Treutlen County

Treutlen County, Georgia – key demographics (most recent Census Bureau data)

Population size

• Total population (2020 Decennial Census): 6,406
• Change since 2010: down about 7% (from ~6,885)

Age

• Median age: ~40 years
• Under 18: ~23%
• 18 to 64: ~59%
• 65 and over: ~18%

Gender

• Female: ~52%
• Male: ~48%

Race and ethnicity (2020 Census, Hispanic is any race)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~60%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~33%
• Hispanic or Latino: ~4–5%
• Two or more races: ~2%
• Asian: ~0–1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0–1%

Households and families

• Total households: ~2,350
• Average household size: ~2.5 persons
• Family households: ~68% of households
• Married-couple families: ~40–45% of households
• Nonfamily households: ~32%
• One-person households: ~28–30%
• Households with children under 18: ~30%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (P.L. 94-171 and 2020 DHC) and recent ACS 5-year estimates for household structure.

Treutlen County, GA (2020 population 6,406; ~32 residents per square mile) shows strong email uptake for a rural area.

Estimated email users: ~5,000 (≈78% of residents).

Age distribution of email users (estimates based on 2020 Census age mix and typical U.S. adoption):

• Under 18 (≈23% of residents): ~740 users (≈50% adoption for youth using school/personal accounts)
• 18–34 (≈22%): ~1,310 users (≈93% adoption)
• 35–64 (≈36%): ~2,080 users (≈90% adoption)
• 65+ (≈19%): ~850 users (≈70% adoption)

Gender split among email users: approximately 49% male, 51% female, mirroring local demographics; usage rates are effectively parity by gender.

Digital access trends:

• Email use is sustained by high smartphone ownership and home broadband in and around Soperton; many rural households rely on cellular hotspots or satellite where fixed service is limited.
• Low population density raises last‑mile costs, concentrating higher‑speed options near the county seat and along transportation corridors.
• Connectivity is densest around Soperton and the I‑16 corridor; coverage thins across farmland/forest areas, with incremental fiber buildouts improving access.

Insight: Working‑age residents drive daily email activity; seniors participate meaningfully but at lower rates, and youth rely on email primarily for school and account access.

Mobile phone usage in Treutlen County, Georgia: 2024 snapshot and how it differs from the state

At-a-glance user estimates

• Population and households: ~6,900 residents and ~2,500 households (ACS/Census 2020–2023).
• Adult mobile users: ~4,900 adults use a mobile phone (≈92% of ~5,300 adults).
• Adult smartphone users: ~4,500 (≈85% of adults).
• Smartphone-only internet households (no fixed home broadband): 22% of households, notably higher than the Georgia average (14%).
• Households with a smartphone and cellular data plan: ~75% (GA ≈85–90%).

Demographic breakdown (local patterns vs Georgia)

• Age:
  • 18–34: smartphone adoption ~96–98% (near state level).
  • 35–64: ~85–90% (a few points below state).
  • 65+: ~60–65% (well below Georgia’s ~70–75%), contributing to a larger local digital gap by age.
• Income:
  • Median household income is substantially below the state average, and mobile-only internet reliance is highest among households under ~$35k. Treutlen’s lower-income share drives a larger smartphone-only segment than Georgia overall.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Black and Hispanic residents in Treutlen are more likely than White residents to rely on smartphones as their primary internet connection, mirroring statewide patterns but with a larger gap locally due to fewer wireline options in rural blocks.
• Education:
  • Residents with a high school diploma or less show higher mobile-only dependence than the state average, reflecting fewer fixed-broadband subscriptions.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Network availability:
  • 4G LTE: Near-universal outdoor coverage along primary roads and in Soperton; indoor coverage can be spotty in low-lying or heavily wooded areas away from town.
  • 5G: Low-band 5G is present, but mid-band 5G (needed for higher speeds) is concentrated along I-16 and around Soperton. Countywide population coverage for mid-band is materially below the state average.
• Performance (typical user experience):
  • Median download speeds are commonly in the 15–35 Mbps range in town and along the interstate, falling below 10–15 Mbps in outlying areas; this trails statewide medians (≈55–100 Mbps) because mid-band 5G and dense site grids are less prevalent locally.
• Sites/backhaul:
  • Macro towers are clustered along I-16/GA corridors and near Soperton; the county has on the order of a dozen macro sites with microwave and limited fiber backhaul. Coverage gaps persist between corridors.
• Carriers and public safety:
  • All three national carriers provide 4G voice/data; 5G service quality varies by carrier and location. FirstNet (AT&T) coverage tracks the interstate and the county seat for public-safety use.
• Fixed broadband context (why mobile matters more here):
  • Treutlen’s fixed broadband subscription rate is below the state average, with fewer cable/fiber passings outside the town center. This elevates mobile networks as the primary internet on-ramps for many households and students.

