Ware County

Ware County, Georgia — key demographics

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates)

Population size

• 36,251 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~41 years
• Under 18: ~22–23%
• 18 to 64: ~59%
• 65 and over: ~18–19%

Gender

• Female: ~52%
• Male: ~48%

Race and ethnicity

• Race (alone, any ethnicity):
  • White: ~56–58%
  • Black or African American: ~35–36%
  • Asian: ~1%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.3–0.4%
  • Two or more races: ~4–5%
  • Some other race: ~1–2%
• Ethnicity:
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~6%

Households

• Total households: ~14,000
• Average household size: ~2.5
• Family households: ~67%
  • Married-couple households: ~43%
• Households with children under 18: ~27%
• One-person households: ~30%
• Average family size: ~3.1

Insights

• The county is modestly older than the U.S. overall, with nearly one in five residents age 65+.
• Population is majority White with a large Black population and a small but notable Hispanic community.
• Household structure skews toward family households, but single-person households are nearly one-third, reflecting an aging population and nonfamily living arrangements.

Ware County, GA (population ≈36.3k) has about 28k adults. Estimated adult email users: ≈23k (≈82% of adults), reflecting high email adoption among internet users moderated by rural access constraints.

Age distribution of email users (share of users):

• 18–29: 22%
• 30–49: 33%
• 50–64: 27%
• 65+: 18%

Gender split among email users: female ≈51%, male ≈49% (mirrors minimal national gender gaps in internet/email use).

Digital access and trends:

• ≈73% of households have a broadband subscription.
• ≈87% of households have a computer or smartphone.
• ≈16% are smartphone‑only internet households, signaling mobile‑first email access.
• ≈21% of households lack home internet. Broadband subscription has edged up in recent years, with smartphone‑only dependence rising, particularly outside population centers.

Local density/connectivity facts:

• Georgia’s largest county by area (903 sq mi) with low population density (40 people/sq mi).
• Sparse settlement and longer last‑mile distances dampen fixed‑line economics; access is strongest in and around Waycross and thinner in outlying tracts.
• Public anchors (schools, libraries) are important Wi‑Fi access points, supporting email use among residents without reliable home broadband.

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

Context

• Population: ~35,600 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 estimate)
• Households: ~13,700
• Rural county centered on Waycross; large tracts of protected wetlands (Okefenokee) shape coverage and backhaul options

User estimates

• Adults (18+): ~27,800
• Adults with any mobile phone: ~26,000 (≈93% of adults)
• Adult smartphone users: ~23,100 (≈83% of adults)
• 5G-capable smartphone users: ~7,900 (≈34% of smartphone users)
• Households with a smartphone: ~11,500 (≈84% of households)
• Mobile-only internet households (cellular data plan but no fixed broadband): ~1,900 (≈14% of households)

Demographic breakdown (ownership/usage)

• By age
  • 18–34 (≈6,900 adults): ~6,800 have a mobile phone (≈98%); ~6,600 use a smartphone (≈95%)
  • 35–64 (≈15,300 adults): ~14,500 have a mobile phone (≈95%); ~13,400 use a smartphone (≈88%)
  • 65+ (≈5,600 adults): ~4,700 have a mobile phone (≈85%); ~3,100 use a smartphone (≈55%)
• By income
  • Median household income trails the state average, driving higher price sensitivity
  • Prepaid plans are common (≈35% of smartphone lines), above the statewide mix
  • Mobile-only internet reliance is elevated (≈14% of households), reflecting both affordability and fixed-broadband gaps
• By race/ethnicity
  • Population mix is majority White with a large Black community and a smaller Hispanic community
  • Smartphone adoption is broadly similar across groups, but Black and Hispanic households are more likely than White households to rely on mobile-only internet, amplifying the county’s overall mobile-dependence
• Device ecosystem
  • Android devices account for a majority of smartphones (≈58%), higher than the state share
  • iOS remains strong in the urban core but lags in outlying tracts
  • 5G device penetration is growing but trails the state, in line with later rural 5G rollout

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Carriers present: AT&T (including FirstNet Band 14), Verizon, and T‑Mobile operate macro LTE/5G networks countywide
• Coverage
  • 4G LTE population coverage: ≈98% (outdoor; gaps near wetlands and timberlands)
  • 5G population coverage: ≈72% (strong in Waycross and along US‑1/US‑82/US‑84 corridors; patchier toward the Okefenokee)
• Spectrum/bands
  • Extensive low‑band LTE/5G (600/700/850 MHz) for reach
  • Mid‑band 5G present: T‑Mobile n41 (2.5 GHz) broadly in/near Waycross; AT&T and Verizon C‑band (n77) focused around town and key corridors; mmWave is negligible
• Backhaul
  • Fiber backhaul concentrated in Waycross and along highway/rail corridors; more microwave-fed sites in remote areas than in metro Georgia
• Numbering/PSAP
  • Area code 912; E911 and Wireless Emergency Alerts supported

