Russell County

Russell County, Alabama — key demographics

Source notes: Population counts from the 2020 Decennial Census; other measures are U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2018–2022 5-year estimates.

Population size

• 59,183 (2020 Census)

Age

• Under 5 years: ~6.8%
• Under 18: ~24.2%
• 65 and over: ~14.4%
• Working age (18–64): ~61.4% (by difference)

Gender

• Female: ~51–52%
• Male: ~48–49%

Racial/ethnic composition (race alone unless noted; Hispanic is of any race)

• Black or African American: ~46%
• White: ~44–45%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~7%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• Asian: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.7%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.2%

Household data

• Total households: ~22.6k
• Average household size: ~2.6–2.7
• Family households: ~two-thirds of households
• Married-couple families: ~4 in 10 households
• Homeownership rate: ~60–65%
• Average family size: ~3.2

Insights

• The county is relatively young (about 24% under 18) with a modest senior share (~14% 65+).
• Racial composition shows near parity between Black and White populations and a small but notable Hispanic population.
• Household structure is mixed, with most households being families and homeownership constituting a clear majority.

Russell County, Alabama overview: 2020 population 59,183; land area 641 sq mi; density ~92 people/sq mi.

Estimated email users: ~44,000 residents. Method: ~90% of adults (≈46,000) use email plus most teens, reflecting near‑universal adoption among working‑age adults.

Age distribution of email users (approx. share of users):

• 18–29: 20%
• 30–49: 35%
• 50–64: 25%
• 65+: 20%

Gender split: ~51% female, ~49% male, mirroring the county’s population; usage differences by gender are negligible.

Digital access and usage trends:

• Household broadband subscription is in the mid‑80% range, consistent with Alabama averages; smartphone ownership exceeds 80%, making mobile the primary email access point.
• Urbanized Phenix City and major corridors have broad cable/fiber availability with higher speeds; rural tracts show greater reliance on DSL or fixed wireless, leading to slower, less consistent email access.
• 4G/5G coverage along key routes supports always‑on email; coverage gaps remain in sparsely populated areas.
• Email is embedded in work, school, and government interactions, with strong daily use among 30–64 year‑olds and growing adoption among seniors as telehealth and benefits portals expand.

Overall, email penetration is high, shaped by a dense metro-adjacent core and more limited rural connectivity.

Mobile phone usage in Russell County, Alabama — summary and distinct trends vs. statewide

Key takeaways

• Penetration is high and broadly in line with Alabama, with stronger 5G availability and performance in the Phenix City urban area and noticeably weaker service in the county’s rural south.
• Mobile-only internet reliance is higher than the Alabama average, driven by a younger, more renter-heavy, and military-adjacent population.
• Cross-border dynamics with Columbus, GA (same metro area) shape network investments and retail options more than in many Alabama counties.

User estimates

• Resident base: 59,183 (2020 Census). The county is part of the Columbus, GA–AL metro anchored by Phenix City.
• Active mobile users (estimate): roughly 50,000–55,000 residents use a mobile phone regularly. This range aligns with typical U.S. smartphone adoption among adults and teens and Alabama’s high device ownership rates reported in federal surveys over 2019–2023.
• Smartphone adoption: Comparable to Alabama’s very high level (generally in the upper 80s to low 90s percent among adults in recent national/state surveys). Russell County’s metro orientation and younger skew support adoption near the state average, with a higher share of Android devices plausibly tied to income/renter mix and prepaid plans (Cricket, Metro, Straight Talk) being prominent in local retail.

Demographic context relevant to usage

• Urban vs. rural: Russell County is majority urban (Phenix City and surrounding communities) with a sizable rural south (Seale, Hurtsboro). Urban residents show higher 5G use and app-driven services; rural residents report more coverage gaps and device-based workarounds (hotspots, external antennas).
• Age and household structure: A younger working-age profile and military-connected households (proximity to Fort Moore in Columbus, GA) correlate with heavy mobile app, messaging, and video usage, plus higher churn between prepaid/postpaid plans.
• Income and housing: Median incomes trail the Alabama average, and renter shares in Phenix City are higher than typical for the state. Both factors are associated with above-average prepaid adoption and mobile-only internet substitution for fixed broadband.

