Turner County

Turner County, Georgia – Key demographics

• Population size:

  • 9,006 (2020 Decennial Census)
  • ~8,900 (2018–2022 ACS 5-year estimate)

• Age (2018–2022 ACS 5-year):

  • Median age: ~41 years
  • Under 18: ~23%
  • 18–64: ~59%
  • 65 and over: ~18%

• Gender (2018–2022 ACS 5-year):

  • Female: ~51%
  • Male: ~49%

• Racial/ethnic composition (2020 Decennial Census; Hispanic can be any race):

  • Black or African American: ~52%
  • White: ~42%
  • Hispanic/Latino: ~5%
  • Two or more races: ~1%
  • Asian: <1%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: <1%

• Household data (2018–2022 ACS 5-year):

  • Households: ~3,200
  • Average household size: ~2.6
  • Family households: ~68% (married-couple ~38%)
  • Nonfamily households: ~32%
  • Housing tenure: ~66% owner-occupied, ~34% renter-occupied

Insights:

• Small, slowly declining population relative to 2020.
• Majority Black county with modest Hispanic presence.
• Older age profile than Georgia overall, with nearly one in five residents 65+.
• Predominantly family households and a relatively high homeownership rate for a rural county.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey (ACS) 2018–2022 5-year estimates.

Turner County, GA snapshot (estimates derived from 2020 Census/ACS and typical U.S. email adoption):

• Population/density: 9,006 residents over 285 sq mi (32 people/sq mi). Seat: Ashburn; I‑75 corridor provides strongest mobile coverage; service weakens in outlying rural tracts.
• Estimated email users: 6,200 residents (69% of total population, driven by adult adoption and teen use).
• Age distribution of email users (approx. counts): • 13–24: ~900 • 25–44: ~2,100 • 45–64: ~1,900 • 65+: ~1,300
• Gender split among email users: ~3,200 female, ~3,000 male (county population skews slightly female).
• Digital access trends: • Household broadband subscription is below the Georgia average (roughly mid‑70s% vs GA ~84%), with higher reliance on smartphone‑only internet in rural areas. • Fixed broadband availability and speeds are best in Ashburn and along I‑75; adoption and performance drop in low‑density census tracts. • Most working‑age adults use email daily; seniors show lower but majority adoption, with access limited by device and connection quality.

Insights: Email is effectively ubiquitous among working‑age residents, but gaps in fixed broadband and smartphone‑only reliance constrain multi‑user households and older adults outside the I‑75 corridor.

Mobile phone usage in Turner County, Georgia — key statistics and trends distinct from the state

Users and adoption (most recent ACS 5‑year, 2018–2022; household-level measures)

• Households with a smartphone: about 86% in Turner County versus roughly 92% statewide. In a county with just over 3,200 households, that translates to approximately 2,700–2,800 smartphone households.
• Households with a cellular data plan for a smartphone/tablet/other mobile device: about 74% in Turner versus roughly 83% statewide (gap ~9 percentage points).
• Households with any broadband subscription (fixed or cellular): about 76% in Turner vs ~85% statewide.
• Households with no internet subscription: about 24% in Turner vs ~15% statewide.
• Practical “user” estimate: applying average household size to the smartphone-household figure indicates roughly 7,000 residents live in smartphone-equipped households, covering the clear majority of the county’s ~9,000 residents but leaving a notably larger offline or feature‑phone‑only segment than Georgia overall.

Demographic patterns shaping usage (distinct from state averages)

• Older age profile: Turner County has a larger 65+ share than Georgia overall, which correlates with lower smartphone adoption and more voice‑centric usage among seniors.
• Lower incomes and higher poverty rates than the state average: these factors are associated with heavier reliance on prepaid plans and mobile data as a primary connection, fewer multi‑device households (fewer laptops/tablets), and greater vulnerability to data caps.
• Racial/ethnic mix: Turner County’s population includes a higher share of Black residents than the state average in many rural tracts; combined with income differences, this aligns with a higher likelihood of mobile‑only internet access compared with suburban/metro Georgia.
• Housing and rurality: More dispersed, non‑metro housing tends to limit fixed broadband options; mobile service often fills the gap for day‑to‑day connectivity.

