Jefferson County

Jefferson County, Georgia — key demographics

Population

• Total: 15,709 (2020 Census)
• 2023 estimate: ~15,600 (U.S. Census Bureau estimate)
• 2010–2023 change: roughly −8%

Age

• Median age: ~42 years
• Under 18: ~22%
• 18–64: ~58%
• 65 and over: ~20%

Sex

• Female: ~52%
• Male: ~48%

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023, shares rounded)

• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~55%
• White (non-Hispanic): ~41%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3–4%
• Two or more races: ~1–2%
• Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, other: each <1%

Households and housing (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: ~6,000
• Average household size: ~2.55
• Family households: ~67% (married-couple families ~35%)
• Nonfamily households: ~33% (single-person households ~29%)
• Owner-occupied housing unit rate: ~71% (renter-occupied ~29%)

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates; Population Estimates Program (2023). Figures rounded for clarity.

Jefferson County, GA overview (rural; ~16K residents, ~30 residents/sq. mile):

• Estimated email users: 9,500 adults. Method: county adult population x rural internet-use rate (85%) x email-use among internet users (~90%) based on ACS and Pew benchmarks.
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 18–29: ~20%
  • 30–49: ~35%
  • 50–64: ~27%
  • 65+: ~18%
• Gender split: ~51% female, ~49% male among email users (near parity typical in rural Georgia).
• Digital access and trends:
  • Households with a computer: ~85–88%.
  • Households with a broadband subscription (any, including cellular data plans): ~68–72%; up roughly 5–7 percentage points since 2018.
  • Smartphone‑only internet households: ~12–15%, indicating some reliance on mobile for email.
• Connectivity and density facts:
  • FCC maps indicate 25/3 Mbps fixed broadband available to most residents, with stronger provider presence in Louisville and Wrens and thinner options in unincorporated areas.
  • Low population density increases last‑mile costs, contributing to patchy high‑speed (100/20 Mbps) coverage outside town centers.

Implications: Email reach is broad among working-age adults; the main constraints are older residents and households without reliable home broadband, where mobile-based email remains a key channel.

Mobile phone usage in Jefferson County, Georgia — 2025 snapshot

At-a-glance user estimates

• Estimated mobile users (age 13+): ~11,800
• Adult smartphone users (18+): ~9,900 (about 84% of adults)
• Adults using basic/feature phones: ~950 (about 8% of adults)
• Teens (13–17) with smartphones: ~930 (roughly 92% of teens)
• Households relying on mobile data as their primary home internet: ~1,800 (about 30% of households)
• Platform mix among smartphones: ~65% Android, ~35% iPhone
• Plan mix: ~38% prepaid/MVNO, ~62% postpaid

Demographic breakdown and implications for usage

• Older population share is above the state average, which depresses overall smartphone penetration versus Georgia’s urban counties; basic-phone use is materially higher among residents 65+.
• Income and education levels are below the state average, which correlates with:
  • Heavier prepaid/MVNO adoption (e.g., Cricket, Metro, Straight Talk)
  • Higher Android share and lower iPhone share than the Georgia average
  • Greater reliance on smartphones for home internet in households without wireline broadband
• Racial/ethnic composition skews more Black and fewer Hispanic/Latino residents than Georgia overall; usage patterns align more with rural income/age factors than with language-access barriers seen in some metro areas.

Digital infrastructure

• Carrier presence: AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all operate countywide. MVNO coverage mirrors host networks.
• Coverage:
  • 4G LTE population coverage: ~98% in populated areas and along major corridors (US‑1, GA‑17/24/88)
  • 5G population coverage (any band): ~70%, predominantly low-band/DSS outside towns
  • Mid-band 5G capacity (fastest 5G) is concentrated in and near Louisville, Wrens, and Wadley; coverage thins quickly in outlying tracts.
• Capacity and performance:
  • In-town 5G mid-band: typically 100–300 Mbps down; rural LTE/low-band 5G commonly 5–30 Mbps, with indoor slowdowns in metal-roof or low-lying areas.
  • Peak-time congestion is most noticeable near schools, shopping strips, and along US‑1 during commute windows.
• Sites and backhaul:
  • Macrocell density is sparse for the land area; approximately two dozen macro sites serve ~530 square miles, supplemented by a limited number of small cells in town cores.
  • Fiber backhaul follows highway and utility rights-of-way; outside those corridors, sites often depend on longer backhaul paths or microwave, constraining capacity.
• Public safety and resiliency:
  • AT&T FirstNet is present and widely used for public safety; hardening and battery backup are better on those nodes, aiding service continuity during storms.
  • Power and backhaul outages remain the primary drivers of service interruptions in remote parts of the county during severe weather.

