Brown County

Key demographics – Brown County, Illinois

Population size

• Total population: 6,244 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~39–40 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~19–20%
• 18 to 64: ~66–69%
• 65 and over: ~12–14%

Gender

• Male: ~58–60%
• Female: ~40–42%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2018–2022)

• White (alone): ~82–85%
• Black or African American (alone): ~11–13%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~4–5%
• Two or more races: ~1–2%
• Asian (alone): ~0–1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native (alone): ~0–1%

Households (ACS 2018–2022)

• Number of households: ~2,200–2,300
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Family households: ~60–65% of households
• Average family size: ~2.8–2.9

Note: The presence of a state correctional facility in the county substantially increases the share of adult males and affects race/ethnicity distributions.

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

Brown County, Illinois snapshot

• Context: Small, rural county (population roughly 6–7k; ~20 people per square mile). A large state prison inflates census counts; most incarcerated people lack regular email access, so the civilian base is closer to 4–5k.

Estimated email users

• 3,500–4,500 residents use email at least monthly. This range applies national rural adoption rates to the county’s civilian adult and teen population.

Age distribution (estimates, using national patterns adjusted for a slightly older rural profile)

• 13–24: high adoption (85–95%); about 15–20% of local email users.
• 25–44: near‑universal (95%+); about 30–35% of users.
• 45–64: near‑universal (93–98%); about 30–35% of users.
• 65+: lower but rising (75–85%); about 15–20% of users.

Gender split

• Roughly even (about 50/50 among civilian residents); email usage rates are similar by gender.

Digital access and trends

• Home broadband subscription is moderate for rural Illinois; fiber is expanding around Mount Sterling while outlying areas rely more on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite.
• Many residents are mobile‑first for email; 4G/5G coverage is strongest along US‑24 and near towns, with dead zones on rural roads.
• Public/library Wi‑Fi and school networks are important access points.
• Trend: steady gains among seniors and increased reliance on smartphones for everyday email.

Mobile phone usage in Brown County, Illinois — 2025 snapshot (estimates)

Context

• Small, rural county (roughly 6–7k residents) with a large state correctional facility. Because incarcerated people are counted in population totals but do not use personal mobile phones, the estimates below focus on the non‑institutional resident base (roughly 4.5–4.8k people) and local households.

User estimates

• Smartphone users: about 3,400–3,900 (roughly 75–82% of non‑institutional residents age 12+).
• Any mobile phone users (feature or smart): about 4,100–4,400 (roughly 88–94%).
• Mobile‑only internet households (no fixed home broadband, rely on cellular): about 340–500 households, or 18–25% of households.
• Prepaid share: roughly 25–35% of mobile lines (higher than Illinois overall, which is closer to 18–25%).
• Employer‑provided phones: roughly 5–8% of adult users (logistics, public safety, healthcare, schools).

Demographic breakdown (local patterns vs state)

• Age
  • 13–34: smartphone adoption about 92–96% (similar to Illinois overall).
  • 35–64: about 85–90% (a few points below statewide).
  • 65+: about 55–65% (10–15 points below statewide), pulling down the county’s overall rate due to an older age profile.
• Income
  • Under 200% of the federal poverty line: mobile‑only household rate about 28–35% (vs Illinois about 18–22%); heavier use of prepaid and hotspot plans.
  • 200%+ FPL: smartphone adoption ~90%+; mobile‑only about 10–15%.
• Geography within the county
  • Mount Sterling: highest capacity and reliability; more postpaid multi‑line plans.
  • Outlying areas (e.g., Versailles, Ripley, Timewell and other unincorporated areas): higher mobile‑only reliance but weaker signal off main corridors; more use of signal boosters and Wi‑Fi calling.
• Race/ethnicity
  • County is predominantly White with a small Hispanic/Latino workforce. After controlling for income, the largest usage gaps are age and coverage‑driven rather than race‑driven.

