Stone County

Stone County, Arkansas — key demographics

Population size

• 12,359 (2020 Decennial Census)

Age (ACS 2018–2022 5-year)

• Median age: ~51 years
• Under 18: ~20%
• 18–64: ~52%
• 65 and over: ~28%

Gender (ACS 2018–2022 5-year)

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50%

Race/ethnicity (ACS 2018–2022 5-year)

• Non-Hispanic White: ~93%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~2–3%
• American Indian and Alaska Native (non-Hispanic): ~1%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): <1%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): <1%

Households and housing (ACS 2018–2022 5-year)

• Households: ~5,200
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Family households: ~66% of households
• Homeownership rate: ~80%
• Housing units: ~6,800–7,000; vacancy rate high due to seasonal/recreational homes

Insights

• Small, stable population with an older age profile.
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White.
• High homeownership and smaller household sizes, with a notable share of vacant/seasonal units.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates).

Stone County, AR has 12,359 residents (2020 Census) with density ≈20 people per square mile. Estimated email users: ~9,000 residents (≈72% of the population).

Age distribution of email users

• 13–17: 6% (540 users)
• 18–34: 21% (1,900)
• 35–64: 44% (4,000)
• 65+: 29% (2,600)

Gender split

• Roughly even among users (≈50% female, 50% male), mirroring the population.

Digital access and connectivity

• About 65–70% of households subscribe to fixed broadband; 15–20% of adults are smartphone-only for home internet.
• Coverage is improving with ongoing rural fiber builds; best service is in and around Mountain View and along AR‑5/9/14/66, with patchy cellular signal in wooded, hilly areas.
• Public anchors (libraries and schools) provide free Wi‑Fi that supplements home service.

Insights

• Email adoption is highest among working-age adults; seniors lag but are steadily closing the gap as new fiber reaches more homes.
• Low population density and terrain constraints keep mobile and satellite as important complements to wireline service, shaping when and how residents access email.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Stone County, Arkansas

Overview and user estimates

• Total population: about 12–13 thousand residents (2020–2023 range). Adult population roughly 10–11 thousand.
• Estimated mobile phone users (any cell phone): 9.5–10.5 thousand adults.
• Estimated smartphone users: 7.8–9.0 thousand adults (roughly 75–85% of adults), lower than the Arkansas average due to an older age profile and rural coverage constraints.
• Smartphone-only internet households (no home broadband, rely on cellular data): estimated 15–20% of households in Stone County versus a lower share statewide; this is a notable county-state divergence driven by limited wireline options outside Mountain View and other small communities.

Demographic factors influencing usage

• Age skew: Stone County has a significantly older age structure than Arkansas overall, with a much higher share of residents 65+. Older adults adopt smartphones at lower rates and are more likely to use basic/flip phones or minimal data plans. This pulls down countywide smartphone penetration relative to the state.
• Income and education: Median household income and postsecondary attainment trail state averages, contributing to more price-sensitive plan selection (prepaid and MVNOs) and higher likelihood of smartphone-only internet access instead of fixed broadband.
• Rural housing pattern: Dispersed households and rugged terrain increase the cost of wireline buildout and reduce indoor signal quality, reinforcing reliance on cellular where available and driving uneven usage patterns by location.

Digital infrastructure and coverage conditions

• Coverage footprint: LTE coverage is broad along primary corridors (e.g., AR-5, AR-9, AR-14) and in/around Mountain View and other populated spots, but signal reliability drops in hollows and heavily forested areas. 5G low-band is present near population centers but with patchier reach than statewide norms; mid-band 5G is limited.
• Carrier mix: National carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) are present, with AT&T/Verizon generally strongest in geographic reach; T-Mobile’s footprint is improving but remains spottier off main roads compared with statewide coverage patterns.
• Performance: Typical LTE downlink speeds are moderate and variable (often 10–30 Mbps outside town centers), with higher peaks near towers. Indoor coverage challenges are common in valleys; Wi‑Fi calling and external antennas are frequently used to compensate.
• Wireline context affecting mobile reliance: Outside town centers, fiber and cable availability is limited; DSL and fixed wireless are common substitutes. This scarcity of robust home broadband increases the share of residents who lean on smartphones and cellular hotspots for primary connectivity relative to the state.

