Sumter County

Sumter County, Alabama – key demographics

Population size

• Total population (2020 Census): 12,345

Age

• Median age: ~33 years
• Age distribution: Under 18: ~22%; 18–24: ~19%; 25–44: ~24%; 45–64: ~21%; 65+: ~14%

Gender

• Female: ~53%
• Male: ~47%

Racial/ethnic composition

• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~75%
• White (non-Hispanic): ~22%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~1%
• Other races (combined, non-Hispanic): <1%

Household data

• Total households: ~4,700–4,800
• Average household size: ~2.4–2.5
• Family households: ~61% of households; average family size: ~3.1
• Households with children under 18: ~26%
• Nonfamily households: ~39%; individuals living alone: ~34% (about 12% age 65+ living alone)
• Housing tenure: Owner-occupied ~70–71%; renter-occupied ~29–30%

Insights

• Predominantly Black, rural county with a relatively young median age influenced by the University of West Alabama presence.
• Small Hispanic population and a modest share of multiracial residents.
• Household sizes are moderate, with a majority of family households and a relatively high owner-occupancy rate.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates). Figures rounded for clarity.

Sumter County, AL email usage (estimates)

• Population: ~12,000; density ~14 people per sq mi.
• Estimated email users: ~7,400 adults (about 80% of the 18+ population).
• Age distribution of email users: 18–29: 22%; 30–49: 29%; 50–64: 26%; 65+: 23%.
• Gender split of email users: Female 53% (3,900); Male 47% (3,500).

Digital access and connectivity

• Households with a broadband subscription: ~61%.
• Households with a computer/tablet: ~76%.
• Smartphone-only internet users: ~30%.
• Fixed 100/20 Mbps service available to ~72% of locations; others rely on DSL, satellite, or mobile hotspots.
• 4G LTE/5G outdoor coverage reaches ~96% of populated areas; indoor and remote-area performance is weaker, especially in western/southern tracts.

Local density/connectivity facts and insights

• Connectivity clusters around Livingston (University of West Alabama) and the I‑20/59 corridor; service gaps persist in sparsely populated areas.
• Email is effectively universal among connected adults and is standard for schools, healthcare portals, and public services in Livingston and York.
• Senior adoption is improving via smartphones, narrowing the age gap.
• Ongoing fiber builds and state/federal investments are expanding coverage, likely increasing email participation over the next 2–3 years.

Mobile phone usage in Sumter County, Alabama (2022–2024 snapshot)

Overview and user estimates

• Population and households: Approximately 12,000 residents and 4,600–4,800 households.
• Mobile users: About 10,000 unique mobile users (≈83–86% of residents), reflecting high handset penetration despite lower household incomes.
• Smartphone dependence for internet: Roughly 25–28% of households rely on smartphones as their primary or only internet connection (≈1,150–1,300 households). This is notably higher than Alabama overall (≈12–16%).

Demographic context and how it shapes usage

• Race/ethnicity: Majority Black (≈73–76%), White (≈22–25%), other groups ≈2–4%. Higher smartphone-only reliance is concentrated among lower-income and Black households, aligning with national “mobile-dependent” patterns in rural Black Belt counties.
• Age: Older age profile than the state average, but the presence of the University of West Alabama (Livingston) boosts adoption among 18–24-year-olds and drives seasonal spikes in mobile data demand.
• Income and poverty: Median household income materially below the state; poverty rates near 30%. Budget constraints push many users to prepaid and MVNO plans and to rely on mobile data instead of fixed broadband.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Cellular coverage:
  • 4G LTE: Broad population coverage (≈96–99%), strongest along the I-20/59 corridor and town centers (Livingston, York).
  • 5G: Low-band/population coverage around 65–75%; capacity/mid-band 5G concentrated along I-20/59 and around Livingston and is limited elsewhere (≈15–25% of residents within consistent mid-band footprint).
• Performance: Typical outdoor median speeds 30–60 Mbps countywide on LTE/low-band 5G; 80–200 Mbps where mid-band 5G is available (notably near the interstate, UWA area, and carrier sites). Indoor performance varies significantly in wooded and low-density areas.
• Fixed broadband subscription: About 58–62% of households subscribe to wireline broadband, versus roughly 74–80% statewide; this gap directly elevates smartphone-only use.
• Backhaul and sites: Macro towers cluster near the interstate, rail, and towns; coverage gaps and capacity constraints persist on secondary roads in the western and southern parts of the county. Cross-border tower dependence near the Mississippi line can affect consistency.
• Public connectivity: University and library Wi‑Fi help offload traffic in Livingston; outside these hubs, public Wi‑Fi options are sparse.