How Jefferson County differs from Georgia overall

• Smartphone adoption is several points lower than the statewide adult average (Georgia ≈ high‑80s to ~90% vs. Jefferson ≈ mid‑80s), driven by older age structure and income mix.
• Mobile-only internet reliance is materially higher (≈30% of households vs. ≈19% statewide), reflecting patchier fixed broadband availability and affordability constraints.
• Prepaid share is higher (≈38% vs. low‑20s statewide), with stronger MVNO usage and price-sensitive plan selection.
• Android share is higher (≈65% vs. ~55% statewide), mirroring prepaid mix and income distribution.
• 5G mid-band footprint and aggregate speeds trail metro Georgia; performance depends more on proximity to towns and major routes.
• AT&T tends to have the coverage edge in remote tracts (partly due to FirstNet buildouts), while T‑Mobile shows strong capacity where mid-band 5G is lit; Verizon coverage is broad but with variable capacity in the deepest rural areas.

Method notes

• Figures are county-level estimates built from 2020 Census/ACS demographic baselines, Pew Research smartphone adoption rates (2023–2024), and 2024 FCC reported mobile availability, adjusted for rural demographics and observed rural Georgia infrastructure patterns. Household counts assume roughly 6,000 occupied households. Estimates are rounded for clarity.

Jefferson County, GA social media snapshot (2025)

Population baseline

• Total population: ~15,700; residents age 13+ ~13,400
• Active social media users: ~9,900 (≈74% of 13+; ≈63% of total population)

User makeup

• Gender (of social media users): 53% female, 47% male
• Age distribution (of social media users)
  • 13–17: 7%
  • 18–24: 12%
  • 25–34: 17%
  • 35–44: 17%
  • 45–54: 16%
  • 55–64: 16%
  • 65+: 15%

Most-used platforms (share of social media users; overlap allowed)

• YouTube: 79%
• Facebook: 75%
• Facebook Messenger: 63%
• Instagram: 35%
• TikTok: 32%
• Pinterest: 22%
• Snapchat: 18%
• X (Twitter): 11%
• LinkedIn: 10%
• Nextdoor: 6%

Behavioral trends and usage patterns

• Facebook-centric community: Heavy reliance on Facebook Groups for school updates, church and civic announcements, local classifieds/yard sales, and county services; Marketplace is a leading channel for local buying/selling.
• Video-first consumption: Short-form video drives reach—Facebook Reels and TikTok for under-35; YouTube for how‑tos, local sports highlights, and faith content across ages.
• Peak activity windows: Early morning (6:30–8:30 a.m.) and evenings (6–9 p.m.); Sunday afternoons see elevated community posting; weather and public safety alerts generate rapid spikes.
• Trust dynamics: Posts from known local figures, churches, schools, and county agencies garner outsized engagement; recommendations propagate via shares in closed groups.
• Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger is the default for coordination among families, teams, and church groups; WhatsApp remains niche; Instagram DMs used mainly by 13–29.
• Content themes that perform: Local news and obituaries, high school sports, church events, agriculture and outdoors (hunting/fishing), small-business promos, and local government updates.
• Platform roles:
  • Facebook = community hub and commerce (Marketplace)
  • YouTube = evergreen viewing and tutorials
  • Instagram = style/food/small business branding; strongest under 35
  • TikTok = youth culture, challenges, local creators; event discovery for younger residents
  • Pinterest = home, crafts, recipes; largely female 25–54
  • X (Twitter) = niche for real-time alerts, sports scores, and government notices

Notes on methodology

• Figures are 2025 modeled estimates for Jefferson County, GA, derived from 2023–2024 American Community Survey demographics, Pew Research Center social media adoption rates by age/region, and platform ad-reach tools calibrated to the county’s population profile.