Bradford County

Which data vintage would you like? I can summarize either:

• Latest American Community Survey (ACS) 2019–2023 5-year estimates (best for a full demographic profile), or
• 2020 Decennial Census counts (best for exact population/race counts at the 2020 snapshot).

Once you choose, I’ll provide a concise, data-driven snapshot covering population size, age, gender, race/ethnicity, and household metrics.

Bradford County, FL snapshot (estimates)

• Population: ~29,000; rural density about 90–100 people per sq. mile.
• Estimated email users: 20,000–23,000 residents (age 13+). Based on national email adoption (~90% of adults) adjusted slightly downward for rural connectivity.

Email users by age (share of users)

• 13–17: ~6–7%
• 18–29: ~18%
• 30–49: ~32%
• 50–64: ~26%
• 65+: 20–21% Note: Adoption is highest among 18–49 (95–97%), lower among 65+ (~75–80%).

Gender split

• Roughly even, ~51% female / 49% male among users (mirrors population).

Digital access and trends

• Households with broadband: ~78–82%.
• Households with a computer: ~85–90%.
• Smartphone-only internet reliance: ~15–20% of households (higher in rural zones).
• Public Wi‑Fi at schools and the county library system supplements access.

Local connectivity notes

• Best fixed broadband coverage clusters around Starke/US‑301; outlying communities (e.g., Lawtey, Brooker, Hampton) show more DSL/satellite reliance and lower speeds.
• Mobile coverage is generally available but can be variable in forested/low-density areas.

Method: Estimates synthesize ACS broadband/computer access, Pew email adoption by age, and typical rural Florida/FCC coverage patterns, tuned to Bradford’s size and settlement pattern.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Bradford County, Florida (with differences vs state-level)

User base and adoption (estimates)

• Population: ≈28–29k residents. Because several state correctional facilities are in or near the county, the civilian, non‑institutional adult population is smaller than the headline population; think ≈21–23k adults in households.
• Smartphone users: ≈18–20k adult smartphone users (roughly 82–87% adoption among adults in households). This trails Florida’s overall adult smartphone adoption (≈88–92%) due to older age structure, lower incomes, and rurality.
• Mobile‑only internet: An estimated 25–30% of adult internet users rely on smartphones as their primary or only home connection (vs ≈18–22% statewide), reflecting patchier wired broadband and tighter household budgets.
• Lines per user: More single‑line accounts and family prepaid bundles than state average; business lines per capita are lower than in metro Florida.

Demographic shape of usage (how it differs from Florida overall)

• Age: Larger share of residents 50+ and 65+. Estimated smartphone ownership among 65+ is ≈65–70% locally (vs ≈75–80% statewide), pulling down the county’s overall adoption.
• Income and education: Lower median income and educational attainment than the state average correlate with:
  • Higher reliance on prepaid/budget brands (Cricket, Metro, Boost, etc.), likely 35–45% of lines (vs ≈20–30% statewide).
  • Greater smartphone‑only connectivity for home internet and a higher sensitivity to data caps/throttling.
• Race/ethnicity: Bradford has a higher share of Black residents and a much smaller Hispanic/Latino share than Florida overall. Device ownership rates for Black residents tend to be on par with or higher than white residents nationally, but language‑driven app/plan customization (common in South Florida) is less of a factor here.
• Platform mix: Android likely over‑indexes relative to Florida’s metro markets; iPhone share correspondingly lower—consistent with rural, price‑sensitive markets.

Digital infrastructure and coverage (local specifics vs statewide norms)

• Cellular coverage:
  • 4G LTE is strong in and around Starke and along US‑301/FL‑100; coverage thins in sparsely populated areas, near forested tracts, and around lakes. Residents report dead zones off main corridors and in low‑lying areas.
  • 5G: Low‑band 5G covers main corridors; mid‑band 5G (for higher speeds) is concentrated near population centers like Starke and along 301. Net: 5G availability and median speeds lag metro Florida.
  • Carrier mix: All three nationals (AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile) are present. Verizon/AT&T typically have the edge for rural reach; T‑Mobile’s mid‑band capacity is more hit‑or‑miss outside town.
• Home broadband interplay:
  • Cable and fiber are available mainly in and around Starke (with pockets in Lawtey); many outlying areas rely on legacy DSL or have no wired option.
  • Fixed‑wireless access (LTE/5G home internet) is widely marketed and fills gaps beyond cable/fiber footprints to a greater extent than in urban Florida.
  • Public Wi‑Fi (library, schools, municipal buildings) plays an outsized role for updates, downloads, and homework compared with metro counties.
• Performance:
  • In‑town speeds are generally adequate for HD streaming and telehealth; speeds and reliability drop quickly off main roads.
  • More households use signal boosters or external antennas than in cities.

