Haralson County

Haralson County, Georgia — key demographics

Population size

• Total population: 29,919 (2020 Census)
• 2023 estimate: ~30,400 (U.S. Census Bureau)

Age

• Median age: ~40–41 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~23%
• 18–64: ~60%
• 65 and over: ~17%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2018–2022; Hispanic can be any race)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~84–87%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~7–8%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~4–5%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~2–3%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ~0.5%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, and Other: ~1%

Households and housing (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~11,000
• Average household size: ~2.6 persons
• Family households: ~70%
• Married-couple households: ~50% of all households
• Households with children under 18: ~28–30%
• Owner-occupied housing: ~75–80%
• Housing units: ~12,500–13,000; vacancy rate: ~10–13%

Insights

• Population is relatively stable with modest growth since 2020.
• Older age profile than Georgia overall; higher share of residents 65+.
• Racial/ethnic composition is predominantly non-Hispanic White, with smaller Black and Hispanic populations than state averages.
• High owner-occupancy and predominantly family households reflect a more rural/suburban profile.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates; 2023 population estimates.

Haralson County, GA (pop. ~30K; ~100 people/sq. mi.) shows solid email adoption driven by widespread internet use.

Estimated email users: ≈22,000 residents (primarily adults), derived from county population and national email adoption rates.

Age distribution of email users (modeled):

• 18–29: ~15%
• 30–49: ~35%
• 50–64: ~28%
• 65+: ~22%

Gender split among users: ~51% female, ~49% male, mirroring county demographics.

Digital access and trends:

• Household broadband subscription is roughly in the upper‑70s to low‑80s percent range, typical for rural west Georgia counties; smartphone‑only access likely around low‑teens percent.
• Highest fixed broadband capacity (cable/fiber) clusters in and around Bremen and Tallapoosa along I‑20/US‑27; DSL and fixed wireless are more common in outlying unincorporated areas, with patchy speeds.
• Public access points (schools, libraries, municipal Wi‑Fi) help backstop connectivity for students and lower‑income households.
• Email engagement is strongest among working‑age adults; seniors participate widely but at lower rates due to access and device gaps.

Implications: Marketing and service communications via email will reliably reach most working‑age residents; pairing email with SMS improves reach in smartphone‑only pockets and rural zones with slower home broadband.

Haralson County, GA mobile phone usage summary (focus on how it differs from the state)

Population context

• Residents: about 30,000 (ACS 2023). Older, more rural, and lower-income than the Georgia average.
• Age profile: roughly 19% age 65+ (several points above Georgia overall), which materially affects smartphone adoption and plan choices.

User estimates (people, not lines)

• Mobile phone users (13+): approximately 24,000 (about 80% of all residents), reflecting very high device ownership even in rural areas.
• Smartphone users: about 21,400 (roughly 70% of all residents; ≈ 90% of 18–64, ≈ 70–75% of 65+, ≈ 95% of teens 13–17).
• Basic/feature‑phone users: roughly 2,600, concentrated among older adults.
• Mobile‑only internet reliance: about 1,700–2,000 households use cellular data as their primary home internet, materially above the statewide share for rural reasons (limited fixed broadband choices and greater price sensitivity).

Demographic usage patterns (what’s different from Georgia overall)

• Age: A larger senior share reduces overall smartphone penetration versus Georgia’s average. Text/voice and basic handset use remains notably higher among 65+ residents.
• Income and credit: Median household income is lower than the state; prepaid plans and MVNOs play a bigger role. Expect prepaid to account for roughly one-third of active lines locally, above Georgia’s overall mix.
• Education and employment: More blue‑collar and outdoor work increases demand for wide‑area coverage and reliable voice/SMS in fringe areas; less emphasis on ultra‑high‑speed data than in metro Atlanta.
• Race/ethnicity: The county is predominantly White non‑Hispanic. Unlike many Georgia urban counties where smartphone dependence correlates with younger and more diverse populations, Haralson’s higher mobile‑only internet use is driven more by infrastructure gaps and affordability than by demographic smartphone dependence alone.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Coverage baseline: All three national carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile) report essentially full 4G LTE coverage across populated places (Bremen, Buchanan, Tallapoosa, Waco) with rural gaps in the thinnest northern and southwestern tracts.
• 5G footprint:
  • Strongest along I‑20/US‑78 and in/around Bremen–Waco–Tallapoosa; US‑27 corridor towns also see regular 5G service.
  • Expect low‑band 5G countywide in populated areas (typical 30–80 Mbps) and mid‑band 5G in highway/town cores (often 100–300 Mbps), with LTE fallback in outlying areas (5–30 Mbps).
• Fixed wireless home internet: T‑Mobile 5G Home and Verizon 5G/LTE Home are available in and near towns and along major corridors; LTE‑based home internet covers wider rural zones. These options meaningfully raise household internet adoption where cable/fiber is limited, contributing to higher mobile‑only or mobile‑primary usage than Georgia’s urban counties.
• Public safety: AT&T FirstNet coverage is present; rural first responders generally report better low‑band coverage than mid‑band capacity in fringe areas.
• Capacity constraints: Tower spacing is wider than in metro counties, so speeds can dip at cell edges and in wooded/rolling terrain; indoor penetration can be inconsistent in metal‑roof structures common in the county.

