Warren County

Warren County, Georgia — key demographics

Population size

• 2020 Census: 5,215 (down from 5,834 in 2010)
• 2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimate: ~5,050

Age

• Median age: ~46 years
• Under 18: ~20%
• 18 to 64: ~57%
• 65 and older: ~23%

Sex (ACS)

• Female: ~52%
• Male: ~48%

Race and ethnicity (2020 Census)

• Black or African American: ~61%
• White: ~35%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~2–3%
• Two or more races: ~1%
• All other groups combined: <1%

Households and housing (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: ~2,100
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Family households: ~64% of households
• Married-couple families: ~36% of households
• Nonfamily households: ~36%; individuals living alone: ~32%; 65+ living alone: ~14–15%
• Tenure: owner-occupied ~78%, renter-occupied ~22%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

• Population and density: Warren County, GA has 5,215 residents (2020 Census) across ~284 sq mi, ~18 people/sq mi. Roughly 2,100 occupied households.

• Estimated email users: ≈3,900 residents use email (about 75% of total population; ~90% of residents age 13+), derived from Pew U.S. email adoption rates adjusted to the county’s older age mix.

• Age distribution of email users (share of users):

  • 13–17: ~7%
  • 18–29: ~15%
  • 30–49: ~29%
  • 50–64: ~24%
  • 65+: ~25% Older adults comprise a sizable share of users due to the county’s higher median age.

• Gender split among email users: ~52% female, ~48% male, mirroring the county’s population.

• Digital access and connectivity:

  • About two-thirds of households have a fixed broadband subscription; most households have a computer, and ~15% are smartphone‑only internet users (ACS patterns for rural Georgia).
  • Coverage and speeds are strongest along the I‑20 corridor and in/near Warrenton; outer rural tracts have spottier fixed‑line options and rely more on LTE/5G or fixed wireless.
  • Low housing density raises last‑mile costs, moderating broadband adoption; affordability pressures have increased following changes to federal affordability subsidies in 2024–2025.

Sources: 2020 U.S. Census; ACS internet subscription/device ownership patterns; Pew Research email adoption by age.

Mobile phone usage in Warren County, Georgia (2024–2025)

Baseline

• Population: ~5,250
• Estimated households: ~2,190 (avg. household size ≈ 2.4)
• Adult (18+) population: ~4,095

User estimates

• Adults with a mobile phone (any type): ~3,850 (≈94% of adults)
• Adults with a smartphone: ~3,600 (≈88% of adults)
• Households relying on mobile-only internet (no fixed home broadband): ~520 (≈24% of households)

Demographic breakdown (smartphone users)

• By age

  • 18–34: ~916 users (≈97% adoption within this age group)
  • 35–64: ~1,840 users (≈90% adoption)
  • 65+: ~830 users (≈75% adoption)
  • Insight: The older-than-average age profile in Warren County pulls overall smartphone adoption below the Georgia average.

• By race/ethnicity (adults)

  • Black/African American (≈60% of adults): ~2,090 smartphone users (≈85% adoption), with higher likelihood of mobile-only internet reliance than White households
  • White (≈36% of adults): ~1,270 smartphone users (≈86% adoption)
  • Hispanic/Latino and other groups (≈4% combined): ~240 smartphone users (≈90% adoption)
  • Insight: Adoption rates by race are similar, but mobile-only reliance is disproportionately higher among Black and lower-income households.

• By household income

  • <$35k: ~80% smartphone adoption; mobile-only reliance ≈35–40%
  • $35k–$75k: ~90% smartphone adoption; mobile-only reliance ≈20–25%
  • $75k+: ~95% smartphone adoption; mobile-only reliance ≈8–12%
  • Insight: Lower incomes—more prevalent locally than statewide—drive higher smartphone dependence and mobile-only connectivity.

Digital infrastructure points

• Cellular networks: Countywide 4G LTE from national carriers; low-band 5G broadly present along the I-20 corridor and in/near Warrenton, with patchier 5G away from the highway. Mid-band 5G capacity is limited outside the corridor, which constrains peak speeds in rural tracts.
• Coverage quality: Outdoor coverage is generally reliable near I-20 and the county seat; indoor coverage can be inconsistent in low-density areas due to tower spacing, tree cover, and building materials.
• Fixed broadband context: Cable and fiber are concentrated in/around Warrenton; much of the county relies on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite. Limited wireline competition and distance-to-CO issues keep many households on cellular data plans for primary internet access.
• Backhaul and capacity: Fewer fiber-fed cell sites outside the interstate corridor reduce available sector capacity at peak hours versus metro Georgia.

