Cherokee County

Here are key, high-level demographics for Cherokee County, Georgia. Figures are rounded; most recent available from U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Census; 2023 ACS 1-year).

Population

• 2023 estimate: ~288,000
• 2020 Census: 266,620

Age

• Median age: ~39.5 years
• Under 18: ~24%
• 18 to 64: ~61%
• 65 and over: ~15%

Sex

• Female: ~50.6%
• Male: ~49.4%

Race/ethnicity

• White (non-Hispanic): ~72–73%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~13%
• Black/African American (non-Hispanic): ~6%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ~4%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~3–4%
• Other (NH American Indian/Alaska Native, NH NH/PI, etc.): ~1%

Households and housing

• Households: ~101,000
• Average household size: ~2.85–2.90
• Family households: ~74%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~79%
• Households with children under 18: ~34–36%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2023 American Community Survey 1-year).

Cherokee County, GA email usage (estimates based on ACS/Pew-style patterns for similar suburban counties):

• Estimated email users: 210k–235k residents use email at least monthly (out of ~280k population).
• By age (share using email):
  • 13–17: 65–75%
  • 18–34: 95–98%
  • 35–64: 97–99%
  • 65+: 80–90% (mobile use rising)
• Gender split: roughly 50/50; females may be 1–3% more likely to be daily users.
• Digital access trends:
  • 90–94% of households subscribe to home internet; 95%+ have a computer or smartphone.
  • 10–15% of adults are smartphone‑only internet users.
  • Post‑2020, about 18–25% of workers work from home at least part‑time, lifting weekday email volume.
  • Email is checked primarily on mobile across all ages; seniors show the fastest growth in mobile email.
• Local density/connectivity:
  • Population density ≈650 people/sq mi (land area ~430 sq mi).
  • Fixed broadband is widely available in the Woodstock–Canton–Holly Springs corridor; multiple fiber/cable options in denser areas and strong 5G along I‑575/GA‑92.
  • More exurban north/west pockets have fewer high‑speed choices; public Wi‑Fi via libraries/schools helps fill gaps.

Below is a concise, decision-focused snapshot of mobile phone usage in Cherokee County, Georgia, emphasizing where local patterns diverge from statewide trends. Figures are best-available estimates based on 2023–2024 ACS, state broadband mapping, national mobile adoption research, and metro-Atlanta carrier deployments; use the sources at the end to validate the exact current numbers for your needs.

Headline estimates (Cherokee County)

• Population base: ~280,000–290,000; adults ~210,000–220,000.
• Mobile phone users: ~205,000–215,000 adults (≈96% adult ownership, slightly above Georgia overall).
• Smartphone users: ~190,000–200,000 adults (≈90–92% of adults; a few points above the state average).
• Households with any broadband: high (low-90s percent), a few points above Georgia’s statewide rate.
• Households relying on cellular-only home internet: lower than Georgia overall (Cherokee ~6–9% vs. state roughly low-teens), reflecting better wired options and higher incomes.

How Cherokee differs from Georgia overall

• Device penetration and plan mix
  • Higher smartphone and 5G device penetration; lower prepaid share; higher postpaid/family plans. Affluence and suburban demographics skew toward premium plans and iPhone share slightly above the state average.
  • Mobile-only dependence is lower than the Georgia average because more households keep both mobile and wired broadband.
• Usage patterns
  • Heavier weekday demand along the I‑575 corridor (Woodstock → Holly Springs → Canton) tied to commuting and remote/hybrid work, creating pronounced rush-hour network load peaks uncommon in rural Georgia counties.
  • More hotspot/tethering as a continuity tool for remote work and school than as a primary connection (opposite in many rural Georgia counties).
• Digital divide footprint
  • Smaller and more localized than statewide: pockets of weaker coverage and limited fiber persist in northern/rural tracts (Waleska/Free Home environs and lake-adjacent terrain), but are less extensive than Georgia’s rural average.
• Fixed wireless adoption
  • 5G Home (Verizon/T‑Mobile) is used as a stopgap or secondary line in fringe growth areas; statewide, cellular-as-primary is more common in rural counties with scarce wired options.

Demographic breakdown of mobile usage (estimates)

• Age
  • Teens/young adults: near-universal smartphone use (95–98%).
  • 25–54: very high (≈93–96%); strong multi-line family plans.
  • 55–64: high (≈85–90%); increased use of large-screen devices and telehealth.
  • 65+: higher than Georgia’s average for seniors (≈78–82% in Cherokee vs. low-to-mid 70s statewide), boosted by income, health services access, and family proximity.
• Income and education
  • Above-state median household income and higher bachelor’s+ attainment correlate with:
    • More premium/postpaid plans, higher iPhone share, and higher accessory adoption (wearables, tablets).
    • Lower prevalence of “smartphone-only” households compared with statewide.
• Race/ethnicity
  • White (majority): very high adoption; broadband-plus-mobile typical.
  • Hispanic (≈10–12% of county): high smartphone reliance for internet access and messaging; language-support apps widely used. Still, cellular-only dependence is tempered by better local wired options than in many rural Georgia counties.
  • Black and Asian residents: smartphone adoption comparable to or above county average; strong use of mobile payments, video, and social platforms.
• Plan types
  • Postpaid family plans dominate; prepaid share likely several points lower than Georgia’s statewide share (state ≈25–30%; Cherokee often in the high-teens to ~20% range).

