Coffee County

Coffee County, Alabama – key demographics (latest available)

Population

• 2020 Census: 53,465
• 2023 estimate: ~54,500

Age

• Median age: ~39 years
• Under 18: ~24%
• 65 and over: ~17%

Gender

• Female: ~50.5% (male ~49.5%)

Race and ethnicity

• White alone (non-Hispanic): ~67%
• Black or African American alone: ~19%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~9–10%
• Two or more races: ~4%
• Asian alone: ~1–2%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~1%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander and other: <1%

Households

• Number of households: ~21,000
• Average household size: ~2.6
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~67%
• Median household income: ~$60–62k
• Persons in poverty: ~14%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau — 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates; Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Figures rounded.

Coffee County, AL snapshot (estimates)

• Population/density: ~54,000 residents; ~80 people per sq. mile. Enterprise and Elba are the main hubs; much of the county is rural.
• Email users: 35,000–40,000 residents use email regularly (≈85–92% of adults).
• Age mix among email users: 18–29: ~20–22%; 30–49: ~35–38%; 50–64: ~24–26%; 65+: ~16–20%. Daily-use rates are highest under 50 and taper modestly for 65+.
• Gender split: Roughly even (≈49% men, 51% women).
• Digital access trends:
  • Home internet subscription: ~80–85% of households.
  • Smartphone ownership: ~90%+ of adults; “smartphone‑only” at home: ~20–25%.
  • Connectivity: Strong LTE/5G in Enterprise/Elba and along main corridors; more variable service in rural pockets, where DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite fill gaps. Cable/fiber concentrated in town centers, with gradual fiber build‑outs.
  • Public access: Libraries, schools, and municipal buildings provide free Wi‑Fi; community college sites also help bridge access.
• Local factors: The Enterprise–Fort Novosel area supports higher mobile network investment and email dependence for military, education, healthcare, and small business communications.

Figures synthesize recent Alabama/rural U.S. patterns applied to Coffee County’s size and settlement pattern.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Coffee County, Alabama (distinctives vs. statewide)

User estimates

• Population/households: ~55,000 residents and roughly 21,000 households. Adult (18+) population ~41–43k.
• Adult smartphone users: Estimated 37–39k (about 88–92% of adults). This is a few points higher than Alabama’s overall adult smartphone adoption, reflecting Coffee County’s younger, military‑influenced age mix.
• Wireless‑only households (no landline): Estimated 78–83% of households, likely above the Alabama average (low‑ to mid‑70s) due to younger residents, renters, and military families.
• Plan mix: Slightly lower prepaid share than the state (more postpaid, multi‑line unlimited plans), driven by carrier military discounts and device financing uptake. BYOD and frequent device upgrades are also more common than statewide averages because of higher churn tied to PCS moves.

Demographic patterns shaping usage (vs. Alabama overall)

• Age: Higher share of 18–34 year‑olds (military, support staff, and service industries). This lifts smartphone penetration, mobile‑only reliance, and use of data‑intensive apps. Seniors make up a smaller share than in many rural Alabama counties, narrowing the “senior digital gap.”
• Military presence: Fort Novosel (adjacent) influences Coffee’s market even though the base itself spans county lines. Results: more postpaid family plans, international connectivity via apps, higher device turnover, and seasonal/PCS‑related churn that’s above state norms.
• Race/ethnicity: Hispanic share is somewhat higher than the state average. Expect higher demand for Spanish‑language support, WhatsApp/OTT calling, and international top‑ups compared with many Alabama counties.
• Income/education: Median income near the state average; higher share of households with multi‑device bundles (phones, tablets, watches) than comparable rural counties, reflecting discount stacking and employer/military subsidies.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• 4G LTE: Broad coverage across Enterprise, Elba, New Brockton, Kinston, and along US‑84/AL‑27 corridors. Rural pockets still rely mainly on LTE; indoor penetration can drop in metal‑roof homes and low‑lying areas.
• 5G: County seats and main corridors have low‑band 5G from major carriers; mid‑band 5G is present in and around Enterprise/Elba and along primary roads. Rural edges remain LTE‑first. Compared with many rural Alabama counties, Coffee’s town centers saw earlier, denser 5G deployments.
• Fixed internet interplay: Fiber and modern cable are available in Enterprise/Elba and some adjacent areas (including builds by regional fiber providers in recent years). This improves Wi‑Fi offload and reduces cellular data usage at home relative to rural counties that still depend on DSL. 5G fixed‑wireless home internet is also marketed in town centers, expanding options where cable/fiber is limited.
• Backhaul and towers: Macro sites cluster along US‑84 and near schools/commerce in Enterprise; recent upgrades boosted 5G capacity. Outside towns, site spacing is wider; signal reliability is generally better than in hillier parts of Alabama but still variable indoors.
• Public safety: FirstNet adoption among first responders and agencies is relatively high due to training/response needs around the base and regional mutual‑aid coverage.

