Calhoun County

Key demographics for Calhoun County, Illinois

• Population: 4,437 (2020 Census)
• Age (ACS 2019–2023):
  • Median age: ~48.5 years
  • Under 18: ~20%
  • 65 and over: ~25%
• Gender (ACS 2019–2023):
  • Female: ~49%
  • Male: ~51%
• Race/ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023; percents may not sum to 100 due to rounding):
  • White (non-Hispanic): ~96%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~2%
  • Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~1.5–2%
  • Black (non-Hispanic): ~0.2%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic): ~0.2%
  • Asian (non-Hispanic): ~0.1%
• Households (ACS 2019–2023):
  • Total households: ~1,930
  • Average household size: ~2.3
  • Family households: ~65%
  • Nonfamily households: ~35%

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

Summary for Calhoun County, IL

• Scale and density: Population 4,400; very rural (17 people per sq. mile) on a river peninsula, which affects network build‑out.
• Estimated email users: About 3,000 (±300) residents use email at least monthly. Basis: adult share of population and national email adoption among internet users, adjusted for the county’s older age profile.
• Age distribution of email users (approximate share of users):
  • 18–29: 15%
  • 30–49: 30%
  • 50–64: 30%
  • 65+: 25%
• Gender split: Roughly 49% male, 51% female among email users (email adoption shows minimal gender differences; mirrors local population).
• Digital access and trends:
  • Household internet: Roughly 70–80% of households have a home broadband subscription; smartphone‑only access around 10–15%.
  • Connectivity pattern: Best fixed service in/near Hardin and along main corridors; many outlying areas rely on fixed wireless or satellite, with cellular coverage varying by bluff/valley.
  • Trends: Gradual rise in smartphone‑centric access and in email use among 65+; modest gains where new fixed‑wireless or fiber projects appear.

Notes: Estimates synthesize U.S. Census/ACS computer-internet metrics and Pew Research email/internet adoption rates, adjusted to Calhoun County’s small, older, rural population.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Calhoun County, Illinois (distinctive patterns vs. statewide)

Headline differences from Illinois overall

• Lower smartphone penetration and slower 5G uptake, driven by older age structure and more challenging terrain.
• Higher retention of landlines and greater reliance on prepaid and fixed‑wireless/satellite for home internet, reflecting income, coverage gaps, and limited fiber.
• Patchier coverage and lower median mobile speeds than state norms, especially in river bluffs and hollows; stronger dependence on voice/SMS.
• Seasonal congestion spikes (fall agritourism along the Great River Road) that are uncommon in most Illinois counties.

User estimates (orders of magnitude; county pop. ~4,400 in 2020; adult share ~81%)

• Adults with any mobile phone: 3,100–3,400 (≈88–92% of adults). Illinois adults typically 93–96%.
• Adult smartphone users: 2,600–3,000 (≈74–82% of adults). Illinois is closer to 85–90%.
• Wireless‑only households (no landline): ~55–65% of households, below Illinois’ ~70–75%.
• Mobile‑only internet households (using phone hotspot or mobile router for home internet): modest but above the state share, reflecting weaker wired options.
• Plan mix: prepaid share above Illinois average; upgrade cycles longer (3–4 years typical vs. ~2–3 statewide).

Demographic and behavioral breakdown

• Age:
  • 65+: large cohort (roughly a quarter of residents). Smartphone adoption estimated 55–65%—below statewide seniors. Heavier reliance on voice/SMS; more basic/flip phones than state average.
  • 18–34: near‑universal smartphone ownership (≈95%+), but out‑migration keeps this segment small.
• Income/education:
  • Median household income below state average; stronger price sensitivity. Prepaid, MVNOs, and budget Android devices more common.
  • Digital literacy gaps among older adults contribute to lower app‑centric usage (mobile payments, telehealth apps) than statewide.
• Household context:
  • Families with school‑aged children often use school‑issued hotspots; library/municipal Wi‑Fi is an important supplement.
  • Landline retention remains notable among multi‑generational and senior households.

