Calhoun County

Here are current, high-level demographics for Calhoun County, Florida. Figures are rounded; latest sources noted.

Population

• Total: ~13,800 (2023 estimate, U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program)

Age

• Median age: ~41 years
• Under 18: ~21%
• 65 and over: ~19%

Gender

• Male: ~52–53%
• Female: ~47–48% (Note: institutional populations can influence the sex ratio.)

Race and ethnicity (shares of total population)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~73–75%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~15–17%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~6–8%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~1%
• Asian: <1%
• Two or more races/Other: ~3–4%

Households

• Number of households: ~4,800
• Average household size: ~2.5
• Family households: ~70% of households
• Married-couple families: ~45–50% of households
• Homeownership rate: ~75%

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

Calhoun County, Florida (pop. ~13.6k; ~24 people/sq. mile) is rural with patchy fixed broadband and improving but uneven LTE/5G. Fiber is expanding along main corridors; many households are smartphone‑only. Libraries/schools provide key public Wi‑Fi; post–Hurricane Michael rebuild accelerated some upgrades.

Estimated email users: 9,000–11,000 residents (≈65–80% of population) use email at least monthly, driven largely by mobile access. Estimate modeled from ACS broadband/device indicators, Pew rural tech adoption, and typical email use among internet users.

Age distribution of email users (approx.):

• 13–34: 90–95% adoption; ~3.2–3.9k users
• 35–64: 80–90%; ~4.3–4.9k users
• 65+: 55–70%; ~1.3–1.9k users

Gender split: Roughly even (near 50/50) among active users; small skew can vary by age cohort.

Digital access trends:

• Gradual rise in home broadband subscriptions; fiber and fixed wireless gaining share.
• High reliance on smartphones for email; “smartphone‑only” households common.
• Connectivity gaps persist in low‑density outskirts; satellite and fixed wireless fill coverage.
• Increased email use for government services, telehealth, and schools since 2020.

Notes: Figures are estimates tailored from national/rural patterns and county demographics; actual usage varies by neighborhood and carrier coverage.

Below is a county-level snapshot built from public datasets (Census/ACS computer-and-internet indicators, FCC coverage filings, Pew smartphone adoption trends) plus regional context for the rural central Panhandle. Figures are estimates to reflect likely 2023–2024 conditions.

Headline takeaways

• Calhoun County is more mobile-dependent than Florida overall, with a higher share of “smartphone-only” internet users and lower 5G availability.
• Adoption is notably lower among seniors and low-income residents relative to statewide rates.
• Coverage and capacity are strongest in/around Blountstown and Altha, with patchier service in forested and river-adjacent areas; mid-band 5G is sparse.

User estimates

• Population and base: About 14,000 residents; roughly 10,500–11,000 adults.
• Adult smartphone users: Estimated 7,700–8,600 (roughly 72–80% of adults), about 5–15 percentage points lower than Florida statewide.
• Basic/feature-phone users: Estimated 1,100–1,600 adults (10–15%), higher share than state.
• Adults without a mobile phone: Estimated 500–900 (5–8%), higher than state.
• Smartphone-only internet households (no home wireline): Estimated 800–1,100 households, about 18–24% of households vs roughly low-teens statewide.
• Plan mix: Prepaid share materially higher than the Florida average; multi-line family plans and wearables/tablets are less prevalent than in metro counties.

Demographic breakdown (usage patterns)

• Age
  • 18–34: Very high smartphone take-up (≈90–95%); heavy data reliance where home broadband is limited.
  • 35–64: High but below state (≈80–90%).
  • 65+: Substantially lower than state (≈55–65% vs ~75%+ statewide); more basic phones and voice/SMS-only use.
• Income
  • Under $35k: Lower ownership and more prepaid; highest smartphone-only internet reliance.
  • $35–75k: Near-average ownership; often use mobile data to supplement slow DSL/satellite.
  • $75k+: Ownership similar to state; more likely to have both home broadband and mobile.
• Geography within the county
  • Blountstown/Altha: Best coverage and capacity; some fixed wireless (5G home internet) eligibility.
  • Rural south and river/forest areas (e.g., around Dead Lakes, Scotts Ferry, Kinard): More dead zones, weaker indoor signal, and slower data.
• Race/ethnicity
  • After accounting for income and location, ownership gaps are modest; Black and Hispanic residents are somewhat more likely to be smartphone-only internet users than white residents.
• Behavior
  • Longer device replacement cycles (often 3–5 years).
  • Heavier reliance on public Wi‑Fi (libraries, schools) for large downloads/updates than in metro Florida.

