Tattnall County

Tattnall County, Georgia — key demographics (latest U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2019–2023; population includes group quarters such as prisons)

• Population: ~25,000
• Age:
  • Median age: ~37 years
  • Under 18: ~20%
  • 18–64: ~66–68%
  • 65 and over: ~12–14%
• Gender:
  • Male: ~55–58%
  • Female: ~42–45%
  • Note: The county’s large incarcerated population materially raises the male share and skews ages toward 20–44.
• Race/ethnicity (percent of total population):
  • White (non-Hispanic): ~50–55%
  • Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~34–38%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~8–12%
  • Two or more races, Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, and other: remaining few percent combined
• Households and housing:
  • Households: ~8,500–9,500
  • Average household size: ~2.5–2.7
  • Family households: ~60–70% of households
  • Owner-occupied housing: ~65–75% of occupied units
  • Renter-occupied housing: ~25–35%

Insights:

• Demographics are notably influenced by multiple state prisons in the county, which increase the male share and reduce median age relative to nearby rural counties.
• Outside group quarters, the household population is older, more balanced by sex, and more reflective of typical rural South Georgia patterns (higher homeownership, family households predominant).

• Population and density: ≈25,300 residents; ~52 people per square mile (largely rural), concentrated in Glennville and Reidsville.
• Estimated email users: ≈16,000 residents. Method: civilian adults ≈16.2k (county is male‑skewed due to state prisons), with ~92% email adoption among adults plus ~1.3k teen users.
• Age distribution of email users (approx.): 13–17: 8%; 18–29: 17%; 30–49: 34%; 50–64: 27%; 65+: 14%. Younger and prime‑working‑age cohorts are near‑universal users; uptake among 65+ is lower but substantial.
• Gender split among users: ~51% female, ~49% male in the civilian population. Overall county demographics appear more male because of incarcerated residents, who are not active email users.
• Digital access and connectivity: About 77% of households subscribe to broadband (ACS 2018–2022), indicating gaps outside town centers. Adoption is trending upward via mobile and fixed‑wireless; smartphone‑reliant households are common in lower‑density areas. Local network quality is strongest along primary corridors and within municipal limits, with slower speeds and fewer wired options on dispersed rural roads.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2018–2022, population and broadband subscription), Pew Research Center (adult email adoption by age).

Tattnall County, GA mobile phone usage summary (with estimates and how it differs from statewide)

Population baseline and user estimates

• Population and households: ≈25.5k residents (2020 Census) across ≈8.6–9.0k households.
• Smartphone ownership: 84–88% of adults are estimated to own a smartphone (≈16.5–18.5k adult users). This is slightly below Georgia’s metro-weighted average but in line with rural Georgia norms.
• Cellular-first internet: 20–25% of households are estimated to be “smartphone-only” or rely primarily on a cellular data plan for home internet. That is materially higher than Georgia statewide (typically 12–17%).
• No home internet: 16–20% of households likely have no home internet subscription of any kind, versus ≈10–12% statewide, reinforcing heavier reliance on mobile data for everyday connectivity.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age
  • 18–44: Near-universal smartphone ownership (≈92–96%). Heavy use of mobile-only banking, social, and streaming; high take-up of unlimited data plans.
  • 45–64: High ownership (≈85–90%) with mixed fixed–mobile usage; hotspotting is common where wired broadband is weak.
  • 65+: Lower ownership (≈60–70%, below statewide senior adoption by several points). More voice/text-centric usage and reliance on family hotspots where home broadband is unavailable.
• Race/ethnicity
  • White (≈55–60% of population): Usage mirrors county averages; fixed broadband adoption higher in town centers, cellular-first higher in rural tracts.
  • Black (≈30–33%): Above-average smartphone dependence and higher share of mobile-only home internet, driven by income and service availability differentials.
  • Hispanic/Latino (≈10–15%): Among the most smartphone-dependent segments, with elevated rates of prepaid plans and hotspot use tied to agricultural and shift-work patterns; mobile messaging and app-based remittances are notably high.
• Income and geography
  • Median household income is well below the state median; cost-sensitive plan selection (prepaid and MVNOs) is more prevalent than in metro Georgia.
  • Outside Glennville and Reidsville, fixed broadband options thin out; in these tracts, mobile becomes the default on-ramps for education, telehealth, and work.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage
  • 4G LTE: Broad countywide coverage from national carriers across primary roads and towns; signal variability persists in lowland pine and river-adjacent areas and along sparsely populated secondary roads.
  • 5G: Low-band 5G covers most populated areas; mid-band 5G capacity clusters in/around Glennville and Reidsville and along main corridors. Coverage breadth is comparable to rural Georgia, but capacity lags metro counties.
• Capacity and speeds
  • Typical user-experienced mobile downloads: ≈30–60 Mbps in towns; 10–25 Mbps in outlying areas, with occasional drop to sub-5 Mbps at edges. This trails Georgia’s statewide median, which is significantly boosted by metro mid-band 5G performance.
• Cell-site footprint
  • Rural tower density is modest; estimated 6–8 registered macro sites per 100 square miles, supplemented by a small number of new small cells along main corridors. Tower spacing contributes to capacity constraints versus metro Georgia.
• Wired backbones and alternatives
  • Fiber-to-the-home exists in select census blocks near population centers via incumbent telcos/co-ops; cable broadband is town-limited; legacy DSL remains in outer tracts.
  • Fixed wireless access (FWA) over 5G is increasingly available and is being adopted as a substitute for weak DSL, reinforcing the county’s cellular-first trend relative to the state.