Usage trends that differ from state‑level patterns

• Higher smartphone penetration and mobile‑only household share than Alabama overall, driven by a younger, military‑affected population.
• Lower prepaid share and higher multi‑line postpaid penetration than the state average, with faster device replacement cycles and more connected wearables/tablets.
• Faster 5G uptake in town centers and along main corridors than many rural Alabama counties; however, rural fringes still lag in mid‑band capacity.
• More Wi‑Fi offload at home in towns (due to better fiber/cable availability) than in many rural parts of the state; this can mean slightly lower per‑line cellular data consumption at home but heavier peak mobile usage around commute times, schools, and base‑adjacent corridors.
• Churn and seasonal demand swings are more pronounced than the statewide norm because of military PCS cycles and student/seasonal worker flows.

Notes on methodology/uncertainty

• County‑level mobile adoption data are not directly published; figures above are estimates synthesized from Coffee County’s age mix and household structure (ACS/Census), combined with recent national/regional adoption rates (e.g., Pew/CDC wireless‑only trends) and FCC coverage patterns through 2024. For planning, validate with carrier RF maps, FCC BDC filings, and local provider build plans.

Below is a concise, best-available snapshot. Coffee County lacks public, county-level social-media surveys, so figures are estimates based on Pew Research Center U.S. platform adoption, Alabama/rural-South usage patterns, and local demographics.

Headline user stats

• Residents: ~55,000; ages 13+ ≈ 47,000
• Estimated monthly social media users (13+): 35,000–40,000 (roughly 75–85% of 13+)
• Devices: Mobile-first; many users on budget Android devices and variable rural broadband

Most-used platforms (share of residents 13+ using monthly, estimated)

• YouTube: 75–85%
• Facebook: 70–78%
• Facebook Messenger: 60–70%
• Instagram: 35–45%
• TikTok: 30–38%
• Pinterest: 25–35% (female-skewed)
• Snapchat: 22–30% (teen/young adult-skewed)
• WhatsApp: 15–25% (notable among Hispanic and military-connected families)
• X/Twitter: 12–18%
• LinkedIn: 10–16%
• Nextdoor: 5–10% (patchy neighborhood coverage)

Age profile of active users (share of the local social-media user base, est.)

• 13–17: 8–10% — heavy on Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube; Instagram secondary
• 18–29: 22–25% — Instagram, TikTok, YouTube; Snapchat; some X
• 30–49: 32–35% — Facebook/Messenger, YouTube; Instagram and TikTok growing; Pinterest for parents/home
• 50–64: 22–25% — Facebook/Messenger dominant; YouTube “how-to” and news; Pinterest
• 65+: 12–15% — Facebook for community/church/family; YouTube for news/DIY

Gender breakdown (estimated of local social-media users)

• ~52–55% female, ~45–48% male overall
• Platform skews: female on Facebook/Pinterest/Instagram; male on YouTube and X

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: local news, school/sports updates, church communications, yard sales, lost-and-found pets, and Marketplace (very active).
• Groups > pages: Residents rely on private/local Facebook Groups for recommendations, weather alerts, road closures, and event coordination.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube for tutorials, home/auto repair, hunting/fishing, and local sports highlights; TikTok/Reels growth among under-40.
• Messaging over posting: Facebook Messenger and group chats for teams, classrooms, church ministries, and family coordination; WhatsApp used in multilingual/military circles.
• Peak times: Early morning, lunch, and 6–9 pm; Sunday afternoons are strong for events and church community posts.
• Local commerce: High engagement with coupons, giveaways, and “new menu/merch” posts; Marketplace drives resale and small-business discovery.
• Trust patterns: County and city agency pages, local outlets (e.g., Enterprise/Elba news), school districts, and sheriff’s office posts see high resharing during storms and emergencies.
• Content style: Practical, community-centered, and visual posts outperform polished corporate creatives; short vertical video with captions works best.
• Access realities: Some users have limited data/bandwidth—optimize for mobile, short videos, and clear thumbnails; live streams should offer lower-resolution fallbacks.

Notes on methodology

• Estimates extrapolated from national platform penetration (Pew, 2023–2024), rural-South usage tendencies, and Coffee County’s age mix; not a county-run survey. For campaign planning, validate with a quick local poll (e.g., Facebook Group survey + school/Chamber lists) to fine-tune platform weights.