Colbert County

Key demographics for Colbert County, Alabama

Population

• 57,227 (2020 Census)
• ~58,000 (2023 estimate, Census Bureau)

Age

• Median age: ~41.7 years
• Under 5: ~5.7%
• Under 18: ~22–23%
• 65 and over: ~19–20%

Gender

• Female: ~51.7%
• Male: ~48.3%

Race and ethnicity (percent of total population)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~73–76%
• Black or African American: ~18–19%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~4%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.5–0.7%
• Asian: ~0.5–0.6%
• Other/Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: <0.1%

Households and housing

• Households: ~23,000–23,500
• Average household size: ~2.4
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~72–73%
• Family households: ~64% (married-couple ~47%)

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

Colbert County, AL — email usage (estimates)

• Estimated users: 36–39k adult email users out of ~58k residents, assuming ~80–85% of adults use email (benchmarked to Pew U.S. rates and ACS population).
• Age distribution of users: 18–34 ≈25–30%; 35–54 ≈35–40%; 55–64 ≈15–20%; 65+ ≈10–15% (near‑universal under 55; lower among seniors).
• Gender split: roughly even among users, ≈51% women and 49% men (mirrors county demographics).
• Digital access trends: About 4 in 5 households have a home broadband subscription; roughly 10–15% rely mainly on smartphone/cellular data. Daily email access skews mobile-first.
• Local density/connectivity: Population density is about mid‑90s per square mile in a metro‑anchored county (Florence–Muscle Shoals area). The Muscle Shoals–Tuscumbia–Sheffield corridor has multiple cable/fiber options and higher speeds; lower‑density southern/eastern areas have fewer fixed‑line choices and lean more on mobile or public Wi‑Fi.

Notes and inputs: U.S. Census/ACS (population, internet subscription), FCC availability maps (provider concentration), Pew Research (email adoption by age). Figures are approximations tailored to local demographics and access patterns.

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

Quick takeaways (how Colbert differs from Alabama overall)

• Slightly lower overall smartphone adoption driven by an older age profile, but higher reliance on mobile-only internet in rural parts of the county.
• Above-average uptake of fixed-wireless/home internet over cellular (T-Mobile/Verizon) versus fiber/cable compared with Alabama’s big metros.
• Coverage is strong along the Shoals urban core (Muscle Shoals–Tuscumbia–Sheffield) but drops off faster than the state average in scenic/low-density areas (e.g., Natchez Trace Parkway corridor, river bluffs), making signal quality more variable than in many Alabama counties.

User estimates (order-of-magnitude, based on 2023 population ~58,000; adult share ~77%; national/state adoption benchmarks and rural adjustments)

• Adult mobile phone users (any cell): about 40,000–43,000 adults (roughly 90–93% of adults).
• Adult smartphone users: about 35,000–38,000 adults (roughly 80–85% of adults; a touch below Alabama’s large-metro levels).
• Teens (13–17) with smartphones: about 2,800–3,200 (very high adoption, similar to state and national rates).
• Households relying primarily on mobile data (smartphone-only or mobile hotspot instead of wired broadband): likely modestly above the Alabama average; expect roughly high-teens to low-20s percent of households, higher in rural tracts west/south of the urban core.

Demographic patterns behind usage

• Age: Colbert skews older than the state average. Smartphone adoption among 65+ is lower (more voice/text-centric use, fewer apps). This pulls down countywide adoption a bit vs Alabama overall.
• Income and plan mix: Median household income is somewhat below the state median. That tends to raise prepaid/MVNO share and increase “mobile-only” internet reliance to control costs, especially after the 2024 wind-down of the Affordable Connectivity Program pushed some households off discounted wired plans.
• Race/ethnicity: The county has a larger White share and a smaller Black share than Alabama overall. Statewide, Black households are more likely to be smartphone-dependent for internet; in Colbert the smaller Black population slightly reduces that effect, but rurality and income still keep mobile-only reliance above metro Alabama.
• Work/education: Manufacturing and service-sector shift work plus commuting within the Shoals correlates with heavy messaging, social, and navigation usage. Student/teacher smartphone dependence for homework help and hotspots is notable where wired options are limited.

Digital infrastructure snapshot (what stands out locally)

• Coverage tiers:
  • Urban core (Muscle Shoals–Tuscumbia–Sheffield): Dense LTE and low-/mid-band 5G from all three national carriers; generally solid indoor service and good capacity.
  • Corridors: Strong coverage along US-72/Alt-72 and US-43 with mid-band 5G pockets. These routes handle most regional mobility and see fewer slowdowns than purely rural sectors.
  • Rural/scenic areas: Faster drop-off in signal quality than state average in low-density zones, including stretches near the Natchez Trace Parkway and some Tennessee River bluffs/valleys that create shadowing. Expect LTE fallback and slower uplink at the fringes.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA): T-Mobile and Verizon home internet are widely marketed and appear to have higher penetration than the state average outside metros, filling gaps where fiber/coax aren’t present or are costly. This contributes to the county’s above-average mobile-only/home-cellular reliance.
• Wired backhaul and fiber:
  • AT&T fiber is available in parts of the Shoals urban core; Charter/Spectrum cable covers much of the core as well. Rural fiber buildout lags the state’s fastest-growing metros (e.g., Huntsville/Jefferson), pushing more households to cellular alternatives.
  • Carrier backhaul follows highway/utility rights-of-way around the urban core and river crossings; tower spacing becomes wider in agricultural/forest tracts, which can cap capacity during events.
• Public-safety and resiliency: AT&T FirstNet coverage is present around hospitals and municipal services; however, single-feed rural sites can experience congestion or weather-related impairments faster than in urbanized Alabama counties with denser redundancy.

