Glades County

Key demographics — Glades County, Florida (latest available Census/ACS)

• Population

  • 2020 Census: 13,811
  • 2023 estimate: about 14,200

• Age

  • Median age: about 46–47 years
  • Under 18: ~18%
  • 18–64: ~58–60%
  • 65 and over: ~22–24%

• Sex

  • Male: ~53–54%
  • Female: ~46–47%

• Race/ethnicity (shares of total population)

  • White, non-Hispanic: ~55–57%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~26–29%
  • Black/African American, non-Hispanic: ~11–13%
  • Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~3%
  • Asian, non-Hispanic: ~0.5–1%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: ~0.3–0.7%
  • Other/remaining: ~1%

• Households

  • Total households: about 5,000
  • Average household size: ~2.4 persons
  • Family households: ~60–65% of households
  • Households with children under 18: ~20–25%

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

• Population baseline: ~14,000 (small, rural county; ~14 people per sq. mile).
• Estimated email users: 8,500–10,500 residents. Method: adults ≈ 11,000; apply rural internet/email adoption of ~75–90% (plus a small share of teens).
• Age mix of email users (approx. share of users):
  • 13–17: 4–6% (school-driven, mobile-first).
  • 18–34: 20–25%.
  • 35–64: 50–55% (work, services, commerce).
  • 65+: 20–25% (slightly lower adoption than mid‑age adults but rising).
• Gender split among users: roughly balanced (~50/50), mirroring population.
• Digital access trends:
  • Household broadband subscription likely ~65–75%, below the Florida average due to rurality.
  • Mobile-only internet users are notable (roughly 10–20% of households), reflecting reliance on smartphones where fixed options are limited.
  • Computer ownership trails state averages; smartphone access is more ubiquitous.
  • Adoption is growing, but affordability and coverage remain constraints for lower-income and remote households.
• Connectivity/density facts:
  • Very low density (~14/sq. mi.) raises per‑mile infrastructure costs.
  • Best fixed-line availability clusters around Moore Haven and main corridors (e.g., US‑27); outlying agricultural areas experience patchy fixed broadband and variable speeds.
  • Cellular coverage is common but can have dead zones inland; signal quality impacts email access for mobile-only users.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Glades County, Florida (with emphasis on differences from statewide patterns)

Context

• Small, rural county around Lake Okeechobee; population roughly 14,000. Older age profile, agricultural economy, seasonal population swings (winter residents and farm labor). Sparse settlement outside Moore Haven, Buckhead Ridge, and along US 27/SR 78.

User estimates (order-of-magnitude, based on rural adoption benchmarks and age mix)

• Any mobile phone (feature phone or smartphone): about 10.5k–12.0k users (≈75–85% of total residents). Lower than typical Florida urban counties.
• Smartphone users: roughly 9.0k–10.5k residents (≈65–75% of total; ≈80–88% of adults).
• Mobile-only home internet: about 22–30% of households rely primarily on cellular data (hotspots/phone tethering) rather than cable/DSL/fiber. This is notably higher than Florida’s statewide share.
• Seasonal variance: winter population and harvest seasons likely push temporary user counts and tower load up by 5–15% over off-season baselines.

Demographic patterns in usage

• Age: Older residents are a larger share of the population than state average; they own phones at high rates but have lower smartphone and mobile-data intensity than younger cohorts. Expect more voice/text and fewer data-heavy apps per user than state norms.
• Income and plan type: Higher prevalence of prepaid and budget plans than statewide; greater participation in Lifeline and similar affordability programs. The lapse of ACP subsidies in 2024 likely had outsized impact here.
• Language/community: Hispanic and seasonal agricultural workers rely heavily on WhatsApp/Facebook for messaging and calling, often on prepaid Android devices and shared-family plans.
• Mobile-only households: More common than statewide among low-to-moderate income families and in outlying ranch/farm areas where fixed broadband is limited.
• Public safety/enterprise: First responders and utilities often lean on AT&T FirstNet or Verizon priority services; given the small population, these users represent a higher share of total traffic than in urban counties.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage pattern: Strongest along US 27 corridor, in/near Moore Haven, Buckhead Ridge, and around the Lake Okeechobee rim roads (SR 78). Coverage thins across interior rangeland and wildlife areas; dead zones persist off the main corridors.
• Technology mix: Predominantly 4G LTE for reliable coverage; 5G is present but spotty and primarily low-band. Mid-band 5G (for higher speeds) is limited compared to metro Florida.
• Speed/quality: Median speeds trail state urban benchmarks; capacity constraints show during seasonal peaks. Signal boosters are more common in homes/vehicles than in cities.
• Tower density/backhaul: Fewer macro sites per square mile; backhaul often microwave or limited fiber. New tower builds focus on highways/settlements rather than deep interior coverage.
• Carrier dynamics: AT&T and Verizon generally provide the broadest rural coverage; T‑Mobile reach has improved with low-band 5G but may have capacity gaps. MVNOs are used heavily for cost savings.
• Alternatives: Where cable/DSL is absent or slow, residents turn to fixed wireless (including CBRS), LTE home internet, and satellite (including Starlink). Public Wi‑Fi at the library/schools is an important access point for some households.

