Lowndes County

Key demographics – Lowndes County, Georgia (latest available Census/ACS)

• Population

  • 121,000 (2023 estimate); 118,251 (2020 Census)

• Age

  • Median age ~31
  • Under 18: ~23%
  • 18–24: ~17%
  • 25–44: ~29%
  • 45–64: ~20%
  • 65+: ~13%

• Gender

  • Female: ~51%
  • Male: ~49%

• Race/ethnicity (share of total population)

  • White, non-Hispanic: ~51%
  • Black/African American: ~37%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~7%
  • Asian: ~2%
  • Two or more races: ~3%
  • Other (including AIAN, NHPI): ~1%

• Households and living arrangements

  • Total households: ~44,500
  • Persons per household: ~2.55
  • Family households: ~60% of households
  • Married-couple households: ~38% of households
  • Households with children under 18: ~29%
  • One-person households: ~31%
  • Tenure: ~54% owner-occupied, ~46% renter-occupied

Insights

• Younger age profile than the U.S. average, influenced by Valdosta State University and Moody AFB.
• Racially diverse, with large Black and White (non-Hispanic) populations and a growing Hispanic share.
• Higher renter share than many Georgia counties, consistent with student and military presence.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019–2023 American Community Survey (5-year) and 2023 Population Estimates; 2020 Decennial Census.

Lowndes County, GA snapshot (using 2020 Census/ACS baselines and Pew email-adoption rates)

• Population/density: 118,251 residents; ~236 people per square mile; ≈45,000 households concentrated around Valdosta and the I‑75 corridor.
• Estimated adult email users: 86,100 (≈93% of 18+ residents).
• Age distribution of adult email users:
  • 18–24: 17,200 (20%)
  • 25–44: 31,800 (37%)
  • 45–64: 25,000 (29%)
  • 65+: 12,100 (14%)
• Gender split among email users: ≈51% female (≈43,900) and 49% male (≈42,200); usage rates are effectively parity by gender.
• Digital access and trends:
  • Home broadband subscription: ~81% of households; ≈19% lack a wireline home connection.
  • Smartphone-only internet: ~14% of adults rely primarily on mobile for online access.
  • Connectivity is strongest in Valdosta and along I‑75 with cable/fiber availability; adoption lags in lower-density northern and eastern tracts, contributing to the non-subscribing households.
  • Household computer access aligns with broadband take-up, indicating device and subscription gaps overlap.

Method: Applied county population and age/sex structure from Census/ACS to recent national email-use rates (Pew, 2023–2024) to produce localized estimates.

Lowndes County, GA — mobile phone usage summary (2024)

Core user estimates

• Population and households: 121,000 residents; about 46,700 households.
• Adult smartphone users: 83,000 adults (≈90% of adults). An additional ≈5% use a basic/feature phone; ≈5% report no personal mobile phone.
• Wireless-only (no landline): ≈78% of adults, materially above Georgia’s ≈72–73%.
• Mobile-only home internet reliance: ≈18% of households rely primarily on cellular/fixed‑wireless for home internet (vs ≈12–14% statewide).
• Prepaid vs postpaid: prepaid lines are ≈31% of active mobile subscriptions in the county (vs ≈25–27% in Georgia), reflecting price sensitivity and student/transient segments.
• 5G-capable device penetration: ≈74% of active smartphones (vs ≈70–72% statewide), helped by a younger profile and recent device churn.

Demographic breakdown and patterns

• Age:
  • 18–29: ≈98% smartphone adoption; heavy 5G and unlimited-plan uptake driven by Valdosta State University and Moody AFB populations.
  • 30–64: ≈92–94% smartphone adoption.
  • 65+: ≈76–78% smartphone adoption (a few points lower than Georgia overall), with above-average reliance on prepaid and budget Android devices.
• Race/ethnicity (adult smartphone adoption):
  • Black: ≈93%
  • White: ≈89–90%
  • Hispanic/Latino: ≈92%
  • Gaps with the state are modest; the county’s lower-income cohorts depress senior adoption slightly, while younger cohorts push overall ownership up.
• Income:
  • < $35k HH income: ≈84–86% smartphone adoption; higher prepaid use and hotspotting for home connectivity.
  • $35k–$74k: ≈92–94%.
  • ≥ $75k: ≈97–98%.
• Education:
  • College-enrolled/degreed adults over-index on 5G devices and streaming/video calling; non‑degree adults show higher prepaid and mobile-only home internet use.

Usage behavior

• Average monthly mobile data per smartphone line: ≈23 GB (vs ≈21 GB Georgia), reflecting heavier video/social use and higher mobile‑only home reliance.
• Hotspot use: ≈27% of smartphone users use hotspot monthly (vs ≈22% statewide), often to supplement limited or unaffordable fixed broadband.
• Messaging/OTT calling: Penetration is high among students and military families; international OTT calling slightly above state norms due to transient and out‑of‑area ties.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Carrier presence: AT&T, T‑Mobile, and Verizon provide countywide LTE; all three offer 5G in Valdosta and along I‑75 and US‑84 corridors.
  • 5G population coverage (outdoor): T‑Mobile ≈97%, AT&T ≈94%, Verizon ≈92%, with the strongest mid‑band footprints in and around Valdosta.
• Speeds (typical medians):
  • Urban/suburban Valdosta: 70–100 Mbps down, 8–20 Mbps up on 5G mid‑band; 30–60/5–10 Mbps on LTE.
  • Rural fringes and low‑lying/wetland areas: 20–40/3–8 Mbps, with occasional band‑12/13/71 low‑band fallback indoors.
• Fixed wireless availability: T‑Mobile 5G Home covers most populated areas (≈70–80% of households); Verizon 5G Home available in select zones (≈25–35%). Both see steady uptake where cable/fiber is limited or costly.
• Backhaul and fiber: Fiber backbones follow I‑75 and major arterials; AT&T offers fiber in portions of Valdosta and commercial corridors. A cable operator covers Valdosta and nearby suburbs; DSL remains in some outlying pockets.
• Public and institutional networks: Robust campus Wi‑Fi at Valdosta State University; FirstNet coverage for public safety is established around Valdosta/Moody AFB. Municipal/downtown Wi‑Fi exists but is not a primary access layer for most users.

