Cleburne County

Key demographics — Cleburne County, Alabama

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5‑year estimates; margins of error apply)

• Population size

  • 15,056 (2020 Census)
  • ACS 2019–2023 estimate: ≈15,000

• Age

  • Median age: ≈43 years
  • Under 18: ≈21%
  • 18 to 64: ≈60%
  • 65 and over: ≈19%

• Gender

  • Female: ≈50%
  • Male: ≈50%

• Race/ethnicity (shares of total population)

  • White, non‑Hispanic: ≈89%
  • Black or African American: ≈6%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ≈3%
  • Two or more races: ≈2%
  • Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, and other: each <1%

• Households

  • Total households: ≈5,800
  • Average household size: ≈2.5
  • Family households: ≈67% of households
  • Married‑couple households: ≈53% of households
  • Households with children under 18: ≈26%
  • Nonfamily households: ≈33%
  • Living alone: ≈24% (≈10% age 65+)

Email usage in Cleburne County, AL (estimates)

• Population and density: 15,000 residents; low density (27 people per sq. mile). Rural terrain (incl. Talladega National Forest) contributes to coverage gaps; connectivity is strongest along the I‑20 corridor and in/near Heflin.
• Estimated email users: 10,500–12,000 residents. Method: apply typical U.S. adoption (≈85–90% of adults; lower among seniors) to the county’s population.
• Age distribution (of users):
  • 13–24: ~15–18%
  • 25–44: ~30–35%
  • 45–64: ~30–32%
  • 65+: ~15–20% (adoption ~70–80%, below younger cohorts’ 90%+)
• Gender split: Approximately even (49–51% either way), reflecting minimal gender differences in email adoption.
• Digital access and trends:
  • Household home broadband subscription: roughly 70–80% (typical for rural Alabama).
  • Smartphone‑only internet users: roughly 15–25%, driving more mobile email usage.
  • Access is mixed: cable/DSL and fixed wireless are common; fiber exists mainly in town centers/along major routes but is expanding via state/federal builds (2024–2028).
  • Affordability pressures increased after the ACP subsidy lapsed in 2024, potentially dampening adoption among low‑income households.

Notes: Figures are reasoned estimates using national/rural Alabama patterns applied to local population; actual values may vary by community.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Cleburne County, Alabama (focus on how it differs from statewide patterns)

Snapshot

• Rural, low-density, mountainous/forested terrain (Talladega National Forest/Cheaha area) with an interstate spine (I‑20) through Heflin; this produces an interstate “coverage corridor” and patchier service off-corridor.

User estimates

• Population base: roughly 15,000 residents; about 11,000–12,000 adults.
• Smartphone users: about 10,000–10,600 total (adults plus teens), reflecting slightly lower adult adoption than the Alabama average but very high teen adoption.
• Wireless-only for voice (no landline): roughly 70–77% of households, similar to or modestly above the state average due to cost sensitivity and limited landline value.
• Mobile-only or mobile‑primary internet households (no fixed home broadband, or rely mainly on phone hotspots): estimated 18–25% of households, meaningfully higher than the state average (often low-to-mid teens).
• Prepaid plans/MVNO usage: noticeably above the state average, driven by lower incomes, credit constraints, and variable coverage that encourages plan flexibility.

Demographic patterns shaping usage

• Age: Older median age than Alabama overall suppresses smartphone adoption modestly among seniors, but younger cohorts are highly mobile‑centric for all online activity.
• Income and education: Lower median income and higher share of blue‑collar/rural employment correlate with more prepaid lines, shared family plans, and hotspot use in place of home internet.
• Race/ethnicity: Majority White, small Black and Hispanic populations; gaps in device type and plan choice are more income‑ than race‑driven locally.
• Commuting: Many residents and through-travelers rely on I‑20; daytime network loads and best performance cluster along the interstate and around Heflin and Ranburne.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Radio access:
  • 4G LTE: broadly available outdoors along I‑20 and towns; notable dead zones and weak indoor coverage in valleys and forested areas away from highways.
  • 5G: mainly low-/mid‑band along I‑20, Heflin, and select population clusters; sparse elsewhere. Millimeter‑wave is essentially absent.
  • Carrier performance: AT&T and Verizon generally offer the most consistent rural coverage; T‑Mobile’s mid‑band 5G is present near the interstate but thins out off‑corridor.
• Backhaul and towers:
  • Denser tower grid along the interstate; sparser in the national forest and ridge areas, leading to coverage fragmentation and handoff issues.
  • Cross‑border proximity to Georgia can cause network selection quirks at the state line but not a major roaming factor.
• Fixed infrastructure interplay:
  • Cable/fiber is limited outside Heflin or small pockets; many areas still rely on older DSL or fixed wireless. This scarcity pushes higher reliance on mobile data and hotspots than the state average.
  • Public/school/library Wi‑Fi is a key supplement; adoption spikes during school hours and events.
• Reliability:
  • Weather and terrain-related outages or performance dips are more common than in urban Alabama. Residents place high importance on SMS/voice and WEA alerts.