Trends to watch (relative to Alabama)

• Mobile-only households: Likely to remain above state average until rural fiber expands; FWA growth is cushioning ACP’s lapse but may face capacity constraints during peak hours.
• Senior adoption: Gradual increase, but the older age mix will keep Colbert a tick below statewide smartphone penetration for the next few years.
• Carrier mix: T-Mobile’s mid-band 5G footprint and FWA offers are particularly influential outside the core cities; AT&T remains strong for voice/coverage, especially for public safety and legacy users.
• Event/seasonal load: Festivals/tourism in the Shoals can create short-term capacity hotspots; this effect is more pronounced here than in larger Alabama metros due to fewer surplus sectors per square mile.

Notes on method

• Figures are reasoned estimates derived from Census/ACS population and household counts, Pew Research smartphone adoption benchmarks, FCC mobile coverage patterns, and rural vs metro adjustments typical for North Alabama counties. They are intended for planning and sizing rather than as official statistics.

Colbert County, AL — Social Media Snapshot (estimates)

How these numbers were derived

• Population base: ~57,000 residents; roughly 48–49k are age 13+.
• Rates are inferred from Pew Research’s 2023–2024 U.S. usage patterns, Alabama/rural-urban skews, and typical ad-platform reach checks for the Shoals market. Treat as planning estimates, not hard counts.

Overall penetration

• Adults using any social platform: ~70–80% of adults (roughly 60–70% of total residents).
• Broadband-enabled households: common in the county but not universal; plan for pockets of mobile-only users.

Most-used platforms (share of residents age 13+, est.)

• YouTube: 75–85%
• Facebook: 60–70%
• Instagram: 35–45%
• TikTok: 30–40%
• Snapchat: 25–35%
• Pinterest: 25–35%
• X (Twitter): 15–20%
• LinkedIn: 12–20%
• Reddit: 12–18%
• Nextdoor: 5–10% (neighborhood-dependent; higher in denser areas)

Age-group patterns (share of local social media audience and behavior)

• 13–17 (8–10%): Very high on TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube; low Facebook use except for school/teams; short-form video first.
• 18–24 (12–15%): TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube dominant; heavy DM usage; discovers local food/entertainment via Reels/TikTok.
• 25–34 (15–18%): Instagram, Facebook, TikTok; high use of Facebook Marketplace; follows local events, gyms, childcare, starter-home content.
• 35–44 (15–17%): Facebook + YouTube core; Instagram active; Pinterest for recipes/home; engages with school, sports, churches, and local services.
• 45–54 (14–16%): Facebook and YouTube; uses groups for community info and Marketplace; Instagram secondary.
• 55–64 (12–14%): Facebook, YouTube; Pinterest for hobbies; growing but still moderate TikTok/Reels consumption.
• 65+ (12–15%): Facebook for family/church/news; YouTube for how-tos and music; lower but rising short-form video usage.

Gender breakdown (est.)

• Overall social media audience: ~53–56% female, ~44–47% male (county itself skews slightly female).
• By platform (local tendency, est.):
  • Facebook: ~55–60% female
  • Instagram: ~53–57% female
  • TikTok: ~55–60% female
  • Snapchat: ~55–60% female
  • Pinterest: ~70% female
  • YouTube: ~50–55% male (near even)
  • X (Twitter): ~55–60% male
  • Reddit: ~60–70% male
  • LinkedIn: near even to slight male tilt

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first content: Local news, weather alerts, school and high school sports, church activities, civic updates, pet rescues, and local events see strong engagement. The Muscle Shoals music heritage and regional festivals reliably trend.
• Marketplace matters: Facebook Marketplace is a top utility (cars, yard equipment, furniture, rentals). “Buy/sell/trade” and neighborhood groups are sticky.
• Video wins: Short-form video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) earns outsized reach across 13–44 and growing traction 45+. Native uploads outperform links.
• Peak times: Evenings (7–10 pm) and weekend mornings/early afternoons. Severe weather days spike Facebook and YouTube live/local-news consumption.
• Geo-overlap: Residents follow pages across the Shoals (Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, Sheffield, Florence). For campaigns, a 10–15 mile radius around Muscle Shoals/Tuscumbia often outperforms strict county lines.
• Trust signals: Local faces, recognizable landmarks, and community partnerships (schools, churches, civic clubs) boost CTR and comments.
• Messaging: High reliance on Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs, and Snapchat for inquiries; enable messaging and quick replies.
• Reviews and recommendations: Facebook group recommendations and Google reviews influence purchase decisions for restaurants, healthcare, auto, and home services.

Quick planning takeaways

• Use Facebook + Instagram as the backbone; add YouTube for reach and TikTok for under-40 growth.
• Lean into video (15–30s), event promos, and Marketplace-friendly creative for services and secondhand goods.
• Target by interests tied to local life: high school sports, hunting/fishing/outdoors, church/community service, live music, home/yard projects.
• Post in the evening; boost during weather events or community moments; cross-post to relevant local groups when allowed.

Data caveats

• County-level platform stats aren’t officially published; figures above are modeled estimates from national/state patterns and typical ad tool reads for the Shoals. Validate with a quick check in each platform’s Ads Manager for your specific targeting.