Baldwin County

Here are current, high-level demographics for Baldwin County, Georgia (latest U.S. Census Bureau data: 2020 Census; 2019–2023 ACS 5‑year estimates):

• Population: about 44,000 (2023 estimate; 2020 Census count ~43,800)
• Age:
  • Median age: ~35 years
  • Under 18: ~18%
  • 65 and over: ~15%
• Gender: ~52% male, ~48% female (male share elevated due to group quarters)
• Race/ethnicity (shares of total population):
  • Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~51%
  • White (non-Hispanic): ~41%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~4%
  • Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~3%
  • Asian: ~1%
  • Other: ~1%
• Households:
  • Total households: ~16,800
  • Average household size: ~2.4
  • Family households: ~60% of households
  • Homeownership rate: ~56%
  • Median household income: about $48,000

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5‑year estimates.

Baldwin County, GA overview (pop ≈44,000)

Estimated email users

• 30,000–34,000 residents (≈80–90% of those age 13+)

Age pattern (approximate adoption among residents)

• 13–17: 75–85%
• 18–29: ~95% (boosted by Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville)
• 30–49: ~92%
• 50–64: ~85%
• 65+: ~70%

Gender split

• Near parity; women slightly higher adoption. Expected users ≈51% female, 49% male.

Digital access trends and local connectivity

• Household broadband subscription likely mid‑70s to low‑80s percent, with higher reliance on smartphone‑only internet in rural tracts.
• Stronger connectivity in Milledgeville (campus/Wi‑Fi, denser housing); patchier speeds and take‑up in outlying areas.
• Population density ≈170 people per square mile; density and institution-led Wi‑Fi contribute to higher email use in the urban core.

Notes: Figures are estimates applying national/Georgia email-adoption benchmarks (e.g., Pew Research) to Baldwin County’s size and age mix (U.S. Census/ACS).

Below is a concise, locally tuned snapshot of mobile phone usage in Baldwin County, Georgia, with emphasis on how patterns differ from Georgia overall.

User estimates (order‑of‑magnitude)

• Total residents: ~44,000 (Milledgeville-centered, mix of small‑city and rural).
• Estimated people using a mobile phone: ~34,000–39,000 residents.
  • Rationale: adult smartphone ownership is very high statewide, but Baldwin’s sizable institutionalized population and older rural tracts pull usage down, while a large college population (Georgia College & State University) pulls it up. Net effect: slightly below big‑metro Georgia on per‑capita smartphones, but above typical rural counties.
• Mobile‑only internet households: meaningfully above the state average (directionally in the high‑teens to mid‑20s percent range), driven by patchy fixed broadband outside Milledgeville and budget constraints.

Demographic breakdown (what stands out locally vs Georgia overall)

• Age
  • 18–24 spike from GCSU raises smartphone penetration and data‑heavy behaviors (video, campus apps, ride‑hail, food delivery) above rural norms; prepaid/MVNO lines are common among students.
  • 65+ segment is proportionally sizable in lake‑area and rural tracts; smartphone adoption trails the state’s metro seniors, but telehealth via cellular has grown since the pandemic.
• Income and plan type
  • Median income below the Georgia average → higher reliance on prepaid/MVNO plans and shared family plans; more price sensitivity to unlimited data tiers.
  • Mobile‑only internet use is notably higher among lower‑income and renter households.
• Race/ethnicity
  • Black residents are a larger share than the state average; consistent with national patterns, Black and lower‑income households show higher smartphone‑dependence (phone as primary internet device) than White households—accentuated where fixed broadband is weakest.
• Student vs. permanent residents
  • Seasonal swings: traffic and capacity needs rise sharply during semesters and events; summers/holidays shift load to lake areas (Lake Sinclair) and visiting second‑home owners.

Digital infrastructure and coverage (local highlights)

• Networks present: All three national carriers serve the county; 5G is broadly available in and around Milledgeville on low‑band, with mid‑band 5G/LTE capacity on select sites; rural edges remain LTE‑centric.
• Coverage pattern: Stronger along US‑441/GA‑22 corridors and town centers; weaker pockets around Lake Sinclair coves, river bottoms, and wooded lowlands where terrain/foliage impact signal.
• Capacity pinch‑points: Campus areas, event venues, and high‑density student housing see evening and weekend congestion more than typical Georgia small towns.
• Backhaul and speed: Where fiber backhaul is limited, cell sites show lower peak speeds vs metro Georgia; performance improves near newer fiber laterals and in-town cable/fiber footprints.
• Fixed broadband interplay: Cable and some fiber in Milledgeville; DSL, WISPs, and satellite on the fringes. This drives higher mobile hotspot use and “phone-as-home-internet” behavior than the state average.
• Public-safety and resilience: FirstNet (AT&T) presence improves emergency coverage; fewer redundant routes than metro areas means outages can affect larger swaths, pushing temporary spikes to neighboring cells.
• Affordability programs: With the ACP wind‑down, cost pressures have nudged some households toward prepaid/MVNO and mobile‑only solutions; Lifeline remains but is narrower in scope.

