Charlton County

I can provide precise figures, but need your preferred data vintage. Do you want the latest Census Bureau estimates (2023 Population Estimates Program for population; 2019–2023 ACS 5-year for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and households), or 2020 Decennial Census counts?

Charlton County, GA (pop. ≈12.5k; very low density, ~16 people/sq. mile) has an estimated 7,000–8,200 adult email users. Method: applying rural‑Georgia internet/email adoption rates (Pew Research) to the county’s adult population.

Age pattern (share of adults using email, approximate):

• 18–29: 95%+
• 30–49: 95%+
• 50–64: 85–90%
• 65+: 65–75%

Gender split: roughly even; men and women use email at similar rates.

Digital access and trends:

• Household broadband subscription is likely in the 70–80% range, below metro Georgia; adoption lags availability in some areas.
• Mobile dependence is high: a notable minority are smartphone‑only users, reflecting patchier fixed‑line service outside Folkston and small towns.
• Coverage is strongest near population centers and highways; remote areas bordering the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge see weaker fixed broadband options.
• Public institutions (schools, library) and Wi‑Fi hotspots help bridge access gaps.

Overall: Email is near‑universal among working‑age adults, with lower usage among seniors and in low‑income/remote households. Connectivity constraints (rural distance, sparse infrastructure) moderate adoption but ongoing mobile and incremental fiber expansions are improving access.

Mobile phone usage in Charlton County, GA — summary with local-versus-state differences

User base estimates (order-of-magnitude)

• Population context: Small, rural county (~12–13k residents; roughly 9–10k adults).
• Smartphone ownership: Estimated 7,500–8,500 adult smartphone users (about 80–88% of adults). This is likely 3–7 percentage points below Georgia’s statewide rate, reflecting rurality, older age structure, and lower incomes.
• Mobile-only internet households: Likely elevated versus state average. Expect roughly one-quarter to one-third of households relying primarily on mobile data for home internet (Georgia overall is lower), driven by limited fixed broadband in outlying areas and affordability constraints.
• Feature phones and basic phones: Small but meaningful minority among older adults; higher prevalence than state average.
• Prepaid/MVNO usage: Above state average due to price sensitivity; family plans remain common but with higher churn and carrier switching than metro Georgia.

How Charlton differs from Georgia (key trends)

• Coverage before speed: Residents prioritize reliable 4G/LTE coverage over cutting-edge 5G performance; Georgia’s metro areas skew toward 5G-centric use.
• More mobile-only dependence: A larger share of residents uses smartphones as their primary or only internet access compared with the state.
• Platform and plans: Higher Android and prepaid/MVNO share than the Georgia average (which is pulled toward iOS and postpaid by Atlanta metro demographics).
• Older users dampen penetration: Higher 65+ share than Georgia overall slightly lowers smartphone adoption and app intensity; however, younger adults and families still show near-universal smartphone use.
• Cross-border effects: Proximity to Jacksonville, FL, influences roaming, work-commute patterns, and retail carrier presence more than in most Georgia counties.
• ACP wind-down sensitivity: The end of the Affordable Connectivity Program is likely to have a larger impact on subscription continuity and data plan sizes than in metro counties with more fixed-broadband options.

Demographic patterns shaping usage

• Age: Under 30—near universal smartphone ownership; 30–64—very high adoption with heavier app and video use; 65+—lower adoption and more voice/SMS reliance than statewide.
• Income: Lower-income and single-line households are more likely smartphone-only for home internet and to use prepaid or MVNOs.
• Race/ethnicity: As seen statewide, Black and lower-income residents are more likely to be smartphone-dependent for internet access; given Charlton’s limited fixed-broadband footprint outside Folkston and the main corridors, this dependence is at least as pronounced as the state average.
• Workforce mix: Shift work (e.g., corrections, forestry, services, tourism) increases reliance on mobile messaging, scheduling apps, and hotspotting.

