Coles County

To ensure accuracy, which source/year would you like me to use?

• 2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimates (most current for counties), or
• 2020 Decennial Census

If no preference, I’ll use the 2019–2023 ACS 5-year and report: population, median age, age brackets, sex split, race/ethnicity shares, number of households, average household size, and family vs. nonfamily households.

Coles County, IL (pop. ~47,000) estimate

• Email users: ~34,000–36,000 adults. Including some teens, total likely ~35,000–38,000.
• By age (approx. users): 18–24 7.3k; 25–44 ~10.0k; 45–64 ~10.0k; 65+ ~6.9k. Adoption is highest among 18–44 (90–95%), moderate 45–64 (88–92%), and lower 65+ (75–85%).
• Gender split: roughly even; ~51% female, ~49% male among users.

Digital access and trends

• Broadband subscription: about 80–85% of households; computer access ~90%+. An estimated 12–15% are smartphone-only at home.
• Fiber has expanded in the Charleston–Mattoon corridor (Consolidated Communications is based in Mattoon); rural townships rely more on DSL/fixed wireless, which can limit speeds and reliability.
• Public Wi‑Fi from Eastern Illinois University, schools, and libraries supplements access for students and lower-income residents.

Local density/connectivity facts

• Population density ~90–92 people/sq. mile (much denser in Mattoon–Charleston along I‑57, sparser in outlying areas), producing a clear urban–rural gap in fixed broadband options.
• Email reliance is strong among university students, educators, healthcare, and logistics employers; mobile-first usage is more common in lower-density areas.

Notes: Figures synthesize U.S. adoption patterns (Pew) with local ACS population and internet-subscription data; treat as ranges.

Coles County, IL mobile phone usage summary (what’s distinctive vs. Illinois overall)

Topline estimates and context

• Population baseline: ~47,000 residents (Charleston, Mattoon, and rural townships), with a large university presence (Eastern Illinois University) relative to county size.
• Estimated unique mobile users: roughly 40,000–42,000 residents with an active mobile line. Assumes high penetration among adults and significant teen adoption; university students boost adoption.
• Estimated smartphone users: roughly 33,000–36,000. Smartphone ownership skews high in the 18–24 cohort and slightly lower among seniors, yielding countywide adoption a bit below large metros but above many rural peers.

Demographic patterns that shape usage

• College town effect (larger 18–24 share than IL average)
  • Above-average iPhone penetration and heavy app/social/video usage on and around campus.
  • Higher churn and seasonality: lines activate/deactivate around August/September and May; noticeable traffic spikes during the academic year and events (move-in, homecoming, games).
  • Greater reliance on prepaid/MVNOs (e.g., Visible, Cricket, Metro, Mint) and bring-your-own-device plans versus the state average; price sensitivity and short-term plans are common.
• Rural and small-town households
  • Higher share of smartphone-only or mobile-hotspot-only home internet than the Illinois average, reflecting patchier fixed broadband in some outlying areas.
  • More conservative device replacement cycles; practical use cases (navigation on I-57, ag/weather apps, messaging) prioritized over premium add-ons.
• Older adults (65+)
  • Lower smartphone adoption than the Illinois average; feature phones and simplified smartphones more common, though trending upward year over year.
• Income profile
  • County median income below the state average supports higher uptake of prepaid and discounts, and growing interest in 5G fixed wireless (home internet from mobile carriers).

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

• Carrier footprint
  • All three national carriers serve the county. 5G coverage is strongest in and between Mattoon and Charleston and along I-57; outlying townships lean on low-band LTE/5G for coverage.
  • T-Mobile mid-band 5G typically reaches more of the populated areas; Verizon and AT&T mid-band (C-band) nodes are concentrated around town centers and key corridors, with DSS/low-band outside.
  • mmWave/small-cell density is limited compared with Chicago-area markets; indoor coverage in older brick buildings downtown can vary by carrier.
• Backhaul and fiber
  • Consolidated Communications (headquartered in Mattoon) and other regional providers supply fiber backhaul in town, improving tower capacity and enabling 5G. Fiber availability drops in rural pockets.
• Public and institutional Wi‑Fi
  • EIU, public libraries, schools, and municipal venues provide significant Wi‑Fi offload, which tempers cellular congestion near campus and civic centers during peak periods.
• Public safety
  • FirstNet (AT&T) coverage and priority services are implemented around key facilities (e.g., Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center) and along primary response routes; this emphasis is more visible than in dense metro areas due to fewer redundant sites.

