Drew County

Which data vintage would you like? I can provide:

• 2020 Decennial Census (headcount), or
• Latest American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2019–2023), which include age, sex, race/ethnicity, and household characteristics.

If you don’t have a preference, I’ll use ACS 2019–2023 for the breakdown and include the 2020 Census total population.

Drew County, AR (pop. ~17.1k; largely rural, ~20 people/sq. mile) — Email Usage Snapshot

• Estimated email users: 11–12k residents. Method: adults in rural areas using the internet (85%) × adults who use email (~92%), plus teen users; based on Pew Research and local age mix.
• Age distribution of email users (est.):
  • 13–24: 22–25% (boosted by University of Arkansas–Monticello)
  • 25–44: 30–33%
  • 45–64: 27–30%
  • 65+: 15–18% (slightly lower adoption than younger groups)
• Gender split: roughly mirrors county population, ~51% female / 49% male among users.
• Digital access trends (ACS 2018–2022; Pew trends applied):
  • Households with any internet: ~85% (most have a computer or smartphone).
  • Broadband subscription (cable/DSL/fiber or cellular data plan): ~75–79%.
  • Smartphone-only internet households: ~10–15%, indicating some reliance on mobile data over fixed lines.
  • Adoption is improving with statewide rural broadband investments (e.g., ARConnect/BEAD), but the county’s low density and dispersed settlements mean fixed broadband is strongest in Monticello and spottier in outlying areas.

Notes: Figures are estimates derived from ACS computer/internet-use tables and Pew email/internet adoption rates applied to Drew County’s demographics.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Drew County, Arkansas (2025)

High-level estimates

• Population base: roughly 17–18k residents (county seat: Monticello; presence of the University of Arkansas at Monticello).
• Estimated unique mobile phone users: 14.0–15.5k (about 80–88% of residents). Lines per 100 residents likely exceeds 100 when including secondary and IoT lines.
• Smartphone vs basic phone: smartphones dominate; basic phones persist mainly among older adults and some budget/prepaid users.

Demographic breakdown (estimated users by cohort)

• Teens (12–17): 1.3–1.6k with phones; high app/social use but often on family prepaid or low-cost plans.
• 18–24 (notably UAM students): ~2.0–2.3k; smartphone adoption ~95%+; heavy data and app usage; above-average iPhone share within this cohort.
• 25–44: ~3.8–4.2k; near-universal smartphone ownership; mix of postpaid family plans and prepaid MVNOs.
• 45–64: ~3.2–3.7k; high adoption but more price-sensitive than state urban peers; hotspot use for home internet is common.
• 65+: ~1.6–1.9k with mobile phones; smartphone adoption lower (roughly 55–65%), with a noticeable minority on basic phones and flip-style devices.

Usage characteristics that differ from Arkansas state-level trends

• Student effect: A larger 18–24 share vs state average drives heavier app/video usage, higher device refresh among students, and more mobile-only households around campus.
• Mobile-only internet dependence: Above the statewide rate; more households rely on smartphones and hotspot plans due to limited affordable fixed broadband outside Monticello.
• Plan mix: Prepaid and MVNO penetration meaningfully above the state average, reflecting lower median incomes in the county; family postpaid still common among faculty/staff and established households.
• Device mix: Android share higher than statewide average overall; within the student cohort, iPhone share is strong, creating a split between town and rural areas.
• Older adult adoption gap: 65+ smartphone adoption trails the state average, with more basic-phone retention and limited app usage.
• Network experience: 5G availability is more “coverage-first” (low-band) than performance-focused; fewer mid-band 5G nodes than in urban Arkansas, so median 5G speeds are lower and LTE fallback is frequent in the timberlands.