How Glades County differs from Florida overall

• Higher reliance on mobile as primary home internet; lower penetration of cable/fiber.
• Lower 5G availability and median speeds; more dependence on low-band spectrum and 4G LTE.
• Higher share of prepaid, budget, and mobile-only users; device replacement cycles are slower.
• More pronounced seasonal swings in network load (winter residents and agricultural seasons).
• Coverage gaps and indoor service challenges are more common; greater use of boosters and Wi‑Fi offload.
• Public safety and utility traffic is a larger share of total usage relative to population.

Notes on methodology and uncertainty

• Figures are estimates synthesized from rural adoption patterns, age/income effects, and typical rural Florida infrastructure profiles. Precise counts fluctuate with seasonal population and carrier upgrades.
• For planning or investment decisions, validate with latest ACS demographics, FCC Broadband Fabric/coverage maps, carrier 5G build-out disclosures, E-Rate fiber deployments for schools/libraries, and on-the-ground drive testing.

Here’s a concise, county-specific snapshot using the latest Pew Research U.S. social media adoption rates, adjusted for rural patterns, and Glades County’s size/age mix.

Headline numbers

• Population: ~14,000; adults (18+): ~11,000.
• Estimated social media users (13+): 7,500–8,500.
• Adult social media users: ~7,000–8,000.
• Access: Home broadband below state average; high smartphone reliance.

Most-used platforms (share of adult residents; estimates)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 70–75%
• Instagram: 35–45%
• TikTok: 25–35%
• Snapchat: 20–25%
• Pinterest: 25–30% (skews female)
• WhatsApp: 15–25% (higher among Hispanic residents and seasonal workers)
• X (Twitter): 15–20%
• LinkedIn: 15–20% (lower given local occupational mix)
• Nextdoor: 3–8% (limited neighborhood density)

Age profile of users (share of social media users)

• 13–17: ~7–9% (heavy on YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok)
• 18–29: ~12–15% (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube; Facebook secondary)
• 30–49: ~28–32% (Facebook, YouTube; rising Instagram/Reels)
• 50–64: ~28–31% (Facebook, YouTube; Pinterest)
• 65+: ~18–22% (Facebook, YouTube; lower on others)

Gender breakdown and platform tilt

• Overall usage: roughly even by gender.
• Women: slightly higher on Facebook and Pinterest; moderate on Instagram.
• Men: slightly higher on YouTube, Reddit, and X.
• Engagement gap: women post and share locally more on Facebook; men more likely to consume video and follow sports/outdoors channels.

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the local hub: groups for county alerts, schools, churches, boating/fishing, hunting, and buy/sell (Marketplace is very active for farm/ranch equipment, boats, ATVs).
• YouTube is “how-to” central: ag/boat repair, DIY, fishing on Lake Okeechobee, weather/hurricane prep.
• Short-form video rising: TikTok and Instagram Reels drive discovery for small businesses (guides, food trucks, outfitters); teens and 18–29 are primary creators.
• Messaging networks matter: WhatsApp used for family/community ties (notably among Hispanic residents and seasonal/migrant workers); Facebook Messenger heavily used across ages.
• News and emergencies: Facebook pages/groups and YouTube/live streams outperform X for local updates; X spikes mainly during severe weather.
• Seasonal “snowbird” bump (winter): temporary increases in Facebook activity and local event content; older seasonal residents engage via groups and pages.
• Access pragmatics: smartphone-first behavior (spotty broadband) favors video, Stories/Reels, and Marketplace over long-form posts or desktop-only platforms.

Method note

• Estimates apply national/rural adoption rates (Pew Research Center, 2023–2024) to Glades County’s size and age mix (ACS/Census). For precise, current counts, validate with platform ad planners (e.g., Meta Ads audience estimates) using a 15–25 mile radius around Moore Haven.