Digital infrastructure snapshot

• Macro coverage: All three national carriers provide 4G/LTE along US‑1/23/301 and in/around Folkston. Coverage degrades in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and sparsely populated tracts.
• 5G: Present but patchy outside town centers. Mid-band 5G is limited compared with Georgia metros; DSS/low-band 5G is more common. No meaningful mmWave.
• Fixed broadband context: Cable and fiber are concentrated in town; outlying areas rely on DSL, fixed wireless, or mobile hotspots. Ongoing rural fiber builds (e.g., by local electric co‑op initiatives such as Okefenokee/EMC-affiliated projects) are improving backhaul and providing Wi‑Fi offload points.
• FWA (5G Home Internet): Available in and near stronger 5G sectors; useful alternative where cable/fiber are absent—adoption is higher than in metro areas where fixed options are abundant.
• Public access: Libraries, schools, and civic buildings provide critical Wi‑Fi; E‑Rate and rural fiber expansions help anchor connectivity.
• Towers and siting: Lower tower density than state average; environmental constraints near the refuge slow new macro builds. In-building coverage can be weak in older structures; Wi‑Fi calling is frequently used.

What this means in practice

• Expect slightly lower overall smartphone penetration than Georgia, but higher dependence on mobile data for everyday internet needs.
• Users value reliability, coverage, affordability, and Wi‑Fi offload over peak 5G speeds.
• Plan mixes skew toward prepaid/MVNO and budget Android devices; ensure service/app compatibility with these profiles.

Notes on estimation

• Figures are inferred from rural Georgia patterns, ACS demographics, FCC coverage/broadband maps, Pew Research smartphone adoption trends, and known local geography. For planning-grade precision, validate with the latest ACS 1‑year/5‑year tables, FCC Broadband Data Collection maps, carrier coverage tools, and local provider buildout announcements.

Social media usage in Charlton County, GA (estimates; based on 2023–2024 U.S./Georgia rural benchmarks)

At-a-glance user base

• Population: ~12,500
• Estimated social media users: 8,000–9,000 (about 65–72% of residents; 75–80% of adults 18+)

Age mix (share of local social media users)

• 13–17: 8–10%
• 18–24: 12–14%
• 25–34: 17–19%
• 35–49: 26–28%
• 50–64: 20–22%
• 65+: 12–14%

Gender breakdown (share of local social media users)

• Female: 52–55%
• Male: 45–48%
• Non-binary/other: <1% (insufficient local data)

Most-used platforms (percent of local social users who use each at least monthly)

• YouTube: 75–85%
• Facebook: 72–80% (Groups and Marketplace are major draws)
• Facebook Messenger: 60–70%
• Instagram: 40–50%
• TikTok: 35–45%
• Snapchat: 25–35% (strongest among teens/early 20s)
• Pinterest: 22–30% (skews female)
• X/Twitter: 15–22% (news/sports followers)
• WhatsApp: 15–25% (family, small business messaging)
• LinkedIn: 8–12% (lower white-collar density)
• Nextdoor: 3–6% (Facebook Groups often fill this role)

Behavioral trends to know

• Hyper-local engagement: High reliance on Facebook Groups for school sports, churches, civic updates, and buy/sell; local officials’ pages spike during storms, fires, or road issues.
• Marketplace-first commerce: Strong use for secondhand goods, small services, and seasonal/outdoor gear.
• Video-forward consumption: Short-form (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) does well; many users watch more than they post. Cross-posting Reels to Facebook extends reach.
• Timing: Peaks evenings (7–10 pm) and weekends; midday bumps tied to school/work breaks.
• Community trust: Content from known locals, schools, and churches outperforms national brands. Clear, plain-language CTAs (call/text/Message us) work better than link-outs.
• Youth split: Teens/20s lean TikTok/Snapchat/Instagram; still maintain Facebook for events and family.
• Discovery paths: Local word-of-mouth amplified via Groups; geo-targeted ads within ~15–25 miles perform efficiently.

Notes on method/limits

• County-level platform data are scarce; figures are modeled from US Census demographics, rural Georgia benchmarks, Pew Research Center 2023–2024 social platform usage, DataReportal 2024 US penetration, and FCC-reported rural connectivity patterns. Treat numbers as directional ranges, not exact counts.