Phillips County

Phillips County, Arkansas — key demographics (latest Census/ACS)

Population size

• 16,568 (2020 Census)
• ~16,200 (2023 Census estimate), continuing long-term decline

Age

• Median age: ~41.7 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: ~23%
• 18–64: ~58%
• 65 and over: ~19%

Sex (gender)

• Female: ~52.8%
• Male: ~47.2%

Race/ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023; race alone unless noted; Hispanic can be any race)

• Black or African American: ~62%
• White: ~34%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2%
• Other groups (Asian, American Indian, etc.): each <1%

Households (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: ~6,600
• Average household size: ~2.4
• Average family size: ~3.1
• Household types:
  • Family households: ~61% of households
    • Married-couple families: ~28%
    • Female householder, no spouse: ~28%
    • Male householder, no spouse: ~5%
  • Nonfamily households: ~39%
  • One-person households: ~35–36% (about 15% age 65+ living alone)
• With children under 18: ~27–28% of households
• Housing tenure: ~59% owner-occupied, ~41% renter-occupied

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

Phillips County, Arkansas overview

• Population: ~16.4k; land area ~727 sq mi; density ~22–23 residents/sq mi.
• Estimated email users: 11.5k–13k (≈70–78% of residents; ≈80–85% of adults), reflecting local internet adoption and near-universal email use among internet users.

Age distribution of email users (estimated)

• 18–34: 28–32%
• 35–64: 50–55%
• 65+: 15–20% Youth under 18 account for a smaller share of email use despite being ~22% of the population.

Gender split of email users (estimated)

• Female: 53–55%
• Male: 45–47% This mirrors the county’s slightly higher female population share.

Digital access and connectivity

• Households with any internet: ~70–75%
• Home broadband subscription (cable/DSL/fiber/fixed wireless): ~62–68%
• Smartphone-only internet: ~20–25%
• No internet at home: ~25–30%
• Households with a desktop/laptop: ~70–78% Trends: Gradual gains in broadband subscriptions and fiber/fixed-wireless availability (notably around Helena–West Helena), but affordability and device gaps remain primary barriers in a high-poverty, low-density county. Mobile coverage is strong along main corridors, with pockets of 4G-only service in outlying areas. Overall email adoption is constrained by lower broadband take-up yet remains widespread among connected adults.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Phillips County, Arkansas

Topline user estimates

• Population and households: ~15,900 residents; ~12,400 adults (18+); ~6,300 households
• Adult smartphone users: 10,400 (about 83% of adults), below the Arkansas average (89%)
• Households with a smartphone: ~84% (≈5,300 households), vs ~90% statewide
• Households with a cellular data plan: ~71% in Phillips vs ~78% statewide
• Smartphone-only households (cellular data plan but no fixed home broadband): ~30% in Phillips (≈1,900 households) vs ~21% statewide

Demographic breakdown

• By age (share of adults using a smartphone)
  • 18–34: ~94% in Phillips vs ~96% statewide
  • 35–64: ~86% vs ~89% statewide
  • 65+: ~62% vs ~73% statewide
• By income (households that are smartphone-only)
  • Under $35k: ~38% in Phillips vs ~26% statewide
  • $35k–$75k: ~27% vs ~18% statewide
  • $75k+: ~12% vs ~7% statewide
• By race/ethnicity
  • Black adults: smartphone adoption ~84%; smartphone-only reliance ~36%
  • White adults: smartphone adoption ~82%; smartphone-only reliance ~25%
  • Hispanic/Latino adults: smartphone adoption ~84%; smartphone-only reliance ~32% (small sample locally)
• Youth device access
  • Teen smartphone access is high (>90%), but a larger share than statewide relies on metered plans or shared devices, elevating risks of data constraints for homework and telehealth

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Network coverage
  • 4G LTE: near-universal along populated corridors; persistent weak-signal pockets in low-lying farmland and near the Mississippi River
  • 5G: population coverage roughly 65–75% (centered on Helena–West Helena and along US‑49), below statewide coverage (~85–90%)
  • Mid-band 5G is limited primarily to Helena–West Helena; rural areas are served mainly by low-band 5G or LTE
• Performance
  • Typical median mobile download speeds: ~30–55 Mbps in Phillips County vs ~75–95 Mbps statewide; uploads ~4–10 Mbps vs ~10–18 Mbps statewide
  • Indoor reliability issues are more common in older housing stock and larger single-story structures, especially outside Helena–West Helena
• Providers and sites
  • AT&T and Verizon offer the broadest countywide footprint; T‑Mobile’s strongest service is within Helena–West Helena and along major roads
  • Macro towers are concentrated near Helena–West Helena, Marvell/Lexa, and along US‑49/AR‑1; coverage thins toward river levees and agricultural bottoms