How Cleburne County differs from Alabama overall

• Slightly lower overall adult smartphone adoption (older population) but higher dependence on mobile for home internet because fixed broadband options are thinner than the statewide mix.
• More prepaid/MVNO use, more hotspotting, and more budget Android device penetration than state urban/suburban areas.
• Larger performance gap between highway/town centers and rural hinterlands due to terrain and tower spacing; Alabama’s metros show far smaller urban–rural performance deltas.
• 5G presence is narrower and more corridor‑bound than the state average; practical user experience still leans on LTE off‑corridor.
• Emergency communications and basic calling/texting remain relatively more critical given patchy data coverage and severe-weather risks.

Notes on method and confidence

• Figures are reasoned estimates combining county demographics, national/rural usage patterns, and typical Alabama rural infrastructure conditions. For planning or investment, verify with: ACS 5‑year demographics and S2801/S2802 subscription tables, FCC mobile/broadband maps, state PSC filings, school district E‑Rate data, and local tower/backhaul inventories.

Below is a concise, county‑level picture using Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. social media adoption rates, adjusted slightly for rural communities, and Cleburne County’s size. Treat figures as informed estimates, not official counts.

Snapshot

• Population base: ~15k residents; ~11.5k adults (18+).
• Adult social media users: roughly 75–80% of adults → ~8.6k–9.2k people.

Most‑used platforms (share of adults; estimated)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 65–70%
• Instagram: 40–45%
• Pinterest: 30–35%
• TikTok: 25–30%
• Snapchat: 20–25%
• WhatsApp: 15–20%
• LinkedIn: 15–20%
• X (Twitter): 15–18%
• Reddit: 12–15%
• Nextdoor: 8–12%

Age pattern (who uses what most)

• 18–29: Near‑universal YouTube; heavy Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok; Facebook mostly for family/groups.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram moderate; TikTok growing; Snapchat pockets among parents of teens.
• 50–64: Facebook first, then YouTube; limited Instagram/TikTok.
• 65+: Facebook for community/church/schools; YouTube for news/how‑to/sermons; minimal on others.

Gender tendencies

• Women: Over‑index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; strong engagement with local events, school updates, church groups, Marketplace.
• Men: Over‑index on YouTube, X, Reddit; strong interest in sports, outdoors, automotive, local government/emergency updates.

Behavioral trends (what people actually do)

• Facebook is the community hub: Groups for school alerts, church and civic activities, yard sales, lost/found pets; Marketplace is very active. Posts from local officials, EMA/volunteer fire, schools, and pastors travel fast.
• Video is king: YouTube for DIY, farming/repair, hunting/fishing, weather, sermons; short‑form (Reels/TikTok) performs well for local businesses, sports highlights, and event promos.
• Visual discovery/shopping: Instagram and Pinterest drive interest for boutiques, crafts, home projects, seasonal events; Stories/Reels outperform static posts.
• Youth/private sharing: Snapchat used heavily by teens/young adults for daily messaging; less open/public content.
• News and weather spikes: Severe weather and high‑school sports drive surges on Facebook and X; timely posts outperform polished ones.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is the default; WhatsApp pockets exist but are smaller than nationwide averages.
• Timing: Highest engagement evenings (6–9 pm) and weekends; community/faith content performs well Sunday–Monday; school updates do well early morning.

Estimated local counts (adults), if helpful

• Facebook: ~7.5k–8.0k
• YouTube: ~9.2k–9.8k
• Instagram: ~4.6k–5.2k
• TikTok: ~2.9k–3.5k
• Snapchat: ~2.3k–2.9k (Note: calculated by applying the percentages above to ~11.5k adults.)

Method/caveat

• Based on Pew’s 2024 U.S. adoption by platform and age, adjusted a few points for rural usage patterns; actual local figures can vary with school calendars, weather, and specific community groups.