Lonoke County

Key demographics – Lonoke County, Arkansas

Population size

• 2023 population estimate: ~75,700
• 2020 Census: 74,015

Age

• Median age: ~38 years
• Under 18: ~26%
• 65 and over: ~16%

Gender

• Female: ~50.5%
• Male: ~49.5%

Racial/ethnic composition

• White alone: ~85%
• Black or African American alone: ~9%
• Asian alone: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~1%
• Two or more races: ~4%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~5–6% Note: Hispanic/Latino overlaps with race categories.

Households and housing

• Households: ~27,500–28,000
• Average household size: ~2.7
• Family households: ~70% of all households; ~1/3 with children under 18
• Homeownership rate: ~75–77%

Insights

• Moderate growth since 2010, family-oriented suburban profile, relatively young median age, predominantly White with modest racial/ethnic diversity, and a high homeownership rate.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates; 2023 Population Estimates Program).

• Population and density: Lonoke County has about 75,000 residents (2023 Census estimate) across roughly 771 sq mi, ≈95 people per sq mi.
• Digital access (ACS 2018–2022): ~92% of households have a computer; ~84% have a broadband subscription; ~11% are smartphone–only for internet; ~13% report no home internet. Access is strongest along the I‑40 and US‑67/167 corridors (Cabot–Jacksonville area), with sparser fixed options in rural areas.
• Estimated email users: ≈54,000 residents use email regularly (adults plus most teens), based on county internet subscription levels and national email adoption among connected users.
• Age distribution of email users (modeled from county age mix and national adoption):
  • 18–34: ~28% of users
  • 35–64: ~52% of users
  • 65+: ~20% of users
• Gender split: Roughly even; about 50% female and 50% male among email users, consistent with the county’s near‑balanced sex ratio and minimal gender gap in email adoption.
• Trends and insights: Household broadband and smartphone penetration place Lonoke above the Arkansas average, supporting high email uptake among working‑age adults and students. Remaining gaps are concentrated in lower‑density southern/eastern tracts and among older and lower‑income households without home broadband, where smartphone‑only access sustains but does not fully substitute for email-intensive tasks.

Mobile phone usage in Lonoke County, Arkansas — 2024 snapshot

Headline user estimates

• Population base: roughly 74–76 thousand residents (2023 estimates), with about three-quarters age 18+.
• Smartphone users: approximately 55–60 thousand residents use a smartphone (on the order of 85–90% of adults, plus most teens).
• Household cellular data plans: about 7 in 10 households maintain a cellular data plan for a smartphone/tablet in addition to, or instead of, home broadband (ACS S2801-style measures, 2019–2023 5-year).
• Wireless-only telephony: around three-quarters of households are wireless-only (no landline), slightly below the Arkansas statewide share, which is among the highest in the nation.

How Lonoke differs from Arkansas overall

• Higher network quality and 5G availability: Proximity to the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway metro and dense tower siting along I-40 and US‑67/167 give Lonoke County consistently better mid-band 5G availability and faster median mobile speeds than the Arkansas average, especially in Cabot, Ward, Austin, Lonoke, and Carlisle.
• Lower “cellular-only internet” reliance: A smaller share of adults relies solely on a smartphone for all internet needs compared with the statewide rate, because fiber and cable availability in the western/central parts of the county reduce necessity-driven mobile dependence.
• Fewer no‑coverage pockets: Coverage gaps exist (notably in and around Bayou Meto Wildlife Management Area and some low-density farm tracts in the eastern county), but they are less extensive than in many Delta and Ozark counties.
• Higher device penetration among families and commuters: As a fast‑growing suburban/commuter county, Lonoke shows higher multi‑device ownership (smartphone + tablet + in‑car connectivity) and above‑average monthly mobile data consumption versus the state average.

Demographic breakdown of usage (patterns that stand out locally)

• Age
  • Teens and working‑age adults: Very high smartphone adoption (>90%) with heavy app‑driven usage (navigation for commuting, mobile banking, school portals) concentrated along the Cabot–Jacksonville–Little Rock commute corridor.
  • Older adults (65+): Adoption trails younger cohorts (roughly three in four use smartphones), but Lonoke’s seniors are more connected than seniors in many rural Arkansas counties because of better coverage and more family‑plan participation.
• Income and geography
  • Western/central (Cabot/Lonoke city): Higher household incomes and education correlate with high smartphone penetration plus home broadband; mobile is a complement, not a substitute.
  • Eastern agricultural tracts: Lower incomes and longer last‑mile runs push a higher share of “cellular-first” households (smartphone + hotspot) compared with the county average, though still below the statewide share typical of rurals.
• Race/ethnicity
  • Black and Hispanic households in the county exhibit above‑average reliance on smartphones as a primary internet device compared with White households, mirroring statewide patterns, but with smaller gaps than seen elsewhere in Arkansas due to better carrier coverage and growing low‑cost fiber options.

