Craighead County

Here are concise, recent demographics for Craighead County, Arkansas (U.S. Census Bureau: 2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 ACS 5-year; 2023 Population Estimates). Figures are estimates; rounding may cause totals ≠ 100%.

• Population size

  • About 115,000 (2023 estimate)
  • 2020 Census: about 111,500

• Age

  • Median age: ~34 years
  • Under 18: ~24%
  • 18–24: ~14%
  • 25–44: ~28%
  • 45–64: ~20%
  • 65+: ~14%

• Gender

  • Female: ~51%
  • Male: ~49%

• Race and Hispanic/Latino origin

  • White: ~73%
  • Black or African American: ~16%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~6%
  • Asian: ~2–3%
  • Two or more races: ~4%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, and other: ~1%

• Households

  • Total households: ~42,000
  • Average household size: ~2.6
  • Family households: ~65% (nonfamily ~35%)
  • Households with children under 18: ~1 in 3
  • Living alone: ~27% of households
  • 65+ living alone: ~9%
  • Homeownership rate: ~57% (owner-occupied share)

Craighead County, AR snapshot (estimates)

• Email users: ~100,000 residents use email at least monthly (roughly 85–90% of the 114k population, concentrating among ages 13+).
• Age distribution of email use:
  • 13–24: 95–99%
  • 25–44: 96–99%
  • 45–64: 92–96%
  • 65+: 80–88%
• Gender split: Near parity; men and women differ by only 1–2 percentage points in usage.
• Digital access trends:
  • Household broadband subscription in the mid– to high-80% range; smartphone-only internet households around 15–20%.
  • Strong mobile coverage and growing fiber in urban areas; rural edges show lower fixed-broadband adoption, with greater reliance on mobile/satellite.
  • Daily email checking is common among working-age adults and students; seniors’ usage continues to rise as smartphone adoption grows.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • County density ~150–160 people/sq mi, with most residents in and around Jonesboro (80k+), where high-speed options are densest.
  • Arkansas State University’s presence in Jonesboro boosts youth connectivity and campus-driven email usage.

Notes: Figures are derived from national/state usage rates applied to local population and ACS-style broadband patterns; use as directional estimates.

Below is a concise, data-informed overview of mobile phone usage in Craighead County, Arkansas, emphasizing where local patterns differ from statewide trends. Figures are estimates derived from 2020–2023 Census/ACS demographics, CDC NHIS wireless-only indicators, Pew Research on device adoption, FCC/NTIA broadband and 5G deployment resources, and carrier deployment disclosures.

Headline user estimates

• Population baseline: ~114,000 residents; ~86,000 adults (18+) in 2023.
• Adults with any mobile phone: 95–97% → roughly 82,000–84,000 adult mobile users.
• Adult smartphone users: 83–88% → roughly 71,000–76,000 adult smartphone users.
• Households using cellular data as their only internet (smartphone-only/fixed-cellular only): estimated 10–14% in Craighead County, vs roughly high-teens statewide.
• Wireless-only (no landline) voice households: high in both county and state; expect Craighead to be at or slightly above the Arkansas average given age mix and renter/student share.

Demographic patterns behind usage

• Younger skew boosts smartphone use: Arkansas State University (A‑State) lifts the 18–29 population share, pushing smartphone ownership and app-centric usage above the Arkansas average.
• Seniors still a gap, but narrower: 65+ adoption is lower than younger cohorts, yet local access to health systems, carrier retail, and family plans in Jonesboro narrows the senior gap versus many rural Arkansas counties.
• Income/education split: Urban Jonesboro census tracts with higher income/education show near-universal smartphone adoption plus bundled home internet (less smartphone-only reliance). Rural eastern/southern tracts (Caraway, Monette, Lake City) show higher prepaid use and higher odds of cellular-only internet.
• Race/ethnicity: As statewide, Black and Hispanic households are more likely to be smartphone-dependent for internet, but A‑State student presence and local low-cost home broadband options appear to reduce that dependency relative to statewide rates.

