Adams County

Key demographics — Adams County, Illinois (U.S. Census Bureau; primarily ACS 2018–2022 5-year and 2020 Census)

• Population:

  • 2020 Census: ~65,700
  • Recent estimate (ACS): ~65,000–65,500

• Age:

  • Median age: ~41 years
  • Under 18: ~22%
  • 65 and over: ~19–20%

• Gender:

  • Female: ~51%
  • Male: ~49%

• Race and ethnicity (shares may not sum to 100% because Hispanic is an ethnicity):

  • White alone: ~90%
  • Black or African American alone: ~4%
  • Asian alone: ~0.6–0.8%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.2–0.3%
  • Two or more races: ~3–4%
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~2–3%

• Households and housing:

  • Total households: ~27,000
  • Persons per household: ~2.3
  • Family households: ~60–62% of households
  • One-person households: ~30–32%
  • Owner-occupied housing: ~69–71%
  • Renter-occupied housing: ~29–31%

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

Below are ballpark estimates based on Adams County’s population (~65k) and national email/internet adoption patterns.

• Estimated email users: 49–52k residents (assumes ~86% of residents are 13+ and ~90–93% of those use email).
• Age mix among email users (approx.):
  • 13–17: 6–7%
  • 18–34: 21–24%
  • 35–54: 28–31%
  • 55–64: 15–17%
  • 65+: 21–25%
• Gender split: roughly even (female ~50–51%, male ~49–50%); email use shows minimal gender gap.
• Digital access trends:
  • Home broadband subscription likely in the mid-70s to low-80s percent range, lower outside Quincy.
  • 15–20% of households are plausibly smartphone‑only for internet access.
  • Email is near-universal among working-age adults; seniors show high but slightly lower usage, with mobile email prevalent.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population density ~75 people/sq. mile (Illinois avg ~230), indicating many low-density areas.
  • Quincy (≈39k) concentrates most wired options (cable/fiber); rural townships rely more on DSL/fixed wireless, with patchier speeds and adoption.
  • Public Wi‑Fi (libraries, schools, municipal sites) helps bridge access for lower‑connectivity areas.

Figures are indicative and should be refined with local survey or ISP data.

Below is a planning-grade snapshot of mobile phone usage in Adams County, Illinois, emphasizing how it differs from statewide patterns. Estimates are based on 2024-era demographic data (ACS), national/rural adoption research (e.g., Pew), and known regional infrastructure patterns.

Quick size and usage estimates

• Population and adult base: ~65–66k residents; ~53k adults (older age profile than Illinois overall).
• Mobile phone users (any mobile): ~51–52k adults (≈97% of adults).
• Smartphone users: ~45–47k adults (≈85–88% of adults), a few points lower than Illinois statewide.
• 5G‑capable device users: ~27–30k adults (≈60–65% of smartphone users), lower than statewide penetration due to older devices and price sensitivity.
• Mobile-only home internet: ~3.5–4k households (≈13–16% of households), higher than the Illinois average, reflecting rural gaps and affordability tradeoffs.

Demographic patterns that drive differences

• Age: A larger 65+ share than the state leads to more basic/flip-phone use and slower 5G device turnover; smartphone adoption among seniors trails Illinois by several points.
• Income and affordability: Median income is lower than the state, pushing:
  • Higher prepaid/MVNO usage (≈30% vs low‑20s% statewide).
  • Slower upgrade cycles and a higher Android share (≈60–65% Android vs ≈50–55% statewide).
  • Greater reliance on mobile hotspots/FWA instead of wireline broadband, especially outside Quincy.
• Rural vs. Quincy split:
  • Quincy (urban core) has near‑state smartphone and 5G adoption.
  • Rural townships show more LTE‑only service, more feature phones, and larger shares of mobile‑only internet users.
• Work patterns: Agriculture, healthcare, light manufacturing/logistics mean more off‑site/field work and heavier reliance on voice/text and push‑to‑talk apps compared with Chicago‑area office users.

Digital infrastructure highlights (what’s distinct locally)