Digital infrastructure and market context

• Carrier footprint: AT&T, T‑Mobile, and Verizon all provide LTE and 5G service across the populated west/central corridors. Mid‑band 5G (e.g., n41/C‑band) is common along I‑40, US‑67/167, and in/around Cabot and Lonoke, driving materially higher median speeds than the state average.
• Tower density and backhaul: Macro sites cluster along highways and towns; ongoing fiber backhaul upgrades by electric‑co‑op builds (e.g., First Electric/Connect2First) and incumbent telcos enable better 5G capacity and indoor coverage in growth areas.
• Coverage constraints: Tree canopy and wetlands near Bayou Meto WMA and very low‑density farm areas reduce indoor signal; residents there report more frequent fallback to LTE or satellite for data.
• Emergency and public safety: FirstNet (AT&T) presence is strong given proximity to the metro and interstate corridors, supporting resilient voice/data for first responders and schools.

Key metrics vs state-level trends (directional)

• Smartphone adoption: Lonoke slightly above Arkansas average due to suburban demographics.
• Wireless‑only households: Lonoke slightly below Arkansas’s very high statewide rate, reflecting better fixed‑broadband alternatives in its growth centers.
• Mobile data speeds and 5G availability: Lonoke above state average along primary corridors and towns; gaps persist but are smaller and more localized than in many rural Arkansas counties.
• Mobile‑only internet dependence: Lower than statewide, concentrated in eastern rural tracts rather than countywide.

Implications

• For residents: Expect generally strong 5G service and competitive plan/pricing options in and around Cabot/Lonoke; consider fixed wireless or fiber where available for heavy home use, reserving mobile for on‑the‑go.
• For planners and providers: The highest return on additional towers or small cells is at suburban growth edges (north of Cabot, Ward/Austin) and along commuter corridors; targeted fill‑in sites or repeaters would most benefit the Bayou Meto/eastern farm tracts.
• For equity initiatives: Mobile‑first affordability programs (ACP replacements, MVNO discounts) and digital skills outreach should be concentrated in rural east‑county census tracts and among lower‑income households, even as fiber expansion continues to reduce mobile‑only dependence.

Social media usage in Lonoke County, Arkansas (2025 snapshot)

Overview

• Population: ~74,700 (U.S. Census 2023 est.)
• Estimated active social media users: ~50,000 (≈67% of total population; ≈77% of residents aged 13+)

Age mix of social media users (share of users)

• 13–17: 9%
• 18–24: 13%
• 25–34: 21%
• 35–44: 20%
• 45–54: 16%
• 55–64: 12%
• 65+: 9%

Gender breakdown (share of users)

• Female: 53%
• Male: 47%

Most‑used platforms in the county (share of social media users)

• YouTube: 84%
• Facebook: 79% (very strong daily use; Groups and Marketplace are key)
• Instagram: 48%
• TikTok: 37%
• Snapchat: 33% (dominant among teens and younger 20s)
• Pinterest: 27% (skews female, home/DIY, recipes)
• X (Twitter): 19%
• LinkedIn: 13% (lower in non-metro areas)
• Nextdoor: 8% (concentrated in Cabot/Austin/Ward neighborhoods)

Behavioral trends

• Community-first usage: Heavy reliance on Facebook Groups for schools, youth sports, churches, local government, and storm/emergency updates. Marketplace is a top local commerce channel.
• Video-forward habits: Short-form video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) drives discovery for local food, events, and small businesses; YouTube remains the go-to for how-to, outdoors, small engine/auto repair.
• Messaging over feeds: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are primary day-to-day communication tools; many local businesses rely on Messenger for inquiries and appointments.
• Shopping and services: Strong engagement with local boutiques, home services, realtors, and seasonal contractors; Pinterest and Facebook help plan projects while purchases/conversions follow via Facebook/Instagram DMs or links.
• Timing: Engagement clusters outside school/work—weekday evenings (about 7–9 pm CT) and weekend mornings—aligning with family schedules and local sports calendars.

Notes on method

• Figures are modeled estimates for Lonoke County using U.S. Census demographics and recent U.S. platform adoption benchmarks (Pew Research Center 2023–2024; DataReportal 2024), adjusted for suburban-rural Southern usage patterns.