Columbia County

Here are the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates for Columbia County, Georgia (rounded; 2023 where available):

Population

• Total population (2023 est.): ≈166,000
• Growth since 2020 Census (156,010): ≈+6–7%

Age

• Median age: ≈37–38 years
• Under 18: ≈29%
• 65 and over: ≈13%

Gender

• Female: ≈50.5–51%
• Male: ≈49–49.5%

Race/ethnicity (share of total)

• White (non-Hispanic): ≈63%
• Black or African American: ≈18–19%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ≈7–8%
• Asian: ≈5%
• Two or more races: ≈4%
• Other groups: ≈1% combined

Households

• Number of households: ≈58,000
• Average household size: ≈2.9 persons
• Family households: ≈77–78% of households
• Married-couple households: ≈60–65%
• Households with children under 18: ≈38–42%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 Population Estimates; 2023 ACS 1-year and 2019–2023 ACS 5-year tables.

Columbia County, GA email usage (estimates)

• Population: 165,000; adults (18+) ≈ 120,000–130,000.
• Estimated email users: 115,000–125,000 adults (adding teens brings total to roughly 120,000–135,000). Based on national email adoption applied to local population.
• Age distribution/use:
  • 18–29: ~97–99% use email
  • 30–49: ~95–97%
  • 50–64: ~90–93%
  • 65+: ~80–88% Older adults account for most non-users.
• Gender split: Nearly even; women typically 1–2 percentage points higher email adoption than men in national surveys.
• Digital access trends:
  • Households with broadband subscription: commonly >90% in Columbia County (ACS-style indicators for similar suburban GA counties), supporting widespread email use.
  • High smartphone ownership; many residents access email on mobile as well as home broadband.
  • Continued growth of fiber/cable availability in populated corridors; rural pockets see comparatively lower speeds/choices.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population density roughly 550–600 people per square mile (fast-growing, suburban Augusta metro).
  • Most residents live in Evans–Martinez–Grovetown areas with strong cable/fixed broadband coverage; connectivity gaps are more likely in less-dense northwestern tracts.

Notes: Figures are estimates blending US Census/ACS population structure with Pew-style email adoption rates.

Columbia County, GA — mobile phone usage snapshot (with how it differs from Georgia overall)

User estimates

• Population baseline: roughly 165,000 residents (fast-growing Augusta metro suburb).
• Estimated mobile phone users: about 125,000–135,000 people carry a mobile phone locally.
  • Method: higher-than-average adult smartphone adoption (≈90%+ of adults), very high teen adoption (≈95%), plus some uptake among older children; basic phones are a small minority.
• Device mix: smartphones account for roughly 92–95% of handsets; iPhone share is likely above the Georgia average due to income and family plan dynamics.

Demographic drivers of usage (and how they diverge from state-level)

• Age and family structure: more family households and school‑age children than the Georgia average, pushing up lines per household and teen smartphone penetration.
• Income and education: median household income and bachelor’s attainment are both well above state averages, which correlates with:
  • Greater postpaid family‑plan adoption and lower prepaid/MVNO reliance than the state overall.
  • Higher ownership of recent 5G devices and premium models.
• Military/gov workforce: sizable DoD/cyber workforce (Fort Eisenhower nearby) and veterans presence lead to:
  • Strong take‑up of carrier military discounts.
  • Notable FirstNet (AT&T) footprint among public safety and some government users.
• Race/ethnicity mix: the county is less urban and more suburban/affluent than Georgia overall; differences in mobile behavior map more to income/education than to ethnicity.

Plan and usage patterns

• Plans: skew toward multi‑line postpaid and bundled offers (wireless + home internet), with prepaid share below the statewide norm.
• Data consumption: heavy video/social and navigation use tied to commuting; strong Wi‑Fi offload at home given robust fixed broadband penetration.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA): higher receptivity to 5G home internet (T‑Mobile, Verizon) than many Georgia counties, used as an alternative to cable or where fiber hasn’t reached new subdivisions yet.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• 5G deployment: broad mid‑band 5G coverage from all three national carriers across Evans, Grovetown, Martinez, and Harlem growth corridors; C‑band (Verizon/AT&T) and 2.5 GHz (T‑Mobile) underpin faster median speeds than many non‑metro Georgia counties.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • County‑built fiber backbone (Columbia County Community Broadband Utility) supports public facilities, traffic systems, and provides carrier backhaul options—an advantage not common across Georgia counties.
  • AT&T Fiber and cable (e.g., Xfinity) are widely available in denser areas, aiding small‑cell and macro‑site capacity.
• Towers and small cells: dense siting along I‑20 and major arterials (Washington, Belair, Columbia roads), plus infill sites in master‑planned communities; more small cells than typical for similarly sized Georgia counties due to rapid residential growth.
• Pain points: patchier coverage and capacity north of Evans/Appling and around Clarks Hill/Thurmond Lake; congestion spikes near schools and new subdivisions during peak hours.

