Jenkins County

Jenkins County, Georgia — Key Demographics

Population

• Total: 8,340 (2020 Census)
• Recent estimate: ~8,5K (ACS 2018–2022 5-year)

Age

• Median age: ~42 years
• Under 18: ~20%
• 65 and over: ~18–19%

Gender

• Male: ~55%
• Female: ~45% Note: Male share elevated due to a local correctional facility.

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2018–2022; shares approximate)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~51%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~44%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~4%
• Other (Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, NHPI, two+ races): ~1%

Households

• Total households: ~3,000
• Average household size: ~2.4–2.5
• Family households: ~68% of households
• Married-couple families: ~40–45% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~25%
• Nonfamily households: ~32%; living alone ~29%

Insights

• Small, aging population with a near even White/Black composition.
• Household sizes are modest and a sizable share are nonfamily or living alone.
• Gender distribution is notably male-skewed relative to state and national norms due to group quarters.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates (tables DP05, S0101, S1101).

Jenkins County, GA is a low‑density rural county (roughly 24–25 residents per square mile) with an estimated 8.5–8.8K residents. Using rural-Georgia age structure and current U.S. email adoption benchmarks, about 6.0–6.6K residents use email.

Estimated email users by age

• 13–17: ~450–520 (high schoolers; >85% with active email via school/platforms)
• 18–34: ~1.5–1.7K (≈95% usage)
• 35–64: ~2.6–2.9K (≈90% usage)
• 65+: ~1.2–1.4K (≈70–75% usage, rising with telehealth/government services)

Gender split

• County population skews slightly female; email users are ~51–52% female, ~48–49% male.

Digital access and usage trends

• Home internet: Approximately two‑thirds of households maintain a broadband subscription; a meaningful minority are mobile‑only, especially in younger and lower‑income households.
• Device mix: Email is predominantly accessed on smartphones; desktop/laptop use remains common among working‑age adults.
• Rural connectivity gap: Patchy fixed broadband speeds and affordability constraints depress home adoption relative to Georgia’s urban counties, but public Wi‑Fi (schools, library, government buildings) and cellular data mitigate access barriers.
• Growth areas: Seniors’ email adoption is increasing due to Medicare/telehealth portals; youth adoption is nearly universal through school accounts.

Overall, email penetration is solid despite rural infrastructure constraints, with strongest usage among 18–64 and steadily improving uptake among 65+.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Jenkins County, Georgia (2024)

Population baseline

• Residents: ~8,600
• Adults (18+): ~6,700

User estimates

• Adults with any mobile phone: ~6,140 (about 92% of adults). Georgia statewide is closer to 95–97%.
• Adults with a smartphone: ~5,400 (about 81% of adults). Georgia statewide is ~88–90%.
• Adults primarily relying on mobile data for home internet (“mobile-only”): ~1,450 (about 22% of adults). Georgia statewide is ~12–15%.

How Jenkins County differs from the state

• Lower smartphone adoption: ~7–9 percentage points below Georgia’s average.
• Higher basic/feature-phone retention: ~9% of adults, roughly double the state rate.
• Greater mobile-only internet dependence: about 1.5–2x the statewide share, reflecting fewer fixed-broadband options and lower household incomes.
• Smaller effective 5G footprint: 5G is present but concentrated in and around Millen and along main corridors; mid-band capacity 5G is far less prevalent than in Georgia’s metro counties, keeping typical speeds and in-building performance below state norms.
• More cost-sensitive plans: a higher share of prepaid and subsidy-eligible lines than the state average, especially following the 2024 wind-down of ACP benefits.

Demographic breakdown (modeled from county age/income mix and rural adoption patterns)

• By age (adult population ≈6,700):
  • 18–34: ~1,500 adults; ~98% have a mobile phone; ~95% have a smartphone.
  • 35–64: ~3,400 adults; ~95% have a mobile phone; ~85% have a smartphone.
  • 65+: ~1,800 adults; ~80% have a mobile phone; ~60% have a smartphone; basic phones remain common for this group.
• By race/ethnicity (ownership differences are modest; dependence on mobile-only internet is higher among Black and Hispanic residents):
  • Black (≈48% of adults): smartphone ownership ~81%; mobile-only internet ~28%.
  • White (≈47% of adults): smartphone ownership ~80%; mobile-only internet ~18%.
  • Hispanic/Latino (≈3% of adults): smartphone ownership ~85%; mobile-only internet ~35%.
• By household income (county distribution is skewed lower than the state):
  • Under $35k (≈50%+ of households): smartphone ownership ~76%; mobile-only internet ~28–30%.
  • $35k–$75k (≈35%): smartphone ownership ~86%; mobile-only internet ~20%.
  • $75k+ (≈15%): smartphone ownership ~96%; mobile-only internet ~8–10%.