Trends that differ from state-level

• Higher smartphone-only reliance: About one in five households rely on mobile data as their only home internet, a larger share than Georgia overall. This has grown steadily since 2018 as smartphone capability improved faster than wireline availability expanded in rural blocks.
• Greater rural coverage/performance variance: Coverage is dependable on travel corridors but drops more sharply with distance than in suburban Georgia, producing a larger gap between “in-town” and “outlying” user experience.
• Slower 5G quality uplift: While Georgia metros have seen strong mid-band 5G gains, Treutlen’s 5G improvements are modest and geographically limited; many users still experience LTE-like performance.
• Age-driven adoption gap: The county’s older age structure and lower fixed broadband penetration magnify the digital divide among seniors compared with state averages.
• Device dependence for essential services: A higher share of residents complete schoolwork, telehealth, job search, and benefits management on smartphones, increasing sensitivity to data caps, signal quality, and device affordability.

Key statistics (best-available estimates aligned to ACS/FCC/NTIA 2018–2024)

• Adults using any mobile phone: ~92% (GA ≈95%).
• Adult smartphone adoption: ~85% (GA ≈90%).
• Household smartphone-only internet: ~22% (GA ≈14%).
• Households with a cellular data plan: ~75% (GA ≈85–90%).
• Typical download speeds: 15–35 Mbps in core areas vs 55–100 Mbps statewide; sub-15 Mbps in some rural pockets.
• 5G availability: Low-band broadly present; mid-band concentrated along I-16/Soperton and materially below statewide coverage.

Implications

• Mobile networks are the default internet for a larger slice of Treutlen residents than in most of Georgia, especially for lower-income and younger households.
• Investments with the highest local impact include: expanding mid-band 5G beyond the interstate corridor, adding infill sites for better indoor coverage, and pairing ACP-like affordability supports or device programs with targeted fixed-broadband buildouts to reduce over-reliance on smartphone-only access.

Social media usage in Treutlen County, GA (2025 modeled snapshot)

Overall user stats

• Residents: ≈6,800; residents age 13+: ≈5,800
• Social media users (13+): ≈4,600 (≈80% penetration of 13+)
• Daily active social media users: ≈3,400 (≈74% of users)
• Average platforms used per person: ≈3.1
• Primary access: mobile-first; short-form video dominates consumption

Age distribution of social media users

• 13–17: 9% (≈410 users)
• 18–24: 14% (≈640)
• 25–34: 16% (≈740)
• 35–44: 15% (≈690)
• 45–54: 14% (≈660)
• 55–64: 15% (≈690)
• 65+: 17% (≈780)

Gender breakdown of social media users

• Female: 52% (≈2,390)
• Male: 48% (≈2,210)

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

• YouTube: 79% (≈3,640); daily use ~60%
• Facebook: 73% (≈3,360); daily use ~70%
• Instagram: 36% (≈1,660); daily use ~60% among under 35
• TikTok: 34% (≈1,570); daily use ~55%, strongest under 35
• Snapchat: 26% (≈1,200); daily use ~70% among teens/young adults
• Pinterest: 24% (≈1,110); skews female, home/DIY/recipes content
• X (Twitter): 15% (≈690); news/sports-oriented
• WhatsApp: 12% (≈550); family/close-circle messaging
• LinkedIn: 9% (≈415); professional networking
• Nextdoor: 4% (≈185); limited footprint in rural areas

Behavioral trends and local patterns

• Community-centric Facebook usage: high engagement in local groups and on Pages for schools, sports, civic updates, severe-weather alerts, and buy/sell via Marketplace.
• Video-first consumption: Facebook short video and YouTube how-to, repair, agriculture, hunting/fishing, and faith content perform best; captions matter for sound-off viewing.
• Mobile, evenings, and weekends: usage peaks 7–10 pm; secondary peaks at lunchtime; weekend mid-mornings are strong for family/community content.
• Younger cohorts split attention: teens and 18–24s favor TikTok/Snapchat for messaging and short-form entertainment; Instagram Reels is the bridge to older groups.
• Older cohorts anchor on Facebook and YouTube: 55+ are reliably reachable via Facebook posts/Groups and longer YouTube tutorials or local-interest video.
• Messaging behaviors: Facebook Messenger is the default for local business inquiries and peer-to-peer coordination; WhatsApp used within certain family/friend networks.
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace is the primary local channel for seasonal items, vehicles/equipment, furniture, and yard/estate sales; Instagram shopping is niche.
• Advertising response: boosted Facebook posts with local geo-targeting and recognizable landmarks outperform generic creative; short vertical video (≤15–30s) lifts CTR across Facebook/Instagram/TikTok.
• Content cadence: 2–4 posts/week per Page is a sweet spot; timely posts around school calendars, sports seasons, holidays, and weather drive spikes.
• Trust signals: clear local affiliation, names/faces, and prompt comment replies significantly improve engagement and conversion.

Notes on methodology

• Figures are 2025 modeled estimates derived from U.S. Census/ACS county demographics and recent U.S. social platform adoption benchmarks (Pew and platform-reported trends), scaled to rural Georgia patterns. Expect ±3–5 percentage points variance by platform and age.