Digital infrastructure points

• Carriers and coverage
  • AT&T and Verizon provide the most consistent LTE coverage; T-Mobile coverage is improving but remains spottier, especially off main corridors.
  • Outdoor LTE is generally available in towns and along SR‑20 and SR‑71; indoor coverage can be weak in metal-roof structures and low-lying areas.
• 5G footprint
  • Low-band 5G is present on primary corridors and in towns.
  • Mid-band 5G (e.g., C‑band/2.5 GHz) appears limited to small pockets near Blountstown/Altha; rural areas remain LTE-first. This materially lags Florida’s metro counties.
• Performance
  • Typical LTE speeds: roughly 5–40 Mbps, variable by site load and foliage; mid-band 5G can deliver 100–300+ Mbps where available.
• Cell sites/backhaul
  • On the order of ~20 macro sites countywide, with microwave backhaul still common outside towns; fiber backhaul more limited than the state average.
  • Hurricane Michael hardening improved some sites, but power/battery backup depth remains uneven compared to metro Florida.
• Fixed alternatives and substitution
  • Wireline broadband outside town centers is sparse; many addresses lack cable/fiber and rely on older DSL or satellite. This pushes higher mobile data dependence than statewide.
  • Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) from Verizon/T‑Mobile is available for some in-town and corridor addresses; availability is address-specific and not countywide.
• Public connectivity
  • Libraries, schools, and some civic buildings provide Wi‑Fi that residents use to offset mobile data caps and limited home broadband.
• Emergency coverage
  • E911/WEA support is standard, but remote-area location accuracy and call reliability can be less consistent than in urban Florida.

How Calhoun differs from Florida overall (key trends)

• Adoption: Adult smartphone ownership is lower by roughly 5–15 points, driven by age and income mix.
• Dependence: Smartphone-only internet households are meaningfully higher (about 18–24% vs low-teens statewide).
• Network: 5G mid-band coverage and average mobile speeds are lower; more dead zones and weaker indoor signal in rural tracts.
• Plans: Higher prepaid share; more price-sensitive usage and smaller data buckets.
• Devices: Longer replacement cycles; fewer secondary lines/devices per person.
• Resiliency: Greater sensitivity to outages/backhaul constraints during severe weather than most Florida metros.

Notes on method and uncertainty

• County-level smartphone and “cellular-only” internet reliance are inferred by blending ACS computer-and-internet-use indicators for rural Florida counties with national smartphone adoption benchmarks and local infrastructure patterns; exact figures vary by tract and carrier.
• Coverage and performance vary by address; check carrier maps and address-level eligibility for FWA or mid-band 5G before making service decisions.

Below is a concise, data‑informed snapshot of social media usage in Calhoun County, FL. Because there’s no official county‑level social‑media census, figures are estimates extrapolated from Pew Research (2023–2024) platform benchmarks, rural-community patterns, and Calhoun’s small, rural demographic profile (population ~14K; adults ~10.5–11K).

Overall user stats (adults 18+)

• Social media penetration: 70–78% of adults (≈7.5K–8.5K users)
• Primary access: smartphone-first; home broadband less universal than urban FL, so short-form video and messaging are favored
• Teen usage (13–17): near-universal (90%+ use at least one platform)

Most-used platforms (adults; est. share of adults who use each)

• YouTube: 78–85%
• Facebook: 65–72% (dominant for local news, groups, Marketplace)
• Instagram: 32–40%
• TikTok: 25–32%
• Pinterest: 30–35% (strong among women, DIY, recipes, crafts)
• Snapchat: 22–28% (skews under 30)
• WhatsApp: 20–28% (family comms, some small-business use)
• X (Twitter): 18–22%
• Reddit: 15–20%
• LinkedIn: 12–18% (lower in rural areas/blue‑collar mix)

Age profile and platform skew (local pattern mirrors national/rural trends)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube ~95%; TikTok 60–70%; Snapchat 60–65%; Instagram ~55–60%; Facebook ~30–35%
• 18–29: Near‑universal social use; heavy YouTube/Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok; Facebook used but less posted to
• 30–49: High social use; Facebook and YouTube lead; Instagram moderate; TikTok usage growing, especially among parents
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominant; Instagram/TikTok lower but rising
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube mainly; minimal use of others

Gender breakdown (directional, based on national patterns applied locally)

• Overall social users: roughly balanced; women slightly more active on Facebook/Pinterest, men on YouTube/Reddit/X
• By platform (approximate tilt):
  • Facebook: more women (≈55–60% female)
  • Instagram: slight female majority (≈52–55% female)
  • TikTok/Snapchat: slight female majority
  • YouTube: more men (≈55–60% male)
  • Reddit/X: more men (≈60–70% male)
  • Pinterest: predominantly women (≈70–80% female)

Behavioral trends (what people do and how to reach them)

• Community info hub: Facebook Groups for school updates, road/weather alerts, law enforcement notices, church and civic events; Marketplace is a daily habit (autos, tools, farm/ranch items)
• Local pride/content: High engagement with high‑school sports, hunting/fishing, outdoor projects, faith/family milestones
• Video first: Short vertical video (Reels/TikTok/YouTube Shorts) performs best; how‑to and local-interest clips get strong completion
• Messaging-driven: Facebook Messenger (and some WhatsApp) for coordinating family, teams, and church groups
• Timing: Peaks evenings (7–10 pm) and weekends; surge activity around storms/hurricane season and school calendars
• Small business use: Boutiques, salons, food trucks, contractors lean on Facebook + Instagram; boosted posts and local group shares outperform organic pages alone
• Trust/word‑of‑mouth: Recommendations in local groups and yard‑sale communities drive real-world foot traffic more than polished brand pages

Notes for use

• Treat percentages as estimates for planning. For precise targeting, sample local Facebook/Instagram audience sizes and group membership counts, then refine.