Clay County

Clay County, Florida – key demographics (U.S. Census Bureau: 2020 Census; 2018–2022 ACS estimates)

• Population
  • Total: ~220,000 (2020); ~230,000 (recent estimate)
• Age
  • Median age: ~40 years
  • Under 18: ~24%
  • 18–64: ~60–62%
  • 65 and over: ~15–16%
• Gender
  • Female: ~50–51%
  • Male: ~49–50%
• Race/ethnicity (shares of total)
  • White, non-Hispanic: ~68–70%
  • Black or African American: ~12–13%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~10–12%
  • Asian: ~2–3%
  • Two or more races: ~3–4%
  • Other groups (American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander): <1% each
• Households and housing
  • Households: ~75,000–80,000
  • Average household size: ~2.7–2.8
  • Family households: ~70–75% (majority married-couple)
  • Owner-occupied housing rate: ~75–80%

Note: Figures are rounded; use latest ACS tables (e.g., DP05, S1101) or Census QuickFacts for point-in-time values.

Clay County, FL snapshot (≈230k residents; ~380 people/sq mi):

• Estimated email users: 175k–190k. Based on ~90–95% adoption among adults plus most teens 13–17.
• Age pattern (approximate usage):
  • 13–17: 85–95% have email (often for school/logins).
  • 18–34: 97–99% use email; heavy mobile access.
  • 35–64: 95–98%; frequent daily use.
  • 65+: 80–90%; growing with smartphones/tablets.
• Gender split: County is ~51% female; email usage is essentially even across men and women.

Digital access and trends:

• Broadband: 86–89% of households subscribe; 95%+ have a computer or smartphone. Mobile-only internet households are rising (10–12%).
• Network mix: Cable and DSL are common; fiber is strongest in denser areas (Orange Park, Fleming Island, newer subdivisions) with expanding builds. Rural/southern areas see more fixed wireless/satellite.
• Mobile: 4G/5G coverage is broad from major carriers; 5G Home Internet adoption is growing.
• Usage trend: Email remains near-universal for adults; checking via smartphone is dominant. Post‑pandemic connectivity gains (older adults, low‑income plans) have largely persisted, narrowing gaps but with lingering rural dead zones.

Clay County, FL: mobile phone usage snapshot (with local-vs-state contrasts)

Population context

• Residents: about 230,000 (2023 est.); roughly 85,000 households.
• Demographic profile skews suburban/family and slightly younger than Florida overall, with higher median household income and a notable veteran population tied to the Jacksonville/NAS Jax area.

Estimated users and uptake

• Smartphone users: roughly 170,000–185,000 (based on ~88–92% adult adoption plus most teens).
• 5G-capable devices: about 70–80% of smartphone users (slightly above the Florida average, reflecting higher incomes and faster replacement cycles).
• Plan mix: heavier tilt to postpaid, multi-line family plans than the state average; prepaid share likely lower than Florida’s (Florida overall has an unusually high prepaid mix due to tourism and immigrant-heavy metros).
• Fixed wireless access (FWA) as home internet (Verizon/T-Mobile): meaningful uptake in exurban/rural edges (e.g., parts of Middleburg, Keystone Heights), likely above the statewide share in similar-density areas due to patchier wired options.

Demographic influences on usage (vs. Florida)

• Age and families: A larger share of households with children and commuters drives high multi-line plans, heavy school/after-school app use, and strong in-car navigation/streaming during peak travel times. Statewide, senior-heavy counties tilt usage patterns more toward messaging/news and lower daily mobility.
• Income: Median household income is higher than the Florida median, supporting higher 5G device penetration, more unlimited data plans, and hotspot add-ons.
• Race/ethnicity/language: Lower Hispanic share than the Florida average; that typically correlates with slightly lower use of international-calling add‑ons and Spanish-language plan offerings than seen in South Florida metros.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage and capacity:
  • All three national carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile) provide countywide 4G LTE; 5G (including mid‑band) is strong in denser corridors: Orange Park, Fleming Island, Green Cove Springs, Middleburg, along US‑17, SR‑21, Blanding Blvd, and around retail centers.
  • Southwestern and forested areas (near Camp Blanding/Keystone Heights and around large water bodies/greenbelts) still show spottier coverage and lower median speeds compared with the suburban north and east of the county.
  • Daytime congestion is most noticeable on commuter routes into Jacksonville and near schools/shopping hubs; evening home-hour usage is moderated somewhat by good Wi‑Fi offload where cable/fiber exists.
• Backhaul and small cells:
  • Macro tower density tracks the US‑17/SR‑21 corridors; small-cell deployment is present in the busier commercial zones but is less dense than in Florida’s big urban cores (e.g., Miami, Orlando, Tampa).
  • Ongoing improvements are tied to growth along the First Coast Expressway (SR‑23) corridor.
• Home broadband interplay:
  • Cable (Xfinity/Comcast) and expanding AT&T Fiber cover the more populated north/east; fiber is increasingly available in new subdivisions.
  • In outer areas with limited cable/fiber, residents lean on mobile hotspots and FWA, which elevates mobile network load in those pockets compared with Florida’s fiber-rich metros.
• Public and resilience infrastructure:
  • Libraries/schools provide Wi‑Fi access points. The county’s inland location reduces storm-surge risk but flooding along the St. Johns/Black Creek makes outage planning important; carriers routinely stage COWs/COLTs and rely on generator-backed sites during hurricane season.

