Columbia County

Here are key demographics for Columbia County, Arkansas.

Population size

• 22,801 (2020 Decennial Census)

Age (ACS 2018–2022, 5-year)

• Median age: about 38 years
• Under 18: ~21%
• 65 and over: ~19%

Gender (ACS 2018–2022)

• Female: ~52%
• Male: ~48%

Race/ethnicity (ACS 2018–2022)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~60%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~34%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~2%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ~0.6%
• American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic): ~0.3% (Note: Rounded; categories may not sum to 100%.)

Household data (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~9,100
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Family households: ~58% of households
• Owner-occupied housing unit rate: ~69%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates.

Columbia County, AR snapshot (estimates)

• Email users: 14,000–17,000 residents. Basis: population ≈22–23k; ~80–85% of adults use the internet; ~90% of internet users use email.
• Age pattern:
  • 18–34 (college-age boosted by Southern Arkansas University): high internet use; email common for school/work, though messaging dominates for personal use.
  • 35–64: highest email reliance; ~85–90% of internet users use email regularly.
  • 65+: lower but growing adoption; roughly 60–70% use email.
  • Under 18: heavy internet use; many have email but rely more on apps.
• Gender split: County is roughly 52% female/48% male; email use is essentially even by gender.
• Digital access trends: ACS-style indicators suggest ~75–80% of households have a broadband subscription and ~85–90% have a computer; 10–15% are likely smartphone‑only internet households. Adoption and speeds are strongest in Magnolia and along main corridors; outlying rural areas see fewer fixed options and lower speeds.
• Local density/connectivity: Population density is low (≈30 people/sq. mile across ~760+ sq. miles), which raises per‑mile build costs and contributes to patchier high‑speed coverage outside Magnolia. Ongoing Arkansas broadband programs are expanding 100/20+ service.

Below is a concise, decision-oriented picture of mobile phone usage in Columbia County, Arkansas, with emphasis on how it differs from statewide patterns. Figures are estimates based on common rural-Arkansas and national (Pew/Census/FCC) benchmarks, scaled to local population; treat them as planning ranges, not exact counts.

User estimates (orders of magnitude)

• Population/households: ~22,000 residents; ~9,000–9,500 households.
• Adult cellphone users: 95–97% of adults use a mobile phone. With ~17,000–18,000 adults, that’s roughly 16,000–17,500 mobile users.
• Adult smartphone users: 80–87% of adults use a smartphone, implying ~13,500–15,500 adult smartphone users. Including teens lifts total smartphone users to roughly 15,000–17,000.
• Mobile-only home internet: Because fixed broadband take-up is relatively low in south Arkansas, an above-state-average share of households rely mainly or solely on cellular data for home internet. A reasonable planning range is ~18–28% of households (about 1,700–2,600 households), versus a lower share statewide.
• Prepaid vs postpaid: Prepaid penetration is likely higher than the Arkansas average (driven by lower incomes and student lines), perhaps comprising roughly one-third of lines in the county, vs a smaller share statewide.

Demographic patterns shaping usage

• Age
  • 18–24 (Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia): Near-universal smartphone ownership; heavy video/social use; seasonal enrollment spikes drive evening mobile congestion near campus and student housing.
  • 55+/65+: Smartphone ownership lags the county average; a visible minority still use basic/flip phones. Voice/text and large-font devices are more common than statewide.
• Income and affordability
  • Lower-income households show higher smartphone dependence and mobile-only internet use; prepaid plans and data-capped offerings are overrepresented relative to the state average.
• Race/ethnicity
  • With a sizable Black population locally, and given statewide/national patterns, Black households are more likely to be smartphone-dependent for internet than white households in the same area.
• Device lifecycle
  • Older handsets remain in circulation longer than in metro Arkansas, slowing adoption of mid-band 5G features and Wi‑Fi 6/6E offload.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage baseline
  • 4G LTE is the default outside Magnolia and highway corridors; 5G low-band (“extended range”) is present mainly along US‑82/US‑79 and in-town. Mid-band 5G (faster “UC/Ultra” tiers) is concentrated in/near Magnolia and selected corridors; it thins quickly in rural townships.
• Capacity and performance
  • In-town: 5G where available offers strong everyday speeds; peak-time slowdowns occur during school nights and weekends.
  • Rural: Many areas remain LTE-only with modest capacity; speeds can drop in the low double digits and are sensitive to deprioritization on prepaid/MVNO plans.
• Tower density and terrain
  • Fewer macro sites per square mile than in interstate counties; pine forests, distance from towers, and metal-roof homes impair indoor signal. Residents lean on Wi‑Fi calling when available.
• Backhaul and upgrades
  • Gradual fiber backhaul infill along highways and institutional anchors (e.g., university, schools) supports selective 5G upgrades; microwave backhaul persists on rural sites, which caps capacity.
• Public safety and reliability
  • FirstNet (AT&T) presence improves responder coverage; commercial users may still see rural dead zones, especially on secondary roads, hunting leases, and low-lying timber tracts.
• Fixed wireless home internet
  • 4G/5G fixed wireless is a growing substitute where cable/fiber are absent, further boosting mobile network load compared with urban Arkansas.

