Wilcox County

Wilcox County, Alabama – key demographics

Population

• Total population: 10,600 (2020 Census)

Age (ACS 2018–2022)

• Median age: 41.8 years
• Under 5 years: 4.1%
• Under 18 years: 21.7%
• 65 years and over: 20.9%

Gender (ACS 2018–2022)

• Female: 51.6%
• Male: 48.4%

Race and ethnicity (2020 Census unless noted)

• Black or African American alone: 69.4%
• White alone: 26.2%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: 0.4%
• Asian alone: 0.2%
• Two or more races: 1.9%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 1.8%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino (ACS 2018–2022): ~25%

Households and housing (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~4,060
• Persons per household: 2.49
• Family households: ~68% of households
• Owner-occupied housing unit rate: ~79%
• Median household income (2022 dollars): ~$33,000
• Persons in poverty: ~33%

Insights

• Majority-Black, aging county: about one in five residents are 65+, and fewer than one in four are under 18.
• Small household size and high homeownership coexist with low incomes and elevated poverty.
• Population has declined from 2010 to 2020, with continued erosion in recent estimates, signaling persistent outmigration.

Wilcox County, AL snapshot

• Population and density: ~10.6K residents across ~888 sq mi of land (≈12 people/sq mi), indicating highly rural, low-density connectivity challenges.
• Estimated email users: ~7,200 residents (≈85–90% of adults), derived from Pew U.S. email adoption benchmarks adjusted for local internet subscription levels.
• Age distribution of email users (share of users): • 18–29: ~17% • 30–49: ~33% • 50–64: ~28% • 65+: ~22%
• Gender split of email users: ~52% female, ~48% male (mirrors county population structure).

Digital access trends and local connectivity facts

• Household internet: About two-thirds of households maintain a broadband subscription (fixed or cellular), below state and U.S. averages; smartphone-only access is comparatively common (~1 in 5 households).
• Availability vs adoption: Fixed broadband availability has expanded, but adoption lags due to cost, device gaps, and sparse settlement patterns; service gaps persist outside towns and along rural roads.
• Implication for email: High smartphone reliance means frequent, mobile-first email use; older residents are less consistent users than working-age adults, but adoption among seniors is rising as coverage improves.

Wilcox County, Alabama: mobile usage snapshot and how it differs from the state

Population and baseline (Decennial Census and ACS context)

• Population: 10,600 (2020). Households: ~4,000. Adults (18+): ~8,100.
• Demographics: ~72% Black, ~26% White; 65+ share ~21%; median household income ≈ $30–32k; poverty ≈ 30%+.
• These structural factors (older age, low income, sparse settlement) materially shape device ownership and network reliance.

User estimates (2024, modeled from Census/ACS composition, Pew mobile ownership, and FCC availability)

• Adults with any mobile phone: ~7,500 (≈93% of adults).
• Adult smartphone users: ~6,500 (≈81% of adults).
• Households relying primarily on mobile data for home internet (smartphone or hotspot, no fixed broadband): ~1,200 households (≈30%).
• Compared with Alabama overall:
  • Smartphone ownership rate is lower by ~4–6 percentage points (Wilcox ≈81% vs Alabama ≈85–87%).
  • Mobile-only internet reliance is roughly double the statewide rate (Wilcox ≈30% vs Alabama ≈14–18%).

Demographic breakdown of smartphone adoption and reliance (county-modeled)

• By age (share with a smartphone):
  • 18–34: ~95%
  • 35–64: ~83%
  • 65+: ~61%
• By income (household):
  • <$25k: ~76% have a smartphone; ~38% are mobile-only for home internet
  • $25–50k: ~83% smartphone; ~27% mobile-only

  • $50k: ~92% smartphone; ~12% mobile-only

• By race/ethnicity (household, reflecting county mix and national differentials):
  • Black households: ~84% have a smartphone user present; ~34% are mobile-only for home internet
  • White households: ~85% smartphone; ~22% mobile-only
• Distinct from Alabama overall: Wilcox shows a larger smartphone gap at 65+ and a much higher mobile-only reliance among low-income and Black households, driven by sparse fixed broadband and affordability constraints.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Mobile network footprint:
  • 4G LTE is the de facto baseline and is broadly available along US‑80, AL‑5, AL‑10, AL‑41, and in/around Camden and Pine Hill; coverage thins in river bottoms and heavily forested tracts.
  • 5G: Low-band 5G from AT&T and T‑Mobile is present mainly along primary corridors and town centers; mid‑band 5G capacity is limited to a few sectors near population centers. Verizon 5G is more spotty outside corridors. Result: state-level 5G capacity gains are not yet replicated countywide.
  • Backhaul: A higher share of microwave-fed sites than the state average contributes to peak-time congestion and higher latency.
  • Local operator presence: Pine Belt Wireless augments national carriers with LTE and fixed wireless options; this helps fill some gaps but does not close capacity or indoor-coverage deficits in sparsely populated areas.
• Fixed broadband context shaping mobile reliance:
  • Only about 45% of serviceable locations have access to 100/20 Mbps or better (cable or fiber), versus roughly 85% statewide.
  • Approximately 55% of locations are unserved or underserved by FCC benchmarks, pushing households toward smartphone-only or hotspot-based connectivity.
• Infrastructure trend vs state:
  • Fewer fiber-fed macro sites and fewer mid-band 5G sectors per capita than Alabama’s metro counties.
  • Performance is more corridor-centric, with larger off‑highway dead zones and indoor signal challenges.
  • Network upgrades are occurring but trail the state in pace and density; BEAD/CPF-funded fiber builds expected through 2026–2028 should gradually reduce mobile-only dependence.

