Elmore County

Elmore County, Alabama — key demographics

Population size

• Total population: 87,977 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~39 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: ~24%
• 65 and over: ~16–17%

Gender

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50% (ACS 2019–2023)

Race/ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~70–71%
• Black or African American: ~22%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~4%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Asian: ~0.7%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.5%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.1%

Household data (ACS 2019–2023)

• Households: ~32,000
• Persons per household: ~2.6
• Family households: ~73%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~75–78%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates.

• Estimated users: Elmore County population ~90,000; applying typical adult internet/email adoption (90–95%) to ~72–76% adults yields roughly 60,000–68,000 email users.
• Age: Email adoption is highest among 18–49 (95–99%), strong in 50–64 (90%), and somewhat lower in 65+ (~80–85%). Expect most email users to be 30–49 and 50–64, with growing uptake among seniors.
• Gender: Usage is near parity; mirrors the population (≈51% female, 49% male).
• Digital access trends:
  • About 80–85% of households have a broadband subscription (ACS-style county averages); smartphone ownership is >85%.
  • Mobile-only internet households likely 15–20%; public libraries and schools provide important access points.
  • Increasing fiber and cable availability in towns; more reliance on fixed wireless/DSL in rural pockets.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Suburban–rural county in the Montgomery metro; population density roughly 130–150 people per square mile.
  • Central Alabama Electric Cooperative’s Central Access has been expanding fiber in parts of Elmore; cable ISPs serve Wetumpka, Millbrook, Tallassee, and other population centers.
  • 4G/5G coverage is strong in towns and along major corridors; some northern/lakeside areas have spottier fixed broadband, influencing higher mobile-email reliance.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Elmore County, Alabama (with emphasis on where it differs from state-level patterns)

Executive takeaways (how Elmore differs from Alabama overall)

• Slightly higher smartphone adoption and lower “mobile-only” reliance than the Alabama average, driven by suburban proximity to Montgomery, higher cable/fiber availability in population centers (Millbrook, Wetumpka), and strong 5G spillover coverage.
• Plan mix skews more to postpaid family bundles and slightly less to prepaid than the state average.
• 5G coverage and speeds are generally better and more contiguous than in many rural Alabama counties, though rural pockets north/east of Wetumpka still lag.

User estimates

• Population context: ~90,000 residents; ~65,000 adults (18+). (Rounded from recent Census/ACS trends.)
• Adult smartphone users: roughly 55,000–60,000 (about 85–92% adoption). This is a few points above Alabama’s adult average (often low-to-mid 80s per ACS/Pew proxies).
• Households with a smartphone: approximately 29,000–31,000 of an estimated 32,000–34,000 households.
• Mobile-only internet households (no home broadband, use cellular data plan only): about 10–14% in Elmore vs roughly 17–22% statewide. This reflects stronger cable/fiber availability in the county’s suburban tracts.
• Data use patterns: heavy commuter corridors (US-231, AL-14) see pronounced weekday daytime utilization; family-plan penetration is comparatively high.

Demographic breakdown (usage patterns)