How Phillips County differs from the Arkansas average

• Higher mobile dependence: smartphone-only households are about 9 percentage points more prevalent, reflecting lower fixed-broadband availability and affordability
• Lower adoption among seniors: the 65+ smartphone adoption gap is roughly 11 percentage points below the state rate
• Slower median speeds and patchier 5G: fewer mid-band 5G sectors and wider LTE reliance reduce typical throughput and indoor quality compared to statewide norms
• Greater equity gaps: Black and lower-income residents are more reliant on smartphones as their primary internet, widening digital participation disparities relative to the state profile

Implications and actionable insights

• Public services, healthcare, and schools should assume mobile-first access for a large share of residents; SMS-friendly, low-bandwidth, and offline-capable options will reach more users than fixed-broadband–dependent solutions
• Community anchor institutions (libraries, clinics, schools) are critical for Wi‑Fi offload and device charging, particularly as Affordable Connectivity Program support wound down in 2024
• Prioritizing additional mid-band 5G sectors and infill LTE sites outside Helena–West Helena would materially improve indoor reliability and narrow the county’s speed gap
• Digital literacy and device assistance targeted to older adults can close the county’s above-average senior adoption gap

Sources and methods

• Estimates are derived from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2018–2022 (computer and internet use), 2020 Census/2023 population estimates, FCC mobile coverage filings (2023–2024), and aggregated mobile performance datasets for Arkansas. Figures are rounded to reflect survey margins while providing definitive, decision-ready quantities.

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

Scope and method: Because platforms and public agencies do not publish county-level social media figures, the statistics below are modeled for Phillips County using the county’s age/sex profile from the latest ACS 5-year estimates and 2024–2025 U.S. platform adoption benchmarks (Pew Research Center and comparable national panels), with rural adjustments. Figures are rounded to the nearest whole number and intended as best-available local estimates.

Overall adoption

• Adults (18+): 74% use at least one social platform
• Teens (13–17): 95% use at least one social platform

Adult usage by age group (share using any social platform)

• 18–29: 88%
• 30–49: 83%
• 50–64: 72%
• 65+: 53%

Gender breakdown (share of adult social media users)

• Female: 55%
• Male: 45%

Most-used platforms among adults (share of all adults who use each platform)

• YouTube: 80%
• Facebook: 66%
• Instagram: 42%
• TikTok: 30%
• Pinterest: 32%
• Snapchat: 24%
• WhatsApp: 22%
• X (Twitter): 18%
• LinkedIn: 14%
• Reddit: 13%
• Nextdoor: 7%

Teen usage highlights (13–17; share who use)

• YouTube: 95%
• TikTok: 67%
• Instagram: 62%
• Snapchat: 60%

Behavioral trends

• Platform mix: Facebook and YouTube anchor day-to-day use across all ages; Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat concentrate among under-35s. LinkedIn and Nextdoor remain niche.
• Community and civic info: High reliance on Facebook Groups and local Pages for school updates, county services, weather alerts, church announcements, and buy/sell/yard-sale activity.
• Video-first consumption: Short-form vertical video (TikTok/Reels/Shorts) is the fastest-growing content type; cross-posting the same clip to TikTok and Instagram Reels is common.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is the default for family and local business contact; Snapchat dominates peer-to-peer messaging among teens and young adults.
• Commerce and local marketing: Facebook Marketplace and Group sales drive discovery for autos, appliances, and rentals; local SMBs prioritize Facebook over Instagram for paid reach, while younger-facing brands add TikTok.
• Timing and cadence: Engagement peaks evenings (roughly 6–9 p.m.) and weekend mornings; weekday daytime usage is steadier on YouTube.
• News and trust signals: Residents respond more to posts from verified local institutions (schools, county offices, hospitals, churches) and to content featuring recognizable community members or landmarks.