Digital infrastructure points

• Macro coverage: AT&T and Verizon provide the most consistent countywide coverage, strongest along US-425 and US-278 corridors and in Monticello. T-Mobile is solid in town and along main highways, with weaker signal in sparsely populated forested areas.
• 5G footprint: Low-band 5G covers Monticello and major roads; mid-band 5G is concentrated in/near town and the university area. Expect typical 5G speeds ~30–150 Mbps in town, dropping at the edges; LTE remains the de facto layer in rural tracts.
• Tower siting and density: Macros clustered near Monticello, highways, and water towers; limited small-cell deployment. Rural dead zones persist in heavily wooded or low-lying areas.
• Backhaul: Fiber backhaul present to key sites in Monticello (campus, health facilities, civic anchors). Microwave backhaul still used on some rural towers, constraining peak capacity.
• Fixed broadband context: Monticello has cable and some fiber; DSL remains in pockets. Rural areas lean on fixed wireless and satellite. T-Mobile Home Internet is available in/near town; Verizon 5G Home is more limited. Starlink fills outlying gaps.
• Resilience: Storms/tornado-season power events can cause multi-hour outages; in-town sites often have better backup power than rural sites, affecting reliability outside Monticello.

What this means for users and providers

• Expect higher demand for unlimited and hotspot-enabled plans, campus-centric capacity during the academic year, and strong evening peaks in town.
• Digital inclusion needs skew toward older adults and rural residents (device training, telehealth readiness, and affordability programs).
• Investments with outsized impact vs state urban areas: additional mid-band 5G sectors around Monticello and along 425/278; rural infill sites; fiber backhaul upgrades to reduce LTE/5G congestion; community Wi‑Fi and ACP-style affordability supports.

How the county differs most from Arkansas overall

• More mobile-only households and prepaid usage than state average.
• A sharper split between high-usage student cluster in town and lower-adoption older/rural residents.
• Sparser mid-band 5G and fewer small cells; greater reliance on low-band 5G/LTE.
• Lower fiber availability outside the county seat, increasing dependence on mobile hotspots for home connectivity.

Notes on method

• Estimates are synthesized from typical rural Arkansas adoption rates, the presence of UAM (inflating the 18–24 segment), and national smartphone ownership patterns by age. For validation and refinement, pair these with the latest ACS county demographics, FCC National Broadband Map, and carrier coverage maps/speed tests specific to Drew County.

Below is a concise, best-available snapshot. County-level platform data isn’t directly published; figures are estimates derived from Drew County demographics (ACS) and 2024 Pew platform adoption, adjusted for rural/older skew and presence of the local university (UAM). Treat as directional ranges.

Drew County at a glance

• Population: ≈17k residents; ≈13k adults (18+)
• Estimated adult social media users: 8.5k–9.5k (≈65–72% of adults)
• Internet access note: Rural access gaps persist; mobile-first usage is common

Age adoption (share of each age group using social media, est.)

• 18–29: 85–95%
• 30–49: 75–85%
• 50–64: 60–75%
• 65+: 40–55%

Gender breakdown (users, est.)

• Roughly even overall: female 50–54%, male 46–50%
• Skews: women over-index on Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest; men on YouTube/Reddit/X

Most-used platforms among adults (reach, est.)

• YouTube: 70–80%
• Facebook: 60–70% (dominant for local news, groups, Marketplace)
• Instagram: 35–45% (higher in Monticello/UAM cohort)
• TikTok: 25–35% (fast growth in 18–34)
• Snapchat: 20–30% (strong in teens/college)
• Also-notable: Pinterest 25–35% (women, DIY/home), X/Twitter 12–18%, LinkedIn 10–15% (professional niches)

Cohort highlights

• 18–29: YouTube 90%+, Instagram 70–80%, Snapchat 70–85%, TikTok 65–75%, Facebook 40–55%
• 65+: Facebook 55–65%, YouTube 50–60%; others typically <15%

Behavioral trends

• Community-first: Heavy use of Facebook Groups for schools, churches, youth sports, buy/sell/trade; Marketplace is a major local shopping channel
• Video-centric: YouTube for how‑tos, church streams, high‑school sports; Facebook Reels growing with 30–60; TikTok popular for entertainment and local food/retail discovery
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is the default; Snapchat prevalent among teens/UAM students; WhatsApp niche (family ties, international)
• Timing: Peak activity around 6–8am, lunch (11:30am–1pm), and evenings (7–9pm); strong weekend spikes tied to local events and ballgames
• Content that performs: Weather alerts, school updates/closures, obituaries, local deals, hunting/fishing, DIY/home services, community fundraisers and giveaways
• Trust dynamics: Personal recommendations and locally known pages drive action; hard-sell ads underperform without a community angle