Bibb County

Here are key, current demographics for Bibb County, Georgia (Macon-Bibb), using the latest Census Bureau data available:

Population

• 157,346 (2020 Decennial Census)
• ~156,800 (2023 population estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~37–38 years
• Under 5: ~6%
• Under 18: ~24%
• 65 and over: ~16–17%

Gender

• Female: ~53%
• Male: ~47%

Race and ethnicity (race alone unless noted; shares may not sum to 100 due to rounding/definitions)

• Black or African American: ~55%
• White: ~37–39%
• Asian: ~2%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.3%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.1%
• Two or more races: ~4%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~4.5–5%

Households

• Total households: ~61,500
• Average household size: ~2.5
• Family households: ~61%
• Married-couple families: ~33%
• Homeownership rate: ~52%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates; Population Estimates Program (2023).

Bibb County (Macon–Bibb), GA — email usage snapshot (estimates)

• Estimated users: ~105,000–115,000 adult email users. Basis: ~157k residents, ~77% adults, and ~90–95% of adults use email (Pew-like national rates; local access-adjusted).
• Age distribution and adoption:
  • 18–29: ~20% of adults; 95–99% use email.
  • 30–49: ~30% of adults; 95–99% use email.
  • 50–64: ~25% of adults; ~90–95% use email.
  • 65+: ~20% of adults; ~80–90% use email.
• Gender split: Near even; user base roughly mirrors population (about half female, half male; females slightly higher given county demographics).
• Digital access trends:
  • Household broadband subscription roughly 75–80%; device access (computer/smartphone) ~85–90%.
  • 15–20% of households are smartphone‑only internet users, so many access email via mobile rather than home broadband.
  • Subscription lags availability in lower‑income neighborhoods, indicating an affordability gap rather than pure infrastructure absence.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • ~157k people over ~255 sq. mi → ~600+ residents/sq. mi (mostly urban in Macon).
  • Core Macon areas have cable/fiber options; outskirts rely more on DSL/fixed wireless. Major corridors (I‑75/I‑16) have strong LTE/5G, supporting mobile email access.

Below is a concise, county-specific snapshot using the latest available public sources (primarily U.S. Census/ACS S2801, FCC maps, and Pew Research, through 2023–2024) and reasonable local adjustments. Figures are estimates; ranges reflect uncertainty and year-to-year variation.

Topline user estimates

• Population base: Bibb County ≈156–158k residents; ≈120–123k adults (18+); ≈61–63k households.
• Adult smartphone users: 105k–112k (roughly 86–90% of adults). This is slightly below Georgia’s adult smartphone rate (≈89–92%).
• “Mobile-only” internet households (cellular data plan but no fixed home broadband): ≈11k–14k (about 18–23% of households). This is higher than the state average (≈15–18%).
• Households without any internet subscription: ≈6.5k–8k (about 10–13%), modestly higher than Georgia overall (≈8–10%).

Demographic patterns (how Bibb differs from Georgia)

• Age structure: Bibb has a somewhat older profile than the state, which pulls down overall smartphone adoption slightly.
  • 65+: smartphone adoption estimated at 55–65% in Bibb vs roughly 60–70% statewide.
• Income: Lower median household income than Georgia raises reliance on phones for primary connectivity.
  • Under $25k income: mobile-only share in Bibb likely 30–35% vs 25–30% statewide.
  • Participation in affordability programs (e.g., ACP when active, Lifeline) has been above the state average; with ACP funding curtailed in 2024–2025, expect further pressure toward mobile-only plans and prepaid.
• Race/ethnicity: Bibb’s higher share of Black residents (well above the state average) intersects with income and historical broadband barriers, contributing to a somewhat higher-than-average mobile-only rate. Overall smartphone ownership remains high across groups, but fixed broadband take-up lags more in lower-income, majority-Black neighborhoods.
• Plan types: Prepaid/MVNO usage is likely a few points higher than the state average due to price sensitivity; family postpaid penetration is solid but not sufficient to offset higher mobile-only reliance.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Cellular coverage and capacity:
  • Macro coverage: Strong along I-75 and I-16 and across the Macon urban core; generally reliable indoors in central/dense areas. Fringe/industrial zones at the county edges can experience weaker indoor signal or capacity at peaks.
  • 5G: Broad low-/mid-band 5G from the national carriers covers most populated areas. Capacity upgrades via mid-band (e.g., n41/C-band) are present on main corridors and around major anchors (downtown, Mercer University, hospital district). Millimeter-wave remains very limited and venue-targeted.
  • Public safety: FirstNet (AT&T) coverage is established countywide; this mirrors statewide availability but is a notable local resilience asset.
• Fixed broadband context (drives mobile-only behavior):
  • AT&T (including fiber in select neighborhoods) and Spectrum are the primary fixed providers; fiber availability is patchy compared with larger Georgia metros, leading some households to default to mobile or 5G home internet.
  • 5G home internet (T-Mobile/Verizon) is available in many ZIPs and is seeing uptake among cost-conscious households and renters—higher relative adoption than the state average where cable/fiber choices are fewer or pricier.
• Community and anchor connectivity:
  • Libraries, schools, and municipal facilities provide Wi‑Fi and device support, but transportation gaps and limited hours mean these do not fully substitute for home broadband—contributing to above-average mobile dependence.