• Age:
  • 18–49: near-universal smartphone ownership.
  • 50–64: high ownership; strong use of carrier family bundles.
  • 65+: estimated 65–75% smartphone adoption—somewhat higher than Alabama’s senior average, aided by healthcare, church/community apps, and proximity to Montgomery services.
• Income/urbanicity within the county:
  • Millbrook/Wetumpka tracts (higher density, higher incomes) have lower mobile-only reliance and more triple-play bundles; better 5G mid-band performance.
  • Northern/eastern rural tracts show higher prepaid share and greater mobile-only reliance; more variability in indoor signal and speeds.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • High smartphone adoption across groups. As in Alabama and nationally, Black and Hispanic residents are more likely to be mobile-first; however, the local gap vs White residents appears smaller than the statewide gap, reflecting better infrastructure access in Elmore’s populated areas.
• Workforce/commute:
  • Substantial Montgomery commute boosts weekday on-the-move usage and car-bundle plan adoption; business lines and device-per-worker ratios slightly above the state average for a county of this size.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Cellular networks:
  • All three national carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) provide countywide LTE with broad 5G coverage in and between Millbrook and Wetumpka; contiguous mid-band 5G is strongest along US-231 and AL-14 and in the Montgomery-adjacent south/southwest.
  • Verizon C-Band and AT&T mid-band 5G have expanded since 2022; T-Mobile’s mid-band 5G footprint is broad in populated areas. Rural dead zones persist near parts of the Tallapoosa River bottoms and lake-adjacent terrain, but are less extensive than in many rural AL counties.
  • First responder/FirstNet coverage via AT&T is present; public-safety signal is generally reliable in population centers.
• Wireline/fixed wireless:
  • Charter/Spectrum cable serves most denser tracts (Millbrook, Wetumpka); AT&T offers DSL with selective fiber buildouts.
  • Central Alabama Electric Cooperative’s broadband arm (Central Access) has been deploying fiber in rural Elmore since ~2020, improving non-urban options.
  • Fixed wireless home internet (T-Mobile, Verizon) is widely offered and fills gaps where cable/fiber are absent; satellite (e.g., Starlink) is a viable fallback in fringe areas.
• Public/anchor connectivity:
  • Schools, libraries, and county facilities provide free Wi‑Fi and bolster digital access in rural neighborhoods.

Key ways Elmore’s trends diverge from Alabama’s

• Lower mobile-only share due to better cable/fiber reach in suburban tracts.
• Earlier and denser 5G mid-band availability via Montgomery MSA spillover; higher median mobile speeds in populated corridors.
• Slightly higher overall smartphone adoption and family-plan usage; slightly lower prepaid share.
• Smaller demographic gaps in device access than statewide averages, though rural-income disparities remain within the county.

Notes on method and sources

• Estimates synthesize patterns from ACS S2801 (Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions), state and carrier coverage disclosures, Pew Research on smartphone adoption, FCC broadband maps, and known local buildouts (e.g., Central Access). Figures are rounded and presented as ranges to reflect data vintages and intra-county variation.

Here’s a concise, planning-ready snapshot for Elmore County, AL (estimate, 2025):

Topline user stats

• Population: ~90,000
• Estimated social media users: ~60,000–65,000 (≈68–72% of residents; ≈80%+ of adults)
• Gender among users: ~52–54% female, ~46–48% male

Age mix of social users (approx.)

• 13–17: 8–10%
• 18–29: 20–22%
• 30–49: 34–38% (largest cohort)
• 50–64: 22–25%
• 65+: 10–12%

Most-used platforms (share of adults using each at least monthly; estimates)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 68–75% (very strong locally)
• Instagram: 40–45%
• TikTok: 30–35%
• Snapchat: 24–29% (heaviest among under-30s)
• Pinterest: 24–30% (skews female)
• X (Twitter): 15–20%
• LinkedIn: 12–16% (below national average)
• Reddit: 12–15% (skews male/younger)
• Nextdoor: 8–12% (higher in suburbs/subdivisions)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: school and youth sports, church groups, local classifieds/yard sales, lost-and-found pets, and public safety/weather updates. Marketplace usage is high for vehicles, tools, furniture.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube for DIY, home projects, hunting/fishing, and local news; Facebook Reels/Instagram Reels and TikTok for short-form local promos and events.
• Local news/weather drives spikes: severe weather, road closures, and crime updates see outsized shares and comments (regional outlets and county EMA pages).
• Dayparts: morning scroll (6–8 a.m.), lunch (11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.), and evenings (7–10 p.m.); weekends show strong Marketplace browsing and event discovery.
• Younger users: Snapchat for messaging and daily streaks; TikTok for discovery/entertainment; Instagram for style/local boutiques. Limited Facebook posting but they still use Groups for info.
• Older users: Facebook and YouTube dominate; health, community events, and grandkids’ content perform well.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is common; WhatsApp usage is comparatively low.
• Content that performs: family- and faith-oriented themes, school sports, outdoor/lake life (Jordan/Martin), seasonal events, before/after home projects, giveaways, and “shop local” stories.

Notes on method

• County-level platform splits aren’t formally published; figures are inferred from Pew Research national platform usage (2024), Southern/rural patterns, and Elmore County demographics. Treat as planning estimates rather than audited counts.