How Clay County differs from Florida overall

• Device and plan profile: Slightly higher 5G smartphone penetration, more multi‑line postpaid plans; lower prepaid share than the statewide mix.
• Usage patterns: More commuter-driven, in‑vehicle data spikes and school/family app usage; less tourist-driven demand than many Florida coasts.
• Network build: Strong mid‑band 5G where people live/shop, but more pronounced suburban–rural performance gaps than Florida’s largest metros; fewer small cells than big city cores.
• Access substitution: Higher marginal reliance on mobile hotspots/FWA in exurban areas than you’d see in Florida counties with pervasive fiber, nudging up mobile data usage per household in those zones.

Notes on estimates

• Figures are derived from publicly reported adoption rates (national/state), Census/ACS demographics, FCC broadband/coverage filings, and carrier deployment patterns as of 2024. Ranges are provided where county-specific counts are not published.

Clay County, FL social media snapshot (est.)

Population/context

• Residents: ≈230,000; adults (18+): ≈175,000–180,000
• Gender: ≈51% female, 49% male
• Age mix (approx.): under 18 (23%), 18–29 (14%), 30–49 (28%), 50–64 (23%), 65+ (19%)

Most‑used platforms among adults (apply Pew 2024 U.S. adoption rates to Clay County’s adult population; rounded)

• YouTube: 83% → ~145–150k adults
• Facebook: 68% → ~118–122k
• Instagram: 47% → ~80–85k
• Pinterest: 35% → ~60–63k
• TikTok: 33% → ~57–60k
• Snapchat: 30% → ~52–54k
• LinkedIn: 30% → ~52–54k
• WhatsApp: 26% → ~45–47k
• Reddit: 23% → ~40–41k
• X (Twitter): 22% → ~38–40k
• Nextdoor: 19% → ~33–35k Note: These are estimates; actual local shares can vary (suburban counties like Clay often over‑index on Facebook Groups and Nextdoor).

Age-group patterns

• Teens (13–17): Very high on YouTube; heavy TikTok and Snapchat; Instagram strong; Facebook comparatively low. School, sports, and trend content drive use.
• 18–29: Near‑universal YouTube; Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat dominant; Facebook moderate; Reddit/X niche but meaningful.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube lead; Instagram growing; TikTok moderate; LinkedIn relevant for commuters to Jacksonville.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram/Pinterest moderate; TikTok lower; Nextdoor use noticeable in HOA/neighborhood contexts.
• 65+: Facebook highest; YouTube second; Nextdoor and Facebook Groups for local info; Instagram/TikTok limited.

Gender notes

• Women in Clay County are more active on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest; strong participation in Facebook Groups/Marketplace and school/church pages.
• Men skew higher on YouTube, Reddit, and X; Facebook still widely used by both.

Behavioral trends (local/suburban)

• Facebook Groups + Nextdoor: Primary hubs for neighborhoods, HOAs, lost/found pets, yard sales, road closures, and hurricane prep/response. Clay County Sheriff’s Office and county agencies see spikes during storms and emergencies.
• Marketplace culture: Strong buy/sell/trade activity for home, boats, trucks, and kid gear; seasonal surges around back‑to‑school and holidays.
• Family/schools/sports: High engagement with high school sports, youth leagues, band/cheer, and PTA content; photo galleries and short highlight videos perform best.
• Local commerce: Restaurants, home services, real estate, and health/fitness get traction on Facebook/Instagram Reels; reviews and “what’s new/opening” posts drive foot traffic.
• Video‑first consumption: Short‑form Reels/TikToks outperform static posts; how‑to and DIY content strong on YouTube (home improvement is big among homeowners).
• Civic/info spikes: Election cycles, road projects (e.g., SR‑23/First Coast Expressway), and river/creek flooding updates trigger rapid, share‑driven reach.
• Timing: Engagement typically peaks evenings (7–9 pm) and weekends; lunchtime bumps on workdays—consistent with commuter, family schedules.

How to use this

• Anchor on Facebook + YouTube for reach; add Instagram Reels for growth and TikTok for under‑35s.
• Lean into Groups/Nextdoor for hyperlocal reach and trust.
• Use short video, event recaps, and practical “local utility” content (weather, traffic, school, deals).
• For professionals/B2B hiring, add LinkedIn targeting the Jacksonville metro commuter base.

Method note: Figures are county‑level estimates derived by applying Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. social platform adoption rates to Clay County’s 2023–2024 demographic profile (U.S. Census/ACS). For precise local counts, pair this with page/group insights or a regional survey.