Lumpkin County

Key demographics for Lumpkin County, Georgia (latest available)

Population size

• Total population: 35,000–36,000 (2023 Census Bureau Population Estimates; up from 33,488 in 2020)

Age

• Median age: ~38 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Age distribution (ACS 2019–2023):
  • Under 18: ~19%
  • 18–24: ~16% (elevated due to the University of North Georgia)
  • 25–44: ~25%
  • 45–64: ~23%
  • 65 and over: ~17%

Gender (sex)

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50% (ACS 2019–2023)

Race/ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023; Hispanic is any race)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~86%
• Hispanic or Latino: ~7%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~2%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ~1%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~3%
• Other (incl. American Indian/Alaska Native, NHPI): <1%

Household data (ACS 2019–2023)

• Number of households: ~13,000–13,500
• Average household size: ~2.5 persons
• Family households: ~66% of households
• Married-couple families: ~49–51% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~27%
• Housing tenure: ~74–75% owner-occupied; ~25–26% renter-occupied
• Average family size: ~3.0

Insights

• The county is predominantly non-Hispanic White, with a modest but growing Hispanic population.
• A relatively large 18–24 cohort reflects the local university presence.
• Household composition skews toward owner-occupied, family households with moderate household sizes.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates; 2023 Population Estimates Program.

Lumpkin County, GA snapshot (2023–2024 estimates)

• Estimated email users: ~29,000 residents (≈83–86% of the ~34.5–35.0K population), driven by high adult internet adoption and the University of North Georgia presence in Dahlonega.

• Age distribution of email users (approximate):

  • 13–17: 10% (~2.9K)
  • 18–24: 15% (~4.3K)
  • 25–44: 32% (~9.2K)
  • 45–64: 28% (~8.1K)
  • 65+: 15% (~4.3K) Adoption is near-universal among 25–64, slightly lower among teens and 65+.

• Gender split among email users: Female ~51%, Male ~49% (mirrors county demographics).

• Digital access and trends:

  • Households with an internet subscription: ~88% (broadband ~84–86%; cellular-only ~10–12%; satellite ~2–3%).
  • No home internet: ~9–12%, down roughly 6–8 points since 2016.
  • Computer/smartphone access in households: ~92–94%.
  • Smartphone dependence is rising; fiber and cable availability have expanded, improving reliability and speeds, though some outlying mountainous areas remain satellite/cellular-reliant.

• Local density/connectivity facts:

  • Population density ≈115–125 people/sq mi; most fixed broadband capacity centers on Dahlonega and major corridors.
  • University and tourism sectors boost email engagement and Wi‑Fi availability in the city core, while rural last‑mile gaps persist.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Lumpkin County, Georgia

Headline estimates (2023–2024)

• Population base: approximately 35,000 residents
• Estimated adult smartphone users: 26,000–28,000 (about 88–92% of adults), slightly above Georgia’s statewide adult average due to the large 18–24 population in Dahlonega
• Total active cellular connections (phones, tablets, watches, IoT): roughly 50,000–55,000, reflecting about 1.4–1.6 connections per resident in line with U.S./Georgia wireless norms

Demographic profile and usage

• Age skew drives usage:
  • 18–24: about 6,000 residents tied to the University of North Georgia; smartphone ownership ~95%+ and heavy app/data usage; higher unlimited-plan penetration than state average
  • 25–44: about 8,000–8,500 residents; ownership ~90–95%; high mobile payment, navigation, and streaming usage for commuting and small business operations
  • 45–64: about 7,500–8,000; ownership ~80–88%; strong adoption of messaging/video calling; moderate reliance on Wi‑Fi calling where cellular indoors is weak
  • 65+: about 6,000–6,500; ownership ~65–75%, below younger cohorts but improving annually; larger share uses simplified plans and larger‑screen devices
• Household telephony: wireless‑only households are estimated at 72–78% of occupied households, at or modestly above Georgia’s statewide share, bolstered by student renters and newer subdivisions with no landline
• Mobile‑only internet: 14–18% of households rely on cellular data as their only at‑home internet, above the statewide average (roughly low‑teens), reflecting rural last‑mile gaps and student mobility
• Race/ethnicity context: a predominantly White county (roughly mid‑80s percent), with smaller Hispanic (about 6–8%), Black (about 3–4%), and Asian populations; smartphone ownership rates by race are broadly comparable to statewide patterns after controlling for age and income, but prepaid/MVNO usage is somewhat higher than the state average due to the student and service‑sector mix