• Carrier footprint:
  • All three nationals (AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile) cover the county; UScellular has a niche rural presence. 5G is strong in Quincy and along major corridors; many rural areas still lean on LTE.
  • Mid‑band 5G (C‑Band/2.5 GHz) is common in/around Quincy; coverage thins north/east where low‑band 5G/LTE dominates.
• Coverage gaps and terrain:
  • River bluffs, wooded bottoms, and low‑density roads create dead zones and inconsistent in‑building service outside Quincy—more pronounced than the statewide norm.
  • Cross‑river behavior: Devices may prefer Missouri cells near the Mississippi, affecting perceived speeds/roaming near Quincy–Hannibal.
• Fixed broadband interplay:
  • Quincy has cable and fiber options with gigabit‑class tiers; rural areas depend on a mix of:
    • Rural fiber from local cooperatives (e.g., Adams Telephone Co‑Operative) in many but not all townships.
    • Legacy DSL and WISPs where fiber/cable are absent.
    • Mobile/FWA (T‑Mobile/Verizon) filling gaps; adoption is notably higher than statewide in fringe areas.
  • Starlink uptake is visible in the most remote pockets; higher than urban Illinois but still a minority option.
• Capacity and speeds:
  • In Quincy, typical 5G speeds are competitive with state averages; rural LTE speeds (often 5–25 Mbps) trail the state’s suburban norms.
  • Network congestion spikes during events and harvest season along key corridors; more noticeable than in metro Illinois.
• Public connectivity and emergency use:
  • Public Wi‑Fi concentrated in Quincy (libraries, schools, civic buildings); sparse elsewhere.
  • Wireless Emergency Alerts are countywide; opt‑in alerts (e.g., CodeRED/Everbridge) see higher SMS reliance in rural areas.

How Adams County differs from Illinois overall (summary)

• Slightly lower smartphone and markedly lower 5G‑device penetration, driven by older population and budget constraints.
• Higher prepaid/MVNO usage and higher Android share.
• More households relying on mobile or FWA as primary home internet.
• Larger urban–rural performance gap: strong 5G in Quincy vs. LTE‑heavy, spotty service in outlying areas.
• Infrastructure buildout led by a rural fiber cooperative plus FWA, rather than predominantly cable/fiber as in metro Illinois.
• Greater sensitivity to terrain and cross‑border cell selection near the Mississippi River.

Here’s a concise, locally tuned snapshot for Adams County, IL (home to Quincy), using county demographics plus recent U.S. social-media benchmarks, adjusted for the area’s slightly older, more rural profile. Figures are estimates.

Snapshot/user stats

• Population: ~65K residents; ~55K are age 13+. Estimated social-media users: ~39K (about 60% of residents; ~72% of those 13+).
• Primary hub: Quincy, with most engagement concentrated within a ~15–20 mile radius.

Age mix of users (share of the ~39K users; counts rounded)

• 13–17: 9% (3.7K)
• 18–29: 22% (8.6K)
• 30–49: 32% (12.5K)
• 50–64: 22% (8.4K)
• 65+: 15% (5.8K)

Gender breakdown (among users)

• Female 53% (20.7K)
• Male 47% (18.3K) Note: Women are overrepresented on Facebook/Instagram; men overindexed on YouTube/X/Reddit.

Most-used platforms (share of social-media users in the county; ranges reflect uncertainty)

• YouTube: 78–85% (30–33K)
• Facebook (incl. Groups/Marketplace): 75–80% (29–31K)
• Instagram: 40–50% (16–20K)
• TikTok: 28–36% (11–14K)
• Snapchat: 22–28% (8.5–11K; strongest among teens/20s)
• Pinterest: 25–32% (10–12.5K; strong among women 25–54)
• LinkedIn: 18–24% (7–9.5K; concentrated in healthcare, education, manufacturing, small biz)
• X (Twitter): 15–20% (6–8K; news/sports followers)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community backbone: local news (Herald-Whig), weather alerts, school/sports updates, church and civic groups, buy/sell (Marketplace). Group posts and “Recommendations?” threads drive high comment activity.
• Video first: Short vertical video (Reels/TikTok) keeps rising for 18–44; YouTube remains dominant for how-tos, local sports highlights, church streams, and youth activities.
• Event-driven spikes: County fair, festivals, school sports, hunting season, severe weather, and school closures generate surges and shares.
• Shopping/social proof: Facebook Marketplace is heavily used; reviews and “ISO” posts influence purchases. Local promos, giveaways, and limited-time offers perform well.
• Messaging for service: Many residents prefer Facebook Messenger for quick questions and appointment requests.
• Timing: Evenings (7–9 pm CT) and early mornings (6:30–8 am) see the most engagement; weekends skew to morning/lunch. Quiet after ~10:30 pm.
• Content that works: Faces and familiar places; behind-the-scenes at local businesses; community involvement; practical value (deals, deadlines, how-tos). Avoid overly polished “national” creative; emphasize local landmarks/people.
• Audience skews by platform: Teens/college on Snapchat and TikTok; 18–34 on Instagram + TikTok; 35+ on Facebook + YouTube; 55+ heavily Facebook.
• Ad notes: Geo-target ~15–20 miles around Quincy. Interests that index well: high school sports, hunting/fishing, agriculture/outdoors, faith/community service, local dining.

Method note

• Estimates combine Adams County population/age structure with recent Pew Research platform usage and typical rural-Midwest adjustments. Treat as directional for planning rather than exact counts.