Colquitt County

Colquitt County, Georgia — key demographics

Population

• Total: 45,898 (2020 Census)
• 2023 estimate: ~46,100 (Census Population Estimates Program)

Age

• Under 18: ~27%
• 65 and over: ~17%
• Median age: ~36–37 years (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Gender

• Female: ~50–51% (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Race and Hispanic origin

• White alone, not Hispanic: ~46%
• Black or African American alone: ~29–30%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~19–21%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Asian: ~0.6–0.8%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.4–0.6% (2020 Census and ACS 2019–2023; categories shown to avoid double counting with Hispanic)

Households

• Total households: ~15.5–15.9k
• Persons per household: ~2.9–3.0
• Family households: ~70% (of households)
• Households with children under 18: ~33–36% (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Notes and sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (P.L. 94-171); American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates; Census Population Estimates Program (2023). Figures rounded; ACS values have margins of error.

Colquitt County, GA snapshot (estimates based on Census/ACS, FCC, and Pew benchmarks applied locally)

• Population: ~46,000; adults ~34,000.
• Email users: 30,000–35,000 residents (most adults; many teens).

Age pattern (share using email):

• 18–29: ~95–99%
• 30–49: ~95–98%
• 50–64: ~90–95%
• 65+: ~80–85% Older adults use email less frequently and are more likely to be mobile-only.

Gender split:

• Roughly even (≈50/50 among adults).

Digital access trends:

• Home broadband subscription: ~75–80% of households; the rest rely on mobile data, satellite, or have no home internet.
• Smartphone penetration: ~85–90% of adults; smartphone-only internet: ~15–20% of households.
• Daily email use is highest among working-age adults; younger users lean on messaging apps but still maintain email for school/work.

Local density/connectivity facts:

• Rural county with low population density (~80–90 people per sq. mi.); service quality drops outside Moultrie and along farm/rural roads.
• Fixed high-speed options are clustered near towns/arterials; many outlying areas depend on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite, though fiber is gradually expanding.

Colquitt County, GA mobile phone usage: summary and how it differs from statewide patterns

Quick size and usage estimates

• Population base: roughly 45–46k residents (ACS 2022–2023 range).
• Estimated unique mobile phone users: 35k–40k individuals.
• Estimated smartphone users: 31k–36k (roughly 85–90% of adults, somewhat below Georgia’s ~90%+).
• Mobile-only internet households (no fixed home broadband; rely on smartphones or mobile hotspots): likely 20–28% of households in Colquitt vs roughly mid‑teens statewide. This is a notable local divergence driven by rural geography and income mix.

Demographic patterns behind usage

• Age
  • 18–34: smartphone adoption near universal (≈95%), similar to state.
  • 35–64: high adoption (≈88–92%) but with more prepaid plans and shared family lines than in metro Georgia.
  • 65+: lower smartphone adoption (≈70–80%) and more basic/flip devices than statewide, reflecting older rural cohorts.
• Race/ethnicity
  • Colquitt has a larger Hispanic/Latino share than the Georgia average. This correlates with higher WhatsApp usage, more Android devices, and greater prepaid plan penetration than state averages.
  • Black residents’ adoption levels are broadly comparable to state averages, but cost-sensitive plan choices (prepaid/MVNOs) are more common than in metro areas.
• Income and plan types
  • Median household income is below the Georgia average; as a result:
    • Higher reliance on prepaid/MVNO carriers and discount unlimited plans.
    • Higher share of smartphone‑only internet users.
    • Android share likely above the Georgia average; iPhone share correspondingly lower.

How Colquitt differs from Georgia overall

• Reliance on mobile for home internet is higher, with more households using smartphones or 4G/5G fixed‑wireless access (FWA) in place of cable/fiber.
• Device mix skews more Android and prepaid than the state, where iOS/postpaid are stronger due to Atlanta‑area affluence.
• Adoption among seniors lags the state more noticeably.
• Coverage and performance are more uneven: solid in and around Moultrie and along main corridors, but patchier in agricultural areas; median speeds are typically below statewide medians.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) communications and app usage patterns (e.g., WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube) are more pronounced than Georgia averages.

Digital infrastructure snapshot

• Radio access
  • 4G LTE is widespread along primary routes and in Moultrie; gaps persist in low‑density farm areas and around some metal‑roof structures.
  • 5G
    • Low‑band 5G from major carriers covers most populated zones; good range but modest speed uplift.
    • Mid‑band 5G (fast) is mostly concentrated in/near Moultrie and select corridors; less pervasive than in Georgia’s metro counties.
    • mmWave 5G is effectively absent (as in most rural GA).
• Performance (directional, not a measurement)
  • Typical mobile downlink speeds in the county are lower than Georgia’s statewide median; think roughly mid‑double‑digits Mbps in town, dropping in fringe areas. Latency is higher and more variable than metro Georgia.
• Carriers and plans
  • All three national carriers are present; AT&T and Verizon tend to have the widest rural coverage; T‑Mobile’s mid‑band 5G is improving but still clustered.
  • MVNOs riding the big networks see healthy uptake due to cost sensitivity.
• Fixed‑wireless access (home internet over 4G/5G)
  • FWA adoption is likely above the state average, substituting where cable/fiber is limited. This further increases mobile network load versus metro counties.
• Public safety and resilience
  • FirstNet (AT&T) coverage is available and valued by local EMS/first responders, but storm outages and backhaul constraints can still impact rural sites more than urban Georgia.
• Public/anchor connectivity
  • Libraries, schools, and city facilities in Moultrie serve as key Wi‑Fi anchors; school‑issued hotspots are more common than in metro districts, reflecting higher household connectivity gaps.

