Irwin County

Irwin County, Georgia — key demographics

Population size

• 9,666 (2020 Decennial Census)

Age

• Median age: 39–40 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~23%
• 65 and over: ~17%

Gender

• Male: ~53%
• Female: ~47%

Racial/ethnic composition (Hispanic can be of any race; ACS 2018–2022)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~60%
• Black or African American: ~30%
• Hispanic or Latino: ~6–7%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, and other: ~1–2% combined

Households (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~3,500–3,700
• Average household size: ~2.6
• Family households: ~66–68% of all households
• Married-couple households: ~45%
• Households with children under 18: ~30%
• Nonfamily households: ~32–34%
• One-person households: ~28–30% (about 11–12% age 65+ living alone)

Notes/insights

• Small, rural county with a modestly older age profile (median age near 40; ~17% 65+).
• Sex ratio skews male, reflecting group-quarters population in the county.
• Majority White with a substantial Black population and a smaller but notable Hispanic community.

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

• Scope: Irwin County, GA (2020 population 9,666; ≈27 residents per sq. mile), predominantly rural.

• Estimated email users: ≈6,800 adult users. Method: about 77% of residents are 18+ (≈7,440 adults) and roughly 90–92% of U.S. adults use email, yielding ≈6.7–6.9k; midpoint shown.

• Age distribution and usage:

  • Seniors (65+): about 19% of residents; email adoption is high but slightly lower than younger adults, so seniors comprise a disproportionate share of non‑users.
  • Working-age adults (18–64): near‑universal email use; they account for the majority of users.

• Gender split: Approximately 51% female, 49% male; email usage is essentially parity by gender.

• Digital access and trends:

  • Broadband adoption: roughly three‑quarters of households subscribe to broadband (ACS 5‑year estimates for rural Georgia counties of similar size).
  • Availability vs. adoption: FCC mapping indicates fixed broadband service is reported as available to most locations, but subscription rates lag availability—common in low‑density rural areas.
  • Mobile access: strong smartphone reliance supports email use even where wireline subscriptions are lower.

• Local density/connectivity insight: Low population density increases last‑mile costs and correlates with slower adoption outside the main population center, shaping email access patterns despite high overall adult usage.

Irwin County, GA mobile phone usage summary (2024)

Key takeaways that differ from the Georgia average

• Higher reliance on mobile for home internet: About 22% of Irwin County households are cellular-only for home internet access, versus roughly 12% statewide. This reflects gaps in wireline broadband outside Ocilla and a stronger role for mobile networks in everyday connectivity.
• Slightly lower smartphone penetration but similar basic mobile access: Mobile phone access is widespread, but smartphone adoption trails the state by several points. Residents are more likely than the Georgia average to carry a basic/older smartphone, keep devices longer, and use prepaid or budget plans.
• Older population mix shapes usage: A larger 65+ share than the state pulls down overall smartphone and 5G handset penetration and increases voice/SMS reliance.
• Network performance variability is greater: LTE/low-band 5G coverage is broad, but mid-band 5G capacity is limited to corridors near Ocilla and major routes, producing bigger rural–town speed gaps than seen in metro Georgia.

User estimates

• Population and households: Approximately 9.5k residents and 3.4k households.
• Mobile phone users: ~8,200 residents actively use a mobile phone (about 86% adoption), compared with roughly 91% statewide.
• Smartphone users: ~7,400 residents use a smartphone (about 78% of the population), versus approximately mid-80s percent statewide.
• Cellular-only households: ~750 households rely solely on a cellular data plan for home internet (about 22% of households), versus about 12% statewide.
• 5G-capable handset users: ~5,400 residents (about 57% of the population) carry a 5G-capable phone, several points lower than the statewide share due to older age and lower upgrade rates.

Demographic usage patterns

• Age
  • 13–24: Very high smartphone adoption (~93–95%); mobile is primary screen for social/video. Similar to state but with slightly lower premium-plan uptake.
  • 25–44: High smartphone and 5G device penetration (~90%+); heavier hotspot use for home/work than statewide peers.
  • 45–64: Solid smartphone adoption (~84%); greater reliance on voice/text and Facebook/YouTube; slower upgrade cycles than state average.
  • 65+: Smartphone adoption around mid-60s percent (below state average), with more basic plans and larger share of voice-first usage.
• Income
  • Households under $35k show materially higher mobile-only home internet use and prepaid plan adoption than the state norm.
• Race/ethnicity
  • Black and Hispanic households have smartphone adoption comparable to White households but a higher likelihood of mobile-only home internet, mirroring patterns in rural Georgia.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Carriers present: AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile operate across the county; UScellular roaming is available in some areas.
• LTE coverage: Broad across populated areas; edge zones persist along timber/farmland tracts and river bottoms.
• 5G availability:
  • T-Mobile: Low-band 5G covers most populated areas; mid-band capacity present near Ocilla and along US-129/US-319 corridors.
  • AT&T: Low-band 5G present around Ocilla and major roadways; rural sectors often fall back to LTE.
  • Verizon: Low-band/DSS 5G limited; LTE remains the primary layer in many rural blocks.
• Backhaul and capacity: Fiber backhaul is concentrated around Ocilla; microwave backhaul remains common at rural sites, contributing to peak-time slowdowns relative to metro Georgia.
• Wireline broadband context: Cable/fiber options are concentrated in town; large rural areas lack cable or fiber-to-the-home, reinforcing above-average cellular-only reliance.
• Emergency and public-safety connectivity: E-911 and FirstNet/priority services are available but coverage resiliency depends on a small number of macro sites; storm-related outages can create wider service gaps than typical in urban Georgia.