How Columbia County differs from Georgia overall

• Higher smartphone ownership and newer device mix, driven by income, education, and family plans.
• Lower prepaid/MVNO share; higher postpaid family‑plan penetration.
• Faster 5G adoption and generally higher 5G availability outside a major metro core (Atlanta aside).
• Above‑average uptake of 5G FWA for home broadband.
• Unique county fiber backbone supporting carrier backhaul and smart‑county services, accelerating wireless capacity upgrades relative to many Georgia peers.

Bottom line Columbia County’s suburban growth, affluence, and proximity to Fort Eisenhower translate into more lines per household, newer 5G devices, and a stronger tilt toward postpaid and bundled services than Georgia overall. Network investment (mid‑band 5G, small cells, and fiber backhaul) is ahead of the curve for a non‑metro county, with remaining gaps focused in the rural north and recreation areas.

Below is a concise, locally oriented snapshot. Because platforms don’t publish county‑level usage, the figures are modeled by applying Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. social media usage rates to Columbia County’s adult population (est. ~122,000 adults, based on ~165,000 total residents and ~74% ages 18+; U.S. Census/ACS 2023). Treat counts as approximate.

Overall user stats

• Adult population (est.): ~122,000
• Gender split (county): ~51% female, ~49% male (ACS typical pattern)
• Most-used platforms among adults in Columbia County (modeled from U.S. averages):
  • YouTube ~83% → ~101,000 adults
  • Facebook ~68% → ~83,000
  • Instagram ~47% → ~57,000
  • Pinterest ~35% → ~43,000
  • TikTok ~33% → ~40,000
  • LinkedIn ~30% → ~37,000
  • Snapchat ~30% → ~36,000
  • WhatsApp ~29% → ~35,000
  • X (Twitter) ~22% → ~27,000
  • Reddit ~22% → ~27,000
  • Nextdoor ~19% → ~23,000 Note: Percentages are Pew Research Center 2024 U.S. adult usage rates, applied to local adult counts.

Age-group patterns (what’s most used)

• 18–29: Very high YouTube; Instagram and Snapchat/TikTok are core; Facebook is used but not central. Short‑form video dominates; DMs > comments.
• 30–49: YouTube and Facebook lead; Instagram strong; TikTok growing. Heavy use of Facebook Groups for schools, sports, buy/sell, events.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Pinterest useful (home, recipes, DIY). Instagram present but lower; TikTok adoption rising.
• 65+: Facebook first; YouTube second; Nextdoor meaningful in HOA/subdivision contexts. Preference for local news, services, and community safety updates.

Gender breakdown (tendencies)

• Women: More likely to use Facebook, Instagram, and especially Pinterest; heavier engagement in local groups (schools, youth sports, church, yard sale/marketplace).
• Men: Slightly higher on YouTube, Reddit, and X; consume more long‑form video and tech/sports/outdoors content.
• LinkedIn is fairly balanced; WhatsApp usage tied to international/family networks.

Most-used platforms (local takeaway)

• #1 YouTube (~83% of adults): Ubiquitous how‑to, product research, local business and church content.
• #2 Facebook (~68%): The county’s community hub (Groups, Events, Marketplace, local gov’t updates).
• #3 Instagram (~47%): Visual discovery for restaurants, boutiques, real estate; Reels usage rising.
• Mid‑tier: Pinterest (35%) for home/DIY; TikTok/Snapchat (30–33%) strongest among under‑40; LinkedIn (30%) buoyed by the area’s professional/military tech community; Nextdoor (19%) active in subdivisions/HOAs.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first: High reliance on Facebook Groups, Nextdoor, and Marketplace for school news, youth sports, church, safety, and local services.
• Video-centric: Reels/Shorts/TikTok drive discovery; native vertical video outperforms links.
• Trust via neighbors: Recommendations in local groups and reviews often outweigh ads; UGC and local testimonials perform best.
• Family schedules: Engagement peaks early morning, lunch, and evenings; weekends for events and shopping.
• Local search blend: People bounce between Facebook pages, Google Maps reviews, and Instagram for quick validation before visiting.
• Messaging > comments: Many inquiries shift to DMs (FB Messenger/IG) after initial post discovery.

Sources and method

• U.S. Census Bureau/ACS (population, age, gender for Columbia County, GA)
• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (platform penetration by U.S. adults) and recent age/gender patterns
• Figures are modeled estimates; exact county-level platform usage is not directly published.