Candler County

Here’s a concise demographic snapshot of Candler County, Georgia (latest ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates; rounded):

• Population: ~11,000
• Age:
  • Median age: ~36–37
  • Under 18: ~24%
  • 18–64: ~61%
  • 65 and over: ~15%
• Sex:
  • Male: ~52–53%
  • Female: ~47–48%
• Race/ethnicity (mutually exclusive where noted):
  • White, non-Hispanic: ~53–56%
  • Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~30–33%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~15–18%
  • Other (Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, two or more races, non-Hispanic): ~3–5%
• Households:
  • Total households: ~3,800–4,100
  • Average household size: ~2.6–2.8
  • Family households: ~68–72% of households
  • Married-couple families: ~42–48% of households
  • Nonfamily households (incl. living alone): ~28–32% of households

Notes: Figures are estimates and rounded for clarity. For exact counts, see U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 5-year tables (e.g., DP05 for age/sex/race and S1101 for household characteristics).

Candler County, GA email usage (estimates)

• Population/context: ~11,000 residents; ~45 people per square mile (low rural density).
• Estimated email users: 7,500–8,500 residents (about 70–78% of all residents; roughly 85–92% of adults). Based on Pew/ACS-style US adoption rates applied to a rural Georgia county.
• Gender split among users: approximately 51% female, 49% male (mirrors local demographics).
• Age distribution of email users (share of users):
  • 13–17: 6–8% (school-driven accounts)
  • 18–34: 22–26% (near-universal usage)
  • 35–54: 32–36% (work and family communication)
  • 55–64: 16–18%
  • 65+: 18–22% (lower but rising adoption)
• Digital access trends:
  • Household internet subscription: roughly 70–78% (rural adoption lags state averages).
  • Smartphone-only internet users: ~10–15% of households.
  • Connectivity patterns: Strongest access in/around Metter and along major roads; coverage can be patchier in sparsely populated areas due to last‑mile costs.
  • Public/shared access via schools and the county library supports residents without home broadband.
  • Gradual improvements expected as rural broadband investments expand in Georgia (fiber and upgraded cable/Fixed Wireless).

Notes: Figures are best-available estimates using county population and national/rural benchmarks; local surveys would refine these numbers.

Below is a practical, county-focused snapshot based on recent patterns in rural Georgia and small-county ACS/Pew benchmarks. Figures are estimates meant to be directionally accurate; use for planning, not regulatory reporting.

Quick context

• County size: ≈11,000 residents; ≈4,000 households. County seat: Metter. Predominantly rural with an I-16 corridor running through.
• Socioeconomics: Lower median income and college attainment than the Georgia average; older age structure; agricultural employment footprint.

User estimates (mobile phones and internet via mobile)

• Adult smartphone users: ≈6,800–7,500 (about 78–88% of ≈8,500 adults). County likely trails Georgia’s statewide adult smartphone adoption (~90%) by a few points.
• Total smartphone users including teens: ≈7,600–8,100.
• Active mobile lines/SIMs: ≈10,000–13,000 (multi-line family plans and work devices push counts above population, but less so than metro Georgia).
• Mobile-only internet households (no fixed home broadband): ≈28–35% of households (≈1,100–1,400). This is materially higher than the statewide share, reflecting limited fixed broadband options outside town.
• Prepaid share of mobile lines: ≈35–45% (higher than Georgia’s urban counties), linked to income variability and the ACP wind-down.
• Carrier mix (indicative): AT&T 40–45%; Verizon 30–35%; T‑Mobile 20–25%. AT&T tends to be strong in rural southeast GA; T‑Mobile improves near I‑16.

Demographic patterns of usage (what’s different locally)

• Age:
  • 65+: Smartphone adoption around 60–70% (lower than state), more basic/feature phones and voice-first plans. Telehealth via mobile is growing but constrained by signal in outlying areas.
  • School-age: Very high smartphone access; hotspot use for homework is common where fixed broadband is absent.
• Income and plan type:
  • Low- and moderate-income households rely more on prepaid and mobile-only service. The end of new ACP funding in 2024 likely nudged some from discount fixed broadband to mobile-only data.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Black and Hispanic residents show above-average smartphone dependence for home internet vs county average, consistent with rural and lower-income statewide trends; heavier use of messaging apps and Wi‑Fi offload.
• Workforce:
  • Agricultural and logistics work patterns drive seasonal device churn (short-term prepaid, hotspot sharing) and weekday daytime load near fields, packing houses, and the interstate corridor.