How Sumter County differs from Alabama overall

• Higher mobile-only internet reliance: ≈25–28% of households vs ≈12–16% statewide.
• Lower fixed-broadband take-up: ≈60% vs ≈75–80% statewide, pushing more day‑to‑day activity (banking, schoolwork, streaming) onto mobile data plans.
• More variable 5G capacity: Statewide 5G coverage continues to densify in metros; in Sumter, mid-band 5G capacity is limited to transportation corridors and college-adjacent zones, with many areas effectively on LTE/low-band 5G.
• Greater sensitivity to cost: Prepaid/MVNO adoption is materially higher than the state average, reflecting income levels and credit constraints; users commonly optimize plans by toggling between carriers where signal is strongest.
• Seasonal and locational traffic spikes: University calendar and interstate traffic create localized peaks; this pattern is more pronounced than in peer counties without a campus or interstate.

Actionable implications

• For carriers: Additional mid-band 5G sectors and improved backhaul off the I-20/59 spine would lift median speeds where many residents live and work. Filling western/southern coverage gaps would reduce mobile-only households’ service volatility.
• For public agencies and ISPs: Expanding affordable fixed broadband in unserved/underserved tracts would meaningfully reduce the county’s high smartphone-only dependence and improve digital equity outcomes.

Sumter County, Alabama — Social media usage snapshot (2024)

Population baseline

• Total population: ≈12.4k (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 ACS)
• Sex: ~53% female, ~47% male
• University presence: University of West Alabama in Livingston increases the 18–24 share relative to many rural counties

Estimated social media users

• Residents 13+: ~10.5k
• Active social media users (13+): ~7.8k (roughly 72–78% of 13+ population)

Age mix of social users (share of users)

• 13–17: ~13%
• 18–24: ~17%
• 25–34: ~19%
• 35–49: ~24%
• 50–64: ~17%
• 65+: ~10%

Gender split among social users

• Female: ~56%
• Male: ~44%

Most‑used platforms among social users (share of users using each)

• YouTube: ~80%
• Facebook: ~66%
• Instagram: ~41%
• TikTok: ~36%
• Snapchat: ~27%
• Pinterest: ~23%
• X (Twitter): ~15%
• LinkedIn: ~10%
• WhatsApp: ~11%

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the community hub: heavy use of Groups for local news, school sports, church events, buy/sell, and public alerts; most engagement evenings (6–9 pm) with a midday bump.
• Short‑form video matters: TikTok and Instagram Reels drive discovery for campus life (UWA), local sports highlights, church content, and small‑business promos; vertical, captioned clips perform best (mobile‑first audiences, variable broadband).
• Messaging‑first habits: Facebook Messenger is common across ages; Snapchat is prevalent for teen/college messaging; Instagram DMs used for small‑business inquiries.
• Event discovery: Facebook Events dominate for festivals, school athletics, and civic activities; shareable flyers and live streams increase reach.
• Local business usage: Most SMBs maintain Facebook Pages; boosted posts and simple offers outperform link‑outs. Instagram is secondary for food/retail; X is niche.
• Content that travels: practical information (hours, closures, weather), obituaries and memorials, school/athletics updates, church announcements, and hyper‑local photo/video posts.

Notes on methodology

• County population and sex split: U.S. Census Bureau 2023 ACS.
• Platform adoption and age/gender patterns: Pew Research Center’s Social Media Use in 2024, adjusted to Sumter County’s age structure and rural context (University presence increases 18–24 activity; lower fixed broadband nudges behavior toward mobile‑friendly formats).
• Figures are county‑specific estimates derived from these sources and rounded for clarity.