Garland County

Garland County, Arkansas – key demographics

Population size

• Total population: 100,180 (2020 Decennial Census)
• Current estimate: ~101,000 (ACS 2019–2023 5-year; rounded)

Age

• Median age: ~46 years
• Under 18: ~21%
• 18 to 64: ~57–58%
• 65 and over: ~23–24%

Gender

• Female: ~52%
• Male: ~48%

Race/ethnicity (shares; rounded)

• White alone (non-Hispanic): ~79–80%
• Black or African American alone: ~9–10%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~6%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Asian alone: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~1%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0–0.1%

Households

• Number of households: ~44,000
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Family households: ~60–62% of households

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey (ACS) 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Figures are rounded.

Garland County, AR — Email usage snapshot

• Population ≈100–102k; density ≈148 people/sq mi. Hot Springs has strong wired coverage; western/northern rural areas see more gaps.
• Estimated email users: 70–80k adults. Method: ≈80k adults (about 80% of residents) × 90–95% adult email adoption.
• Age mix among adult users (approx.):
  • 18–29: 15–18% (near‑universal adoption)
  • 30–64: 55–60% (very high adoption)
  • 65+: 22–28% (65+ is ~26% of residents; adoption slightly lower but substantial)
• Gender split among users: ~51% female, ~49% male (mirrors county demographics; adoption rates are similar by gender).
• Digital access and trends:
  • Broadband subscription: ~80–86% of households; computer access: ~88–92%.
  • Smartphone‑only internet households: ~10–15%, higher in lower‑income areas.
  • Fixed broadband strongest in Hot Springs (cable/fiber); many outlying areas rely on DSL or fixed wireless.
  • Affordability pressures rose after the 2024 wind‑down of the Affordable Connectivity Program, likely affecting low‑income adoption.
• Usage intensity: Daily email use is highest among working‑age adults; seniors participate widely but at slightly lower rates.

Below is a concise, planning-grade summary of mobile phone usage in Garland County, Arkansas, with estimates, demographic context, and infrastructure notes. Figures are presented as ranges because county-specific mobile adoption is not directly published; they are derived from ACS population/household counts, Pew Research smartphone adoption by age/income, and FCC broadband/coverage map patterns in Arkansas.

Headline snapshot

• Population context: Garland County has roughly 100,000 residents centered on Hot Springs, with a mix of urban (city/lakes) and rugged rural terrain (Ouachita foothills, parklands).
• Distinctive profile vs Arkansas: older age structure, heavy tourism, and complex terrain. This combination nudges resident smartphone adoption slightly below the state average, raises seasonal/venue-driven mobile traffic, and creates more location-specific coverage variability.

Estimated user counts

• Residents with a mobile phone (of any kind): 80,000–90,000
  • Based on near-universal cellphone ownership among adults, adjusted slightly downward for the county’s larger 65+ share.
• Resident smartphone users: 65,000–75,000
  • Derived from age-adjusted smartphone adoption rates that are a few points lower than statewide averages because of the older population.
• Households relying primarily on cellular for home internet: 6,000–8,000 households (about 12%–18% of households)
  • Reflects Arkansas’s relatively high “mobile-only” reliance and local income mix; higher in rural tracts and rental-dense areas.
• Seasonal/visitor uplift: On peak tourism days, total devices in the county likely exceed resident smartphones by 10%–25%, concentrated around Hot Springs, lakes, venues, and corridors (US-70, US-270, AR-7).

Demographic breakdown and implications

• Age: The 65+ share is several points higher than the Arkansas average. Implications:
  • Slightly lower smartphone penetration and app adoption among seniors than statewide.
  • Higher share of basic or older smartphones and more cost-sensitive plans.
• Income: Median household income is slightly below the state median.
  • Higher propensity for prepaid plans and mobile-only internet, especially among lower-income and renter households.
• Race/ethnicity: A largely White population with notable Black and Hispanic minorities.
  • As elsewhere in Arkansas, lower-income and younger segments tend to be more mobile-first; disparities in fixed broadband availability elevate mobile dependence in some neighborhoods.
• Urban vs rural split:
  • Urban Hot Springs: near-universal smartphone usage; higher usage of data-heavy applications and 5G-capable devices.
  • Outlying rural areas: more coverage variability and mobile-only reliance where fixed broadband is limited or costly.