How Baldwin County differs most from Georgia overall

• Higher share of mobile‑only internet households and heavier hotspot use, due to patchier fixed broadband outside the core.
• More prepaid/MVNO penetration (income/student mix) and greater price sensitivity on data tiers.
• Usage patterns tied to the university calendar (semester‑driven peaks) rather than metro commute cycles.
• Rural coverage gaps persist on the fringes; mid‑band 5G capacity is spottier than in Atlanta and larger Georgia metros; mmWave is effectively absent.
• Less interstate corridor traffic (no interstate running through the county), so less transient roaming load than statewide averages.
• Digital divide is more influenced by income, race, and rurality than in Georgia’s urban counties; smartphone‑dependence is a key bridge for access.

Notes on the estimates

• The user range reflects ACS population baselines, Pew Research smartphone adoption norms, and typical rural‑vs‑metro deltas observed in FCC coverage data and carrier deployments. For planning or investment decisions, validate with the latest FCC Broadband Data Collection maps, carrier coverage/disclosure, and on‑the‑ground drive testing.

Here’s a concise, best-available snapshot of social media usage in Baldwin County, GA. Because platform-by-county data isn’t publicly reported, figures below are modeled estimates using Pew Research (2023–2024) platform adoption rates, rural-versus-urban differences, and Baldwin County’s demographics (small city/rural mix with a strong 18–24 presence from Georgia College & State University).

Population context

• Residents: ~45,000; adults (18+): ~32,000–35,000
• Adults using at least one social platform: ~70–80% → roughly 22,000–28,000 people

Most-used platforms (share of local adult social-media users)

• YouTube: ~80–88% (very broad utility)
• Facebook: ~70–78% (community/news/groups/Marketplace)
• Instagram: ~45–55% (strong with 18–34; Reels usage rising)
• TikTok: ~30–45% (student-led, short-form video)
• Snapchat: ~25–40% (heavy among college-age users)
• Pinterest: ~20–35% (skews female; home/food/DIY)
• WhatsApp: ~15–25% (family, small business comms)
• LinkedIn: ~15–22% (professionals/education/government)
• X (Twitter): ~15–22% (sports/news niche)
• Nextdoor: ~8–15% (neighborhood-level, varies by subdivision)

Age profile (estimated adult adoption + platform patterns)

• 18–24: 90–98% use at least one platform; top: Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube
• 25–34: 85–90%; top: YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
• 35–49: 80–85%; top: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram; growing TikTok/Reels
• 50–64: 65–75%; top: Facebook and YouTube; some Pinterest
• 65+: 50–60%; primarily Facebook; YouTube for how-to/church/livestreams

Gender breakdown (approximate among local social-media users)

• Overall: ~52–55% women, ~45–48% men
• Skews: Women over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube, X, Reddit

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the local hub: community groups (Milledgeville/Baldwin news, schools, churches), Marketplace, lost-and-found pets, local alerts, and event promotion. Comments drive reach; “word-of-mouth” amplification is strong.
• Short-form video growth: Instagram Reels and TikTok see high engagement for campus life, local dining, Lake Sinclair/outdoor content, sports, and events. Cross-posting Reels↔TikTok is common.
• Messaging-first commerce: Facebook Messenger and Instagram DMs are preferred for quick questions, hours, reservations, and customer service.
• Event discovery: First Friday/downtown events, high school and college sports, festivals, and seasonal activities trend across Facebook Events, Instagram Stories, and TikTok.
• Buy/sell culture: Facebook Marketplace and local swap groups are highly active for furniture, vehicles, tools, and rentals.
• Timing: Peaks around lunch (12–1 pm) and evenings (7–10 pm). Student activity adds late-night spikes midweek and weekends.
• Trust dynamics: Local recommendations (moms’ groups, church communities, coaches, and small “micro-influencers” tied to the college) carry outsized influence.

Notes on uncertainty

• County-specific platform stats aren’t directly published; figures above are estimates derived from national/state patterns adjusted for Baldwin’s age mix and rural–small city profile.
• Ranges reflect likely variance across neighborhoods and the academic calendar (student population in/out of term).