Conway County

Here are key demographics for Conway County, Arkansas. Figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census for population count; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for other measures).

• Total population: 20,846 (2020 Census)
• Age:
  • Median age: ~42 years
  • Under 18: ~22%
  • 65 and over: ~20%
• Sex:
  • Female: ~50–51%
  • Male: ~49–50%
• Race and ethnicity (share of total population):
  • White (non-Hispanic): ~84%
  • Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~10%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~4%
  • Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~2%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic): ~0.5%
  • Asian (non-Hispanic): ~0.3–0.4%
• Households:
  • Total households: ~8,000
  • Average household size: ~2.4
  • Family households: ~63%
  • Households with children under 18: ~28%
  • Housing tenure: ~73% owner-occupied, ~27% renter-occupied

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (PL 94-171); American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year (tables DP05, S0101, S1101).

Conway County, AR snapshot (estimates)

• Population and density: 20.5K residents across ~565 sq mi (36 people/sq mi). Most connectivity clusters along the I‑40 corridor (Morrilton, Plumerville), with patchier service in rural areas.
• Email users: ~14K–16K residents use email at least monthly. Basis: adult share of population and typical rural adoption rates from Pew Research + Census ACS.
• Age adoption (share using email within each group):
  • 13–17: 60–70% (school-driven accounts)
  • 18–29: 85–92%
  • 30–49: 90–95%
  • 50–64: 80–88%
  • 65+: 65–78%
• Gender split among users: roughly even (about 49–51% male/female).
• Digital access and trends:
  • Households with any internet subscription: ~75–82%; fixed home broadband: ~60–70% of households; smartphone‑only internet: ~15–22%.
  • Fiber and fixed‑wireless coverage have expanded since 2021 via state/federal rural broadband programs; speeds and reliability are highest in towns, lowest in sparsely populated valleys and ridges.
  • Smartphone dependence is higher in western/northern rural tracts; public/library Wi‑Fi helps bridge access gaps.

Notes: Estimates synthesized from U.S. Census ACS county internet indicators, FCC coverage maps, and Pew usage studies; local conditions may vary by census tract.

Below is a concise, county-focused snapshot using the most recent publicly reported patterns for rural Arkansas and reasonable, clearly labeled estimates. Figures are ranges to reflect uncertainty and variation within the county.

Big picture user estimates (Conway County)

• Adult smartphone ownership: about 78–82% of adults, or roughly 12,500–13,500 users. This is likely a bit lower than the Arkansas average (about 81–85%) due to the county’s older age profile and rural mix.
• Households relying primarily on mobile data for home internet (mobile-only): about 25–32% of households. This is higher than the Arkansas statewide share (roughly 18–24%), reflecting gaps in fixed broadband outside town centers.
• Wireless-only (no landline) telephone households: high and likely on par with or only slightly below Arkansas’s already-high level. Expect a wide range (roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of adults living in wireless‑only households), with younger adults overwhelmingly mobile-only.

Demographic patterns in the county (how usage differs from Arkansas overall)

• Age: Conway County skews older than the state, which pulls overall smartphone ownership slightly down versus Arkansas. However, younger adults (18–34) are near-universal smartphone users (≈90–95%), similar to statewide.
• Income and education: Lower-income and lower-education households are more likely to be mobile-only for home internet than similar households statewide, because fixed options drop off more quickly outside Morrilton/Plumerville/Oppelo. That raises the county’s mobile-only share above the state average despite slightly lower overall smartphone ownership.
• Race/ethnicity: The county’s population is less Hispanic than the state average. Since Hispanic households statewide have relatively high smartphone-only reliance, this would normally reduce mobile-only rates—but in Conway County the rural infrastructure gap more than offsets that, so mobile-only usage still ends up higher than the state overall.

Digital infrastructure notes specific to Conway County

• Coverage pattern: The I‑40 corridor (Morrilton–Plumerville–Menifee) has the strongest and most consistent multi-carrier LTE/5G coverage and capacity. Off-corridor communities and the hillier areas to the north and south see more reliance on low‑band 5G/LTE with larger dead zones and bigger speed swings.
• 5G reality: Low‑band 5G is widespread; mid‑band 5G capacity is strongest along I‑40 and in/near Morrilton. Away from those zones, users experience LTE‑like performance, especially indoors or in valleys.
• Tower siting and terrain: Sites cluster near towns, schools, and highways; sparsity increases quickly toward rural townships, and rolling terrain/forested areas degrade signal, particularly uplink (which affects video calls and telehealth).
• Fixed broadband interplay: Cable and fiber are available in and near town centers; outside them, choices fall to older DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite. Electric‑cooperative fiber buildouts have added FTTH in pockets since 2021–2023, reducing mobile-only reliance where available, but coverage remains patchy countywide.
• Affordability pressure: The lapse of ACP (Affordable Connectivity Program) funding in 2024 removed a key subsidy many low‑income households used for either home broadband or mobile data—pushing some households toward prepaid mobile and increasing data‑cap sensitivity.

