Pulaski County

Pulaski County, Georgia — key demographics

Population size

• 9,855 (2020 Decennial Census)
• ~9,700 (2023 population estimate, U.S. Census Bureau)

Age structure (Census/ACS)

• Under 18: ~18%
• 65 and over: ~22%
• Median age: ~42 years

Gender

• Female: ~49–50%
• Male: ~50–51%

Racial/ethnic composition (2020 Census; percent of total)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~55%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~40%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~4%
• Two or more races: ~2%
• Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, and other: <1% each

Households (2020 Census; ACS 5-year for economics)

• Total households: ~3,500
• Average household size: ~2.3–2.4
• Family households: ~60–65% of households
• Homeownership rate: ~70–72%
• Median household income: roughly upper $40,000s (in 2022 dollars)
• Poverty rate: roughly one-fifth of residents

Notes

• Figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Census and most recent ACS 5-year estimates). Small-year fluctuations occur; ACS economic and household metrics are multi-year averages.

Pulaski County, GA snapshot

• Population and density: 2020 population 9,855; land area ≈250 sq mi; ≈39 residents per sq mi (rural). Most wired infrastructure is concentrated in and around Hawkinsville.

Estimated email users

• Users: ≈5,700 adults.
• Method: Adult population ≈7,700; ≈80% have internet access; ≈92% of internet users use email.

Age distribution of email users (counts approximate)

• 18–29: 17% (≈970)
• 30–49: 33% (≈1,880)
• 50–64: 28% (≈1,600)
• 65+: 22% (≈1,250)

Gender split of email users

• Female: ≈52% (≈2,960)
• Male: ≈48% (≈2,740)

Digital access trends and connectivity

• Home broadband adoption is around three-quarters of households, with notable reliance on mobile-only internet (≈15–20%).
• Highest fixed-broadband availability and speeds are in Hawkinsville; coverage and speeds drop in low-density tracts, where DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite are common.
• Email engagement is near-universal among working-age adults and strong among seniors, but lower-income and older residents show reduced home-broadband access, shifting email use to smartphones.

Mobile phone usage in Pulaski County, Georgia (2024 snapshot)

User estimates

• Population base: ≈9,900 residents (2023 Census estimate).
• Total mobile phone users (any mobile device): ≈8,400 residents (about 85% of the population).
• Smartphone users: ≈7,600 residents (about 77% of the population).
• Adult smartphone penetration: ≈83% among adults 18+ (Pulaski trails Georgia’s statewide adult smartphone penetration by roughly 5–7 percentage points).
• Cellular-only home internet: ≈24% of households primarily rely on mobile data plans for home internet, versus roughly 15% statewide.
• No home internet subscription: ≈15% of households (Pulaski) versus ≈10% statewide.

Demographic breakdown

• Age
  • 13–17: smartphone use ≈95% (near state levels).
  • 18–34: ≈95–97% (near state levels).
  • 35–54: ≈90% (slightly below state).
  • 55–64: ≈80% (below state).
  • 65+: ≈60–65% (well below Georgia’s seniors, which are closer to the mid‑70s). Pulaski’s older age profile pulls countywide smartphone penetration down relative to the state.
• Income and plan type
  • Lower median household income than the state contributes to higher reliance on prepaid plans and to longer device replacement cycles. A notably larger share of low‑income households are smartphone‑only for internet access (≈30%+ among households under $35k, versus low‑20s statewide).
  • Prior to the Affordable Connectivity Program’s wind‑down in 2024, roughly one in four county households participated; the end of the subsidy has pushed more households to mobile‑only connectivity and lower‑cost prepaid plans.
• Race/ethnicity
  • The county is majority White with a large Black population (roughly two‑fifths) and a small but growing Hispanic population. Black and Hispanic households in Pulaski show higher mobile‑only internet reliance than White households (by an estimated 5–8 percentage points), reflecting income and fixed‑broadband availability gaps.
• Geography
  • In‑town Hawkinsville residents have higher smartphone and fixed‑broadband adoption than residents in outlying tracts. Rural tracts show the highest rates of mobile‑only internet and the lowest rates of video streaming on fixed connections.

Digital infrastructure

• Cellular networks
  • National carriers (AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon) provide countywide 4G LTE coverage along primary corridors and in Hawkinsville, with weaker signal pockets in low‑lying and heavily wooded areas typical of rural middle Georgia.
  • 5G availability is concentrated in and around Hawkinsville; it is primarily low‑band 5G for coverage, with limited mid‑band capacity outside the core. This results in fewer high‑capacity 5G zones than the statewide norm.
  • Typical observed performance: LTE download 10–30 Mbps in rural tracts and higher in town; 5G download 60–150 Mbps in core areas with mid‑band coverage, lower on low‑band 5G at the fringes. Uplink performance is commonly 5–15 Mbps where signal is strong, lower in edge areas.
• Fixed broadband context (drives mobile reliance)
  • Fiber-to-the-home is available in parts of Hawkinsville; outside town, many locations still depend on older DSL, fixed wireless, or spotty cable availability. This uneven fixed footprint is the main driver of Pulaski’s above‑average mobile‑only household share and heavy hotspot use for homework and remote work.
  • Public and institutional connectivity (schools, library, and select downtown venues) provides supplementary Wi‑Fi, but distance to these locations limits impact for rural households.

