Catoosa County

Key demographics for Catoosa County, Georgia (latest available Census/ACS):

Population

• Total: ~68.6k (2023 estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~39.5 years
• Under 18: ~24%
• 65 and over: ~17–18%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race and ethnicity

• Race alone (any ethnicity): White ~88%; Black ~3–4%; Asian ~1%; American Indian/Alaska Native ~0.5%; Two or more races ~4%; Some other race ~2–3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~5–6%
• White alone, not Hispanic: ~84%

Households and housing

• Households: ~25.7k
• Persons per household: ~2.6
• Family households: ~71% (married-couple ~54%)
• Households with children under 18: ~31%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~78% (renter ~22%)

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

Summary for Catoosa County, GA (estimates)

• Context: ~68,000 residents across ~160 sq mi (≈420 people/sq mi); suburban to Chattanooga along I‑75. Denser service in Fort Oglethorpe and Ringgold; more rural gaps in unincorporated areas.
• Estimated email users: ~50,000 residents (range 45,000–55,000). Method: ≈51–52k adults with ~90% email adoption plus some teens.
• Age pattern (email adoption, using national/ACS/Pew norms applied locally):
  • 13–17: ~70–80%
  • 18–29: ~95–98%
  • 30–49: ~93–96%
  • 50–64: ~88–92%
  • 65+: ~70–80% (lower in rural areas)
• Gender split: Roughly even (≈50/50); women slightly more frequent email users, but penetration similar by gender.
• Digital access and trends:
  • Household broadband: roughly 85–90% subscribe countywide; smartphone‑only internet homes ~10–15%.
  • Mobile: Strong 4G/5G coverage along I‑75 corridor and town centers; speeds taper in outer areas.
  • Fixed lines: Cable/fiber common in denser tracts; DSL/fixed‑wireless fill outer zones; public Wi‑Fi via libraries/schools.
  • Ongoing shift to mobile-first usage (younger cohorts), while older adults increasingly adopt email through smartphones.

Notes: Figures are synthesized from county population and recent ACS/Pew usage patterns; treat as directional estimates.

Mobile phone usage in Catoosa County, GA — 2025 snapshot

Context

• Location and profile: Catoosa County sits in the Chattanooga, TN–GA metro area (Ringgold, Fort Oglethorpe), with suburban settlement along I‑75 and more hilly, semi‑rural terrain east/west. Population is roughly 67–71k residents across ~25–28k households.

User estimates

• Smartphone users: Approximately 52–58k residents (about 78–85% of the total population). Working‑age adults and teens are near saturation; adoption is lower among seniors.
• Total mobile phone users (smartphone or basic): 55–60k residents.
• Households relying on cellular data as their only home internet (“mobile‑only”): about 10–14% of households (roughly 2.6–3.8k households). This is slightly lower than Georgia’s statewide share, reflecting strong cable coverage in populated areas.
• Households with any cellular data plan (alone or bundled with other internet): on the order of 80–86%.
• 5G‑capable device users: a clear majority of smartphone users; practical 5G usage is highest along I‑75 and in Fort Oglethorpe/Ringgold.

Demographic patterns (and how they differ from Georgia overall)

• Age: Catoosa’s median age is slightly higher than the state’s. Result: smartphone adoption and heavy mobile‑only reliance are a bit lower among seniors than the Georgia average, pulling down the county’s overall mobile‑only rate.
• Income/education: Poverty is somewhat lower than the state average; bachelor’s attainment is modestly lower. Together this tends to produce:
  • Fewer price‑driven mobile‑only households than in many Georgia counties with limited cable/fiber.
  • Strong postpaid penetration with national carriers; prepaid remains important but not as dominant as in more rural parts of the state.
• Race/ethnicity: The county is less diverse than Georgia overall. Groups that statewide show higher mobile‑only reliance (e.g., some lower‑income urban Black and Hispanic households) make up a smaller share locally, contributing to the county’s below‑state mobile‑only rate.
• Commuting/usage patterns: Significant cross‑border commuting to Chattanooga concentrates peak demand on I‑75 corridors and retail nodes near battlefield parks—more “corridor‑centric” usage than in many Georgia counties.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Cellular coverage and 5G:
  • All three national carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile) provide county‑wide LTE; outdoor 5G covers most populated areas.
  • Mid‑band 5G performance is strongest near I‑75 interchanges and in Fort Oglethorpe/Ringgold; speeds soften in hilly fringe areas.
  • Compared with Georgia as a whole (where T‑Mobile’s mid‑band 5G leadership is pronounced in metro Atlanta), Catoosa is more balanced, with AT&T and Verizon comparatively stronger due to longstanding macro coverage along the interstate and Tennessee border markets.
• Sites and terrain:
  • Expect a moderate macro‑site density for a ~160‑sq‑mi county, with towers concentrated along I‑75, US‑41/76, and ridge lines; smaller gaps appear behind ridges (e.g., White Oak/Taylor Ridge areas).
  • Major tower owners present in the region typically include American Tower, Crown Castle, SBA, and Vertical Bridge; colocation is common along the interstate.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • Long‑haul fiber follows I‑75 and utility rights‑of‑way, supporting 5G upgrades on key sites.
  • Fixed broadband competition is stronger than in many rural Georgia counties: cable service is widespread in denser tracts, and AT&T has been adding fiber in select neighborhoods. This reduces reliance on mobile‑only internet compared with the state average.
• Public venues and load:
  • Traffic spikes near retail corridors, schools, healthcare clusters, and the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park areas; carriers typically bolster capacity with sector splits or small‑cell solutions in these zones.

