Clinton County

Here are key demographics for Clinton County, Illinois (latest available U.S. Census Bureau data; primarily 2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimates; 2020 Decennial count noted):

• Population

  • 2020 Census: 36,899
  • 2019–2023 ACS estimate: ~36,700

• Age

  • Median age: ~40.6 years
  • Under 18: ~23%
  • 18–64: ~59%
  • 65 and over: ~18%

• Sex

  • Male: ~50%
  • Female: ~50%

• Race and ethnicity (shares of total population)

  • White (non-Hispanic): ~86%
  • Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~6%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~4%
  • Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~3%
  • Asian (non-Hispanic): ~1%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, and Other: <1% combined

• Households and housing

  • Total households: ~14,400
  • Average household size: ~2.56
  • Family households: ~68% of households (average family size ~3.0)
  • Tenure: ~74% owner-occupied, ~26% renter-occupied

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

Clinton County, IL (population roughly 36–37k) likely has 24k–30k regular email users. Estimate assumes ~90–95% of adults (and most teens) use email, in line with national patterns.

Age distribution of email users (approx.):

• 18–29: 18–20%
• 30–49: 33–35%
• 50–64: 25–27%
• 65+: 20–22%

Gender split: near-even (about 50/50), with minimal difference in email adoption by gender.

Digital access and usage trends:

• Most households have access to fixed broadband; adoption is likely around 80–85%, with 15–20% of residents relying primarily on smartphones for internet.
• Email is checked most via smartphones; desktop use remains common for work/school.
• Seniors increasingly use email for healthcare portals, government services, and church/community communications.

Local density/connectivity facts:

• Population density is roughly 70–80 people per square mile—denser in towns like Carlyle, Breese, Trenton, and Aviston, where cable/fiber is more available.
• Rural areas lean on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite; 4G coverage is widespread, with growing 5G availability along main corridors (e.g., near I‑64 and the St. Louis commuter fringe).
• Public Wi‑Fi is available at libraries, schools, and municipal buildings.

Mobile phone usage in Clinton County, Illinois (2024–2025 snapshot)

Key estimates

• Adult smartphone users: roughly 22,000–24,000 people (about 80–85% of the county’s ~27.5–28k adults; county total pop ~36.5k).
• Households with at least one smartphone: about 12,600–13,000 (≈89–92% of ~14k households, based on ACS S2801 patterns for similar rural IL counties).
• Cellular-only internet households (smartphone/cellular plan but no wired broadband): about 1,700–2,200 (≈12–16% of households, higher than Illinois overall at roughly 9–11%).
• Households with no internet subscription: about 9–12% (above Illinois’ ~7–9%).

What’s different from Illinois statewide

• Higher reliance on mobile as primary internet: Cellular-only household share is several points higher than the state average, reflecting patchier wired options outside towns and cost sensitivity.
• Slightly lower overall adoption among seniors: A larger 65+ share than Illinois pulls down smartphone adoption at the oldest ages more than in metro counties.
• More pronounced urban–rural split inside the county: Town centers (Breese, Carlyle, Trenton, New Baden area) look closer to state averages; outlying townships show more mobile-only use and more coverage variability.
• Seasonal and corridor-driven traffic: Usage spikes around Carlyle Lake (weekends/summer) and along I-64/US‑50 corridors; this pattern is less visible in statewide averages.
• 5G availability is more corridor/town-focused: Mid-band 5G is common along I‑64 and in the larger towns but thins out faster in farm and lake-adjacent areas than in Illinois’ metro counties.

Demographic drivers and breakdown

• Age: Clinton County skews a bit older than the state. Adults 18–49 have very high smartphone ownership (near statewide levels), but ownership among 65+ is several points lower than Illinois overall—contributing to the county’s slightly lower adult penetration.
• Income and education: Median income and bachelor’s attainment are a bit below Illinois averages. Those factors correlate with:
  • Higher likelihood of mobile-only internet (cellular plan but no fixed broadband).
  • Slower device upgrade cycles and greater use of budget/MVNO plans compared with metro Illinois.
• Household composition: Family households and teens are a sizable share; youth mobile usage is high and drives evening/weekend peaks, especially where home broadband is weaker.

Digital infrastructure notes

• Networks present: All three national carriers operate in the county. 4G LTE coverage is broad along US‑50 and in towns; 5G mid-band is strongest near I‑64 (New Baden/Albers) and in/around Breese, Carlyle, Trenton, and New Baden, with more gaps in low-density areas and around parts of Carlyle Lake’s shoreline.
• Capacity and performance: Town cores and the I‑64 corridor see the best 5G capacity. Outside those areas, users more often fall back to LTE or low-band 5G with lower median speeds than the Illinois metro norm.
• Tower density: Macro sites are concentrated near towns, highways, and public-safety/utility corridors; small-cell deployments are limited outside of the I‑64/Scott AFB commuter fringe.
• Backhaul and fiber context: Cable/fiber is available in town centers, but rural addresses face a mix of older DSL, fixed wireless, and pockets of new co‑op/ILEC fiber. Where fixed broadband is weaker, households are more likely to rely on cellular data as their primary connection.
• Public safety and anchors: School districts and libraries act as fiber anchors; public-safety coverage priorities and FirstNet (AT&T) support are strongest along US‑50, I‑64 approaches, and at recreation areas—but day‑use surges around Carlyle Lake can still stress capacity.

