Clark County

Here are concise, recent Census-based demographics for Clark County, Illinois. Figures are rounded; ACS values are estimates.

Population

• Total: 15,455 (2020 Census)
• 2023 estimate: about 15.2–15.4k (Census annual estimate)

Age

• Median age: about 42–43 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: ~22%
• 65 and over: ~19%

Sex

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50%

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023)

• White (alone): ~95–96%
• Black or African American (alone): ~0.5–1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native (alone): ~0–0.5%
• Asian (alone): ~0–0.5%
• Two or more races: ~2%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~1–2%

Households and housing (ACS 2019–2023)

• Households (occupied housing units): about 6.3–6.5k
• Average household size: ~2.3–2.4
• Family households: roughly 60–65% of all households
• Owner-occupied share: roughly 75–80%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates (DP05, S1101, DP04).

Clark County, IL snapshot (estimates based on Census counts and U.S./rural-IL averages)

• Population/density: ~15.5–16.0k residents over ~500 sq mi (≈30–35 people/sq mi), largely rural; towns cluster along I‑70 (Marshall, Casey, Martinsville).
• Email users: ≈11.8k–12.4k residents use email at least monthly.
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 13–17: ~5–7%
  • 18–29: ~15–20%
  • 30–49: ~30–35%
  • 50–64: ~25–30%
  • 65+: ~15–20%
• Gender split: roughly 50/50; email use is near-parity by gender.
• Digital access trends:
  • Household broadband subscription likely ~70–80% (rural IL range); adoption lags availability in sparsely populated areas.
  • Mobile-only internet households ~10–20%, reflecting reliance on smartphones where fixed service is limited.
  • Connectivity is strongest in/near I‑70 corridor towns; rural stretches see more DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite dependence and variable speeds/latency.
  • Public Wi‑Fi (libraries/schools) remains an access point for some residents.
  • Ongoing state/federal programs are expanding rural fiber and fixed wireless, gradually improving coverage and speeds.

Notes: Figures are synthesized from national/rural Illinois usage patterns applied to Clark County’s size and age structure; actual local values may vary.

Below is a county‑level snapshot built from public data patterns (ACS population structure, Pew/U.S. rural mobile adoption by age/income, and carrier/FCC coverage claims) and localized to Clark County’s geography. Figures are estimates with ranges to reflect rural variance; they highlight how Clark County differs from Illinois overall.

Headline picture

• Population context: Clark County has roughly 15–16k residents, with about 12–13k adults. The age mix skews older than the Illinois average, and household incomes are lower, both of which tend to depress smartphone take‑up and premium‑plan adoption versus the state.
• Overall mobile adoption: High but modestly below the Illinois average. Expect a several‑point gap versus statewide adult smartphone adoption (Illinois is high‑80s to low‑90s; Clark County likely low‑ to mid‑80s).

User estimates

• Adult smartphone users: ~9,500–11,500 adults (about 82–88% of 18+).
• Feature‑phone/voice‑only adults: ~700–1,200 (about 6–10%), higher than the state share due to older age structure.
• Households using mobile data as primary home internet: roughly 8–12% of households (vs ~5–7% statewide), reflecting patchier fixed broadband in rural areas.
• Prepaid vs postpaid: Prepaid penetration is likely several points higher than the Illinois average (budget sensitivity + weaker fixed broadband drive hotspot/prepaid usage).

Demographic breakdown (estimated adoption)

• By age (Clark County vs typical Illinois levels)
  • 18–34: ~92–96% (near statewide levels).
  • 35–54: ~90–93% (slightly below statewide).
  • 55–64: ~80–85% (below statewide).
  • 65+: ~55–65% (notably below statewide; more feature‑phone retention).
• By income/plan type
  • Lower‑income households: higher reliance on prepaid, multi‑line discounts, and data‑capped plans; greater use of refurbished/older Android devices.
  • Device mix: iPhone share likely several points lower than the statewide mix; Android correspondingly higher.
• By education/employment
  • Trades, agriculture, and logistics workers (common locally) show higher use of rugged/entry Android devices and hotspot add‑ons; app portfolios skew toward messaging, navigation, weather, and marketplace apps rather than premium streaming.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage footprint
  • All three national carriers operate in/around the county; 5G low‑band covers most populated corridors. Mid‑band 5G (capacity/speed) is concentrated in and around Marshall, Casey, Martinsville, and along I‑70 interchanges; interior farmland and wooded areas are more often LTE‑only.
  • Cross‑border effects: Indiana towers serve parts of the eastern county; device roaming/selection near the state line can affect performance.
• Capacity and speeds
  • Fewer macro sites per square mile than urban Illinois; sectors are spaced widely outside towns. Speeds are strong along I‑70 and town centers but drop during peak times (commute, school hours, events) due to limited spectrum per site.
• Backhaul
  • A mix of fiber‑fed sites (on main corridors) and microwave backhaul on outlying towers; where microwave persists, peak throughput and latency lag urban Illinois.
• Fixed wireless and hotspots
  • 5G/LTE Home Internet from national carriers is typically available in town centers and some fringes; performance varies with signal quality and sector load. Many households use phone hotspots as a primary or backup connection, more than the statewide norm.
• Public safety and resilience
  • AT&T FirstNet Band 14 coverage is present on key sites and corridors; this has helped indoor coverage in civic buildings and schools but doesn’t fully eliminate rural dead zones.
• Public/connectivity anchors
  • Libraries, schools, and municipal buildings provide important Wi‑Fi offload points; usage is heavier than state averages because of fixed‑broadband gaps.

