Faulkner County

Faulkner County, Arkansas — key demographics (latest available estimates)

Population size

• Total population: ~129,000 (2023 estimate). 2020 Census: 123,498.

Age

• Median age: ~35 years
• Under 18: ~24%
• 18–64: ~63%
• 65 and over: ~14%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Racial/ethnic composition (race is non-Hispanic unless noted; sums ~100%)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~75%
• Black/African American: ~14%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~6%
• Asian: ~2%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~1%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander/Other: <0.5%

Households

• Total households: ~49,000
• Average household size: ~2.5–2.6
• Family households: ~63% of households
• Married-couple families: ~45–47% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~30%
• Nonfamily households: ~37%; living alone: ~28%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 ACS (1-year/5-year) estimates and 2020 Decennial Census. Figures rounded for clarity.

Faulkner County, AR email usage (estimates)

• Population and users: ≈125,000 residents. Adults ≈96,000. Email users: 88–92k adults (about 92–96% of adults use email), plus 7–10k teens → roughly 95–102k total county email users.

• Age distribution of users (share of users): 13–17: 7–9%; 18–29: 22–25% (boosted by Conway’s colleges); 30–49: 32–34%; 50–64: 21–23%; 65+: 14–16% (slightly lower usage than younger groups).

• Gender split: ~51% female, 49% male among users; usage rates are similar by gender.

• Digital access trends:

  • About 84–88% of households subscribe to broadband; >90% have fixed broadband available at 100/20 Mbps, but adoption lags in rural townships.
  • Roughly 10–15% of adults are smartphone‑only internet users; mobile email is common.
  • Fiber and 5G buildouts are improving speeds; affordability programs (post‑ACP provider discounts) influence uptake for low‑income households.

• Local connectivity/density facts:

  • Conway has extensive gigabit fiber from Conway Corp and other ISPs; the I‑40 corridor shows strong 5G from major carriers.
  • Northern/eastern rural areas rely more on DSL/fixed‑wireless and have lower subscription rates.

Method: estimates combine Census/ACS population, FCC broadband availability/adoption, and national email‑use rates (e.g., Pew).

Below is a concise, county-focused snapshot built from recent ACS “Computer and Internet Use” indicators, FCC/industry coverage data, and regional context. Figures are rounded ranges to avoid false precision; they reflect 2022–2024 conditions and the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway metro context.

High-level takeaway

• Faulkner County skews younger, more college‑oriented, and more urban/suburban than much of Arkansas. That translates into slightly higher smartphone adoption and 5G use, heavier mobile data consumption, and a lower share of “mobile‑only” households than the state average.

User estimates

• Adult smartphone adoption: roughly 88–93% of adults (vs Arkansas ~84–89%). Near‑universal among 18–29s; still rising among 65+.
• Households with a smartphone and active cellular data plan: about 90–94% (vs Arkansas ~86–90%).
• Mobile‑only home internet (cellular data with no fixed broadband): about 11–15% of households (vs Arkansas ~18–22%). More common outside Conway city limits and among lower‑income households.
• Multi‑line unlimited plans: measurably higher uptake than statewide, driven by families and students in Conway; prepaid use is lower than the state average.
• Usage patterns: higher app‑centric and video streaming usage; strong Wi‑Fi offload on campus and at work reduces peak-hour cellular congestion in Conway proper.

Demographic breakdown (directional differences)

• Age:
  • 18–29: >95% smartphone adoption; heavy reliance on mobile for entertainment, campus services, ride‑hail/food delivery.
  • 30–64: high adoption; more multi‑line family plans; extensive use of mobile banking and workplace apps.
  • 65+: estimated 75–80% adoption in the county (above Arkansas’s senior rate), helped by higher education levels and proximity to retail/support.
• Income:
  • Below ~150% FPL: higher likelihood of mobile‑only internet; in Faulkner this group is still less mobile‑only than the statewide low‑income average because fixed options are better around Conway.
  • Middle/high income: multiple devices per person; more 5G mid‑band phones and tethering use.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Adoption rates are high across groups; Black and Hispanic residents show somewhat higher mobile‑only reliance than White residents, but the gap is smaller than the statewide pattern due to better fixed broadband availability in Conway.