Usage behavior and market implications

• Data reliance: Higher-than-average tethering/hotspot use for homework, streaming, and gig work due to limited wireline availability.
• Plan mix: Greater share of prepaid and value MVNO plans than statewide, with family/multi-line discounts used to manage costs.
• Device lifecycle: Longer device replacement cycles (often 3–4+ years), lagging state-level adoption of premium 5G phones.
• Content mix: Heavy use of video (YouTube, Facebook) on mobile; OTT TV frequently delivered via mobile hotspots where fixed broadband is absent.

What this means for stakeholders

• Carriers: Upgrading rural sites to mid-band 5G and expanding fiber backhaul would meaningfully improve peak capacity and close the urban–rural speed gap more than in metro counties.
• Public sector and ISPs: Targeted fiber builds on rural roads off the Ocilla core and support for affordable fixed wireless access can reduce the county’s above-average mobile-only dependence.
• Community impact: Digital inclusion efforts for seniors and low-income households have outsized payoff in Irwin versus the state, lifting smartphone and telehealth readiness while easing pressure on cellular networks.

Notes on methodology

• Figures are point estimates derived from the latest available federal datasets (e.g., ACS S2801 computer/internet indicators), state benchmarks, and rural Georgia patterns applied to Irwin County’s population and household base. Comparisons reflect 2022–2024 trends and are calibrated to highlight county–state differences.

Social media usage in Irwin County, GA — short breakdown

Scope note

• There are no official, published platform-by-platform statistics at the county level. Figures below use the best-available U.S. adult benchmarks (Pew Research Center, 2023) and are applied to Irwin County’s rural South Georgia context to guide planning.

Overall usage

• About 72% of U.S. adults use at least one social media platform (Pew, 2023). Rural counties like Irwin typically track close to this, with more mobile-first use and heavier reliance on Facebook for local information.

Most-used platforms among adults (U.S. usage benchmarks; percent of adults who use each)

• YouTube: ~83%
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~47%
• TikTok: ~33%
• Snapchat: ~30%
• Pinterest: ~32%
• LinkedIn: ~30%
• X (Twitter): ~23%
• Reddit: ~20%
• WhatsApp: ~21% Practical implication for Irwin County: Facebook and YouTube are the broadest-reach channels; Instagram and TikTok are essential for under-35 reach; Snapchat is important for teens and young adults; X/Reddit remain niche.

Age-group patterns (how usage skews)

• 13–17: Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram dominant; YouTube near-universal for entertainment/learning.
• 18–29: Heavy Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat; YouTube near-universal; Facebook present but not primary.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube dominant; Instagram meaningful; TikTok growing; Marketplace widely used.
• 50–64: Facebook primary; YouTube for how‑to and news; moderate Instagram; some TikTok adoption.
• 65+: Facebook still widely used; YouTube moderate; limited use of other platforms.

Gender patterns (tendencies consistently observed in national data)

• Women: Over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; strong participation in local groups (schools, churches, booster clubs) and buy/sell (Marketplace).
• Men: Over-index on YouTube, Reddit, and X; stronger affinity for sports, outdoor, agricultural, and local politics content.

Behavioral trends typical of rural South Georgia communities

• Facebook is the de facto local hub: county/city offices, schools, public safety, churches, civic clubs, and event pages/groups drive daily engagement.
• Marketplace is a major utility for local commerce and services.
• Video-first consumption: short vertical video (Reels/Shorts/TikTok) outperforms static posts; native uploads beat links.
• Community identity content performs: high school sports, church events, festivals, hunting/fishing, farming/DIY, and local faces.
• Peak engagement windows: evenings (roughly 7–10 p.m.) and weekends; weather events and high school sports produce spikes.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is ubiquitous across ages; Snapchat is central for teens/young adults; WhatsApp usage is present but smaller than in urban areas.
• Cross-posting works: the same short video adapted across Reels, TikTok, and Shorts reliably extends reach.
• Trust dynamics: posts from known local individuals/organizations outperform faceless brand posts.

Actionable takeaways for Irwin County

• To reach most adults: prioritize Facebook (pages + groups + events + Marketplace) and YouTube (shorts + searchable how‑to).
• To reach under‑35: add Instagram (stories/reels) and TikTok; use Snapchat for teen engagement.
• Post video-heavy content in evening peaks; lean into hyperlocal topics and faces; use groups for distribution; keep captions concise with clear calls to action.

Primary benchmarks

• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2023 (platform adoption by U.S. adults, including age/gender patterns)
• DataReportal, Digital 2024: United States (corroborating national platform reach and usage)