Christian County

Here are key demographics for Christian County, Illinois.

Population size

• 34,032 (2020 Decennial Census)

Age

• Median age: ~42 years
• Under 5: ~5–6%
• Under 18: ~21%
• 65 and over: ~21%

Gender

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50%

Race and Hispanic origin (ACS 2018–2022, percent of total)

• White alone: ~95%
• Black or African American alone: ~1–2%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0–1%
• Asian alone: ~0–1%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2%

Households (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~13.8k
• Persons per household (avg): ~2.31
• Average family size: ~2.8–2.9
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~74%

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

Christian County, IL snapshot (estimates)

• Population and density: ~33K residents; ~45–50 people per square mile. Most wired infrastructure is in towns (e.g., Taylorville, Pana, Assumption); rural townships are more sparsely served.
• Estimated email users: ~20K–24K residents (about 60–70% of total; roughly 75–90% of adults). Basis: adults ≈ 78–80% of population, ~80–85% of households have broadband or mobile data, and most internet users use email.
• Age pattern (share using email within each group):
  • 18–29: ~95–99%
  • 30–49: ~95–98%
  • 50–64: ~90–95%
  • 65+: ~75–85% Result: users skew adult, with strong usage into older ages but a noticeable drop among 65+.
• Gender split: County population is roughly even (slight female majority). Email usage shows minimal gender gap; users are near 50/50 female/male.
• Digital access trends:
  • Broadband subscription rates are around 80–85%; computer access ~85–90%; a growing 10–15% are smartphone‑only.
  • Fiber and cable concentrated in towns; rural areas may rely on DSL/fixed wireless or satellite, with slower speeds and higher latency.
  • Cellular coverage is strongest near population centers and highways; weaker in low‑density farmland.
  • Libraries, schools, and public buildings supplement access with Wi‑Fi.

Below is a decision-useful, county-level summary built from public data patterns (U.S. Census/ACS small-area demographics, FCC/National carrier deployments, and Pew Research smartphone adoption) and rural-Illinois comparators. Figures are estimates and presented as ranges to avoid false precision.

Snapshot

• Christian County population is roughly 33–35k, older and more rural than Illinois overall. Mobile adoption is high but a bit below the statewide average, with heavier reliance on cellular data for home internet and more variable coverage/speeds outside town centers.

User estimates

• Mobile phone users (any mobile): about 27k–30k residents use a mobile phone.
• Smartphone users: about 25k–28k residents use a smartphone (roughly 80–85% of the total population; a few points lower than Illinois statewide).
• Households relying on cellular data for home internet (“smartphone-only” or mobile hotspot as primary): approximately 18–25% of households in the county, versus roughly low-to-mid teens statewide.
• Teen access: most teens have smartphones (≈90–95%), similar to state, but data-plan constraints are more common in lower-income and rural households.

Demographic breakdown (and how it differs from Illinois)

• Age
  • County skews older than Illinois. Smartphone adoption among 65+ is substantially lower than younger cohorts; that drags down the countywide rate by a few points vs. state.
  • Younger adults (18–49) are near universal smartphone users, on par with statewide rates.
• Income
  • Median household income trails the Illinois average. Cost sensitivity shows up as higher use of prepaid plans, shared family plans, and smartphone-only internet dependence, compared with the state.
• Education
  • Lower bachelor’s attainment than Illinois. Digital skill gaps correlate with more limited use of advanced features (mobile banking, telehealth) among some older and lower-income residents.
• Geography within the county
  • Towns such as Taylorville and Pana show higher 5G availability and better indoor coverage; outlying rural areas see more dead zones/slowdowns and greater reliance on cellular for home internet due to limited wired options.