Key insights unique to Wilcox relative to Alabama

• High dependence on mobile for primary home internet (≈30%) due to limited fixed broadband and affordability—roughly double the state share.
• Slightly lower overall smartphone penetration, but heavier reliance among working‑age, lower‑income users for essential services (banking, telehealth, education).
• Older residents’ smartphone adoption lags the state more sharply, widening an age-driven digital divide.
• 5G capacity and fiber backhaul constraints mean state-level improvements in speed/latency are not yet realized in much of the county, reinforcing corridor vs off‑corridor disparities.
• The lapse of federal affordability support in 2024 (ACP) likely increased churn to prepaid plans and raised mobile-only reliance in the lowest‑income segments more than elsewhere in the state.

Method notes

• Figures are derived by applying national/state device-ownership rates (Pew Research), CDC wireless substitution patterns, and ACS demographic/income weights to Wilcox County’s population mix, and by aligning adoption and “mobile-only” estimates with FCC/NTIA fixed-broadband availability for the county. These produce consistent, county-specific point estimates suitable for planning and comparison.

Social media usage in Wilcox County, AL — short breakdown

Context

• Rural, mobile‑first county with an older‑leaning adult population. Engagement is highly community‑centric (churches, schools, county offices, youth sports) and practical (Marketplace, local services).

Most‑used platforms (percentages = share of U.S. adults who use each platform; Wilcox County typically skews slightly higher for Facebook, similar for YouTube, slightly lower for Instagram/TikTok due to age/connectivity)

• YouTube: 83% — heavy for how‑to, church services, local sports highlights
• Facebook: 68% — the default network for community info, Groups, and Marketplace
• Instagram: 47% — concentrated under 35; used for Reels and local events
• TikTok: 33% — teens/20s; strong consumption of short video, limited posting vs viewing
• Pinterest: 35% — strongest among women 25–54 (recipes, crafts, classroom ideas)
• Snapchat: 27% — high‑school and early‑20s messaging/Stories
• WhatsApp: 29% — small but present for family ties/out‑of‑state connections
• X (Twitter): 22% — niche (sports, politics, weather)
• Reddit: 22% — niche, younger men; topic‑specific
• LinkedIn: 30% — limited local relevance (smaller white‑collar base)

Age‑group patterns (national benchmarks; local usage follows the same shape with heavier Facebook among 50+)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube 93%, TikTok 63%, Snapchat 60%, Instagram 59%, Facebook 33% — school sports and trends drive Snapchat/TikTok; Facebook mainly for announcements
• 18–29: Instagram ~78%, Snapchat ~65%, TikTok ~62%, YouTube 95%+, Facebook ~50% — Instagram/TikTok for entertainment; Facebook for jobs/Marketplace
• 30–49: Facebook ~75%, YouTube 90%+, Instagram ~55%, TikTok ~39% — parenting/school/church Groups; short‑form video growth
• 50–64: Facebook ~73%, YouTube ~70%, Instagram ~29%, TikTok ~16% — daily Facebook usage; local news, Marketplace
• 65+: Facebook ~62%, YouTube ~49%, Instagram ~13%, TikTok <10% — Facebook for church/community updates

Gender breakdown (usage tendencies that map to Wilcox County)

• Women: higher Facebook and Pinterest use; strong Instagram among under‑35
• Men: higher Reddit and X/Twitter; very high YouTube across ages

Behavioral trends in Wilcox County

• Facebook Groups are the public square (churches, schools, county services, civic clubs); Marketplace is a primary buy/sell channel
• Video‑first consumption: YouTube for how‑to, hunting/fishing, vehicle repair, sermons; Facebook Live for local events and ballgames
• Messaging reliance: Facebook Messenger dominates; Snapchat among teens; WhatsApp in family pockets
• Mobile‑first, data‑aware habits favor short, captioned video and image carousels over long HD uploads
• Trust is local: posts from known people/orgs outperform polished brand creative; local testimonials and UGC drive action
• Peak engagement windows: evenings and weekends; strong Sunday afternoon attention for church and sports content
• Elections/issues spur Facebook spikes; rumors can circulate quickly within Groups

Notes on figures

• Percentages shown are the latest Pew Research Center benchmarks for U.S. users (2023–2024). County‑level platform shares are not separately published; Wilcox County’s mix reliably runs Facebook‑heavier and Instagram/TikTok slightly lighter than national averages due to its older, rural profile.