How Stone County differs from Arkansas overall

• Lower smartphone adoption rate among seniors and a higher countywide share of seniors depress overall smartphone penetration compared with the state.
• Higher prevalence of smartphone-only households than the statewide average, reflecting fewer affordable, high-quality fixed broadband options in rural tracts.
• Slower and less contiguous 5G rollout than the state average; residents more frequently remain on LTE for everyday use.
• Greater reliance on prepaid/MVNO plans and data-constrained offerings, driven by income mix and coverage variability.
• More pronounced location-based usage gaps: residents report strong service in towns and along highways but weak or no-service pockets in valleys and forested areas, a pattern that is less severe at the statewide level.

Implications

• Mobile usage is robust where coverage allows, but the county’s older demographics and terrain-driven coverage gaps keep smartphone penetration and 5G utilization below Arkansas averages.
• Policy or provider investments that expand mid-band 5G and extend fiber backhaul to additional towers would materially narrow the county–state gap.
• Programs targeting senior digital adoption and device affordability could have outsized impact on raising smartphone uptake and effective use in Stone County.

Social media usage in Stone County, Arkansas (2024 snapshot)

Scope and method

• There is no official, platform-by-platform dataset at the county level. Figures below are 2024 modeled estimates for Stone County’s adult population, combining U.S. Census Bureau population structure (Stone County population 12,359 in 2020) with Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 social media adoption by age and rural residency, adjusted for the county’s older, rural profile.

User stats

• Adult social media users: roughly 6,500–7,500 residents
• Adult penetration: about 65–75% of adults use at least one social platform
• Multi-platforming: ~60% of users use 2+ platforms; ~30% use 3+

Age groups (share of social media users)

• 18–34: ~22–26%
• 35–54: ~32–36%
• 55+: ~38–45% Note: The user base skews older than the U.S. average due to the county’s age structure.

Gender breakdown (share of social media users)

• Female: ~52–55%
• Male: ~45–48% Note: Slight female tilt reflects both local age structure and platform mixes (Facebook, Pinterest).

Most-used platforms among adults (estimated % of adults)

• YouTube: 70–78%
• Facebook: 65–72%
• Instagram: 24–32%
• TikTok: 20–28%
• Snapchat: 15–22% (concentrated among teens/20s)
• X (Twitter): 12–18%
• Pinterest: 25–30% (skews female; DIY, recipes, crafts resonate locally)
• Facebook Messenger: 55–65% (primary messaging app; WhatsApp is niche)

Behavioral trends

• Facebook-first community: Heavy use of Groups for local news, schools, churches, events, classifieds; Marketplace is a key utility. Page engagement favors practical updates, photos, and short videos.
• Video is dominant: YouTube and Facebook short-form (Reels) drive reach; how-to, local music/events, outdoors (hunting/fishing), home repair, and product demos over-index.
• Trust in local signals: Posts from known people, local businesses, and civic entities outperform generic brand content; comments/replies matter for credibility.
• Messaging for coordination: Facebook Messenger commonly used for family, church, team, and volunteer coordination; group chats amplify event turnout.
• Time-of-day patterns: Peaks in early evening (6–9 pm) and late morning (10 am–noon); weekend posting performs well for events and sales.
• Discovery paths: Local Groups > friend shares > search; hashtags matter less than clear local wording and place names.
• Ad responsiveness: Geo-targeting within 15–25 miles of Mountain View performs best; promotions tied to events, limited-time offers, or practical savings drive clicks.

Notes and sources

• Population baseline: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial (Stone County: 12,359).
• Adoption and platform mix modeled from Pew Research Center’s Social Media Use in 2023/2024, with rural and age adjustments. Figures are county-specific estimates, not platform-reported counts.