Dade County

Here are recent, high-level demographics for Dade County, Georgia.

Population size

• Total population: 16,251 (2020 Census)
• 2023 population estimate: ~16.1k (Census Bureau estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~43 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~22%
• 65 and over: ~21%

Gender

• Female: ~50.8%
• Male: ~49.2% (ACS 2018–2022)

Racial/ethnic composition

• White alone: ~93%
• Black or African American alone: ~1–2%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0.5–0.6%
• Asian alone: ~0.5–0.6%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~3% (Note: Hispanic is an ethnicity; race and Hispanic shares don’t sum to 100.)

Households

• Number of households: ~6,100
• Average household size: ~2.5 persons (ACS 2018–2022)

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey (ACS) 2018–2022 5-year estimates; Census Population Estimates Program (2023).

Dade County, GA snapshot (estimates)

• Population: ~16.5k residents.
• Email users: ~12k–13k residents use email at least occasionally (driven by ~85–92% adoption among adults; teens somewhat lower).
• Age mix of email users:
  • 18–34: ~20–25%
  • 35–64: ~45–50% (largest cohort; near-universal email use)
  • 65+: ~20–25% (high but slightly lower adoption than younger adults)
  • Under 18: ~5–10% (many rely more on messaging/apps)
• Gender split among users: roughly even (≈49–51% female/male), mirroring the county’s population.
• Digital access trends:
  • Household internet subscription is commonly in the mid-to-high 70% range in similar rural GA counties; smartphone-only access likely ~10–15%.
  • Ongoing upgrades are expanding fiber and fixed wireless, but pockets still rely on DSL or satellite, affecting speeds and reliability.
  • Mobile broadband is widespread along main corridors; coverage can be spottier in mountainous/remote areas.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Low population density (roughly 90 people per square mile) and rugged terrain (Lookout Mountain area) raise last‑mile costs, contributing to uneven service.
  • Proximity to the Chattanooga metro area improves options in/near Trenton and along I‑59/US‑11 compared with more rural parts of the county.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Dade County, Georgia

Executive snapshot

• Dade County is a small, largely rural county on Georgia’s northwest border. Its older age profile, lower median income, and mountainous terrain produce mobile usage and network patterns that differ noticeably from Georgia overall, especially in reliance on mobile for home internet and in uneven 5G performance away from the I-59/Trenton corridor.

User estimates

• Adult smartphone ownership: roughly 82–88% of adults, or about 10.5–12.0k users. This is a bit lower than Georgia’s statewide rate (generally near 90%) due to an older population share.
• Wireless-only (no landline) households: about 60–70% of households, likely below Georgia’s statewide share (often mid-70s) because landlines persist more among older and rural residents.
• Mobile-only home internet (households relying primarily on a cellular data plan/hotspot): approximately 12–18%, above the statewide share (often single digits to low teens). This reflects patchy fixed broadband and affordability trade-offs.
• Plan types: prepaid/MVNO usage likely 25–35% of lines, above urban Georgia (often ~15–25%), driven by price sensitivity and flexible month-to-month needs.
• Device upgrade cycle: longer than statewide; a higher share of users keep phones 3+ years.

Demographic patterns behind usage

• Age:
  • 18–34: near-saturation smartphone adoption (≈95%+), heavy app/social/video usage; unlimited plans common.
  • 35–64: high adoption (≈88–93%); many use personal devices for work; hotspot use is common where home broadband is weak.
  • 65+: noticeably lower adoption (≈65–75%), with a small but meaningful base of basic/flip-phone users (~10–15%). Statewide rates in this group tend to be higher.
• Income and education:
  • Lower-income households show higher reliance on prepaid plans and cellular-only home internet.
  • Households without a bachelor’s degree are more likely to be mobile-first for internet access.
• Commute/workflows:
  • Cross-border ties to the Chattanooga labor market influence carrier choice; users gravitate to operators that perform well along I-59 and into Tennessee.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage mix:
  • 4G LTE is the backbone; coverage is strong along I-59, US-11, and in/around Trenton, with signal shadowing in valleys and hollows off the main corridors (Lookout Mountain/Sand Mountain terrain).
  • 5G availability is primarily low-band across most of the county; mid-band (C-band/2.5 GHz) is limited to population centers and interstate corridors. Millimeter-wave is essentially absent.
• Carriers:
  • AT&T and Verizon generally provide the most consistent rural coverage; T-Mobile availability has improved but tends to trail off away from main roads and the county seat.
  • Public-safety networks (AT&T FirstNet; Verizon Frontline) cover the interstate corridor and civic centers; off-corridor coverage can still fall back to LTE.
• Speeds and reliability:
  • Typical download speeds: about 30–80 Mbps along I-59/Trenton; 5–20 Mbps in more remote pockets. Uploads commonly 2–10 Mbps.
  • Latency and indoor penetration can degrade where buildings sit in low-lying areas or behind ridgelines.
• Backhaul and density:
  • Macro sites are concentrated along transportation corridors with a mix of fiber and microwave backhaul; tower spacing and topography limit deep-valley performance.
• Public/anchor connectivity:
  • Public Wi‑Fi and carrier small cells are sparse outside municipal buildings, schools, and a few businesses; residents often depend on phone hotspots.