Digital infrastructure and performance notes

• Coverage:
  • 4G/LTE: Broadly available across population centers and major corridors (US-70/270/AR-7).
  • 5G: Reported by major carriers in Hot Springs and along primary corridors; patchier in rural tracts and around rugged terrain.
• Terrain effects: The Ouachita foothills, forested areas, and lake basins create localized dead zones and signal variability not as prevalent in flatter Arkansas regions (e.g., parts of the Delta).
• Backhaul and densification:
  • Urban core: denser sites and better backhaul yield higher median speeds and capacity.
  • Rural fringes: sparser sites; performance depends on line-of-sight and distance to towers.
• Fixed broadband interplay:
  • Cable and some fiber availability in Hot Springs reduces mobile-only reliance in the core.
  • Rural areas lean more on cellular and fixed wireless; when fixed options are weaker, mobile networks carry more of the broadband load.
• Public safety and resilience:
  • First responder LTE (e.g., FirstNet) presence in population centers; terrain/weather can affect redundancy needs outside the core.

How Garland County differs from Arkansas overall

• Older population → slightly lower smartphone penetration and app intensity than state average, but not dramatically so.
• Higher tourism intensity → larger swings in network load by time and location; more demand at venues, parks, lakes, and downtown than a typical county.
• More terrain-driven coverage gaps → greater location-specific variability than many Arkansas counties, particularly compared to flatter regions.
• Urban core advantage → Hot Springs sees stronger 5G availability and higher median speeds than many rural Arkansas counties, while the rural edges lag more than the state average.
• Mobile-only reliance pattern → elevated in specific rural and lower-income pockets; countywide share is similar to or a bit above the state average, but spatially uneven.

Data and method notes (for refinement)

• Population/households: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (latest 5-year estimates).
• Adoption rates: Pew Research Center smartphone and internet reliance by age/income; adjusted to local age/urbanicity mix.
• Coverage and infrastructure: FCC National Broadband Map and carrier-reported 5G footprints; local terrain assessments.
• For a precise, map-based profile (by tract/block): combine ACS Table S2801 (Internet Subscription), FCC mobile coverage layers, and recent Ookla/OpenSignal speed data.

Below is a concise, locally adapted snapshot. Note: exact county-level platform stats aren’t published; figures are modeled from Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. social media adoption plus Garland County’s older-leaning demographics.

Quick size

• Population: roughly 100k residents (older than the U.S. average).
• Estimated social media users: about 60k–75k residents active monthly (≈65–75% of the population).

Age mix (behavioral patterns)

• Teens/18–29: heavy on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat; YouTube is universal; Facebook used for family/events.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube dominant; Instagram/Reels rising; TikTok used for trends and local places.
• 50–64: Facebook #1 (groups, Marketplace); YouTube for DIY/outdoors/news; Pinterest for projects/recipes.
• 65+: Facebook first (community, church, health info); YouTube for sermons, local music, how-tos.

Gender breakdown (tendencies)

• Overall users split roughly even, with a slight female skew in active use.
• Women over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, and X (Twitter).
• Instagram is relatively balanced; Snapchat skews younger/female; TikTok balanced but younger.

Most-used platforms (adult reach; localized estimates)

• YouTube: ~80–85% of adult users
• Facebook: ~70–75%
• Instagram: ~40–50%
• Pinterest: ~30–40% (notably higher among women 25–54)
• TikTok: ~25–35% (lower among 50+)
• Snapchat: ~20–25% (concentrated under 30)
• X (Twitter): ~15–20% (news, sports, weather)
• Reddit: ~15–20% (tech/gaming/outdoors niches)
• LinkedIn: ~15–20% (professional centers in health, hospitality)
• Nextdoor: ~10–15% (varies by neighborhood; Facebook Groups often substitute)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook Groups are the community hub: schools, churches, lake/boating, yard sales, local alerts.
• Facebook Marketplace is heavily used for vehicles, boats/ATVs, furniture, rentals.
• Local discovery: Instagram Reels and TikTok for dining, state parks, Hot Springs attractions; hashtags and geotags matter.
• YouTube drives DIY, fishing/hunting, home improvement, and church/live streams.
• Weather and emergency updates: Facebook and X see spikes during storms; local media pages are key.
• Posting/engagement peaks evenings and weekends; content with local faces/landmarks outperforms generic creative.
• Message-based commerce: DM inquiries are common; quick responses influence conversion.

Sources and method

• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (national adoption by platform and age).
• U.S. Census Bureau (population/age structure for Garland County).
• Estimates above localize national patterns to Garland County’s older-leaning profile.