Digital infrastructure points

• Coverage and technology
  • 4G LTE is the primary workhorse countywide.
  • 5G low‑band is present in and around Mount Sterling and along primary highways; true mid‑band 5G capacity is limited outside town.
  • Dead zones persist in river/bluff areas and some interior farmland tracts, especially indoors.
• Carriers
  • Verizon and AT&T are generally most reliable across rural roads and fields.
  • T‑Mobile coverage has improved on low‑band spectrum but is still variable off corridor.
  • Public‑safety: AT&T FirstNet (Band 14) strengthens coverage on main routes and for agencies.
• Sites and backhaul
  • Macro towers cluster near Mount Sterling, along US‑24 and state routes; large areas rely on a small number of sectors, limiting capacity during peak hours.
  • Business‑grade fiber exists in Mount Sterling’s industrial area; residential fiber is limited outside town. Fixed‑wireless ISPs and cellular hotspots fill gaps where DSL/cable are absent.
• Adoption constraints
  • Metal‑roof homes and pole‑barn construction reduce indoor signal quality; boosters and Wi‑Fi calling are common mitigation.
  • The phase‑out of federal connectivity subsidies has increased bill sensitivity, nudging some users toward prepaid and mobile‑only service.

How Brown County trends differ from Illinois overall

• Higher dependence on mobile‑only internet (about 18–25% of households vs roughly 12–18% statewide).
• Lower overall smartphone penetration driven by a larger 65+ share (county average 5–10 points below Illinois).
• Network is LTE‑centric; mid‑band 5G capacity is sparse compared with metro Illinois.
• Carrier mix skews toward Verizon/AT&T; T‑Mobile share is lower than in urban/suburban markets.
• Higher prepaid usage and slower device upgrade cycles.
• More indoor coverage challenges and reliance on boosters/Wi‑Fi calling.

Notes on method

• Estimates synthesize recent Census/ACS population and household counts, the presence of a state correctional facility (to adjust the user base), FCC mobile availability filings, and Pew/NTIA adoption rates for rural areas. Ranges reflect uncertainty, year‑to‑year changes, and localized coverage variation.

Here’s a concise, data-informed snapshot. Because there’s no public, county-level survey for Brown County, IL, the figures below are estimates based on: Pew Research Center’s U.S./rural social media data (2023–2024), Illinois small-county demographics, and local context (notably the Western Illinois Correctional Center, which skews the resident sex ratio but does not contribute to social media use).

Overall user base (estimate)

• Social media penetration (civilian, non-institutional residents 13+): roughly 70–80%
• Rough count of active users: approximately 2,800–3,800 (assumes ~4,0–4,8k civilian 13+ residents; excludes incarcerated residents)
• Usage frequency: Facebook and YouTube see the highest daily use; TikTok/Instagram daily among younger adults

Age mix among active users (estimate)

• 13–17: 8–10%
• 18–24: 10–12%
• 25–34: 18–20%
• 35–44: 18–20%
• 45–54: 16–18%
• 55–64: 14–16%
• 65+: 12–14%

Gender among active users (estimate)

• Female: 52–57%
• Male: 43–48% Note: The county’s total population skews male due to the correctional facility; among active social media users (civilian population), usage tends to lean slightly female, consistent with national patterns.

Most-used platforms (share of local social media users; monthly use, estimate)

• YouTube: 75–85%
• Facebook: 65–75%
• Facebook Groups: 55–65%
• Messenger: 60–70%
• Instagram: 30–40% (higher among 18–34)
• TikTok: 22–32% (teens/20s heavy)
• Snapchat: 18–26% (teens/young adults)
• Pinterest: 22–30% (women 25–54 over-index)
• X/Twitter: 8–12% (news/sports watchers)
• LinkedIn: 10–16% (concentrated among DOT Foods, healthcare, education)
• Reddit: 8–12% (younger men)
• Nextdoor: 5–10% (limited rural penetration; some neighborhood use)

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first: High engagement with local school, church, booster, FFA, 4-H, sports, county fair, buy/sell/trade, and lost-and-found groups—primarily on Facebook and Messenger.
• Local news and alerts: Weather, road closures, school updates, and obituaries are major traffic drivers; shares spike around storms and seasonal events.
• Practical content: YouTube is used for how‑to, DIY, equipment repair, hunting/fishing, farming, and home projects; Pinterest complements DIY/recipes/home ideas.
• Young cohorts: Teens/20s split time across TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and YouTube; Facebook mainly for group logistics (teams/clubs).
• Trust signals: Posts with recognizable local people, landmarks, and clear community benefit outperform polished “corporate” creative.
• Access patterns: Mobile-first; evening peaks (7–10 pm), secondary peaks around 6–8 am and lunch. Captions matter (sound-off viewing). Short video (under 60–90 seconds) performs best.
• Commerce and jobs: Facebook Groups and Messenger are primary channels for local selling and hiring; LinkedIn use is modest but higher than typical for a small rural county due to DOT Foods and regional healthcare/education employers.