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks present: AT&T (including FirstNet for public safety), Verizon, and T‑Mobile all operate in the county; MVNOs ride these networks
• 5G availability: low‑band 5G covers Dahlonega and main corridors; mid‑band 5G (T‑Mobile 2.5 GHz and selective C‑band for AT&T/Verizon) is concentrated in town and along primary routes, with LTE predominating in outlying and forested areas
• Terrain effects: Appalachian foothills and the Chattahoochee National Forest create pockets of weak indoor reception and roadside dead zones, especially off GA‑52 and north/east of Dahlonega; Wi‑Fi calling is an important supplement
• Tower siting/backhaul: macro sites cluster along US‑19/GA‑60 through Dahlonega and toward GA‑400; site density per square mile is lower than the state average due to lower population density and federal land constraints; ongoing fiber backhaul expansions from regional providers have improved 5G readiness around town and newer subdivisions
• Seasonal/peak load: weekend tourism (wineries, festivals, Appalachian Trail access) and university events cause predictable cell‑sector congestion near downtown, campus, and trailheads, a pattern more pronounced than the statewide norm

How Lumpkin County differs from Georgia overall

• Higher share of young adults lifts per‑capita smartphone adoption and monthly mobile data use above the state average despite the county’s rural geography
• More reliance on mobile‑only internet and prepaid/MVNO plans than the statewide average, driven by student renters and rural last‑mile broadband gaps
• Coverage variability is greater than typical for Georgia: strong service in Dahlonega and along main highways but more pronounced terrain‑driven dead zones in outlying tracts
• Greater reliance on Wi‑Fi offload (campus and downtown networks) and Wi‑Fi calling to compensate for indoor coverage limitations
• Usage shows sharper seasonality tied to university calendars and tourism than the broader state pattern

Methodological notes behind the estimates

• Population and age structure reflect recent Census/ACS estimates for Lumpkin County; smartphone ownership rates by age draw on recent Pew Research findings; wireless‑only household and cellular‑only internet shares are inferred from ACS internet subscription patterns for similar rural Georgia counties and adjusted for Lumpkin’s student concentration; network availability reflects carrier‑filed coverage and observed North Georgia deployment patterns through 2024.

Lumpkin County, GA — social media usage (2025 short breakdown)

Topline user stats (modeled)

• Active social media users (13+): ~26,400 (≈88% of residents 13+)
• Daily social users: ~18,500 (≈70% of social users)
• Average platforms used per person: 3–4

Most-used platforms (share of residents 13+ using at least monthly; multi-platform use means totals exceed 100%)

• YouTube: 82% (~24,600 people)
• Facebook: 69% (~20,700)
• Instagram: 52% (~15,600)
• TikTok: 45% (~13,500)
• Snapchat: 38% (~11,400)
• Pinterest: 33% (~9,900)
• LinkedIn: 24% (~7,200)
• X (Twitter): 21% (~6,300)
• Reddit: 17% (~5,100)
• Nextdoor: 12% (~3,600)
• WhatsApp: 20% (~6,000)

Age mix among social media users

• 13–17: 7% (~1.9k)
• 18–24: 19% (~5.0k) — elevated due to University of North Georgia (Dahlonega campus)
• 25–34: 17% (~4.5k)
• 35–44: 16% (~4.2k)
• 45–54: 14% (~3.7k)
• 55–64: 14% (~3.7k)
• 65+: 13% (~3.4k)

Gender breakdown among social media users

• Female: 52% (~13.7k)
• Male: 48% (~12.7k)
• Platform skews: Pinterest and Facebook slightly female-skewed; Reddit and X male-skewed; Instagram modestly female; LinkedIn modestly male.

Behavioral trends observed locally

• Community-first on Facebook: Local groups, events, school updates, and buy/sell posts drive some of the highest engagement; Facebook Events are a primary discovery channel for festivals, sports, and civic activities.
• Student-driven short-form: UNG students propel Instagram Reels, TikTok, and Snapchat Stories; strong response to short-form video (15–30s), campus life, dining, nightlife, housing, and local job posts.
• Video dominates: How-to and outdoor content on YouTube tied to North Georgia mountains, trails, waterfalls, fishing/hunting, wineries, and wedding venues performs well year-round.
• Seasonal spikes: Peaks during university semesters; tourism surges in fall (leaf season, festivals such as Gold Rush Days) and late spring; local businesses see higher engagement around these windows.
• Messaging as conversion: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat DMs frequently handle inquiries for local services (restaurants, rentals, events) more than email/phone among under-35s.
• Discovery patterns: Instagram and TikTok for trend discovery; Facebook and Google reviews for trust/verification; Nextdoor usage is modest but influential for neighborhood concerns and local services.
• Effective posting windows: Weekdays 6:30–8:30 am, 11:30 am–1:00 pm, and 7:30–10:00 pm; weekend engagement strongest Sat morning and Sun evening.

Notes on method: Figures are 2025 modeled estimates for Lumpkin County built from recent Pew Research Center platform adoption benchmarks, U.S. Census/ACS age structure for the county, and adjustments for the UNG campus presence; percentages rounded to whole numbers.