Long County

Long County, Georgia — key demographics (most recent Census/ACS)

Population size and growth

• Total population (2020 Census): 16,168
• Growth since 2010: +11.8% (from 14,464)

Age

• Median age: ~30 years
• Age distribution: ~29% under 18; ~63% 18–64; ~8% 65+

Gender

• Male: ~52%
• Female: ~48%

Race and ethnicity (shares of total population)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~50–55%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~20–22%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~17–20%
• Two or more races: ~4–5%
• Asian: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: <1%

Households and families

• Households: ~5,100
• Families: ~3,700–3,800
• Average household size: ~3.1
• Average family size: ~3.5
• Households with children under 18: ~45%
• Tenure: ~65% owner-occupied, ~35% renter-occupied

Insights

• Young, family-heavy population with larger-than-average household sizes.
• Notable racial/ethnic diversity for a small county, with sizable Black and Hispanic communities.
• Slight male majority, consistent with proximity to Fort Stewart and military-linked population dynamics.

Long County, GA overview (2023 est.)

• Population and density: 21,000 residents across ~400 sq mi (52 people/sq mi), indicating low rural density.
• Estimated email users (18+): ~13,900 users, about 66% of total residents and ~94–95% of adults.
• Age distribution (total population): ~30% under 18; 18–29: ~19%; 30–49: ~30%; 50–64: ~13%; 65+: ~8%.
• Email users by age (share of adult users): 18–29: ~28%; 30–49: ~44%; 50–64: ~18%; 65+: ~10%.
• Gender split: ~52% male, ~48% female; email users roughly ~7.2k male and ~6.7k female.
• Digital access:
  • Households with a computer: ~92%.
  • Households with a broadband subscription: ~80% (below U.S. average, reflecting rural infrastructure gaps).
  • Smartphone-only internet households: ~18%, indicating reliance on mobile data where fixed broadband is limited.
• Connectivity facts and trends: Coverage and adoption are strongest around Ludowici and along main corridors; lower-density areas show more fixed-wireless and cellular reliance. Broadband subscription and 5G availability are rising, but last‑mile fixed connections remain uneven, keeping subscription rates below national levels.

Figures are derived from recent ACS county indicators and national email adoption rates applied to Long County’s age mix.

Long County, GA mobile usage summary (with county-specific estimates and how they differ from the Georgia average)

Headline differences from the Georgia average

• Higher reliance on cellular data for home internet and mobile hotspots due to limited cable/fiber reach outside Ludowici and the US‑84 corridor.
• Younger population profile (driven in part by Fort Stewart–affiliated households) translates into above‑average smartphone ubiquity and heavy app/social/video use relative to rural Georgia peers.
• Faster uptake of 5G fixed‑wireless home internet (notably T‑Mobile; some Verizon LTE/5G availability) filling gaps where wired broadband is sparse.
• Coverage gaps persist in pine forest/rural tracts away from highways, leading to more multi‑line/multi‑carrier households and use of signal boosters compared with metro Georgia.

User estimates (best-available, 2022–2024)

• Population base: roughly 20–21K residents; adults ~14.5–15.5K.
• Smartphone ownership: approximately 88–92% of adults use a smartphone in Long County (Pew U.S. smartphone adoption benchmark adjusted for the county’s younger age mix); that implies ~12.8K–14.2K adult smartphone users.
• Mobile‑only or mobile‑primarily connected households: about 30–40% of households rely on a cellular data plan as their primary home internet (ACS “cellular data plan” subscription patterns in rural GA counties, adjusted for local infrastructure), higher than Georgia overall (~20–25%).
• Wireless‑only voice households (no landline): materially above the Georgia average (state ~70%+), consistent with rural and younger demographics; Long County estimate ~75–80%.

Demographic breakdown shaping mobile behavior

• Age: A notably young county for Georgia; a larger share of under‑35 residents than the statewide average. This supports higher smartphone penetration, more lines per household, and heavier mobile video/social usage.
• Military‑affiliated residents: Proximity to Fort Stewart increases the share of transient and renter households; this correlates with higher prepaid/MVNO usage, frequent number porting, device financing sensitivity, and elevated adoption of FirstNet (AT&T) among first responders and some military families.
• Income and education: Median household income below the statewide median, with a higher share of price‑sensitive customers. This tilts plan mix toward prepaid, family plans, and promotional device bundles; Android share typically higher than in metro GA.
• Race/ethnicity: A diverse and growing Hispanic population alongside White and Black majorities—Spanish‑language plans, international calling/MVNOs, and WhatsApp/Facebook Messenger usage are comparatively prominent in day‑to‑day communications.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Macro cellular networks:
  • 4G LTE is broadly available along primary corridors (US‑84, SR‑57/301) and in/around Ludowici; coverage thins in low‑density tracts and timberland away from highways.
  • 5G: Low‑band 5G from all three national carriers reaches population centers and highways; mid‑band capacity is more limited and clustered near towns/arterials. AT&T’s FirstNet footprint is a notable strength for public safety and some military‑adjacent users.
• Fixed broadband:
  • Cable: Limited outside town centers; many rural addresses lack DOCSIS service.
  • Fiber: An ongoing fiber‑to‑the‑home build by Coastal Electric Cooperative’s Coastal Fiber (covering Liberty/Bryan/Long areas) is expanding symmetrical gigabit availability; buildout has accelerated with state and federal funds (ARPA/BEAD‑era projects).
  • DSL: Legacy copper/DSL remains in pockets but generally underperforms for modern streaming and remote work.
  • Fixed wireless: T‑Mobile 5G Home Internet is widely marketed in the county and has seen fast uptake; Verizon LTE/5G Home is available in select areas. Starlink fills some of the most remote gaps.
• Public/anchor connectivity:
  • Schools and libraries participate in E‑Rate and provide high‑capacity Wi‑Fi, which reduces after‑school congestion on macro networks near town centers.
  • First responder and emergency communications benefit from FirstNet buildouts and roaming priority.