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

• 5G footprint: All three national carriers cover Jonesboro with low-band 5G; T‑Mobile Ultra Capacity (n41 mid-band) and Verizon C‑band (n77) are broadly available in and around the city, delivering markedly higher median speeds than much of rural Arkansas. AT&T operates FirstNet for public safety and low-band 5G; mid-band build-out has been expanding.
• Capacity hotspots: Dense coverage and likely small-cell/DAS support around A‑State, downtown Jonesboro, and major medical campuses (NEA Baptist, St. Bernards) to handle event and daytime surges.
• Corridor reliability: Strong multi‑carrier LTE/5G along I‑555/US‑63, US‑49, and AR‑18; pockets of weaker indoor/rural coverage persist toward the county fringes and river bottoms.
• Fiber and fixed alternatives that reduce smartphone-only reliance:
  • Ritter Communications (HQ in Jonesboro) has extensive fiber in the city and business districts.
  • Craighead Electric Cooperative’s Empower has rolled out FTTH across many rural areas, a key differentiator from more underserved Arkansas counties.
  • 5G Fixed Wireless (T‑Mobile/Verizon) is available in much of Jonesboro, offering home broadband without cable/fiber installs.
• Public/enterprise Wi‑Fi: A‑State’s campus Wi‑Fi and major venues offload significant student and event traffic.

How Craighead County differs from Arkansas overall

• Higher smartphone ownership and daily mobile app use driven by the university and a more urban population mix.
• Lower share of smartphone-only/fixed-cellular-only home internet users, thanks to strong fiber/co-op builds and campus/community Wi‑Fi.
• Better mid-band 5G availability and speeds in the Jonesboro area than the state’s rural average; capacity is closer to Little Rock/NWA metro performance than to rural county norms.
• Slightly smaller age- and income-based gaps in adoption than statewide, though the rural east/south of the county still mirrors Arkansas’s digital divide patterns.

Method notes and confidence

• Counts are order-of-magnitude estimates built by applying recent national/state adoption rates (Pew, CDC NHIS) to Craighead’s age/household structure (Census/ACS), then adjusting for urbanization, campus effects, and observed infrastructure. For planning or investment decisions, pulling the latest ACS S2801 (internet subscription by type) and FCC Mobile Coverage/BDT tiles will give precise tract-level confirmation.

Below is a concise, county‑level picture built by applying recent U.S. averages (Pew Research Center 2023–2024) to Craighead County’s adult population. Treat figures as estimates; local results can vary ±5–10 points based on campus influence (Arkansas State University), urban Jonesboro vs. rural areas, and broadband access.

Snapshot

• Population: ~114,000 (county). Adults (18+): ~86,000.
• Estimated adult social media users: ~71,000 (≈83% of adults).

Most‑used platforms (estimated adult reach in Craighead County)

• YouTube: 83% of adults (71k)
• Facebook: 68% (58k)
• Instagram: 50% (43k)
• TikTok: 33% (28k)
• Pinterest: 32% (28k)
• Snapchat: 30% (26k)
• LinkedIn: 30% (26k)
• X/Twitter: 23% (20k)
• WhatsApp: 21% (18k)
• Reddit: 18% (15k)

Age patterns (tendencies)

• Teens (13–17): Heavy YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok; messaging via Snapchat. Facebook mainly for school/teams and parent‑connected pages.
• 18–24 (ASU influence): Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat dominate; YouTube for how‑to and entertainment; Facebook used for events/groups and Marketplace.
• 25–34: Facebook + Instagram core; TikTok rising; heavy use of Marketplace; YouTube for tutorials/DIY.
• 35–54: Facebook strongest; YouTube common; Instagram moderate; Pinterest notable among women.
• 55+: Facebook and YouTube lead; limited TikTok/Snapchat; some Nextdoor in suburban neighborhoods.

Gender tendencies (based on national patterns)

• Facebook: slight female skew.
• Instagram, TikTok: near even, slight female lean in posting; men consume more video than post.
• Pinterest: strongly female.
• YouTube: male‑leaning.
• X/Twitter and Reddit: male‑leaning.
• LinkedIn: near even; usage higher among college‑affiliated/professionals.

Local behavioral trends

• Facebook Groups/Marketplace are core utilities: buy‑sell‑trade, rentals, lost‑and‑found pets, church/school updates, storm and road alerts.
• Local news flows through station and paper pages (e.g., KAIT Region 8, Jonesboro Sun); severe weather and school closings drive spikes.
• Event‑driven peaks around ASU athletics, high school sports, fairs/festivals, and civic/faith events.
• Short‑form video (Reels/TikTok) is the most effective growth format for small businesses, food spots, real estate, and campus‑adjacent services.
• Messaging split: Facebook Messenger for most adults; Snapchat/Instagram DMs for under‑30.
• Community trust is relationship‑driven: comments and recommendations from known locals carry outsized weight; user‑generated photos of openings, road issues, and weather perform strongly.
• Timing patterns: Evenings (roughly 7–10 pm) and lunch hours see higher engagement; early mornings spike for weather/school updates.

Notes on method

• Percentages reflect national adult platform usage (Pew Research Center) applied to the county’s estimated adult population to yield approximate local counts. Local adoption may be slightly higher among 18–24 due to ASU and slightly lower in outlying rural areas.