Cleburne County

Here are concise, recent demographics for Cleburne County, Arkansas.

Population

• 24,711 (2020 Decennial Census)

Age (ACS 2018–2022)

• Median age: about 50 years
• Under 18: ~19%
• 65 and over: ~28–29%

Gender (ACS 2018–2022)

• Male: ~49%
• Female: ~51%

Race/ethnicity (2020 Census; shares rounded)

• White alone: ~93–94%
• Black or African American alone: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0.6%
• Asian alone: ~0.4%
• Two or more races: ~4%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~3%

Households (ACS 2018–2022)

• Total households: ~10,800
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Family households: ~63% of households (married-couple ~50%)
• One-person households: 32% (16% age 65+ living alone)
• Households with children under 18: ~21%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (DP tables) and American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates.

Cleburne County, AR snapshot (pop ≈25,000; density ≈45 people/sq mi)

Estimated email users

• Applying US adult email adoption (≈92–95%) to the local adult population (≈75–80% of residents) yields roughly 17,000–19,000 residents who use email at least occasionally.

Age distribution (usage rates, based on US patterns)

• 18–49: ≈97–100% use email.
• 50–64: ≈92–96%.
• 65+: ≈75–85%. The county skews older than urban areas, so the overall rate likely trends slightly lower than big‑city averages, with a larger share of users 55+.

Gender split

• Roughly even (men ≈ women); differences are minimal and mostly in frequency, not adoption.

Digital access trends

• About three‑quarters of households likely have home broadband (consistent with rural Arkansas ACS figures).
• 15–20% are smartphone‑only internet users; mobile email use is common.
• Public Wi‑Fi (libraries, schools, cafes) supplements access for some households.

Local connectivity facts

• Rural, hilly/lake terrain can limit fixed broadband in outlying areas; town centers (e.g., Heber Springs, Greers Ferry) typically have stronger fixed and cellular coverage.
• FCC/National Broadband Map shows gaps in 100/20 Mbps service across rural Arkansas; fiber and fixed‑wireless builds are expanding via state/federal programs.

Below is a county‑level snapshot built from Census age mix, rural adoption patterns from Pew, and FCC/carrier coverage data through 2024. Figures are estimates and ranges, with emphasis on how Cleburne County differs from Arkansas overall.

At‑a‑glance user estimates

• Population: about 25,000 residents; older than the state average.
• People who personally use a mobile phone (any type): roughly 19,000–22,000 (about 75–88% of residents; 90–95% of adults).
• Smartphone users: roughly 16,000–19,000 (about 65–78% of residents; 80–88% of adults). This is several points lower than Arkansas statewide, mainly due to the county’s older age profile.
• Device mix: noticeably higher share of basic/flip phones than the state average, concentrated among adults 65+.

Demographic breakdown (usage patterns)

• Age
  • 18–49: high smartphone adoption (about 88–92%), close to state norms.
  • 50–64: lower than state by a few points (around 75–80% smartphone).
  • 65+: substantially lower than state (about 50–60% smartphone); more basic phones and talk/text‑heavy plans.
• Income/plan type
  • Above‑average use of prepaid/MVNO plans (e.g., Cricket, Metro, Straight Talk) and smaller data buckets, reflecting fixed incomes and price sensitivity.
• Household internet reliance
  • In town (Heber Springs/Greers Ferry): mobile use complements cable/fiber where available.
  • Outlying and lakeside areas: higher reliance on mobile hotspot or fixed‑wireless as the primary home connection than urban Arkansas, driven by gaps in wired options.
• Language/ethnicity
  • Predominantly non‑Hispanic White; uptake of Spanish‑language plans and add‑ons is lower than the statewide mix.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• 4G LTE: Broad county coverage from AT&T and Verizon; T‑Mobile is strong in and near Heber Springs and along main corridors but gets patchier in the hillier north/west and some lakeshore coves.
• 5G:
  • Low‑band 5G from all three carriers in population centers and primary corridors.
  • Mid‑band (T‑Mobile n41; AT&T/Verizon C‑band) appears on select sites near town centers; much sparser elsewhere. Expect 50–200 Mbps where mid‑band is lit; otherwise LTE/low‑band 5G in the 10–40 Mbps range.
  • mmWave: effectively absent.
• Backhaul/fiber and alternatives:
  • Fiber backbones reach Heber Springs; several rural towers still rely on microwave backhaul, which constrains capacity during peaks.
  • Cable broadband is largely town‑limited; DSL and WISPs serve outlying areas.
  • Fixed‑wireless/home 5G (notably T‑Mobile) is available in and around town and spotty beyond; Verizon 5G Home is more limited.
• Terrain effects: The lake and hills create persistent dead zones and variable indoor signal, especially in valleys and on the water-facing slopes.

