Clay County

Key demographics for Clay County, Arkansas

Population

• Total population: ~13,900 (2023 estimate); 14,552 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~45 years
• Under 18: ~21%
• 18 to 64: ~56%
• 65 and over: ~23%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race and ethnicity

• White (non-Hispanic): ~92%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic): ~0.6%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ~0.2%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2–3%

Households and housing

• Households: ~6,400
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Family households: ~60–62% of households
• Average family size: ~2.9
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~74%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates; 2023 Population Estimates). Figures are estimates and may not sum to 100% due to rounding and overlapping race/ethnicity categories.

Clay County, Arkansas — email usage snapshot (estimates)

• Estimated email users: 10,500–12,000 residents. Basis: population ~14.3–14.6k; overall internet/email adoption ~75–85% in rural areas.
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 13–17: ~5–7% (teens use email less than adults)
  • 18–29: ~14–16%
  • 30–49: ~30–33%
  • 50–64: ~24–28%
  • 65+: ~22–26% (lower adoption than younger groups)
• Gender split among users: roughly 50% female, 50% male (small differences are typical but minor).
• Digital access trends:
  • Household broadband subscription: 70–75%; additional households rely on mobile-only internet (15–20%).
  • Fixed wireless and fiber builds are expanding via state/federal programs (e.g., BEAD), improving availability through 2025–2028.
  • Affordability remains a barrier after the Affordable Connectivity Program’s 2024 wind-down; cost-sensitive households show lower subscription rates.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Sparsely populated (~22–24 people per sq. mile) with two small county seats (Corning and Piggott), making last‑mile buildouts costlier.
  • Coverage varies: town centers tend to have cable/fiber/DSL options; outlying areas more dependent on fixed wireless or cellular.

Notes: Figures synthesize Census population, typical rural broadband adoption, and Pew email-use rates.

Clay County, AR mobile phone usage summary Context: Clay County is small, rural, and older than Arkansas overall, with residents concentrated in Piggott, Corning, and Rector and many farms between towns. Those traits drive distinct usage patterns compared with statewide trends.

Resident user estimates (order‑of‑magnitude, method: ACS population x rural/age‑adjusted adoption rates)

• Population baseline: roughly 14–15K residents; about 10.5–11.5K adults (18+).
• Mobile phone users (all devices): about 11K–12.5K resident users. Adult phone ownership is near‑universal, but child ownership is lower than in metro areas.
• Smartphone users: about 8.5K–10K. Share is a bit lower than Arkansas overall because of the larger 65+ population and lower incomes.
• Lines per person: below the state average; fewer wearables/tablets with data plans than in metro Arkansas.
• Mobile‑only internet reliance: meaningfully higher than the state average in rural blocks. Households without cable/fiber frequently use phone hotspots or 4G/5G fixed‑wireless as primary home internet.

Demographic usage patterns (how Clay differs from the state)

• Age
  • Clay has a larger 65+ share. Seniors show lower smartphone adoption, more basic/flip phones, and lighter app use. Voice/text usage is relatively high, and device replacement cycles are longer than statewide.
• Income/plan mix
  • Lower median incomes translate to heavier use of prepaid/MVNO plans (e.g., Cricket, Straight Talk, Visible) and family plans. Price sensitivity is higher than the Arkansas average; upgrade cycles lag.
• Work/commuting and cross‑border effects
  • Many residents commute to Paragould/Jonesboro (AR) or Poplar Bluff (MO). Phones frequently transition across state/county borders; some users tune plans around roaming and coverage along AR‑49/US‑62. Cross‑border roaming considerations matter more than for most Arkansans.
• Race/ethnicity
  • The county is predominantly white with small but growing Hispanic populations. Hispanic households in the county show above‑average smartphone dependence and greater likelihood of mobile‑only internet, reflecting gaps in fixed broadband.
• Youth/education
  • School districts deploy hotspots and filtered LTE for students more often than in urban districts. Teen smartphone penetration is high, but app baskets skew lighter (fewer premium streaming subscriptions, more messaging/social essentials).

Digital infrastructure and coverage (what stands out locally)

• Carrier footprint
  • AT&T generally has the most reliable rural coverage; Verizon is strong but can thin out between towns; T‑Mobile is good in towns/along highways but patchier on farm roads. These differences are more pronounced than statewide.
• 5G profile
  • Low‑band 5G covers the main corridors, but mid‑band (capacity) 5G is sparser than Arkansas’s metro counties. As a result, median 5G speeds tend to trail the state average and fall back to LTE at the edges.
• Towers and backhaul
  • Sites cluster along AR‑49 and US‑62/67 and near town water towers/elevated structures. Backhaul is a mix of microwave and growing fiber. When a sector is microwave‑fed, peak‑time performance can dip more than in fiber‑fed metro areas.
• Fixed broadband interplay
  • Cable/FTTH exists in town centers; outside them, options narrow to DSL, WISPs, or 4G/5G home internet. Clay County Electric’s fiber arm (Clay County Connect) and regional providers (e.g., Ritter in parts of NE Arkansas) are expanding fiber laterals; where fiber lands on towers, mobile capacity improves.
• Dead zones and reliability
  • Coverage gaps persist in low‑lying river bottoms and stretches between farms. Weather and seasonal foliage can impact rural LTE/5G more here than the statewide norm because cells are farther apart.
• Public access and anchor institutions
  • Libraries, schools, and city buildings act as digital hubs with Wi‑Fi and charging—used more heavily than in urban Arkansas. First responders commonly use AT&T FirstNet; priority access improves reliability during storms.
• Home and enterprise use cases
  • Above‑average uptake of cellular trail cams, farm IoT (soil sensors, pumps), and two‑way radio/cellular hybrids. Consumer mobile payments and high‑bandwidth entertainment streaming over cellular lag the state average outside towns.