Usage patterns and implications (how Long County diverges from statewide norms)

• Network dependence: A larger slice of households uses mobile data as their primary or backup connection, pushing higher per‑capita mobile data consumption than the Georgia average, especially in the evening streaming window.
• Plan mix and devices: Greater share of prepaid/MVNO lines and Android devices; family plans with hotspot add‑ons are common. BYOD and installment plans are key levers for switching.
• Performance variability: Strong speeds near corridors and town; noticeable drops off the paved grid. Residents often hedge with a second SIM/eSIM, carrier diversity within the household, or signal boosters.
• 5G fixed‑wireless momentum: Faster growth than the state average due to limited cable competition; this reduces the number of truly unserved homes but maintains high mobile data reliance.
• Churn and seasonality: Military movements and rental turnover raise activation/churn rates relative to Georgia overall, with carrier promotions and coverage perception playing outsized roles.

Bottom line

• Long County is more mobile‑centric than Georgia as a whole: more mobile‑only households, faster adoption of 5G fixed wireless, and heavier reliance on cellular as primary connectivity.
• Continued fiber expansion by Coastal Fiber will gradually reduce cellular‑as‑primary dependence in served zones, but dispersed housing patterns mean mobile networks will remain the default connectivity for a meaningful share of residents over the next several years.

Social media snapshot: Long County, Georgia

Population and internet access

• Residents: ~21,000 (U.S. Census Bureau 2023 estimate)
• Gender: ~50% female, ~50% male (Census QuickFacts)
• Age mix (rounded): under 18 ~31%; 18–34 ~27%; 35–54 ~26%; 55+ ~16% (Census/ACS profile of Long County’s young-skewing population)
• Households with broadband internet: ~80–85% (ACS 2022; typical for rural–semi-rural Georgia counties)
• Smartphone adoption among adults: ~85–90% (Georgia-wide benchmarks; Pew Research Center)

Most-used platforms (share of U.S. adults; a reliable proxy for Long County given similar age/gender mix—Pew Research Center 2024)

• YouTube: 83%
• Facebook: 68%
• Instagram: 50%
• TikTok: 33%
• Snapchat: 30%
• Pinterest: 35%
• WhatsApp: 26%
• X (Twitter): 22%
• Reddit: 22% Note: Rural counties like Long typically index slightly higher on Facebook usage and slightly lower on LinkedIn/Reddit compared with national averages; short‑form video (YouTube/TikTok/Instagram Reels) tracks closely with national patterns among under‑35s.

Behavioral trends observed in similar Georgia rural counties and applicable to Long County

• Community-first usage: Facebook Groups and local pages drive event discovery, school and sports updates, lost-and-found, and municipal notices. Facebook Marketplace is a primary channel for buying/selling vehicles, equipment, and furniture.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube dominates “how‑to” (home repair, small engines, hunting/fishing, gardening) and local business discovery; TikTok and Instagram Reels capture entertainment, food, and “things to do” content among 16–34.
• Messaging integration: Facebook Messenger and SMS are preferred for local business inquiries; WhatsApp is present but secondary except among Hispanic/immigrant communities.
• Time-of-day patterns: Highest engagement typically early morning (6:30–8:30 a.m.) and evenings (7–10 p.m.), with weekend spikes around community events and high school sports.
• Platform by age
  • Teens/young adults (13–24): TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram Reels; Facebook used mainly for groups/events and Marketplace.
  • Adults 25–44: Facebook (Groups/Marketplace), Instagram (Stories/Reels), YouTube for product research and DIY.
  • Adults 45+: Facebook and YouTube dominate; TikTok adoption rising but still secondary.
• Gender nuances: Pinterest skews female for home, crafts, recipes; Snapchat and Instagram slightly female‑leaning in daily use; Reddit/X more male‑leaning for news/sports.
• Commerce and calls to action: “Message us,” “Call now,” and “Directions” outperform “Shop now” for local SMBs; short UGC-style videos and before/after visuals drive conversions for trades, real estate, auto, beauty, and food service.

Practical reach expectations for Long County (directional, applying Pew adoption to the adult population)

• Facebook and YouTube can each reach a clear majority of local adults
• Instagram can reach roughly half of adults, with outsized penetration among under‑35s
• TikTok/Snapchat are essential for teens and young parents; TikTok now reaches roughly one‑third of adults
• Nextdoor presence is uneven in small-population counties; Facebook Groups function as the de facto neighborhood network

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (QuickFacts; ACS 2022) for population, age, gender, broadband; Pew Research Center (2023–2024 Social Media Use) for platform adoption and age splits.