What’s notably different from Georgia’s statewide picture

• Slightly fewer mobile‑only households: Cable/fiber availability in populated areas and an older population tilt reduce mobile‑only dependence relative to Georgia overall.
• Carrier mix: AT&T and Verizon hold comparatively stronger positions than they do in metro‑Atlanta‑weighted state averages; T‑Mobile performance has improved with mid‑band 5G but share is likely below its statewide average.
• Coverage pattern: More interstate‑ and corridor‑centric engineering with localized dead zones due to ridges—less of a factor in the flatter, denser Atlanta core that drives state metrics.
• Age effects: A modestly older age profile tempers top‑line smartphone adoption and heavy mobile data reliance versus the state.

Notes on method and confidence

• Figures above are estimates derived from recent Census/ACS “Computer and Internet Use” patterns, national smartphone adoption by age, and typical carrier deployments in northwest Georgia through 2024. Localized measurements (ACS S2801 5‑year for Catoosa, FCC mobile coverage maps, and carrier performance tests) can tighten the ranges.

Social media usage snapshot: Catoosa County, GA (2025, best-available estimates)

Population baseline

• Residents: ~68–70k; roughly ~59k are age 13+
• Estimated social media users (13+): 44k–48k (about 75–80% of 13+)

Age and gender

• Age mix (county-level, approx.): Under 18 ~23%, 18–34 ~20–22%, 35–54 ~28–30%, 55+ ~26–29%
• Gender: ~51% female, 49% male overall; social media user mix is similar
• Platform skews: TikTok/Instagram slightly female; Snapchat skew female among teens/young adults; Reddit/X skew male; Facebook near even, slightly female

Most-used platforms locally (share of social media users; modeled from US/state data, adjusted for a rural-South profile)

• YouTube: 80–88%
• Facebook: 72–80% (strongest daily use; Groups/Marketplace central)
• Instagram: 35–45%
• TikTok: 28–38%
• Snapchat: 25–35% (highest among under-25)
• X (Twitter): 15–22%
• LinkedIn: 14–20% (notable among commuters to Chattanooga area)
• Nextdoor: 5–10% (neighborhood-dependent)

Behavioral trends

• Community-first: High engagement in Facebook Groups for local news, school/youth sports, churches, civic/safety updates; local issues drive comments and shares.
• Marketplace culture: Heavy use of Facebook Marketplace and local buy/sell/trade groups; frequent requests for contractor and service recommendations.
• Short-form video growth: Reels/Shorts/TikTok adoption rising; event recaps, behind-the-scenes at local businesses, and “how-to” content perform well.
• Trust and voice: Posts featuring recognizable local people, places, and organizations outperform generic brand content; user-generated photos and shout-outs boost reach.
• Timing: Engagement typically peaks evenings (7–9 pm) and weekend mornings; ad‑hoc spikes around weather, traffic, school alerts, and utility outages.
• Youth patterns: Teens favor Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube; Facebook mainly for teams/groups/parents. Cross-posting to Instagram Stories is common.
• Regional spillover: Chattanooga metro media and influencers shape conversation and event discovery across the border.

Notes on method and confidence

• Figures are estimates synthesized from Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. platform adoption patterns, rural/Southern usage tendencies, and Census/ACS demographics for Catoosa County. Actual platform adoption varies by neighborhood and community segment. For precise targeting, validate with platform ad-reach tools (radius around Ringgold and Fort Oglethorpe) and local page/group insights.