How Columbia County differs from Arkansas overall

• Network footprint
  • Less mid-band 5G coverage and fewer small cells than state averages boosted by Little Rock, Northwest Arkansas, and interstate corridors; greater reliance on LTE outside the county seat.
• Access and adoption
  • Higher share of mobile-only households and prepaid lines than statewide norms; longer device replacement cycles.
• Usage patterns
  • Strong student-driven seasonality (SAU) not seen in many Arkansas counties of similar size; concentrated evening demand hotspots around campus and apartments.
• Indoor experience
  • More pronounced indoor coverage gaps due to building stock and tower spacing; heavier use of Wi‑Fi calling and signal boosters.
• Equity
  • Smartphone dependence among lower-income and Black households is more visible locally than in metro areas with broader wireline options.

Notes for validation or next-step data pulls

• Compare county vs state on: ACS household internet/phone subscription tables (e.g., S2801), FCC mobile coverage maps, and carrier coverage tools for 5G mid-band footprints.
• Local checks: SAU enrollment calendar for seasonal load, carrier crowd-sourced speed test apps (e.g., Ookla, CellMapper) to spot rural gaps, and state broadband grant announcements for upcoming fiber/backhaul that could lift 5G capacity.

Below is a concise, best-available snapshot for Columbia County, Arkansas. Exact, public, county-level platform counts don’t exist; figures are estimates extrapolated from the county’s population (~22.8k), local age mix (incl. Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia), and recent rural/Arkansas benchmarks from sources like Pew Research. Use as planning guidance, not absolutes.

At a glance

• Estimated monthly social media users (13+): 13,000–15,000 (≈65–75% of residents 13+)
• Device mix: Heavily mobile-first; short video and messaging dominate

Age mix of social media users (share of local social users, est.)

• 13–17: 9%
• 18–24: 17% (boosted by SAU students)
• 25–34: 20%
• 35–44: 17%
• 45–54: 15%
• 55–64: 12%
• 65+: 10%

Gender breakdown (share of local social users, est.)

• Female: ~54%
• Male: ~46%
• Nonbinary/other: small but present; not reliably measured in public data

Most-used platforms (share of local social users, monthly, est.)

• YouTube: 75–80%
• Facebook: 70–78%
• Instagram: 35–45%
• TikTok: 30–38%
• Snapchat: 25–32% (concentrated under 25)
• Pinterest: 28–35% (skews female, 25–54)
• WhatsApp: 10–18%
• X/Twitter: 12–18%
• Reddit: 10–15%
• LinkedIn: 10–15% (primarily educators, healthcare, managers)
• Nextdoor: 3–7% (limited neighborhood coverage)

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first Facebook usage: Local news, church and school updates, high-school and SAU sports, yard sales, obituaries; Facebook Groups and Marketplace are high-traffic.
• Short-form video growth: Reels/Shorts/TikTok used for local events, sports highlights, “how-to,” outdoor/hunting/fishing, small-engine and home repair.
• Messaging > public posting for coordination: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat drive quick logistics for families, school groups, and teams.
• Timing: Peaks before work/school (6–8 a.m.) and evenings (7–10 p.m.); weekend spikes around ballgames and community events; severe-weather days see sharp surges.
• Creative that works: Faces and names locals recognize; short videos (<60s); simple promos/coupons; live streams for games and events; clear calls to call/visit.
• Commerce: Marketplace is a go-to for vehicles, tools, furniture; local services gain traction via reviews in Groups more than via formal websites.
• Cohort patterns:
  • Under 25: Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram; heavy DM usage; event- and sports-driven.
  • 25–44: Facebook + Instagram + YouTube; parenting, deals, home projects; strong Marketplace use.
  • 45+: Facebook + YouTube; Pinterest for projects/recipes; more responsive to phone and in-person follow-up.
• Geo radius: Most response comes from a 10–20 mile radius around Magnolia; outlying towns engage around school/church hubs.