Digital infrastructure and availability

• Cellular coverage: All three national carriers serve the county. 4G LTE is widespread along primary roads; indoor coverage weak spots persist in low-lying and heavily wooded areas. 5G availability is primarily low-band; mid-band 5G capacity is limited to the Millen area and key corridors, trailing state metro coverage.
• Fixed broadband context affecting mobile use: Only about 60–65% of households have a fixed broadband subscription (well below Georgia’s ~80%+), with fiber concentrated in and near Millen and limited cable/DSL elsewhere. This gap materially increases reliance on smartphones and mobile hotspots for home connectivity.
• Public connectivity anchors: Schools, the public library in Millen, and county facilities provide Wi‑Fi access and, in some cases, loaner hotspots—important for households without reliable fixed service.
• Resilience and backhaul: Fewer macro sites and longer backhaul paths than urban counties make service more vulnerable to congestion and weather-related outages; this contributes to wider speed variability than the state average.

Usage implications

• Day-to-day experience: Typical mobile speeds are adequate for messaging, email, and standard-definition streaming but less consistent for high-resolution video and telehealth in fringe areas; in-building performance lags state metro norms.
• Equity lens: Seniors and lower-income households are more likely to use basic phones or share devices; students and working-age adults show higher mobile-only dependence for school, job search, and services.
• Policy and provider focus: Expanding mid-band 5G and fiber-to-the-home beyond Millen, plus targeted device/plan affordability, would most directly narrow the county’s gap with statewide usage patterns.

Notes on method

• Counts are 2024 estimates built from the county’s population and age/rural mix (ACS/Census) combined with recent U.S./Georgia adoption rates by age, income, and urbanicity (e.g., Pew, CDC/NTIA patterns). Figures are rounded for clarity and aligned to well-documented rural-urban differentials observed in Georgia.

Social media usage in Jenkins County, Georgia (2025 snapshot)

Overall user stats (13+ population)

• Active social media users: approximately 4,800–5,500 residents (about 66–75% of residents aged 13+)
• Daily users: 2,900–3,300 (roughly 60% of social users)
• Average platforms per person: 2.3–2.7
• Device mix: 95%+ mobile access; desktop use concentrated among 45+

Age mix of social media users

• 13–17: 8–10%
• 18–29: 18–20%
• 30–44: 24–26%
• 45–64: 30–32%
• 65+: 16–18%

Gender breakdown of social media users

• Women: 52–55%
• Men: 45–48%

Most-used platforms among local social media users (note: multiple platforms per person, so totals exceed 100%)

• Facebook: 82–88% of users; strongest across 30+; Groups and Marketplace dominate
• YouTube: 70–76%; universal across ages, heavy “how‑to,” local sports, and church content
• Instagram: 38–44%; concentrated under 35; Stories/Reels lead engagement
• TikTok: 28–34%; fastest growth; short local videos, food, school athletics
• Pinterest: 24–30%; predominantly women; home, crafts, recipes
• Snapchat: 18–22%; teens/young adults; messaging-first
• WhatsApp: 12–16%; family groups and small businesses
• X (Twitter): 10–14%; news/sports followers
• Nextdoor: 6–9%; neighborhood alerts where available

Behavioral trends

• Community-first engagement: High response to school, sports, church, civic updates; Facebook Groups are the primary hub for local information and buy/sell/trade
• Local commerce: Facebook Marketplace is the top discovery/sales channel for vehicles, equipment, furniture; service providers gain leads via Group referrals and Messenger
• Video habits: YouTube for tutorials (farm/DIY, auto, small engine) and local streams; short-form (Reels/TikTok) drives discovery for food trucks, boutiques, events
• Timing: Engagement peaks 7–10 pm on weekdays; weekend mid-morning bump; weather/emergency posts spike instantly
• Creative that works: Plain-language captions, photos of people/places, price/availability in first line, and clear calls to action; giveaways and limited-time offers outperform generic branding
• Privacy/DM preference: Older users often comment “PM me” or use Messenger for quotes; businesses that reply within an hour get materially higher conversion
• Platform roles: Facebook = community and commerce; YouTube = learning/longer watch; Instagram/TikTok = reach under 35; Pinterest = planning/purchases for home/holidays

Notes on methodology

• Figures are county-level estimates derived from: U.S. Census Bureau ACS demographics for Jenkins County; Pew Research Center 2023–2024 U.S. social media adoption by age/gender; platform advertising reach indicators; and rural–South usage patterns. Estimates reflect 13+ population and typical rural penetration, calibrated to Jenkins County’s age profile.