What this means for service planning

• Expect higher demand for affordable, prepaid, and family plans; bilingual support and Android‑first optimization pay off more here than in the state’s urban markets.
• Network investments with the biggest impact:
  • Additional mid‑band 5G sectors and rural infill sites for coverage consistency.
  • Upgraded backhaul to lift peak‑hour speeds where FWA and mobile‑only households add load.
  • Indoor coverage solutions (repeaters, C‑Band where available) for metal‑roof homes and ag facilities.
• Community partnerships (libraries/schools/health providers) and device affordability programs will convert more residents from basic phones to smartphones and reduce the mobile‑only digital divide over time.

Notes on method and confidence

• Figures are reasoned estimates based on recent ACS demographics, rural vs statewide adoption patterns from Pew/FCC, and typical rural Georgia network characteristics. For decisions requiring precision, validate with the latest carrier coverage maps, FCC Broadband Map/Fabric, and local speed‑test aggregates for Colquitt County.

Colquitt County, GA – social media snapshot (estimates for 2025)

At a glance

• Population: ~46,000 residents (2020 Census). Estimated active social media users: ~27,000–33,000 (60–70% of residents; ~75–85% of those 13+).
• Typical gender split among social users: roughly 52–56% women, 44–48% men (in line with rural GA and platform norms).

Most-used platforms (share of residents using monthly; directional ranges)

• YouTube: 80–85% (nearly universal across ages; male-leaning).
• Facebook: 60–70% (dominant local network; strongest in 30+).
• Instagram: 35–45% (younger skew; growing with 18–34).
• TikTok: 30–40% (fast growth among 13–29; rising 30–44).
• Snapchat: 20–30% (teens/younger adults).
• Pinterest: 20–30% (female 25–54; home/food/crafts).
• X/Twitter: 10–15% (news, sports; small but vocal).
• Reddit: 10–15% (younger/male; niche interests).
• LinkedIn: 10–15% (white‑collar; recruiting reach limited locally).

Age patterns (who’s active where)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube ~95%+, TikTok ~60–70%, Snapchat ~60–65%, Instagram ~55–65%; minimal Facebook use except groups/team pages.
• 18–29: Instagram ~70–80%, YouTube ~95%+, TikTok ~60–70%, Snapchat ~50–60%, Facebook ~55–65%.
• 30–49: Facebook ~70–80%, YouTube ~90%+, Instagram ~40–55%, TikTok ~30–45%, Pinterest ~30–40% (women).
• 50–64: Facebook 65–75%, YouTube ~80–90%; modest Instagram/TikTok adoption (15–30%).
• 65+: Facebook ~55–65%, YouTube ~60–70%; others limited.

Gender tendencies

• Facebook and Instagram: slight female majority (approx. 52–58% women).
• TikTok and Snapchat: female‑leaning locally.
• YouTube and Reddit: male‑leaning (approx. 55–60% men).
• Pinterest: predominantly female (≈70–80% of users).

Local behavioral trends

• Community-first: Heavy use of Facebook Groups for buy/sell, church, school, county updates, and high‑school sports (Packers). Local news and weather alerts drive spikes.
• Video leads: Short, phone-shot vertical video outperforms photos across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok; game highlights, festivals, and “faces you know” content get strong shares.
• Bilingual engagement: English/Spanish content performs best for event info, health, schools, and hiring; WhatsApp/Messenger used for coordination among Hispanic residents.
• Practical utility: High engagement with posts about deals, jobs, road closures, school calendars, and local services. Event RSVPs and giveaway mechanics boost reach.
• Timing: Peaks before work (6–8am), lunch (12–1pm), and evenings (7–9pm); Sunday afternoons strong for community/faith content.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is default for local businesses; SMS and some WhatsApp for family groups; Instagram DMs for younger audiences.
• Platforms to de‑prioritize: X/Twitter and LinkedIn have limited general‑population reach; use for news/sports or recruiting/professional niches respectively.

Notes on method and confidence

• Figures are directional estimates derived from national/state survey data (e.g., Pew Research, platform usage norms), rural‑county adjustments, and typical platform skews, scaled to Colquitt County’s population. For precise counts, pull local reach from ad platforms (Meta, Google/YouTube, Snap, TikTok) and/or run a quick resident survey.