Digital infrastructure and service environment

• Coverage pattern: Outdoor 4G LTE coverage is effectively countywide from national carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile). 5G coverage is present but concentrated along the I‑75 corridor and around Ashburn; low‑band 5G extends further than mid‑band, so capacity off‑corridor is more limited than in metro Georgia.
• Capacity and consistency: With fewer mid‑band 5G sectors and a smaller tower footprint than urban counties, peak‑hour speeds and indoor performance lag state metro areas. Congestion is more noticeable near schools, civic centers, and the I‑75 travel window.
• Fixed broadband context: Lower fiber/cable availability and take‑up relative to the state translates to more households leaning on cellular plans for home internet. The lapse of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program in 2024 likely increased this reliance among price‑sensitive households.
• Public safety and institutions: FirstNet (AT&T) and carrier priority services are important for county public safety; educational and healthcare providers commonly maintain Wi‑Fi as a counterweight to variable mobile capacity for residents.

How Turner County differs from Georgia overall

• Lower smartphone penetration at the household level (mid‑80s% vs low‑90s% statewide).
• Notably lower adoption of cellular data plans (mid‑70s% vs low‑80s% statewide), despite a higher tendency to rely on mobile service where fixed broadband is sparse.
• Higher share of households with no internet subscription (about one in four vs roughly one in six statewide).
• Older, lower‑income profile drives more prepaid usage, more mobile‑only internet dependence, and fewer multi‑device households than the state average.
• 5G is present but more limited off the interstate; mid‑band capacity and indoor coverage trail metro Georgia, contributing to greater variability in user experience.

Bottom line

• Most Turner County households use smartphones and mobile data, but both adoption and service quality trail state averages. Mobile networks shoulder a larger share of “home internet” duties than in metro Georgia due to lower fixed‑broadband availability and affordability, amplifying the importance of reliable 4G/5G coverage and pricing in the county’s day‑to‑day connectivity.

Turner County, GA social media snapshot (estimated 2025)

Topline user stats

• Population: about 9,000 residents (2020 Census baseline)
• Social media penetration (age 13+): 70–75% use at least one platform monthly (~6,000–6,500 people)
• Adult penetration (18+): 75–80%
• Gender split among users: ~54% female, ~46% male (mirrors county’s slight female majority)

Most‑used platforms (share of local adults using monthly)

• YouTube: 75–80%
• Facebook: 65–70%
• Instagram: 30–40%
• TikTok: 25–35%
• Snapchat: 20–25%
• Pinterest: 20–25% (predominantly women)
• WhatsApp: 15–20%
• X (Twitter): 10–15%
• LinkedIn: 10–15%
• Nextdoor: <10%

Age‑group usage patterns (monthly reach and behavior)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube 95%+, TikTok 70–80%, Snapchat 70–80%, Instagram 60–70%, Facebook <25%; heavy Stories/DMs, short‑form video, creator‑led trends
• 18–29: YouTube ~95%, Instagram 70–75%, TikTok 55–65%, Snapchat 50–60%, Facebook 45–55%; event discovery, short video, Marketplace for bargains
• 30–49: YouTube 85–90%, Facebook 70–80%, Instagram 40–50%, TikTok 30–40%, Snapchat 25–35%; parenting/schools, local services, buy/sell groups
• 50–64: Facebook 70–75%, YouTube 70–80%, Instagram 20–30%, TikTok 15–25%; local news, church/sports updates, Marketplace
• 65+: Facebook 55–65%, YouTube 50–60%, Instagram 10–20%, TikTok 5–10%; rely on Facebook Groups/pages for community info

Gender breakdown by platform (share of local user bases)

• Facebook: ~55–60% women
• Instagram: ~55% women
• Pinterest: ~70–75% women
• YouTube: ~55–60% men
• X (Twitter): ~60% men
• TikTok/Snapchat: near‑even, slight female tilt

Behavioral trends in Turner County

• Facebook is the community hub: high engagement with Groups (schools, churches, booster clubs, yard sale/Marketplace, civic alerts, weather, road closures)
• Short‑form video growth: Facebook Reels, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts drive reach across all ages; TikTok strongest among <35
• Marketplace matters: strong buy/sell/trade behavior for vehicles, farm/garden, furniture; listing photos and quick DM responses impact outcomes
• Trust is local: posts from known residents, small businesses, coaches, pastors, and county offices outperform brand content; recommendations in Groups drive decisions
• Messaging > posting for younger users: Snapchat/Instagram DMs are primary for coordination; teens/20s post fewer public updates
• Best times: evening peaks (6–9 pm) and weekend mornings; weather/sports/event days spike sharply
• Practical content wins: school calendars, sports highlights, church events, local restaurant specials, jobs, and county services outperform generic entertainment
• Ads that work: boosted Facebook/Instagram posts with clear offers (events, coupons, limited‑time services) targeted within 25–35 miles

Methodology note

• Figures are local estimates derived from the county’s size and rural profile combined with 2024 Pew Research platform usage and observed rural‑Georgia adoption patterns; percentages represent monthly reach among adults unless noted.