Trends to watch (locally distinct from state-level)

• Persistent mobile-only plateau: Even as mid-band 5G improves speeds, the share of households depending exclusively on mobile connections is likely to remain a few points higher than Georgia’s average because fixed options and affordability lag in several Bibb neighborhoods.
• Prepaid and usage patterns: Price-sensitive users are more likely to cycle between prepaid and promotions, which can depress average data allowances versus state averages and reinforce handset-centric internet use.
• Post-ACP shifts: With ACP winding down, Bibb is more exposed than the average Georgia county to churn from fixed broadband back to phone-only service or 5G home internet, at least in the near term.

Sources and method notes

• ACS S2801 (Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions) for county vs Georgia household internet, cellular plan, and no-internet shares; 2022–2023 vintages.
• Pew Research Center (2023–2024) for national smartphone adoption by age/income; adjusted downward slightly for Bibb’s older/lower-income mix and compared to Georgia.
• FCC Broadband Map (2023–2024) for provider presence and 5G/home internet availability.
• Local infrastructure observations reflect carrier build patterns typical for Macon’s urban core and interstate corridors.

Below is a concise, locally oriented snapshot. Figures are estimates modeled from Pew Research’s 2024 social media data, US Census/ACS demographics for Macon-Bibb, and typical platform audience patterns in mid-sized Southern counties. Use ranges as directional, not exact counts.

Quick user stats (Bibb County, GA)

• Population: ~157K; adults (18+): ~120–125K
• Households with broadband: ~78–82%
• Adult social-media penetration: ~78–82% (≈95K–102K adults use at least one platform)

Age mix and adoption

• Share of adult social users by age (approx.):
  • 18–29: 26–28% of social users; adoption ~90%+
  • 30–49: 36–38%; adoption ~85–90%
  • 50–64: 22–24%; adoption ~70–80%
  • 65+: 12–14%; adoption ~50–60%
• Teens (13–17): high usage of TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube; lighter Facebook use

Gender breakdown

• County population skews slightly female; among social users: ~53% women, ~47% men
• Skews by platform: women over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, X

Most‑used platforms (adult reach in Bibb; estimated % of adults)

• YouTube: ~80–85%
• Facebook: ~65–70%
• Instagram: ~38–45% (stronger under 35)
• TikTok: ~30–36% (very strong under 30)
• Snapchat: ~20–25% overall; majority of 13–24
• Pinterest: ~20–25% (women 25–54)
• X (Twitter): ~15–20% (news/sports/journalism niches)
• LinkedIn: ~15–18% (slightly lower than national average)
• Nextdoor: ~12–18% (homeowners; neighborhood issues/services)

Behavioral trends to know

• Local-first content wins: crime/weather/traffic, school updates, city services, and community events drive outsized engagement (e.g., Cherry Blossom Festival, high school football Fridays, Mercer athletics).
• Facebook is the default hub for 30+:
  • Heavy use of Groups and Marketplace (yard sales, local eats, church/booster clubs).
  • Native video and photo albums outperform external links for 35+ audiences.
• Short-form video growth:
  • Reels/TikTok dominate under 35; cross-post Reels to Facebook for 30–49.
  • YouTube consumption rising on connected TVs (evenings/weekends).
• Posting windows (engagement patterns):
  • Weeknights 7–10 pm and weekday lunch (11:30 am–1 pm) perform well; Sunday early evening also strong.
• Discovery and conversion:
  • Giveaways, local deals, and UGC (customer photos, testimonials) generate comments/shares.
  • Click-to-Message (Facebook/Instagram) is an effective customer-service and lead channel for local services, restaurants, and appointments.
• Neighborhood and civic chatter:
  • Nextdoor effective for home services, safety updates, lost/found pets; expect practical Q&A and “recommend a [service]” threads.
• Sports and faith communities:
  • High engagement around high school sports, church content, and local charity drives.
• News ecosystem:
  • Strong followings for local outlets; timely posts (breaking news, severe weather) spike reach and sharing.

Notes

• These are best-guess localizations of national platform usage, adjusted for Bibb County’s age mix and slightly older, more Facebook-heavy profile. For campaign planning, validate with platform ad tools (location set to Macon-Bibb) and first-party analytics.