How Tattnall differs from the Georgia average

• Higher mobile dependence: A meaningfully larger share of households rely primarily on smartphones or cellular data plans (≈20–25% vs ≈12–17% statewide).
• Lower wired broadband take-up: Household broadband subscription rates are roughly 10–15 percentage points below the state average, especially outside town centers.
• Capacity gap, not coverage gap: Basic 5G/LTE coverage is widespread, but mid-band 5G capacity and sustained speeds lag the state’s metro-driven averages, affecting video quality, hotspot reliability, and multi-user households.
• Plan mix skew: Greater use of prepaid/MVNO plans and data-capped offerings compared with metro Georgia, reflecting income and coverage realities.
• Demographic tilt: Seniors and lower-income households in rural tracts exhibit markedly higher mobile-only patterns than their statewide peers, while Hispanic/Latino residents show above-average smartphone dependence tied to work patterns.

Key takeaways

• Expect ≈17–19k smartphone users countywide, with one in five households effectively mobile-only for home internet.
• Improvements in mid-band 5G capacity and rural fiber backhaul would yield outsized gains versus further low-band coverage expansion.
• FWA is an important bridge solution but will be capacity-limited without additional spectrum/backhaul; it will, however, continue to reduce the wired broadband gap faster here than in Georgia’s metros.

Sources and basis

• Estimates synthesized from 2018–2022 ACS (S2801: Computer and Internet Use), FCC National Broadband Map (2023–2024) coverage and technology availability, state and national wireless adoption research through 2024, and rural Georgia benchmarking. Figures are presented as point estimates or narrow ranges to reflect 5-year ACS margins of error and carrier-reported coverage uncertainty.

Tattnall County, GA — Social Media Snapshot (2024 modeled)

Population base

• Residents: ≈25,000; adults (18+): ≈19,000

How many use social media

• Ages 13+: 15,000–17,000 users (≈60–68% of residents)
• Adults 18+: 13,000–15,000 users (≈70–78% of adults)

Gender breakdown (among users)

• Female: 52–55%
• Male: 45–48%
• Notes: Women over-index on Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube and X. Overall user base skews slightly female even though the county population is male-leaning due to correctional facilities.

Most-used platforms (share of local social media users)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 70–78%
• Instagram: 30–38%
• TikTok: 28–35%
• Snapchat: 22–28%
• Pinterest: 25–32% (especially women 25–54)
• X (Twitter): 10–15%
• LinkedIn: 8–12%
• WhatsApp: 8–12% overall; higher in Spanish-speaking/agricultural communities
• Nextdoor: <5%

Age patterns

• Teens (13–17): Very high use; YouTube ≈95%, Snapchat ≈70%, TikTok ≈65%, Instagram ≈60%, Facebook ≈35%
• 18–29: YouTube 90%+, Instagram 70–80%, Snapchat 60–70%, TikTok 60–65%, Facebook ≈60%
• 30–49: YouTube ≈90%, Facebook 75–80%, Instagram 45–55%, TikTok 35–45%, Pinterest ≈35%
• 50–64: Facebook 70–75%, YouTube 75–80%, Instagram 25–35%, TikTok 15–20%
• 65+: Facebook 50–55%, YouTube 55–65%; other platforms minimal

Behavioral trends

• Community and commerce: Facebook Groups and Marketplace function as the county’s bulletin board/classifieds (schools, churches, youth sports, yard sales, severe weather, road closures).
• Local business marketing: Facebook and Instagram posts/stories drive awareness; short-form video (Reels/TikTok) outperforms static posts. Effective geo-radius: 10–25 miles around Glennville (30427), Reidsville (30453), and Collins (30421/30438).
• Content interests: DIY/repair, hunting/fishing, agriculture/homesteading, cooking, and high school sports on YouTube; local events promoted via Facebook Events.
• Youth comms: Snapchat is the daily messaging hub; TikTok/IG Reels for trends and local highlights; DMs > public posts.
• Timing and devices: Engagement peaks 7–10 pm on weekdays, Sat mornings, and Sun afternoons; spikes during severe weather and school sports. >95% of use is mobile; short videos (<30s) and image posts with clear text overlays perform best.
• Language pockets: Spanish-language posts help reach farmworker communities; WhatsApp/Messenger used for family/work coordination.

Method note: Figures are modeled 2024 estimates for Tattnall County using U.S. Census/ACS population structure and Pew Research Center platform adoption rates, with adjustments for rural Georgia usage patterns.