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Cellular networks
  • All three national carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile) provide broad LTE and mid‑band 5G across incorporated areas (Woodstock, Holly Springs, Canton, Ball Ground). Mid‑band (C‑band/n41/3.45 GHz) is common near I‑575, major retail nodes, schools, and medical centers (e.g., Northside Hospital Cherokee).
  • Performance: metro-Atlanta speed tests show T‑Mobile often leads median 5G speeds; AT&T and Verizon emphasize reliability and coverage. Within the county, speeds drop in hilly/wooded northern tracts and lake shorelines (terrain shadowing).
  • Public safety: AT&T FirstNet coverage is established across the metro; Cherokee agencies benefit from priority access during incidents.
• Wired broadband (context for mobile reliance)
  • Fiber: expanding along growth corridors and denser subdivisions (AT&T Fiber common; smaller fiber builds and new subdivisions lit over time).
  • Cable: Comcast Xfinity widely available in populated areas; provides high baseline speeds.
  • Underserved pockets: northern/rural addresses still face limited fiber choices; these areas see higher uptake of 5G Home or satellite as stopgaps.
• Public connectivity
  • Libraries (Sequoyah Regional Library System), schools, and city centers provide free Wi‑Fi; downtown Woodstock and Canton event areas boost offload during festivals/weekends.

Behavioral and market notes

• Commuting and hybrid work drive strong weekday daytime mobile usage and hotspot backup.
• Families with school-age children contribute to multi-line plans and device ecosystems (phones + tablets/wearables).
• Telehealth and mobile banking usage are above the state’s rural averages, reflecting provider availability and income.
• Retail and event-driven surges: Woodstock’s Outlet Shoppes and downtown districts show peak weekend loads; carriers typically supplement capacity with small cells or sector splits in these nodes.

What to watch in 2025

• Continued mid‑band 5G densification along new subdivisions north of Canton and around Ball Ground.
• Fixed wireless home internet filling gaps ahead of fiber builds; eventual migration to fiber where new permits/subdivisions allow.
• Ongoing narrowing—but not elimination—of rural north-county coverage and capacity gaps.

How to validate or refine these estimates for planning

• U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5‑year (table S2801 “Computer and Internet Use”) for county-level smartphone and broadband subscription shares.
• CDC/NCHS National Health Interview Survey for state wireless-only household benchmarks (use to contextualize county estimates).
• FCC National Broadband Map and Georgia Broadband Program map for address-level wired availability and underserved tracts.
• Carrier coverage maps (AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile) and Ookla/RootMetrics metro-Atlanta reports for 5G availability and performance.
• Cherokee County and city planning documents (permitting of new towers/small cells), school district tech initiatives, and library Wi‑Fi usage stats for public-access indicators.

Here’s a concise, county-focused snapshot. Figures are best-available estimates derived from Pew Research’s 2024 U.S. platform usage, applied to Cherokee County’s suburban age/gender mix (ACS), plus typical platform ad-reach patterns. Treat as directional.

Overall usage

• Adults using at least one social platform: roughly 80–85% of adults
• Teens (13–17) using social platforms: ~95%
• Mobile-first: >90% of local social activity happens on smartphones

Most-used platforms (adults, estimated share of residents 18+)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 65–70%
• Instagram: 45–50%
• TikTok: 30–35% (higher among under-35s)
• Pinterest: 30–35% (skews female)
• Snapchat: 25–30% (concentrated in teens/young adults)
• LinkedIn: 25–30% (commuter/professional skew toward Atlanta metro)
• X (Twitter): 20–25%
• Nextdoor: 15–20% (strong in HOA/neighborhoods)

Age patterns

• Teens (13–17): YouTube ~95%; TikTok ~65–70%; Snapchat ~60%; Instagram ~60%; Facebook low
• 18–24: Instagram/TikTok dominant; Snapchat active; YouTube near-universal; Facebook secondary
• 25–34: Instagram and YouTube lead; Facebook for local groups/Marketplace; TikTok strong
• 35–49: Facebook and YouTube strongest; Instagram notable; TikTok moderate and rising
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube primary; Pinterest meaningful; Instagram moderate
• 65+: Facebook first; YouTube second; others limited

Gender breakdown (directional)

• Women: higher on Facebook (+5–10 pts vs men), Instagram (+5 pts), Pinterest (women ~45–50% vs men ~15–20%)
• Men: higher on YouTube (men ~85–90% vs women ~75–80%), Reddit/X modestly higher

Behavioral trends

• Community/local: Heavy use of Facebook Groups and Nextdoor for HOA, schools, youth sports, churches, and hyperlocal news; Marketplace is a top commerce channel
• Video-first: Short-form video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) drives discovery for local dining, events, parks, and services
• Events and alerts: Spikes around school calendars, weather, traffic/incidents (I‑575/GA‑92), and county services
• Shopping path: Discovery on Instagram/TikTok; purchase via website or Facebook Marketplace; reviews checked on Google and Facebook
• Timing: Peaks before work (6:30–8:30 a.m.), lunch (11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.), and evenings (7–10 p.m.); weekends strong for community and Marketplace activity

Notes on interpretation

• Cherokee County’s suburban/commuter profile closely mirrors U.S. suburban averages, so platform shares track national patterns with slightly higher Nextdoor/Facebook Group engagement.
• Percentages reflect adults; teen usage is higher on YouTube/TikTok/Snapchat and lower on Facebook.

Sources/method: Pew Research Center (2024 social media adoption), U.S. Census/ACS for local age/sex mix; platform ad-reach benchmarks.