How Ware County differs from the Georgia state picture

• Slightly lower mobile and smartphone ownership rates (by a few percentage points), driven by an older age profile and lower incomes
• Higher reliance on mobile-only internet (≈14% of households), materially above the statewide share
• Heavier prepaid mix (≈35%) and a higher Android installed base (≈58%), reflecting price sensitivity
• 5G device adoption and 5G population coverage lag the state; mid‑band 5G is present but more corridor‑centric, with larger dead zones near protected lands
• Infrastructure emphasis is on low‑band coverage and selective mid‑band overlays rather than dense small‑cell builds common in metro areas

Sources and methodology

• Estimates synthesized from U.S. Census Bureau ACS (population/households, computer and internet use), FCC broadband/mobile coverage data, and national ownership/adoption benchmarks (e.g., Pew Research) adjusted for rural income/age profiles. Figures represent 2023–2024 conditions and are rounded for clarity.

Ware County, GA social media snapshot (2025)

What’s measurable locally

• Population: 36,251 (U.S. Census, 2020). Female ≈ 52%, male ≈ 48% (ACS 5‑year).
• Adults (18+): roughly 28k. Applying Pew’s rural-U.S. adoption rate for “any social media” (≈69% of adults) yields an estimated ~19–20k adult social media users in the county. Among teens, social media use is near‑universal (Pew: ≈95%), adding ~7–8k users. Combined, roughly 26–28k residents use at least one social platform.

Usage by age (Pew Research Center benchmarks, latest available)

• 18–29: ~84–90% use at least one social platform.
• 30–49: ~80%+
• 50–64: ~70%+
• 65+: ~45–50% Implication for Ware County: with an older‑than‑urban age mix, Facebook and YouTube dominate overall reach; Instagram/TikTok concentrate in teens/20s; Snapchat is strongest among high school/college ages.

Most‑used platforms (share of U.S. adults; Pew, Jan 2024) and likely local rank

• YouTube: 83% — top for how‑to, entertainment, local sports highlights; heavy across all ages.
• Facebook: 68% — the primary community hub locally (Groups, Marketplace, school/church updates).
• Instagram: 47% — strong with 18–34; local businesses, food spots, and events.
• Pinterest: 35% — strong among women; home, crafts, recipes.
• TikTok: 33% — fastest growth among under‑35; short local clips, sports, festivals.
• LinkedIn: 30% — comparatively light in rural areas; niche for professionals.
• Snapchat: 27% — concentrated in teens/young adults; daily messaging and Stories.
• X (Twitter): 22% — news, sports; smaller but influential cohort.
• Reddit: 22% — niche interest groups; tech/gaming/outdoors.
• WhatsApp: 21% — messaging within specific communities and families.

Gender notes (directional)

• Women over‑index on Facebook and Pinterest; active in local buy/sell groups, school and church communities.
• Men over‑index on YouTube, Reddit, X; strong in sports, outdoors, auto, and local news.

Behavioral trends observed in rural Georgia counties like Ware

• Community-first usage: Facebook Groups for neighborhoods, schools, athletics, churches, civic alerts; Marketplace for local commerce; “lost & found” and weather updates perform strongly.
• Video wins: Short, mobile‑first clips (Facebook Reels, Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts) outperform text/photo for reach and shares.
• Local faces and events: Posts featuring recognizable people, high‑school sports, festivals, and public‑safety updates drive the highest engagement.
• Messaging shift: Facebook Messenger is a default for group coordination; WhatsApp/GroupMe used by certain social or linguistic communities; SMS used less for group organizing.
• Small‑business playbook: Facebook Page + boosted posts for reach; Instagram for visuals; occasional TikTok for personality; reviews and recommendations circulate in Groups.
• Timing: Engagement peaks early morning (6–8 a.m.), lunch (11 a.m.–1 p.m.), and evening (7–10 p.m.), with weather and breaking‑news spikes.

Key takeaways for Ware County

• Reach breadth: Facebook and YouTube provide the widest cross‑age coverage; use them as foundations.
• Youth engagement: To reach under‑30, prioritize Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat Stories; cross‑post short vertical video.
• Community trust: Authentic, hyper‑local content and two‑way interaction in Groups build credibility and repeat reach.
• Ads and discovery: Facebook/Instagram ads efficiently geo‑target within the county; Marketplace and Events drive foot traffic.

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; ACS 5‑year estimates (for sex/age composition).
• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (platform adoption by U.S. adults); Teens, Social Media and Technology (near‑universal teen use).