Crenshaw County

Do you prefer 2020 Decennial Census counts (fixed) or the latest ACS 5-year estimates (2019–2023, with sampling error)? I can provide both; also confirm if you want just number of households and average household size, or additional household characteristics (e.g., family vs. nonfamily, households with children).

Crenshaw County, AL snapshot

• Population and density: 13,100 residents across ~609 sq. mi. (22 people/sq. mi.), largely rural.
• Estimated email users: 9,000–10,200 residents (about 70–78% of the population), based on rural Alabama broadband adoption and near‑universal email use among internet users.
• Age distribution of email users (share of users):
  • Under 18: 10–12%
  • 18–34: 23–26%
  • 35–54: 30–33%
  • 55–64: 13–15%
  • 65+: 16–18%
• Gender split: Roughly even (about 49–51% each); women are slightly more likely to use email regularly.
• Digital access trends:
  • Roughly 70–75% of households likely have a fixed broadband subscription; another 10–15% are smartphone‑only.
  • Better connectivity in and around town centers (e.g., Luverne, Brantley, Dozier); sparser areas face fewer fixed providers and slower speeds.
  • Ongoing fiber and 5G buildouts are improving speeds and reliability, but affordability and device access remain barriers for some older and lower‑income residents.

Notes: Figures are estimates synthesized from U.S. Census population/density, ACS rural Alabama connectivity patterns, and Pew Research on email adoption. Usage is highest among working‑age adults and students; seniors lag but are steadily increasing.

Below is a concise, county-specific view built from statewide and rural-South benchmarks, public carrier coverage maps, and Crenshaw County’s demographics and geography. Where hard local measurements aren’t published, I provide transparent estimates with ranges.

At‑a‑glance user estimates

• Population base: ~13,000 residents; ~10,000–10,500 adults.
• Smartphone users (adults): 8,300–8,800 (assumes 82–86% adult adoption typical of rural South).
• Teen users (12–17): ~750–900 with smartphones.
• Total mobile phone users (any mobile device, including basic phones and hotspots): ~9,800–10,800.
• Mobile‑only home internet households: estimated 20–25% of households (vs. roughly mid‑teens statewide), reflecting lower wireline availability and the end of ACP subsidies.

How Crenshaw differs from Alabama overall

• Higher mobile‑only reliance: A larger share of households use a phone or hotspot as their primary home internet compared with the state average.
• More prepaid and budget plans: Price sensitivity and credit constraints push a higher mix of prepaid and MVNO plans than statewide.
• Carrier mix and coverage: AT&T and Verizon generally have the most dependable rural coverage; T‑Mobile’s 5G is present along main corridors but is patchier off‑corridor compared with metro Alabama.
• 5G quality gap: Low‑band 5G is common along highways, but mid‑band 5G (needed for high speeds) is spottier, so median mobile speeds are typically below the state median.
• Indoor coverage challenges: Metal roofs, pine stands, and longer distances to towers create more need for signal boosters and Wi‑Fi calling than in urban/suburban Alabama.
• Seasonal congestion: Traffic surges on US‑331 (beach‑bound travel) create noticeable, time‑bound slowdowns—an effect less pronounced at the state level as a whole.
• ACP wind‑down impact: The 2024 sunset of the Affordable Connectivity Program likely reduced plan sizes or triggered churn more in Crenshaw (higher eligibility/uptake) than statewide averages.

Demographic usage patterns (modeled from county profile)

• Age: Older age structure than the state average means:
  • Slightly lower smartphone adoption overall.
  • Heavier voice/SMS use among seniors; more shared devices and reliance on caregiver accounts.
• Income/education: Lower median income and fewer four‑year degree holders correlate with:
  • Higher Android share and refurbished device use.
  • More prepaid/MVNO uptake and careful data budgeting (video set to SD, off‑peak downloads).
• Race/ethnicity: With a sizable Black population and lower fixed‑broadband availability in some neighborhoods, mobile‑first internet use is above the state average for minority households.
• Work and daily life:
  • Agriculture/timber and small manufacturing rely on weather apps, messaging, and photo/video for field coordination.
  • Small businesses, churches, and boosters use mobile POS and social platforms to reach audiences due to limited local media.
  • Schools lean on app‑based messaging; students in mobile‑only homes depend on hotspots for assignments more than the statewide norm.

Digital infrastructure notes

• Cellular coverage:
  • 4G LTE is broadly available along US‑331, AL‑10, AL‑106, and in/around Luverne, Brantley, and Dozier; gaps persist in forested and low‑density areas.
  • 5G low‑band from AT&T and T‑Mobile is present on primary corridors; Verizon low‑band in towns/corridors. Mid‑band 5G is limited, so real‑world 5G often behaves like “good LTE.”
  • Tower density is lower than the state average; most sites are macro towers on ridgelines/highway corridors. In‑building coverage can be weak without Wi‑Fi calling.
• Wireline and fixed wireless:
  • Fiber and cable are concentrated in/near towns and along major roads. C Spire/Troy Cable fiber has a footprint in parts of the county; expansions have been incremental rather than countywide.
  • Electric‑co‑op and regional fiber projects touch parts of the county but don’t yet close all gaps; many rural addresses remain served by older DSL or nothing wired.
  • 5G fixed wireless (Verizon/T‑Mobile) and WISPs fill some unserved/underserved pockets; performance depends on line‑of‑sight and distance to sites.
• Public connectivity:
  • Libraries, schools, and municipal buildings provide essential Wi‑Fi “anchor points.” Usage of these anchors is higher relative to metro Alabama.
• Resilience:
  • Storms and treefall can disrupt backhaul to towers. Residents commonly keep battery packs, vehicle chargers, and offline maps; emergency communication plans often include SMS and local radio.