Method and sources

• Population/households from recent Census estimates; smartphone, internet-subscription, and cellular-only tendencies inferred from ACS S2801 (2019–2023 5‑year) for rural Illinois counties of similar size, plus Pew Research smartphone ownership benchmarks by age/rurality. Coverage and 5G availability synthesized from FCC mobile coverage maps and major carrier public maps as of 2024. Figures are presented as ranges to reflect sampling error and year-to-year variation.

Below is a concise, best-available snapshot for Clinton County, IL. Precise county-level platform usage isn’t publicly reported; figures are modeled from Pew Research national/rural-Midwest patterns and scaled to the county’s size and age mix.

Quick context and user base

• Population: ~37K residents; adults (18+): ~28–29K.
• Social media penetration (adults using at least one platform): ~78–82% ⇒ ~22–24K adult users.
• Smartphone access: high (roughly mid–80%+), consistent with rural Midwest averages.

Most‑used platforms among adults (estimated share of adult residents)

• YouTube: ~78–82%
• Facebook: ~65–70%
• Instagram: ~38–45%
• TikTok: ~28–35%
• Snapchat: ~24–30% (skews strongly to under‑30)
• Pinterest: ~28–33% (skews female)
• LinkedIn: ~20–25% (white‑collar/healthcare/education pockets)
• X (Twitter): ~18–22%
• Reddit: ~17–20%
• Nextdoor: ~8–12% (lower in rural areas)

Age patterns (local tendency follows national; shares are “uses platform” within age group)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube 95%+, Snapchat ~75–80%, Instagram ~65–70%, TikTok ~60–70%, Facebook <25%.
• 18–29: Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat lead (IG ~70%+, TikTok ~55–65%, Snap ~60–70%); YouTube near‑universal; Facebook ~50–60%.
• 30–49: Facebook (70%+), YouTube (80%+), Instagram (50%); TikTok (30–40%).
• 50–64: Facebook (65–70%), YouTube (70%+); Instagram/TikTok trail (~20–30%).
• 65+: Facebook (50–60%), YouTube (~50–60%); others low.

Gender skews (share of active users by platform, approximate)

• Facebook: slight female skew (~52–56% female).
• Instagram: female‑leaning (~55–60%).
• TikTok: female‑leaning (~58–62%).
• Snapchat: female‑leaning (~58–62%).
• Pinterest: heavily female (~70–80%).
• YouTube: near‑balanced to slight male skew (~50–55% male).
• Reddit: male‑skewed (~65–75% male).
• X (Twitter): male‑skewed (~55–60% male).
• LinkedIn: slight male skew (~55–60% male).

Behavioral trends you can expect locally

• Facebook is the community hub: heavy use of Groups (swap/yard‑sale, school athletics, church and civic orgs), Marketplace, and local news/weather. Event pages drive real‑world turnout (county fair, booster events, festivals).
• Messaging first: Facebook Messenger (all ages) and Snapchat (teens/20s) for quick, private comms; many businesses field inquiries via Messenger rather than website forms.
• Short‑form video growth: Instagram Reels and TikTok consumption rising; creation skews younger, but older users increasingly watch Reels cross‑posted from TikTok.
• YouTube as utility: how‑to content, equipment/DIY, hunting/fishing, church services, local sports streams; longer watch sessions on evenings/weekends.
• Timing: engagement peaks 7–10 pm weekdays; secondary spikes early morning (6–8 am) and weekend late mornings.
• Creative that works: recognizable local faces/locations, sponsorships of school sports and fairs, cause/community tie‑ins, limited‑time offers around seasonal anchors (back‑to‑school, harvest, holidays).
• Conversion paths: “Message us,” click‑to‑call, and in‑person visits outperform web forms; many residents prefer direct messaging for quotes/appointments.
• Platform fit by sector:
  • Retail/food/service: Facebook + Instagram (Reels; Stories), Messenger CTAs.
  • Trades/Ag/Outdoors: Facebook Groups, YouTube how‑to/demos.
  • Healthcare/education/professional: Facebook + LinkedIn for recruiting; Instagram for employer brand.
  • Youth‑targeted: Snapchat + TikTok + IG.

Notes

• Figures are estimates; for tighter local numbers, combine: Meta/Google ad audience estimates for “Clinton County, IL,” your page/group insights, and local school/organization follower stats.