Key ways Clay County differs from Arkansas overall

• Lower smartphone adoption and newer‑device penetration due to age and income mix.
• Higher prepaid/MVNO share and longer device replacement cycles.
• Greater reliance on mobile hotspots/4G–5G fixed‑wireless for home internet in rural blocks.
• Slower typical 5G speeds and more LTE fallback because mid‑band 5G and dense fiber backhaul are less widespread.
• Coverage variability and cross‑border roaming matter more for daily life (MO/AR boundary corridors).
• Above‑average adoption of practical, low‑bandwidth mobile uses (voice/text, farm and safety applications) vs. high‑bandwidth entertainment on cellular.

If you’d like, I can tailor this with current carrier map snapshots, recent tower permits, or a block‑group view of where fiber and 5G fixed wireless are available.

Below is a concise, directional snapshot for Clay County, Arkansas. Because platform providers don’t publish county‑level figures, these are estimates calibrated from Arkansas/rural U.S. benchmarks (Pew Research 2023–24), local demographics, and typical rural broadband/smartphone adoption.

Overall reach

• Population baseline: ~14–15K residents; adults ~11–12K; county skews older.
• Estimated social media users (13+): 8,000–10,000 (roughly 55–70% of residents), mobile‑first.

Age mix of users (share of local social users)

• 13–17: 8–10% (very active, but concentrated on TikTok/Snapchat/YouTube)
• 18–24: 10–12%
• 25–34: 15–18%
• 35–44: 17–19%
• 45–54: 16–18%
• 55–64: 14–16%
• 65+: 12–15% (mostly Facebook/YouTube)

Gender breakdown (of local social users)

• Female: 52–56% overall; over‑indexed on Facebook and Pinterest
• Male: 44–48% overall; over‑indexed on YouTube, Reddit, X

Most‑used platforms (share of local social users; ranges reflect uncertainty)

• YouTube: 80–85% (all ages; how‑to, weather, equipment/DIY, hunting/fishing)
• Facebook: 70–75% (dominant hub for local life; strongest 35+)
• Facebook Messenger: 65–70% (primary DM channel; businesses use for inquiries)
• Instagram: 30–40% (under 45; Reels drives discovery)
• TikTok: 25–35% (teens/20s; growing 30–45)
• Snapchat: 20–30% (teens/young adults; private messaging)
• Pinterest: 20–25% (women; recipes, décor, crafts)
• LinkedIn: 10–15% (small professional base)
• X (Twitter): 10–15% (sports, breaking news, weather)
• Reddit: 8–12% (male‑skewed hobby/tech)
• WhatsApp: 8–12% (below U.S. average; Messenger preferred)
• Nextdoor: <5% (Facebook Groups fill the “neighborhood” role)

Behavioral trends to know

• Community first on Facebook: high participation in buy/sell/trade and “yard sale” groups, school and church pages, local government/sheriff updates, severe‑weather alerts, high‑school sports.
• Marketplace matters: routine use for vehicles, farm/ranch gear, tools, furniture; high message‑to‑seller rates.
• Video wins: short‑form Reels/TikTok for entertainment; YouTube for “how‑to” (small engine repair, home/auto, agriculture), local sports highlights, and storm coverage.
• Trust sources: local TV stations, county/city pages, schools, and first responders outperform national outlets; shares spike during weather and road closures.
• Messaging behavior: Facebook Messenger is the default for contacting local businesses; click‑to‑call is common; WhatsApp niche.
• Timing: evening peaks (7–10 pm), secondary bump at lunch; Sunday afternoons strong for community/church and Marketplace; morning checks during severe weather.
• Purchase/engagement drivers: giveaways, raffles, limited‑time offers, event posts, and photo‑heavy before/after content; clear phone number and “message us” CTAs outperform long links; reviews/testimonials matter.
• Creator landscape: few large influencers; micro‑influencers (boutique owners, coaches, pastors, community admins) move the needle locally.

Notes and how to refine

• Treat figures as directional. Validate locally via:
  • Facebook Ads Manager audience estimates for a 15–25‑mile radius around Piggott/Corning
  • Page/group Insights for leading local groups and school/municipal pages
  • YouTube/Instagram account Insights if you manage local channels
• Expect seasonal swings (school year, sports, hunting seasons, storms) to shift attention and engagement.