What’s notably different from statewide trends

• Slightly lower smartphone ownership rate overall than Arkansas, driven by an older age structure.
• Meaningfully higher reliance on mobile-only home internet than the state average, driven by fixed broadband gaps outside the I‑40 corridor and town centers.
• Bigger performance gap between “on-corridor” and “off-corridor” areas: the county’s geography makes mobile service quality more location‑dependent than the typical Arkansas county with flatter terrain.
• Greater sensitivity to price and data caps: with fewer fixed alternatives in rural tracts and the end of ACP relief, Conway County households are more likely than the average Arkansas household to ration data, use prepaid plans, or hotspot for home use.

Notes on method and data confidence

• Estimates synthesize: county demographics (age/rural mix), ACS indicators on internet subscriptions (cellular-only vs fixed), NTIA rural usage patterns, Pew smartphone ownership by rural status, and FCC coverage patterns for the I‑40 corridor. Exact county-level smartphone and mobile-only figures are not published in one source; the ranges above reflect those inputs.
• For precise local verification, check ACS Table S2801 (Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions) for Conway County, NTIA’s Indicators of Broadband Need map, FCC mobile coverage maps, and the Arkansas State Broadband Office buildout updates.

Conway County, AR social media snapshot (estimates)

How these numbers were derived

• County population ~21,000. Estimates below blend recent Pew Research Center platform-usage rates (2023–2024) with typical rural Arkansas age/gender patterns and smartphone/broadband adoption. Exact county-level platform shares aren’t published; figures are best-fit ranges.

Size of the social audience

• Social media users (age 13+): ~14,000–16,000
• Household internet/smartphone context: smartphone-first is common; broadband is slightly below U.S. average, so mobile video and short-form content dominate

Age mix of social users (share of local social users)

• 13–17: ~8–10%
• 18–24: ~10–12%
• 25–34: ~15–17%
• 35–44: ~16–18%
• 45–54: ~15–16%
• 55–64: ~13–14%
• 65+: ~10–12% (lower adoption than younger groups, but very active on Facebook once on-platform)

Gender breakdown (among social users)

• Female: ~52–54%
• Male: ~46–48%
• Skews: women over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, X

Most-used platforms locally (share of residents age 13+; ranges reflect uncertainty)

• YouTube: ~70–80% (broad utility: music, DIY, sermons, sports highlights)
• Facebook: ~60–70% overall; ~70–80% among 30+; Groups are central to local life
• Instagram: ~35–45% overall; ~55–65% among 18–34
• TikTok: ~30–35% overall; ~55–65% among 13–24
• Snapchat: ~20–25% overall; concentrated 13–29
• Pinterest: ~18–25% overall; women 30–40%
• X (Twitter): ~12–18% (news/sports/politics followers)
• Reddit: ~10–15% (younger male skew)
• Nextdoor: ~3–7% (Facebook Groups largely substitute)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook = the community hub: local news, school updates, severe weather/power alerts, church and civic events, buy/sell/trade, yard sales, lost-and-found, obituaries. Group admins act as de facto moderators and gatekeepers.
• Messaging for business: Facebook Messenger and Instagram DMs are common for store hours, inventory, quotes, and appointments; expect after-hours inquiries.
• Video-first consumption: Short vertical video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) performs best; DIY, hunting/fishing, auto/tractor repair, high school sports, music, and faith content are top themes.
• Youth behavior: Teens gravitate to TikTok/Snapchat/YouTube; Instagram for aspirational/local creator content; Facebook mainly for events and teams (parents/coaches).
• Older adults: Heavy Facebook usage for community connection; share local news posts; respond well to clear offers and event info; prefer phone numbers and simple calls-to-action.
• Local trust signals: Content from recognizable local people, schools, churches, and small businesses travels farther than from unknown brands; “shop local” framing works.
• Timing: Peaks before work (6–8 a.m.), lunch (noon–1 p.m.), and evenings (7–10 p.m.); weekend spikes around games, fairs, festivals, and church.
• Connectivity constraints: Many rely on mobile data; keep video under ~30–45 seconds, compress files, add captions, and include contact info in-text.
• Platform roles:
  • Facebook/Groups: reach + discussion + events; cross-post pages to relevant local groups
  • Instagram: visuals for food, boutiques, salons, recreation; Stories/Reels for quick reach
  • TikTok: discovery for younger locals; light, personality-driven clips
  • YouTube: longer how-tos, sermons, game recaps; link via Facebook
  • Pinterest: recipes, crafts, home/party planning; useful for boutiques/craftspeople
  • X/Reddit: niche audiences (sports, politics, tech/outdoors)

Notes and sources

• Population/demographics: U.S. Census Bureau (ACS)
• Platform adoption: Pew Research Center (Teens and Adults Social Media Use, 2023–2024)
• Rural usage patterns inferred from Pew rural/urban splits and statewide Arkansas trends.