How Clark County differs from Illinois overall

• Adoption: Overall smartphone take‑up is slightly lower; the gap is widest among seniors.
• Plan mix: Higher prepaid and hotspot reliance; more households using mobile as their primary home internet.
• Devices: Lower iPhone share; more budget and mid‑range Android devices in service.
• Network experience: Coverage is broad but with more LTE‑only pockets and greater peak‑hour slowdowns due to sparser tower density and mixed backhaul; mid‑band 5G capacity is less ubiquitous than in urban/suburban Illinois.
• Usage patterns: Heavier emphasis on voice/SMS, navigation, farm/logistics apps, weather, and marketplace tools; slightly lower adoption of bandwidth‑heavy entertainment and cashless/fintech apps compared with metro Illinois.

Notes on methodology and refinement

• The estimates combine rural adoption differentials (by age/income) with Clark County’s older age structure and lower median income, plus carrier deployment patterns typical of southeastern Illinois. For precise, current figures, pair ACS 1‑year county tables (population/age/income), Pew Research smartphone adoption by age/income, and the FCC National Broadband Map and carrier coverage maps; local validation can come from school tech surveys, library Wi‑Fi usage, and county 911/FirstNet build data.

Clark County, IL — social media snapshot (2025, estimates)

User stats

• Population: ~15,500 (2020 Census). Adults (18+): ~12,000.
• Adult social media users: ~8,600–9,600 (approx. 72–80% of adults).

Most-used platforms among adults (share of adults who use each; modeled from Pew national rates with rural adjustments)

• YouTube: ~80–85%
• Facebook: ~70–75%
• Instagram: ~40–50%
• TikTok: ~25–35%
• Pinterest: ~30–40%
• Snapchat: ~20–30%
• X (Twitter): ~15–25%
• LinkedIn: ~15–25%

Age groups (usage patterns)

• 18–29: YouTube near-universal; Instagram/TikTok and Snapchat lead daily use; Facebook mainly for events/groups and Marketplace.
• 30–49: Facebook is primary; YouTube heavy; Instagram secondary; TikTok/Reels rising for entertainment and local updates.
• 50–64: Facebook dominant for news, groups, and Marketplace; YouTube strong for DIY/how‑to; Pinterest notable; lighter on Instagram/TikTok.
• 65+: Facebook (friends, church, local pages) and YouTube (news, tutorials); limited use of other platforms.

Gender breakdown

• County population is roughly 50% female / 50% male.
• Platform skews: Women tend to over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube (and Reddit/X). Overall “any social media” adoption is similar by gender.

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community backbone: buy/sell/trade groups, school and youth sports updates, church and civic events, county fair info, local business pages, and Marketplace.
• Local content outperforms: weather alerts, road closures, school closings, lost/found pets, job postings, restaurant openings, HS sports highlights.
• Video habits: short, captioned, vertical clips (6–30 seconds) perform best; many watch muted and on mobile.
• Timing: engagement peaks early morning (6–8 a.m.), lunch (12–1 p.m.), and evenings (7–10 p.m.); weekends see strong local event activity.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are common for quick coordination; fast reply expectations (within hours) for businesses.
• Connectivity: mobile-first usage; keep creatives lightweight; provide phone numbers and “Message us” CTAs for users with spotty broadband.
• Trust: higher engagement with posts from familiar local pages and people; hyperlocal references (Marshall, Casey, Martinsville, etc.) boost response.

Method notes and sources

• Population: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (Clark County ≈ 15.5k).
• Platform adoption baselines: Pew Research Center Social Media Use (2024 Fact Sheet and recent waves). County-level platform data aren’t published; percentages above are localized estimates derived from national adult rates with typical rural adjustments (Facebook slightly higher; LinkedIn/X slightly lower). Actual usage may vary.