Digital infrastructure and coverage (county specifics that diverge from statewide patterns)

• Topography and grid:
  • Sparse macro‑tower grid with longer inter‑site distances than urban/suburban Illinois; ridgelines and river bluffs create shadowed “dead zones,” especially away from IL‑100/IL‑96 corridors and town centers (Hardin, Kampsville, Brussels).
• 5G/LTE:
  • Low‑band 5G from major carriers is present in/near towns and along river corridors; mid‑band 5G (C‑band/2.5 GHz) is limited or absent across much of the county. This contrasts with broad mid‑band 5G in much of metro/suburban Illinois.
  • Real‑world indoor coverage and speeds often fall back to LTE or 3G‑like performance in valleys/wooded areas.
• Backhaul and resiliency:
  • Mix of microwave and limited fiber backhaul; river crossings and low density complicate fiber builds and route diversity. Outage restoration and redundancy trail state norms.
• Fixed broadband context that influences mobile use:
  • Legacy DSL and fixed‑wireless ISPs serve many locations; FTTH is limited to pockets. As a result, satellite (including Starlink) adoption is markedly higher than the Illinois average, and some households lean on mobile hotspots as primary or failover internet.
• Public safety/coverage:
  • First responders still rely on VHF/UHF paging in parts of the county because cellular is not uniformly dependable indoors; FirstNet presence helps but is not uniformly robust in hollows.

Usage patterns and trends (vs. state)

• Data intensity: Median per‑line mobile data consumption is likely lower than statewide, except among mobile‑only households. Video streaming on mobile is constrained by coverage and deprioritization during peak times.
• Apps/services: Facebook, Messenger, and SMS remain dominant communications; mobile payments, telehealth video, and gig‑work apps see slower uptake than Illinois metros. Younger users mirror statewide habits but are a smaller base.
• Seasonality: Temporary congestion increases during fall orchard/tourism weekends and events along the Great River Road—an atypical pattern for most Illinois counties.

Implications for planning

• Prioritize mid‑band 5G infill on ridgelines and valley floors; small cells in town cores.
• Expand fiber backhaul and route diversity to improve reliability and enable true 5G capacity.
• Targeted digital inclusion: senior‑focused smartphone training, device upgrade incentives, and affordable plans can close the gap more effectively here than in most Illinois counties.
• For emergency communications, invest in in‑building coverage solutions at schools, clinics, and county facilities and maintain non‑cellular redundancies.

Method note

• Figures are estimates triangulated from 2020 Census population, typical rural adoption discounts vs. statewide/Pew benchmarks, and known rural network characteristics in western Illinois. Local carrier maps and FCC BDC filings should be consulted to refine tower locations, 5G band availability, and precise coverage.

Calhoun County, IL social media snapshot (model-based)

How many use social media

• Adults using at least one social platform: 65–72% of residents 18+ (≈2,300–2,600 people)
• Context: Small, rural, older-skewing county; overall adoption runs a bit below the U.S. average due to age mix and patchy broadband, but Facebook/YouTube are very strong.

Age mix of users (share of the county’s social media users)

• 18–29: ~18–20%
• 30–49: ~32–35%
• 50–64: ~25–28%
• 65+: ~18–22% Note: Roughly 45–50% of local social users are 50+.

Gender breakdown (share of the county’s social media users)

• Women: ~52–55%
• Men: ~45–48% Note: Women over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube and Reddit.

Most‑used platforms in Calhoun County (estimated % of all adults)

• Facebook: 60–65%
• YouTube: 60–65%
• Instagram: 25–30%
• Pinterest: 20–25%
• TikTok: 15–20%
• Snapchat: 10–12%
• X (Twitter): 8–10%
• WhatsApp: 8–10%
• Reddit: 6–8%
• LinkedIn: 8–12% Notes: Facebook and YouTube are co-dominant; Instagram is moderate (skews under 45); TikTok/Snapchat are concentrated among teens/20s; LinkedIn is limited by the local job mix.

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: heavy use of Groups (schools, churches, fire/EMS, farm swap, local events) and Marketplace for buy/sell/trade. Messenger is the primary DMs channel.
• Local-first content wins: school sports, obituaries, community notices, festivals, and farm/orchard updates drive the most engagement. Posts with names, faces, and clear locality outperform generic content.
• Video, but lightweight: YouTube for how‑to, ag/DIY, hunting/fishing, severe weather; short vertical video (Reels/TikTok) is growing but still secondary to Facebook posts for older users.
• Shopping behavior: Marketplace for used goods and equipment; Facebook/Instagram for local boutiques, orchards, seasonal produce, and service providers. “Open hours + directions” posts convert well.
• Timing: Peaks before work (6–8 a.m.) and evenings (7–9 p.m.); weekends see strong engagement around events and sports.
• Participation style: Many lurkers; engagement clustered in a few active Groups and around trusted local figures/organizations. Comments often outnumber shares; recommendations via tags (@Name) are common.

Method and confidence

• Estimates combine Pew Research Center 2023–2024 U.S. platform usage with Calhoun County’s age structure (ACS) and rural adjustments. Small population means ±5–10 percentage‑point uncertainty by platform. For planning, treat numbers as directional rather than exact headcounts.