Digital infrastructure and market conditions

• Networks: All three national MNOs (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) have 5G in and around Phenix City by 2024, with mid-band 5G (AT&T/Verizon C-band, T-Mobile 2.5 GHz) yielding strong urban performance. Coverage thins moving south and southeast where lower-band LTE/5G dominates.
• Capacity hotspots: Corridors along US‑80/US‑431 and the Phenix City–Columbus riverfront retail/employment spine show the best speeds and capacity due to denser macro sites and upgraded sectors.
• Rural gaps: Southern townships depend on a smaller number of macro towers; users report variable indoor coverage and more reliance on Wi‑Fi calling and signal boosters. Fixed wireless access (5G/LTE home internet) is available to many urban/suburban addresses and selectively in rural pockets.
• Backhaul and fiber: Metro fiber from AT&T and regional providers in the Phenix City–Columbus area underpins strong mid-band 5G performance; backhaul is thinner in the rural south, limiting peak speeds and network densification.
• Public safety: FirstNet (AT&T) coverage is established along primary corridors and population centers, aligning with Alabama’s statewide FirstNet buildout.
• Retail and MVNOs: Robust presence of Cricket (AT&T), Metro by T-Mobile, Boost/Boost Infinite, and Tracfone brands supports prepaid uptake; device financing options and promotions mirror the adjacent Columbus, GA market.

How Russell County differs from Alabama overall

• More metro-influenced usage: As part of a bi-state metro, Russell County’s adoption and upgrade cadence more closely follow a mid-sized urban market than Alabama’s rural counties, with earlier and wider mid-band 5G availability in its urban core.
• Higher mobile-only dependence: Given income and renter profiles, the share of households relying on smartphones or mobile hotspots for primary internet is higher than the statewide average.
• Sharper urban–rural divide inside the county: Performance and reliability diverge more within Russell County (Phenix City vs. southern communities) than in many Alabama counties where settlement is more uniformly rural or urban.
• Cross-border effects: Pricing, device availability, and network tuning are influenced by the Columbus, GA market. This cross-market competition typically improves urban coverage/speeds relative to similarly sized Alabama counties that lack a neighboring metro.

Practical implications

• Urban residents can expect strong 5G performance and competitive plan pricing with ample MVNO options; fixed wireless is a viable home broadband substitute or backup.
• Rural residents should verify carrier coverage at the address level and consider devices with sub‑6 5G + LTE band support, Wi‑Fi calling, and possibly external antennas or fixed wireless where available.
• For public sector and enterprises, network redundancy (two-carrier or carrier + Wi‑Fi) is advisable south of Phenix City, while single-carrier strategies generally suffice in the urban/suburban north.

Russell County, Alabama — social media snapshot (2024)

User stats

• Population: ≈60,000
• Estimated social media users (13+): ≈42,000 (≈70% of total population)
• Daily users: ≈31,000–32,000 (≈75% of social users), overwhelmingly mobile-first

Age mix of social users

• 13–17: 12%
• 18–24: 14%
• 25–34: 20%
• 35–44: 18%
• 45–54: 14%
• 55–64: 12%
• 65+: 10%

Gender breakdown of social users

• Women: 53%
• Men: 47%

Most-used platforms among adults (18+) in the county

• YouTube: 82% use
• Facebook: 70% use
• Instagram: 45% use
• TikTok: 35% use
• Snapchat: 30% use
• Also used: Pinterest 30%, WhatsApp 22%, X (Twitter) 20%, LinkedIn 18%, Nextdoor 10%

Behavioral trends and local patterns

• Facebook is the community hub: high participation in neighborhood groups, school and church pages, public-safety updates, and Marketplace. Events and fundraisers see strong organic reach.
• Video dominates: YouTube and Facebook Reels are primary for local news, sports, and how‑to content; short vertical clips outperform static posts on Instagram and TikTok.
• Young adult skew: Proximity to Fort Moore (Benning) and Columbus, GA sustains strong 18–34 activity on Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, with frequent use of Stories and DMs.
• Cross‑border media diet: Many follow Columbus, GA outlets and event pages; regional content travels well across the Chattahoochee market.
• Prime engagement windows: Weeknights 7–10 p.m., lunch hours 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., and Sunday evenings. Local announcements and live video perform best in these slots.
• Commerce and services: Buy/sell/trade groups and Facebook Marketplace are routine; local food, auto, home services, and youth sports organizations see high comment/save rates.
• Messaging layer: Facebook Messenger is default for community coordination; WhatsApp used within specific family/work circles and for multilingual contacts.
• Civic participation: Sheriff’s office, emergency management, school district, and municipal pages drive rapid information spread during weather and public-safety events.

Notes

• Figures are 2024 modeled estimates for Russell County derived from ACS population structure and current U.S./Southeast platform adoption patterns (Pew and industry panels). Percentages are rounded to reflect local uptake.