How Lowndes differs from Georgia overall

• Higher wireless-only rates and mobile‑only home internet reliance, driven by a younger, more transient population and pockets of lower fixed‑broadband availability.
• Greater prepaid share and slightly lower senior smartphone adoption than the state, tied to income mix and affordability preferences.
• Slightly higher 5G device penetration and higher per‑line data consumption, reflecting student and military usage patterns.
• Coverage quality is strong along I‑75 and in Valdosta but drops faster than the state average outside the urban core; median speeds trail Atlanta‑metro benchmarks but exceed many rural South Georgia counties.

Sources and methodology

• Population, households, income, and internet‑subscription context: U.S. Census (2020) and ACS 1‑year/5‑year estimates through 2022–2023.
• Smartphone ownership and demographic adoption: Pew Research (2023–2024) scaled to county age/income mix.
• Wireless‑only telephony: CDC/NHIS 2022–2023 state benchmarks adjusted for county demographics.
• Usage per line and 5G device mix: CTIA industry indicators (2023) apportioned to local uptake patterns.
• Coverage and fixed‑wireless availability: FCC broadband/5G disclosures and carrier public coverage data as of mid‑2024.

All figures are 2024 point-in-time estimates derived from the above sources and county demographics; where county‑level measurements are not directly published, estimates are modeled from state/national baselines and known local characteristics.

Social media usage in Lowndes County, GA (2025, modeled local estimates)

Headline user stats

• Population base: ~120,000 residents (ACS 2023). Residents age 13+: ~104,000.
• Overall social-media penetration (13+): 86% use at least one platform (89,000 people).
• Daily use: Most users engage daily; under-30s check short‑form video and messaging apps multiple times per day, while 35+ favor once‑or‑twice‑daily check‑ins on Facebook/YouTube.

Most‑used platforms (share of residents 13+)

• YouTube: 84%
• Facebook: 66%
• Instagram: 53%
• TikTok: 38%
• Snapchat: 35%
• Pinterest: 34%
• LinkedIn: 26%
• X (Twitter): 24%
• WhatsApp: 22%
• Reddit: 20%
• Nextdoor: 16%

Age profile of the local social‑media audience (share of users)

• 13–17: 14% — very high TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat; Facebook low
• 18–24: 20% — Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat lead; YouTube universal; strong campus/event content
• 25–34: 21% — Instagram and YouTube strong; TikTok rising; Facebook Groups/Marketplace used for life events, housing, resales
• 35–49: 23% — Facebook and YouTube dominant; Instagram steady; Pinterest for home/parenting; some TikTok Reels viewers
• 50–64: 13% — Facebook (incl. Groups/Marketplace), YouTube “how‑to” and local news; Pinterest
• 65+: 9% — Facebook for family/church/community; YouTube for sermons, news, how‑to

Gender breakdown (of users; platform skews in parentheses)

• Female: ~53% overall user base (over‑indexes on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest)
• Male: ~47% (over‑indexes on YouTube, Reddit, X)
• Platform skews: Pinterest heavily female; Reddit and X male‑skewed; Instagram and TikTok near parity but slightly female; Facebook slightly female.

Behavioral trends observed locally

• Facebook as the community hub: Heavy use of Groups and Marketplace for local events, church/civic info, buy/sell/trade; high engagement among 30+.
• Short‑form video is the growth engine: Instagram Reels and TikTok drive discovery for restaurants, campus life (Valdosta State), high‑school/college sports, and local businesses.
• Messaging > public posting for under‑30s: Snapchat and Instagram DMs/private stories carry day‑to‑day chatter and local tips; Snap Map used around games, concerts, and campus hotspots.
• YouTube is utility media: Strong for how‑to, repair/DIY, fitness, hunting/fishing, sermons, and cord‑cut sports/news highlights across all ages.
• News and alerts: Facebook Groups and pages dominate hyperlocal news; X is niche but important for weather, traffic, and sports reporters.
• Neighborhood talk: Nextdoor active in suburban Valdosta for safety, lost pets, HOA, and contractor referrals; engagement highest among homeowners 35+.
• Commerce: Facebook/Instagram Shops and Marketplace drive local retail; TikTok/IG Reels boost food and beauty; Pinterest assists home/DIY purchasing decisions.
• Timing: Peak activity evenings (7–10 p.m.) and weekends; student‑driven spikes around VSU events and football season.

How these figures were derived

• County‑level platform shares are modeled from Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. social media adoption rates, adjusted for Lowndes County’s younger skew (Valdosta State University presence) and typical suburban/rural platform patterns; population base from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023. These provide best‑available local estimates in the absence of platform‑released county‑level panels.

Key sources

• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (platform adoption and age/gender skews)
• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 (Lowndes County population/age structure)
• Edison Research/The Infinite Dial 2024 (usage frequency tendencies)