Behavioral and plan trends that diverge from Florida overall

• Higher prepaid and budget plan adoption; more frequent plan switching to chase promotions.
• More conservative data usage patterns (video resolution limits, off‑peak use) because of data caps and variable signal quality.
• Greater reliance on mobile hotspots for homework and remote work outside town centers.
• Slightly higher voice/SMS dependence for essential communication (school, work, services) due to patchy app performance where data is weak.
• 5G device penetration is growing but still behind state averages; a noticeable share of older LTE‑only handsets remains in use.

What this means at a glance

• Total adult smartphone users: ≈18–20k
• Distinctive traits vs Florida: lower overall adoption, older user base, higher prepaid share, more mobile‑only households, patchier mid‑band 5G, heavier use of fixed‑wireless and public Wi‑Fi to fill wired gaps

Notes on methodology

• Estimates synthesize national/regional adoption benchmarks (e.g., Pew) adjusted for rural counties, local age/income mix, and the presence of correctional facilities (incarcerated populations are not part of the household mobile‑user base). Ranges are provided to reflect data uncertainty at the county level.

Bradford County, FL — social media snapshot (short, 2025) Note: County-level platform data isn’t directly published. Figures below are modeled estimates based on Pew Research Center 2023–2024 U.S. usage, rural-versus-urban differentials, and Bradford County population (≈29K). Treat as directional.

User stats

• Estimated monthly social media users: 16K–19K adults (roughly 70–80% of adult residents)
• Active frequency: Most check daily; heavy users (multiple times/day) skew under 35

Most-used platforms (share of local social media users; users often use multiple)

• YouTube: 82–86%
• Facebook: 72–78%
• Instagram: 38–45%
• TikTok: 27–33%
• Snapchat: 22–28%
• Pinterest: 25–32% (female‑skewed)
• X (Twitter): 15–20%
• Reddit: 10–15% (male‑skewed)
• LinkedIn: 10–14% (primarily 25–44)
• WhatsApp: 10–14% (smaller in this market)
• Nextdoor: 5–9% (limited neighborhood coverage; Facebook groups fill the gap)

Age patterns

• Teens (13–17): Very high use; heavy on YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat; Instagram rising; Facebook low
• 18–29: Near‑universal use; Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok dominant; YouTube daily; Facebook used for events/groups
• 30–49: Broadest multi‑platform use; Facebook (groups/Marketplace), YouTube, Instagram; TikTok/Reels growing
• 50–64: High Facebook and YouTube; Pinterest meaningful; Instagram moderate; TikTok lower but increasing
• 65+: Majority on Facebook; YouTube for news/how‑to; limited Instagram/TikTok

Gender breakdown (approximate, following national skews applied locally)

• Overall active users: roughly even (about 50–55% female, 45–50% male)
• Platform skews: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest skew female; YouTube, Reddit, X skew male

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: local news, school and church events, HS sports, yard sales, missing pets, traffic/weather updates; Marketplace is heavily used for local buying/selling.
• YouTube is the go‑to for practical content: DIY/home/auto repair, hunting/fishing/outdoors, faith content, and local government or school board videos.
• Short‑form video is rising: Instagram Reels and TikTok see strong under‑40 engagement; local businesses use them for promos, new inventory, and event highlights.
• Teens/young adults prefer private/ephemeral: Snapchat and Instagram DMs drive day‑to‑day communication.
• Nextdoor presence is patchy; residents rely on Facebook groups for neighborhood‑level info.
• Peak engagement times: Evenings (7–10 pm), lunchtime, and weekends; spikes around severe weather, school/game nights, and community incidents.
• Content that performs: Hyper‑local, timely, useful, and “face‑forward” posts; service updates, lost/found, road closures, local wins, and practical how‑tos.
• Ad receptivity: Strong for geo‑local offers (10–20 miles around Starke/Lawtey/Hampton); value/utility messaging outperforms brand‑only creative.