.
• Greater prepaid/MVNO uptake: Price sensitivity and ACP lapse effects push more users to prepaid and budget carriers than the state average.
• Corridor-centric 5G: Mid-band 5G is relatively good along Anniston–Oxford and JSU compared with similarly sized rural counties, but drops off faster outside town limits.
• Student-driven usage: The JSU presence raises the share of heavy data users and app-centric behaviors relative to counties without a university footprint.

Implications

• Network planning: Additional rural infill, indoor coverage solutions, and fiber backhaul upgrades north/east of Anniston would address the biggest pain points.
• Digital inclusion: Programs focused on device affordability, prepaid plan literacy, and Wi‑Fi access in community spaces can have outsized impact.
• Product mix: Budget-friendly Android devices, robust hotspot allowances, and competitive fixed wireless plans align well with local demand patterns.

Here’s a concise, locally tuned snapshot based on applying 2023–2024 U.S. social media adoption rates (Pew Research and major platform norms) to Calhoun County’s population and age mix. Treat figures as best-guess ranges, not exact counts.

Population baseline

• Residents: ~117,000
• Estimated social media users (13+): ~70,000–80,000
• User base mix by age (approx. share of users):
  • 13–17: 10–12%
  • 18–29: 18–22%
  • 30–49: 30–35%
  • 50–64: 20–25%
  • 65+: 12–18%
• Gender split among users: ~54–56% women, ~44–46% men

Most-used platforms (share of adult residents who use each platform at least occasionally)

• YouTube: ~75–80%
• Facebook: ~60–70% (strongest among 30+)
• Instagram: ~30–40%
• TikTok: ~25–35%
• Snapchat: ~20–25% (skews <30)
• Pinterest: ~25–30% (majority female)
• X/Twitter: ~12–18% (skews male/news-focused)
• LinkedIn: ~10–15% (skews 25–49, college/white-collar)
• Nextdoor: ~5–10% (varies by neighborhood uptake)

Age-group highlights (use = at least occasional)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube ~95%+, TikTok ~60–70%, Instagram ~60–70%, Snapchat ~55–65%, Facebook ~20–30%
• 18–29: YouTube ~90–95%, Instagram ~70%±, TikTok ~55–65%, Snapchat ~45–55%, Facebook ~55–65%
• 30–49: YouTube ~90%, Facebook ~70–80%, Instagram ~40–50%, TikTok ~30–40%
• 50–64: Facebook ~70–75%, YouTube ~75–85%, Instagram ~25–35%, TikTok ~15–25%
• 65+: Facebook ~50–60%, YouTube ~50–60%, Instagram ~15–20%, TikTok ~8–12%

Gender patterns

• Women more likely than men to use Facebook (+5–10 pts), Instagram (+3–6 pts), Pinterest (majority female).
• Men more likely to use YouTube (+5 pts), Reddit (low overall penetration but male-skewed), and X/Twitter (slight male skew).

Behavioral trends seen in similar Southern small-metro counties (likely in Calhoun County)

• Facebook Groups are central: school/booster clubs, church and civic groups, yard sale/Marketplace, lost-and-found pets, severe weather and road conditions.
• Marketplace is a top activity; local buy/sell/barter posts outperform general brand content.
• Short-form video growth: TikTok and Instagram Reels drive discovery for restaurants, festivals, and local events; simple, phone-shot clips with people/voices outperform polished ads.
• Local news and public-safety updates travel fastest on Facebook (shares from The Anniston Star, city/county pages, law enforcement, utilities).
• Engagement peaks: early morning commute window, lunch (11:30–1), and evenings (7–9); weekends favor events, sports, and church/community content.
• Messaging-first contact: Many residents DM businesses via Facebook/Instagram rather than call; rapid replies affect conversions.
• Trust bias toward familiar faces: content featuring local people, schools, veterans, or faith/community service tends to earn higher comments/shares.
• TikTok/Snapchat drive youth culture and school athletics buzz; Facebook remains the coordination hub for multi-generational households.

Notes

• Percentages are estimates derived from national platform usage applied to Calhoun County’s demographics; local adoption can vary by city (Anniston, Oxford, Jacksonville) and neighborhood. For campaign planning, validate with platform audience tools (geo-targeted reach) and page/group insights.