Digital infrastructure points

• Coverage and technology
  • 4G LTE is broadly available outdoors; indoor coverage varies with distance from towers and building materials (metal-sided homes, farm structures).
  • 5G low-band is increasingly common countywide; mid-band 5G (higher capacity) is strongest in and around larger towns and along main corridors, tapering at the edges—creating a bigger urban–rural performance gap than Illinois overall.
• Capacity and speeds
  • Fewer cell sites per square mile than metro Illinois. Rural sectors can be range-limited and capacity-constrained at peak times (events, after-school/evening video traffic), so median mobile speeds are typically lower and more variable than the statewide median.
• Fixed broadband context (drives mobile reliance)
  • Towns typically have cable and some fiber options; DSL persists in pockets. Many rural addresses face limited or costly wired choices, increasing dependence on mobile broadband, WISPs, or satellite.
  • 5G Home Internet offers (where mid-band 5G is strong) are gaining traction as substitutes for DSL or as a second line—more pronounced than in urban Illinois where cable/fiber are prevalent.
• Affordability and programs
  • Lifeline participation is meaningful among eligible households. The 2024 lapse of Affordable Connectivity Program funding disproportionately affected rural/low-income residents; some shifted to mobile-only service or downgraded plans—an impact generally larger than in better-wired Illinois metros.
• Public/anchor connectivity
  • Libraries, schools, and municipal buildings serve as key Wi‑Fi anchors and device-charging points, with hotspot lending programs used more intensively than in many urban counties.

How Christian County trends differ from Illinois overall

• Slightly lower overall smartphone adoption driven by a larger 65+ share.
• Significantly higher share of households relying on cellular data as their primary or only home internet.
• Larger performance gap between town centers/corridors and rural edges (coverage, indoor signal, and speeds).
• Faster uptake of 5G Home Internet as a fixed-broadband substitute than in well-served metro areas.
• More price-sensitive plan choices and a higher risk of service downgrades when subsidies lapse.

Planning implications

• Prioritize mid-band 5G densification and rural infill to improve indoor coverage and peak-time capacity.
• Pair network builds with digital skills and affordability initiatives targeting seniors and low-income households.
• Coordinate with schools/libraries on hotspot lending and device support, especially in areas without near-term wired upgrades.

Notes on confidence

• Estimates reflect county demographics applied to national/state adoption benchmarks and rural-infrastructure patterns; local carrier maps and ACS microdata can refine these figures further.

Below is an estimate-based snapshot for Christian County, IL. There’s no publicly available, measured dataset at the county level for social media; figures are inferred from U.S./Illinois patterns (Pew Research Center 2024) adjusted for the county’s older, rural profile. Percentages are of local social media users unless noted.

Topline user stats

• Population base: ~32–35K residents
• Estimated social media users: ~21K–24K (about 65–75% of residents)
• Device mix: Predominantly mobile; desktop use spikes during work hours at offices/shops

Age groups (share of social media users)

• 13–17: ~8–10% (heavy on Snapchat/TikTok; light on Facebook)
• 18–29: ~20–22% (Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat + YouTube)
• 30–49: ~35–38% (Facebook + YouTube core; growing Instagram usage)
• 50–64: ~23–27% (Facebook and YouTube dominate; some Pinterest)
• 65+: ~12–15% (Facebook first; YouTube for news/how‑to)

Gender breakdown

• ~52% female, ~48% male (mirrors slight female majority and platform skews)

Most-used platforms (estimated penetration among local social media users)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 72–78%
• Instagram: 35–45%
• TikTok: 25–33%
• Snapchat: 22–30% (concentrated under 30)
• Pinterest: 30–38% (skews female 25–54)
• X (Twitter): 15–20%
• LinkedIn: 12–18% (lower in rural labor mix)
• WhatsApp: 12–18% (family/work groups; not primary)
• Nextdoor: 5–9% (limited in rural areas; Facebook Groups fill the niche)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook Groups are the community hub: local news, school sports, events, garage-sale/marketplace, storm updates. Marketplace is a major buy/sell channel.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube for how‑to, equipment/DIY, local sports highlights; short-form Reels/TikTok for quick community/event content.
• Local proof > polished ads: Photos of familiar places, names, and faces outperform stock/templated creatives. UGC and volunteer/charity tie-ins travel well.
• Timing: Peaks early morning (6–8 a.m.) and evening (7–9 p.m.); weekend mid‑day is strong for events and buy/sell posts.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is the default for inquiries and appointment-setting; businesses that reply fast win leads.
• Commerce: High engagement with limited-time offers from local boutiques, salons, auto/ag services; “call/text now” CTAs outperform links to slow mobile sites.
• Seasonal spikes: Back‑to‑school, holidays, severe weather, planting/harvest, fairs/festivals drive reach and sharing.
• Older users share more community/news; younger users consume more video and DM more than they comment publicly.

Method and data notes

• Built from Pew Research Center 2024 U.S. social media usage, rural Midwest adoption patterns, and county demographics (older age structure). Figures are directional estimates, not official counts.