How Pulaski differs from Georgia overall

• Lower overall and senior smartphone adoption, driven by an older age profile.
• Significantly higher share of mobile‑only home internet households and a higher share of prepaid plans.
• Slower and patchier access to mid‑band 5G capacity outside the county seat, leading to greater dependence on LTE and lower median mobile speeds than urban/suburban Georgia.
• Greater sensitivity to subsidy changes (post‑ACP) with observable shifts from fixed to mobile‑only service and from postpaid to prepaid.
• More intensive use of mobile hotspots and tethering for education and work, reflecting fixed‑network gaps.

Key takeaways

• Roughly 8.4k residents in Pulaski use mobile phones, and about 7.6k are smartphone users, but penetration lags state averages—especially among seniors.
• About one in four households rely on cellular data as their primary home internet, well above the state average, due to uneven fixed broadband.
• 5G is present but capacity‑limited outside Hawkinsville; LTE remains the workhorse network in rural tracts, shaping usage patterns toward lower‑bitrate video and heavier reliance on text/voice and hotspotting compared with the rest of Georgia.

Social media usage in Pulaski County, GA (2025 snapshot)

How to read this: County-level platform censuses aren’t published. Figures below are planning-grade estimates built by applying 2024 Pew U.S. platform adoption rates (with rural adjustments) to Pulaski County’s age/sex mix (ACS). They reflect adult reach unless noted.

Topline user stats

• Adults using at least one social platform: 72–76% of adults
• Daily social users: 60–65% of adults (multiple checks per day for most)
• Average platforms per adult user: 3–4
• Primary device: Mobile (90%+ of users), with YouTube increasingly on connected TV

Age-group usage (share using any social platform)

• 18–29: 90–94%
• 30–49: 82–86%
• 50–64: 68–73%
• 65+: 50–56%
• Teens (13–17, directional): 95%+ use at least one; heavy on Snapchat/TikTok

Gender breakdown (share using any social platform; platform skews)

• Women: 75–78%; over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest
• Men: 70–73%; over-index on YouTube, X (Twitter), Reddit

Most-used platforms (estimated adult reach in-county; % of adults)

• YouTube: 75–80% (about half of users daily; strong connected-TV viewing)
• Facebook: 62–68% (≈70% of FB users check daily; Groups/Marketplace dominant)
• Instagram: 30–36% (daily for ~60% of users; skew under 40, women)
• TikTok: 25–30% (daily for ~60%; skew under 35)
• Pinterest: 24–28% (skew women 25–54; home/food/events)
• Snapchat: 20–24% (daily for ~65%; skew 13–29)
• X (Twitter): 12–16% (news/sports; more male)
• WhatsApp: 10–13% (messaging; small but steady, higher among transplants)
• LinkedIn: 10–14% (professional use; low posting)
• Nextdoor: 5–8% (neighborhood chatter where available)

Behavioral trends and local patterns

• Community-first usage: Facebook Groups for schools, youth sports, churches, civic clubs, county services, emergency updates; high trust in pages run by known locals.
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace and local buy–sell–trade groups are primary for P2P selling; small businesses rely on FB posts + Messenger for inquiries and bookings.
• Video ascendant: Short-form (Reels/TikTok) drives discovery for food, events, and high-school sports highlights; YouTube used for DIY, ag/rural skills, hunting/fishing, equipment repair, and music on TV.
• Messaging > commenting: Heavy use of Messenger/Snapchat DMs for coordination and customer service; many users “lurk” in groups (far more viewers than posters).
• Posting cadence: Peak engagement evenings (6–10 pm) and weekends; weekday lunch hour also performs. Event reminders and last-minute updates get above-average clicks.
• Content that performs: Local faces/places, practical tips, deals/giveaways, school/team spotlights, church/community events, weather and public safety.
• Ad responsiveness: Geo-targeted radius 15–25 miles around Hawkinsville performs best; promo codes, limited-time offers, and event CTAs outperform brand-only messaging.
• Cross-posting behavior: Businesses and orgs often post first to Facebook, then reuse video on Instagram and TikTok; younger creators originate on TikTok/IG and share links in FB Groups.
• Demographic skews:
  • Under 30: Snapchat + TikTok daily; Instagram for style/events; lighter on Facebook except for Groups.
  • 30–54: Facebook + Instagram core; Pinterest strong for women; YouTube for product research and how-tos.
  • 55+: Facebook dominant; YouTube for news, music, tutorials; lower uptake of TikTok/Instagram but growing via Reels.

Notes on confidence

• Figures are localized estimates using Pew Research 2024 platform adoption by age/sex with a rural adjustment and ACS age/sex structure for Pulaski County. Use for planning, targeting, and benchmarking; for campaign-critical decisions, validate with page/group insights and geotargeted test spend.