Evans County

Key demographics — Evans County, Georgia (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates; figures rounded)

• Population: ~10,800
• Age:
  • Median age: ~39
  • Under 18: ~24%
  • 18–64: ~60%
  • 65+: ~16%
• Sex:
  • Female: ~51%
  • Male: ~49%
• Race/ethnicity (mutually exclusive):
  • Non-Hispanic White: ~52%
  • Non-Hispanic Black: ~33%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~12%
  • Other non-Hispanic (Asian, AIAN, NHPI, other, 2+): ~3%
• Households:
  • Total households: ~4,000
  • Average household size: ~2.6
  • Family households: ~67% of households

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 (5-year). Estimates subject to margins of error.

Evans County, GA email usage (estimates)

• Population/density: 10.8k residents spread over ~180 sq mi (55–60 people/sq mi), a low-density rural profile that raises last‑mile broadband costs.
• Email users: ~7.8–8.3k residents use email (adult adoption ~90–95% plus teens 13–17 at ~80–90%).
• Age pattern (share using email):
  • 18–29: ~98–99% (≈14% of pop → ~1.4k users)
  • 30–49: ~96–98% (≈25% → ~2.5–2.7k)
  • 50–64: ~90–93% (≈20% → ~1.8–2.0k)
  • 65+: ~75–85% (≈18% → ~1.4–1.6k)
  • Teens 13–17: ~80–90% (≈5% → ~0.4–0.5k)
• Gender split: Near parity; men and women adopt email at similar rates (differences typically <2–3 percentage points).
• Digital access trends:
  • Household internet subscription likely ~70–80%; notable smartphone‑only access ~15–25%.
  • Fixed broadband availability in rural Georgia is uneven; low-density areas outside town centers (e.g., around Claxton) tend to have fewer high‑speed options, with 4G/5G often filling gaps.
  • Most residents have smartphones; computer ownership is somewhat lower than state averages in rural counties.

Notes: Figures modeled from Census/Pew benchmarks and rural‑Georgia patterns; refine with latest ACS and FCC/National Broadband Map data.

Evans County, Georgia: mobile usage snapshot (focus on what differs from statewide)

Population context

• Residents: roughly 10.5–11.0k, about 4.0–4.3k households. Adult (18+) share is high for a rural county; median income is below the Georgia average.

User estimates

• Adult smartphone users: about 6.8k–7.4k (roughly 80–85% of adults), a few points below the statewide adoption rate.
• Teen smartphone users: 1.6k–2.0k (90%+ of teens). Youth adoption is comparable to the state.
• Mobile-only for home internet: 18–25% of households rely primarily on a smartphone hotspot or fixed-wireless (cellular) for home connectivity—meaningfully higher than the statewide share.
• Wireless-only for voice (no landline): approximately two-thirds of households, slightly below the Georgia average because of an older age profile.
• Prepaid share: 45–55% of lines (notably higher than the state average), driven by price sensitivity, shift work, and seasonal employment.
• Device mix: Android 65–75% (higher than state), longer replacement cycles (3.5–4 years vs ~3 years metro/state).

Demographic patterns

• Age: Seniors have lower smartphone and mobile-data adoption than the state average; teens/young adults mirror state usage (social apps, video, gaming).
• Income: Lower incomes push more users to prepaid, multi-line discounts, and fixed-wireless home internet versus cable/fiber bundles.
• Race/ethnicity: Hispanic households (a visible minority locally) show very high mobile messaging and OTT calling (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger), mirroring statewide immigrant-use patterns but with greater reliance on prepaid and shared data plans.
• Work profile: Agriculture/food-processing and logistics shift workers skew toward affordable Android devices, high messaging/SMS, and hotspot use for home connectivity.

Usage behaviors that diverge from Georgia overall

• Higher reliance on mobile or fixed-wireless as the primary home internet, especially outside Claxton and along rural routes.
• More prepaid and budget plans, larger family/pooled-data plans, and heavier use of community Wi‑Fi to stretch data.
• More Android, fewer iPhone-exclusive ecosystems (e.g., iMessage-only groups less universal than in metro Georgia).
• Longer device lifecycles and more BYOD for work.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Macro towers: Sparse rural grid with coverage concentrated along US‑280 and US‑301 corridors and around Claxton; fewer small cells than urban Georgia. Dead zones persist around river bottoms/wooded areas and far from highways.
• 5G availability: Low-band 5G is broadly present; mid-band 5G (faster) is largely town-centered and along main corridors. Real-world speeds drop quickly in fringe areas compared with metro Georgia.
• Carrier dynamics:
  • Verizon and AT&T: Generally stronger for wide-area and indoor rural coverage; AT&T’s FirstNet buildouts improved public-safety coverage and some consumer service.
  • T‑Mobile: Often the fastest in/near Claxton where mid-band 5G is live, but more variable indoors at the edges of the county.
• Backhaul: Fiber-fed sites cluster near town and highways; some sites still rely on microwave, contributing to congestion at peak times—more common here than in cities.
• Home broadband alternatives:
  • Cable is mostly limited to Claxton; DSL remains in pockets; fiber-to-the-home outside the town core is still limited compared with state averages.
  • Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) from T‑Mobile and Verizon has notable uptake as a cable/fiber substitute, a sharper trend than statewide.
• Public/anchor connectivity: Schools and the library provide key Wi‑Fi access; community hotspots are more heavily used than in metro areas.
• Funding/outlook: State and federal rural broadband programs (e.g., BEAD) are expected to add fiber coverage in unserved pockets in 2025–2027; until then, FWA and hotspots will continue to bridge gaps. The wind-down of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program has had outsized impact locally, increasing churn to prepaid and FWA plans.