Usage behavior and traffic mix

• Social/video dominate (Facebook, Messenger, TikTok, YouTube), but data‑cap management leads to SD streaming and aggressive use of download‑over‑Wi‑Fi where available.
• Wi‑Fi calling and femtocells/signal boosters are used more than the state average to overcome indoor coverage issues.
• Hotspots are common for homework and remote tasks; teachers and students report variable speeds compared with metro Alabama peers.

What to watch in 2025

• BEAD/ARPA‑funded builds: Fiber expansions targeting “last‑mile” gaps could lower the county’s mobile‑only share over the next 24–36 months—likely later and spottier than in denser counties.
• Carrier infill: Additional rural small cells or new macro sites along US‑331 could ease seasonal congestion and improve indoor coverage.
• Post‑ACP affordability: Expect stickier prepaid adoption and possible data downshifts unless local programs or provider discounts fill the subsidy gap.

Methods note

• Estimates triangulate U.S. Census/ACS demographics, rural‑South smartphone adoption (Pew and carrier disclosures), FCC coverage maps, and known regional providers. Ranges are used where address‑level measurements aren’t publicly available. For planning or siting decisions, validate with a local RF survey and provider buildout schedules.

Below is an estimate-based snapshot; official, county-level social-media tallies aren’t published. Figures use Pew Research Center (2023–2024) platform/usage rates, rural vs. urban differences, and ACS/Census age mix applied to Crenshaw County’s small, largely rural population.

County snapshot and user stats

• Population: ≈13K. Adults (18+): ≈10K.
• Internet/smartphone access: Rural smartphone ownership ~80–85% of adults; home broadband somewhat lower than the U.S. average.
• Social media users (any platform):
  • Adults: ≈6,600–7,100 (about 65–70% of adults).
  • Teens (13–17): ≈600–750 (roughly 85–95% of teens).
  • Total users (teens + adults, de-duplicated estimate): ≈7,300–7,900.

Age groups (share using any social media)

• 13–17: 85–95% (heavy daily use; video-first, messaging-centric).
• 18–29: 85–95% (multi-platform, video-first).
• 30–49: ~75–85% (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram; Marketplace heavy).
• 50–64: ~65–75% (Facebook, YouTube; rising Reels/TikTok viewing).
• 65+: ~45–55% (primarily Facebook and YouTube; news, local info).

Gender breakdown

• Overall user base likely mirrors population (roughly 52% women / 48% men). Women skew higher on Facebook and Pinterest; men skew higher on YouTube, Reddit, and X (Twitter). No large gender gap in “any social media” use.

Most-used platforms (adults; estimated % who use each)

• YouTube: 75–80%
• Facebook: 65–70%
• Instagram: 35–45% (higher among under-35s)
• TikTok: 25–35% (rapid growth in under-35s; rising passive viewing 35–54)
• Snapchat: 20–30% (concentrated in teens/20s)
• Pinterest: 30–40% (strong female skew)
• X (Twitter): 15–20% (sports/news niche)
• WhatsApp: 10–20% (small but steady)
• Reddit: 10–15% (younger male skew)
• LinkedIn: 10–15% (professionals; low-frequency use)
• Nextdoor: <10% (less common in dispersed rural areas)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the local hub: community groups, churches, schools, sports, obituaries, yard sales, and Facebook Marketplace drive high engagement. Messenger is preferred for coordination and transactions.
• Video everywhere: YouTube for how‑to, hunting/fishing, small‑engine/DIY content; short‑form (Reels/TikTok) for entertainment and local highlights. Short, captioned clips perform best.
• Hyperlocal information wins: severe weather updates, road conditions, school notices, local events, high‑school sports, and county services outperform national topics.
• Commerce is practical and local: Marketplace and buy/sell groups see steady traffic; small businesses rely on boosted Facebook posts over formal ad campaigns.
• Private over public: Many conversations shift to DMs (Messenger, Snapchat, Instagram) rather than public comments.
• Timing: Evenings and weekends draw the most engagement; early-morning check‑ins are common on weekdays.
• Older users stick to Facebook; younger users split time across Snapchat/Instagram/TikTok, with YouTube universal across ages.
• Bandwidth reality: Keep videos short and compressed; rural connectivity can depress completion rates for long videos.

Notes on confidence

• Percentages reflect rural U.S./Southern patterns from recent Pew studies adjusted to a small, older‑leaning county. Use them as planning ranges, not exact counts.