Digital infrastructure notes

• 5G coverage: All three national carriers show strong 5G in Conway and along the I‑40/US‑65 corridors; mid‑band 5G (faster, capacity‑focused) is common in town and at major campuses, with LTE or low‑band 5G persisting in northern and eastern rural pockets.
• Conway as a connectivity hub:
  • Conway Corp operates robust cable/fiber plant with gigabit service in city limits, which reduces mobile‑only dependence and supports extensive Wi‑Fi offload.
  • University and college campuses (UCA, Hendrix, CBC) and the ARE‑ON research network node underpin dense backhaul and indoor coverage.
• Rural edges: Outside Conway, parts of Greenbrier, Vilonia, Mayflower, and northern townships have fewer towers and more terrain/vegetation interference; service is reliable for voice/SMS but peak‑hour speeds can drop, especially indoors.
• Emergency and transportation corridors: Public‑safety (FirstNet/AT&T) and carrier investments cluster along I‑40 and state highways, improving reliability for commuters and logistics.
• Device ecosystem: Higher share of recent‑generation 5G handsets than the state average, reflecting student churn and postpaid plan mix.

How Faulkner County differs from Arkansas overall

• Higher smartphone adoption and newer devices, especially among seniors and students.
• Lower share of mobile‑only households due to strong city fiber/cable options.
• Better mid‑band 5G availability and capacity in population centers; fewer dead zones along primary corridors.
• More multi‑line/unlimited plans and heavier video/social streaming; prepaid share is lower.
• Smaller demographic gaps (by race/ethnicity and income) in basic smartphone adoption, though affordability differences still show up in mobile‑only reliance outside Conway.

Below is a concise, county‑level snapshot built from 2023–2024 Pew Research national social trends, Arkansas norms, and Faulkner County’s demographics (college‑town adjustment for UCA/Hendrix). Figures are estimates; platform companies don’t publish county‑specific counts.

Headline user stats

• Population: ≈128K; residents age 13+ ≈109K
• Estimated social media users (13+): 80–85K (≈73–78% of 13+)

Age mix (share of total population, approx.)

• 13–17: 7–8%
• 18–24: 15–17% (college bump)
• 25–34: 15–16%
• 35–44: 13–14%
• 45–64: 26–28%
• 65+: 16–18%

Gender

• Population: ≈51% female, 49% male
• Usage patterns: Similar overall use; Pinterest skews female; Reddit/X skew male; Snapchat/TikTok skew slightly female in younger cohorts

Most‑used platforms in Faulkner County (estimated reach among residents 13+)

• YouTube: 75–80%
• Facebook: 60–65% overall; 70%+ among 30+
• Instagram: 45–50%; 70%+ among 18–24
• TikTok: 35–40%; 60–70% among 18–24
• Snapchat: 35–40%; 65–75% among 13–24
• Pinterest: 28–33% (female‑skewed)
• WhatsApp: 20–25%
• LinkedIn: 18–22% (higher among college‑educated/white‑collar)
• X (Twitter): 15–20%
• Reddit: 15–20%
• Nextdoor: 10–15% (stronger in suburban neighborhoods)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: Heavy use of Groups (schools/PTA, churches, buy/sell/trade), Marketplace, local news and storm updates. Comments and recommendations from locals carry outsized weight.
• College‑town rhythms: Spikes around UCA move‑in (Aug), homecoming/football, finals/graduation, and the Toad Suck Daze festival. Student life fuels Snapchat, Instagram Stories, and TikTok.
• Video first: Short, captioned local video (Reels/Shorts/TikTok, 15–30s) outperforms static posts. Behind‑the‑scenes and creator/UGC content do well.
• Discovery patterns:
  • 13–29: Find restaurants, coffee, fitness, and events via TikTok/Instagram; share via DMs/Snap.
  • 30–54: Rely on Facebook Groups, Events, and Reels; YouTube for how‑tos.
  • 55+: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Pinterest useful for DIY/recipes.
• Messaging expectations: Quick replies via Facebook Messenger and Instagram DMs; businesses that respond within an hour see better conversion.
• Timing: Engagement peaks weeknights 7–9 p.m. and lunch 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.; Sunday afternoons strong for Groups and events. Severe‑weather days create sharp local traffic spikes.
• Local content themes that resonate: School and sports highlights, Lake Conway fishing/water levels, hiking at Cadron Settlement Park, small‑business spotlights, faith/community service, and civic updates.

Notes on method

• County‑level percentages are modeled from 2024 Pew Research platform usage by age/gender, applied to Faulkner County’s age mix and college‑town profile; treat as directional for planning rather than exact counts.