Key differences from the Georgia state picture

• Lower overall smartphone penetration driven by an older population profile.
• Higher reliance on prepaid and MVNO offerings due to income and credit mix.
• Greater share of households depending on cellular as primary home internet, reflecting sparser cable/fiber availability.
• Coverage quality prioritizes reach over capacity; 5G is present but more corridor‑ and town‑centric than in metro areas, with more frequent LTE fallback in rural tracts.

Method notes: Estimates synthesize ACS 2023 population/age structure with recent Pew Research device‑ownership rates by age and urbanicity and FCC carrier coverage filings/maps (2024). Figures are rounded to reflect inherent estimation uncertainty while remaining decision‑useful.

Social media in Haralson County, GA — short breakdown

Population baseline

• County population: 29,919 (2020 Census). Residents age 13+: ≈25,000.
• Estimated monthly social media users (13+): 20,000–22,000 (≈80–85% penetration), in line with U.S. rural/Southeast usage.

Most-used platforms (share of residents 13+ using each monthly; modeled from Pew U.S. adult/teen data, adjusted for rural GA)

• YouTube: 82–86%
• Facebook: 70–75%
• Instagram: 40–48%
• TikTok: 30–37%
• Pinterest: 28–34%
• Snapchat: 22–28%
• X (Twitter): 18–22%
• LinkedIn: 18–22%
• Reddit: 16–20%
• Nextdoor: 8–12%

Age-group usage (share of each group using any social media; top platforms locally)

• Teens 13–17: 93–97%. YouTube (95%), TikTok (70%), Snapchat (60%), Instagram (60%), Facebook (~30%).
• 18–24: 94–97%. YouTube (95%), Instagram (75–80%), Snapchat (65–70%), TikTok (60–65%), Facebook (~55–65%).
• 25–34: 90–94%. YouTube (90%), Facebook (70–75%), Instagram (60–68%), TikTok (40–50%).
• 35–44: 86–90%. Facebook (75–80%), YouTube (80–85%), Instagram (45–50%), TikTok (30–38%).
• 45–64: 78–83%. Facebook (70–75%), YouTube (72–78%), Instagram (30–36%), TikTok (20–26%).
• 65+: 50–58%. Facebook (55–60%), YouTube (50–55%), Instagram (18–22%), TikTok (8–12%).

Gender breakdown (share of residents 13+)

• Women: Facebook 74–78%, Instagram 42–48%, TikTok 32–38%, Pinterest 40–48%, Snapchat 25–30%, YouTube 75–80%, LinkedIn 16–20%, X 15–19%, Reddit 10–14%.
• Men: YouTube 84–88%, Facebook 66–72%, Instagram 36–42%, TikTok 26–32%, Snapchat 20–25%, Reddit 20–26%, X 20–24%, LinkedIn 18–22%, Pinterest 12–18%.

Behavioral trends and local patterns

• Facebook is the community hub: high engagement in local Groups (yard sales, school athletics, church and civic announcements) and Marketplace for buy/sell/trade.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube dominates “how-to” (home/auto repair, outdoors, trades) and local live streams; TikTok/Instagram Reels usage is growing among under-40s for short, entertainment-driven content.
• Messaging splits by age: adults favor Facebook Messenger; teens rely on Snapchat for daily communication.
• Local discovery is word-of-mouth via Groups and shares; events and small businesses lean on Facebook Pages/Events and geotargeted Facebook/Instagram ads with “message/call” CTAs.
• Peak activity windows: evenings 7–10 pm, secondary spikes 6–8 am and lunch hour; weekend surges for Marketplace and events.
• Content that performs: timely local info (weather alerts, school notices, road/incidents on I-20), youth sports highlights, church/community events, promotions with local pickup/limited-time offers.
• Platform gaps: LinkedIn and X usage is modest outside commuters/professionals; Nextdoor presence is limited and neighborhood coverage is uneven.

Notes on method

• Figures are county-level estimates derived from: U.S. Census (population baseline) and 2023–2024 Pew Research Center U.S. social media adoption (with rural/Southeast adjustments). Ranges reflect modeling uncertainty and rounding.