How Warren County differs from Georgia overall

• Lower overall smartphone penetration: ≈88% of adults locally versus roughly 90–92% statewide, reflecting an older age mix and lower median income.
• Significantly higher mobile-only households: ≈24% locally versus ≈14–16% statewide, driven by limited and costlier fixed-broadband options outside Warrenton.
• More pronounced urban–rural performance gap: 5G mid-band capacity is sparse beyond I-20, so typical speeds and in-building performance trail metro areas where mid-band 5G and dense site grids are common.
• Greater dependence on prepaid/budget plans and data-capped offerings than the state average, consistent with income distribution and limited fixed-broadband alternatives.

Key takeaways

• Roughly 3,600 adults in Warren County use smartphones, and about one in four households relies on cellular data as their primary home connection.
• Age and income structure—not demand—are the main constraints on smartphone adoption; infrastructure and price are the main constraints on fixed broadband.
• Enhancements that would narrow the gap with state norms include extending mid-band 5G beyond the I-20 corridor, adding fiber-fed cell sites in rural tracts, and expanding affordable fiber/cable alternatives to reduce mobile-only reliance.

Notes on methods

• Figures are 2024 modeled estimates based on U.S. Census Bureau population and household counts (ACS 5-year), national/rural smartphone adoption benchmarks (e.g., Pew Research 2023), and FCC mobile and fixed-broadband deployment patterns observed in rural Georgia. Estimates are rounded for clarity.

Warren County, GA social media snapshot (2025)

Topline usage

• Share of adults using at least one social platform: ~83%
• Smartphone ownership: ~85% of adults; home broadband subscription: ~72–75% of households; smartphone‑only internet users: ~20–25% of adults

Most‑used platforms (share of adults; modeled from 2024 U.S. usage with rural adjustments)

• YouTube: 82–85%
• Facebook: 66–70%
• Instagram: 40–45%
• TikTok: 28–33%
• Pinterest: 26–30% (skews female)
• Snapchat: 20–25% (skews younger)
• X (Twitter): 18–22% (skews male/younger)
• LinkedIn: 12–16% (lower in rural, fewer college‑oriented occupations)

Age and gender breakdown

• County age mix (approximate): 0–17: 22% | 18–24: 7% | 25–44: 24% | 45–64: 27% | 65+: 20%
• Gender mix: ~52% women, 48% men
• Social media users by gender: ~53–55% women, 45–47% men (women over‑indexed on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men on YouTube, X)
• Platform use by age (share within each age band):
  • 18–29: YouTube ~95%, Instagram ~75%, TikTok ~70%, Snapchat ~65%, Facebook ~55%
  • 30–49: YouTube ~90%, Facebook ~75–80%, Instagram ~55–60%, TikTok ~40–45%
  • 50–64: Facebook ~70–75%, YouTube ~80–85%, Instagram ~30–35%, TikTok ~20–25%
  • 65+: Facebook ~55–60%, YouTube ~60–65%, Instagram ~20–25%, TikTok ~12–15%

Behavioral trends observed in small rural Georgia counties like Warren

• Facebook is the default “local network”: heavy reliance on Groups (churches, schools, ball teams), Marketplace (farm/yard equipment, vehicles), and county info/alerts. Engagement spikes around school events, high school sports, weather, elections, and festivals.
• Video consumption dominates: YouTube for long‑form/how‑to and local government/school recordings; Reels and TikTok for short‑form entertainment and local creators. Posting is less frequent than viewing; most users are lurkers.
• Messaging and DMs are core: Facebook Messenger is the primary contact channel for local businesses and community coordination; WhatsApp is niche but present among specific social circles.
• Local business usage: Most maintain active Facebook Pages, boosted posts, and event listings; Instagram is used mainly for visuals by food, retail, and beauty; TikTok adoption is growing among younger owners/creators but still uneven.
• Timing and cadence: Engagement strongest early morning (6–8 a.m.) and evenings (7–9 p.m.), plus weekend late mornings. Posts with faces, local places, or timely info outperform generic flyers; short native video consistently outperforms text‑only posts.
• Trust dynamics: Word‑of‑mouth via known community members (pastors, coaches, small‑biz owners) carries outsized influence; local admins/moderators shape reach via group rules and approvals.

Key takeaways

• To reach most adults quickly, prioritize Facebook (posts + Groups + Events + Messenger) and YouTube (shorts + how‑to/recaps).
• Use Instagram for 18–44 reach and visuals; add TikTok for under‑35 reach with short, place‑based videos.
• Lean into community context: local faces, timely utility (closings, weather, scores), and event‑driven content outperform generic brand posts.

Method note

• Percentages are modeled for Warren County using 2024 Pew Research U.S. adult platform usage, with rural adjustments, and ACS/FCC patterns for device and broadband access. Local population is small; figures represent best‑fit estimates rather than a platform’s internal counts.