Key takeaways versus Georgia overall

• Slightly lower adult smartphone adoption but similar youth adoption.
• Significantly higher dependence on mobile and fixed-wireless for home internet due to limited wireline options outside Claxton.
• More prepaid, more Android, longer device lifespans, and heavier community Wi‑Fi use.
• Coverage is adequate on main corridors but less consistent indoors and off-highway; peak-time congestion is more evident than in metro counties.

Notes on estimates: Figures are derived from recent census/demographic totals for Evans County, rural–urban differentials in mobile adoption, FCC coverage filings, carrier buildout announcements, and rural-Georgia comparisons. They are presented as ranges to reflect measurement uncertainty and fast-moving network upgrades.

Evans County, GA social media snapshot (est. 2025)

User stats

• Population: ~11,000 residents; adults (18+) roughly 8,000–8,500.
• Connectivity: Most adults use smartphones; household broadband subscription likely around 70–80% (typical for rural Georgia), so usage is predominantly mobile-first.
• Estimated social media users
  • Adults (18+): ~5,200–6,400 (about 65–75% of adults)
  • Total 13+: ~6,000–7,000
  • Note: Ranges are localized estimates derived from Pew Research national/rural adoption rates applied to Evans County’s size and rural profile.

Most-used platforms among adults (localized estimates)

• YouTube: 70–80% of adults
• Facebook: 55–65%
• Instagram: 35–45%
• TikTok: 25–35%
• Pinterest: 25–35% (skews female)
• Snapchat: 20–25% (skews under 30)
• WhatsApp: 20–25% (family, work crews, international ties)
• X/Twitter: 15–20% (news/sports; skews male)
• Reddit: 15–20% (younger males)
• LinkedIn: 15–25% (professionals; lower in rural areas)
• Nextdoor: 10–15% (varies by neighborhood adoption)

Age-group patterns

• Teens (13–17): Heavy TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube; Instagram for peers; minimal Facebook.
• 18–29: Multi-platform; TikTok/Instagram/Snapchat + YouTube; Facebook used mainly for groups/events.
• 30–49: Facebook and Instagram dominate; YouTube for how‑to/entertainment; Pinterest strong among women; Marketplace widely used.
• 50–64: Facebook + YouTube anchor usage; growing but still smaller presence on TikTok/Instagram.
• 65+: Facebook is primary; YouTube for sermons, tutorials; limited Nextdoor.

Gender breakdown (directional)

• Women: Over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; strong Instagram use 18–44; active in local groups (schools, churches, youth sports) and Facebook Marketplace.
• Men: Over-index on YouTube, Reddit, and X; content interests skew to sports, outdoors, automotive, DIY.

Behavioral trends (what works locally)

• Facebook Groups and Marketplace are central: high engagement for school updates, youth sports, church events, fundraisers, county notices, and yard sales. Posts featuring recognizable local people, places, and names outperform generic content.
• Video is king: Short-form (Reels/TikTok) for discovery; longer how‑tos, sermons, and event streams on YouTube/Facebook Live.
• Timing: Evenings (7–9 pm) and weekends tend to draw the most engagement; align posts with commute/after-dinner scrolling.
• Messaging-first commerce: Many residents DM via Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp for quotes, scheduling, and customer service; fast replies matter.
• Trust signals: Content from county agencies, schools, churches, and well-known local businesses garners higher credibility and shares.
• Seasonality: Spikes around back‑to‑school, fall festivals/high‑school football, holidays (Claxton/area events), and spring planting/home projects.

Notes on method and sources

• Precise county-level social platform shares aren’t published. The figures above apply Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. adult platform adoption (with rural adjustments) to Evans County’s size and demographics, cross-checked against ACS population/broadband norms for rural Georgia. Treat as directional planning estimates rather than exact counts.