How Dade County differs from Georgia overall

• Adoption: Slightly lower overall smartphone ownership, especially among seniors; higher basic-phone retention.
• Access patterns: Meaningfully higher share of mobile-only home internet; heavier reliance on hotspots when fixed broadband is slow/expensive.
• Carriers and plans: Greater tilt toward AT&T/Verizon for coverage; higher prepaid/MVNO penetration; longer device replacement cycles.
• Network experience: More frequent LTE fallback, lower median 5G speeds outside the interstate corridor, and more pronounced dead zones due to mountainous terrain.
• Digital equity: Income- and age-related gaps in smartphone and home broadband adoption are wider than the state average.

Data notes and sources behind estimates

• Benchmarked against: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (Computer and Internet Use, e.g., S2801), CDC/NCHS wireless-only telephone estimates, Pew Research smartphone adoption by geography/age, FCC/National Broadband Map and carrier public coverage disclosures (through 2024).
• County-specific figures use recent rural Georgia and Chattanooga-adjacent market patterns to bound estimates where granular county data are limited. For a precise local profile, pull ACS S2801 for Dade County and compare to Georgia statewide, and overlay FCC mobile coverage and Ookla/RootMetrics testing along I-59 and secondary roads.

Below is a concise, county‑level snapshot built from modeled estimates. It combines Dade County’s demographic mix (ACS), national platform adoption (Pew, 2023–2024), and typical rural adjustments. Treat figures as ranges, not exact counts.

Overview

• Population: ~16–17k residents; ~12.5–13.5k adults
• Social-media reach: ~80% of adults use at least one platform
• Most activity is mobile; Facebook and YouTube dominate day-to-day use

Most-used platforms among adults (estimated share of adults using)

• YouTube: 75–80%
• Facebook: 65–70%
• Instagram: 35–40%
• TikTok: 28–33%
• Pinterest: 28–33% (skews female)
• Snapchat: 22–27% (skews <30)
• X (Twitter): 15–20% (more male, news/sports/weather)
• LinkedIn: 12–16% (commuters/professionals; lower than metro areas)
• Reddit: 10–15% (more male, under 40)

Age-group patterns (who uses what most)

• Teens (13–17): Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube; light Facebook except for school/team updates
• 18–29: YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat; Facebook for events/groups
• 30–49: Facebook (groups/Marketplace), YouTube; rising Instagram; Pinterest for home/recipes
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominant; some Pinterest; light Instagram/TikTok
• 65+: Facebook primary; YouTube for how‑to/news; minimal on others

Gender notes

• Women: Higher use of Facebook, Instagram, and especially Pinterest; strong engagement with local groups, family content, schools, church, and community causes
• Men: Higher presence on YouTube, Reddit, X; content around sports, outdoors (hunting/fishing), auto, DIY

Behavioral trends (what people actually do)

• Local-first on Facebook:
  • Community groups (city, schools, churches, booster clubs, buy/sell/trade)
  • Marketplace is a top commerce channel
  • High engagement on posts about weather alerts, road closures, school/sports, local events
• Video viewing over posting:
  • YouTube is mainly for how‑to, home/auto repair, outdoor recreation, sermons, and local game highlights
  • Short-form video (Reels/TikTok) is growing for under‑40 discovery of local eateries, events, and regional attractions (including nearby Chattanooga)
• Messaging > public posting among younger users:
  • Snapchat and Instagram DMs used daily; ephemeral/private sharing preferred
• Timing:
  • Peaks around 7–9 pm; secondary morning check-in 6–8 am; weekend spikes around events/sports
• Trust and tone:
  • “Faces and neighbors” outperform polished ads: local people, practical info, and clear community benefit drive comments and shares

Quick implications if you’re trying to reach Dade County

• Lead with Facebook Groups/Events + short vertical video; cross‑post to Instagram Reels
• Use Marketplace for tangible offerings; click‑to‑message objectives perform well
• Useful posts win: weather/service updates, schedules, how‑to tips, deals, and quick recaps of local happenings
• For youth audiences, prioritize Snapchat/TikTok creative sized for vertical, 6–15 seconds, with school/team ties
• For women 25–54, pair Facebook/Instagram with Pinterest-friendly creative (recipes, home/garden, classroom/church projects)

Method note

• Figures are modeled from Pew Research Center’s recent U.S. social media adoption rates, adjusted to Dade County’s rural profile and ACS age mix. County-specific, platform-verified counts are not publicly available; ranges reflect typical rural usage patterns in North Georgia.