Digital infrastructure snapshot

• Coverage and performance:
  • I‑16 corridor and Metter: Best service. T‑Mobile mid‑band 5G (2.5 GHz) is common; AT&T/Verizon have low‑band 5G with growing mid‑band pockets. Typical 5G speeds: roughly 100–300 Mbps for mid‑band in town/corridor; 50–150 Mbps for low-/mid‑band mixes.
  • Outside town: Coverage shifts to LTE/low‑band 5G. Typical speeds ≈5–25 Mbps LTE, 10–40 Mbps low‑band 5G; indoor penetration can be weak in wooded and low‑lying areas.
  • Dead zones: More frequent on county roads away from I‑16; signal affected by canopy and distance from macro sites.
• Network build:
  • Macro towers cluster near I‑16, Metter, and utility corridors; sparser in outlying tracts. Backhaul is a mix of fiber along the interstate and microwave elsewhere; this constrains rural 5G capacity.
  • FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) presence is strongest along the interstate and the county seat; useful for public safety but does not equal broad mid‑band 5G capacity countywide.
• Home broadband interplay:
  • Cable and fiber are concentrated in/near Metter; limited fiber reach elsewhere. This drives a higher rate of mobile-only households than the Georgia average.
  • Fixed wireless (notably T‑Mobile Home Internet; sometimes WISPs) is available in/near town and along clear-sight corridors; Verizon 5G Home is more hit-or-miss.
• Public access:
  • Library, schools, and civic buildings provide key Wi‑Fi offload. Businesses around I‑16 (quick-serve, gas stations) are common connectivity points for travelers and locals without robust home internet.

How Candler County differs from Georgia overall

• Higher reliance on mobile-only internet: A notably larger share of households use smartphones/hotspots as their primary home connection.
• More prepaid and plan volatility: Prepaid penetration and SIM churn are higher than statewide, influenced by seasonal work and income variability.
• Coverage asymmetry: Strong service and 5G capacity along I‑16 and in Metter; quicker drop-off to LTE/low‑band 5G away from corridors than in metro/suburban Georgia.
• Older-user gap: A larger adoption gap for residents 65+ compared with the state average.
• Capacity peaks tied to travel and harvest seasons: Network load patterns differ from urban commute-driven peaks seen in metro areas.

Planning implications

• Prioritize mid‑band 5G or small cells in Metter and along school/bus routes to ease homework gap.
• Expand fiber or high-capacity fixed wireless to outlying neighborhoods to reduce mobile-only dependence.
• Coordinate with carriers on additional rural macro sites or sector upgrades off the interstate.
• Maintain/expand public Wi‑Fi at libraries, parks, and community centers; pair with digital skills and device programs targeting older adults.
• Track post-ACP affordability: local subsidies or provider low-cost plans can stabilize households currently relying on prepaid mobile data for home access.

Notes on method and uncertainty

• Estimates draw from county size, rural Georgia adoption patterns (Pew), and known carrier build strategies on interstate corridors. For grant or siting decisions, validate with: FCC Broadband Maps (availability and technology), carrier coverage maps and drive tests, school district hotspot counts, and local 911/FirstNet coverage assessments.

Below is a concise, modeled snapshot for Candler County, GA. Exact county-level platform stats aren’t published, so figures are estimates using recent Pew Research national usage rates and rural-Georgia age mixes applied to a ~11,000 population.

Headline user stats

• Residents using social media: ~6,800–7,100 (about 62–65% of all residents; ~73–78% of ages 13+)
• People age 13+: ~9,000–9,300

Age mix of social media users (share of users)

• 13–17: ~10–12%
• 18–29: ~20–23%
• 30–49: ~32–36%
• 50–64: ~20–24%
• 65+: ~10–13%

Gender breakdown (of users)

• Female: ~53–55%
• Male: ~45–47%
• Notes: Women over-index on Facebook/Instagram; men over-index on YouTube/Reddit/X.

Most-used platforms (estimated share of the 13+ population)

• YouTube: 70–80% (rank 1)
• Facebook: 55–65% (rank 2)
• Instagram: 35–45%
• TikTok: 28–35%
• Snapchat: 20–28% Secondary platforms: X/Twitter 15–20%; WhatsApp 10–18% (higher among bilingual/intl ties); LinkedIn 8–15% (mostly professionals); Reddit 8–12%; Nextdoor 5–10% (limited coverage outside denser neighborhoods).

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the town square: school/church groups, local news, yard sales, and Marketplace drive the most engagement; tagging local pages boosts reach.
• Video wins: YouTube how‑to, hunting/fishing, farm/DIY, local sports; short-form Reels/TikTok for restaurants, boutiques, and sports highlights. Evenings and weekends perform best.
• Youth habits: High school/under‑30s skew TikTok/Snapchat/IG Stories; heavy use of DMs; public posting is more event- or sports-driven.
• Older adults: Facebook-first; Messenger over WhatsApp; lighter use of TikTok/Snapchat.
• Local trust effect: Posts from known people, schools, churches, coaches, and county offices outperform brand ads; weather, school closures, jobs, and road updates spike.
• Discovery and conversion: Word-of-mouth + Facebook shares rule; hashtags matter less; geotags and short, face-forward videos help.
• Connectivity realities: Patchy broadband means mobile-first viewing, shorter videos, and off-peak consumption.
• Ads playbook: Best ROI via Facebook/Instagram with tight radius + interest targeting; YouTube pre-roll for awareness; TikTok for under‑35 dining/retail; LinkedIn remains niche.

Method note: Percentages are directional estimates derived from Pew Research Center 2023–2024 US platform usage and urban–rural splits, scaled to Candler County’s size and age structure.