Trends that differ from Arkansas statewide

• Older user base → lower smartphone adoption and slower 5G device upgrade cycle than the state overall.
• Carrier mix skews more toward AT&T/Verizon for coverage; T‑Mobile share is lower than in urban Arkansas.
• Higher seasonal load: Tourism around Greers Ferry Lake drives summer/weekend congestion not seen uniformly statewide.
• Greater reliance on mobile and fixed‑wireless for primary home internet in unserved blocks, while town centers look more like the state average.
• Capacity and speed variability are more terrain‑driven than in flatter parts of the state; fewer mid‑band 5G sites per square mile than metro Arkansas.

Method notes

• User counts are derived by applying age‑specific smartphone adoption (Pew, adjusted downward 3–5 points for rural) to the county’s older age mix, then adding a small share of basic‑phone users.
• Infrastructure points reflect FCC mobile coverage filings, carrier public maps, and typical rural deployment patterns in the Ozark‑foothill/lake terrain.

Below is an estimate-based snapshot for Cleburne County, AR. Figures combine U.S. and Arkansas rural usage patterns (Pew and industry benchmarks, 2023–2024) scaled to the county’s size and age mix. Treat as directional, not exact.

Headline stats

• Population: ~25,000
• Estimated social media users (13+): 16,500–18,500 (about 70–78% of residents; ~78–85% of residents age 13+)

Most‑used platforms (share of residents age 13+; approximate)

• YouTube: 70–80%
• Facebook: 60–70%
• Instagram: 30–35%
• TikTok: 25–30%
• Snapchat: 20–25%
• Pinterest: 25–30% (skews female)
• X (Twitter): 12–15% (skews male)
• Reddit: 10–12% (skews male, younger)
• LinkedIn: 10–12% (lower in rural, job‑seeking clusters)
• Nextdoor: 3–7% (Facebook Groups/Marketplace fill the “neighborhood” role)

Age mix and platform preference

• Teens (13–17): Heavy on TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube; Instagram secondary; Facebook minimal except for school/teams.
• 18–34: Multi‑platform; Instagram + TikTok + YouTube core; Snapchat for messaging; Facebook for events/Marketplace.
• 35–54: Facebook + YouTube dominant; Instagram growing; TikTok usage moderate, often for entertainment/DIY.
• 55+: Facebook + YouTube are primary; Pinterest notable among women; Instagram modest; TikTok adoption rising but still lower than younger groups.

Gender breakdown (overall and skews)

• Overall user base: ~51–53% female, ~47–49% male (county skews slightly older/female).
• Platform skews:
  • More female: Facebook (esp. 35+), Instagram (25–44), Pinterest (majority female).
  • More male: YouTube (slight), Reddit, X/Twitter.
  • Fairly balanced: TikTok, Snapchat (younger).

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: Local news, school sports, churches, civic groups, yard sales, lost/found pets, and severe‑weather updates. Marketplace is widely used.
• Groups > Pages for engagement: “Cleburne County” and city/neighborhood buy/sell or community groups drive comments and shares.
• Video is ascendant: Short vertical video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) outperforms static, even with older audiences, when it’s local, faces-forward, and under 30–45 seconds.
• Outdoors and seasonal content pops: Greers Ferry Lake, fishing/boating, hunting seasons, festivals, high‑school sports, and holiday events spike reach.
• Trust local voices: Posts from recognizable community members, coaches, pastors, and small‑business owners outperform generic brand creative.
• Timing: Morning (7–9 a.m.) and evening (7–9 p.m.) are peak checks; Sunday evening and Mon–Wed evenings often show higher engagement; lunchtime is moderate.
• Info-seeking use cases: Severe weather and school closures, local deals, job postings, service recommendations, and public safety updates.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are key for coordination; many businesses close sales via Messenger after initial post/Marketplace listing.

How to apply this locally

• Anchor on Facebook (+Groups/Marketplace) and YouTube; add Instagram for 18–44 and TikTok for reach/younger growth.
• Use short local video, community faces, and clear utility (what/when/where/value).
• Cross‑post events and deals to relevant local Groups; prompt DMs for conversion.
• Align content calendar with seasonal peaks (lake/tourism, sports, holidays) and weather-driven spikes.

Note on methodology

• Estimates derived from 2020–2024 Census population structure and U.S./Arkansas rural social media adoption rates (Pew Research Center and industry benchmarks), adjusted for Cleburne County’s older age profile. For campaign planning, validate with a quick audit of local Groups, Page insights, and platform ad-reach tools.