How Coles County differs from Illinois overall

• Higher prepaid/MVNO share: Driven by students and price-sensitive households, versus the state’s postpaid-heavy, metro-driven mix.
• More mobile-only internet households: A larger slice of residents rely on smartphones or hotspots for home connectivity than the statewide average.
• Greater seasonality in network load: Academic calendar and events cause sharper local activation and traffic swings than typical Illinois counties.
• Lower site density and fewer small cells: Coverage relies more on low-band spectrum; fewer indoor-dedicated nodes than Chicago-area markets.
• 5G profile skew: More mid-band deployment where people live and travel; very limited mmWave. Performance gains hinge on backhaul and spectrum depth rather than dense urban densification.
• Device mix: College-driven iPhone share is high, but budget Android devices are also common due to prepaid; overall replacement cycles are slower outside the student segment.
• Congestion patterns: Peaks cluster around EIU, I‑57 interchanges, and event venues rather than being spread across myriad urban hotspots.

Method notes and assumptions

• User and smartphone counts are directional estimates derived from county population, age structure (university presence), and national/rural adoption patterns through 2024. Exact subscriber numbers vary by carrier and season.
• Infrastructure observations reflect typical deployment patterns for similar Illinois college/rural counties and the known presence of regional fiber/backhaul providers; local buildouts evolve continuously.

Here’s a concise, locally tuned snapshot. Figures are best-available estimates based on Pew Research Center’s 2024 social-media adoption rates, adjusted to Coles County’s demographics (U.S. Census/ACS; college-town skew from EIU). Where county-specific surveys don’t exist, ranges are shown.

Headline user stats

• Population: ~46,000 residents; ~36,000 adults (18+)
• Active social media users (13+): ~30,000–34,000
• Active adult users (18+): ~27,000–31,000
• Gender among users: roughly 52% female / 48% male (county-wide sex ratio), with platform skews: Pinterest and Instagram female-leaning; Reddit, X (Twitter), and YouTube male-leaning

Age groups (share of local social media audience, 13+)

• 13–17: ~8–10%
• 18–24: ~20–22% (elevated due to EIU)
• 25–34: ~17–19%
• 35–49: ~23–25%
• 50–64: ~18–20%
• 65+: ~12–14%

Most-used platforms among adults in Coles County (estimated % of adults who use each)

• YouTube: ~80–85%
• Facebook: ~65–72% (very strong among 35+; still widely used by 18–24 for Groups/Messenger)
• Instagram: ~48–55% (higher thanks to student population)
• TikTok: ~35–42% (skews 18–34)
• Snapchat: ~32–40% (very high 18–24; limited 35+)
• Next tier (not “top,” but notable): Pinterest ~30–35% (female-leaning), LinkedIn ~20–25%, X (Twitter) ~20–25%, Reddit ~18–22%, WhatsApp ~18–24%

Behavioral trends to expect locally

• Facebook as the community hub: Heavy use of Groups for buy/sell/trade, garage sales, school updates, city/county notices, and JG-TC/local media posts; comments drive conversation more than shares.
• Student-driven short-form video: TikTok and Instagram Reels dominate campus life, local dining/nightlife, fitness, thrifting, and EIU athletics content.
• Messaging-first interactions: Many business conversations move to Messenger, Instagram DMs, and Snapchat; rapid replies matter for conversions.
• Timing: Engagement peaks lunchtime (11 a.m.–1 p.m.) and evenings (7–10 p.m.); students add a late-night bump (10 p.m.–1 a.m.), especially Thu–Sat.
• Mobile-native behavior: Vertical video, subtitles-on viewing, and quick CTAs perform best; links out of platform underperform versus in-feed actions.
• Trust and locality: Posts featuring recognizable places/people (Charleston, Mattoon, campus landmarks, local events) outperform generic creative; user-generated content and local reviews matter.
• Seasonality: Spikes around August–September (back-to-campus), homecoming, holidays, and May graduations; summer events and fairs add bursts of local interest.
• Platform roles:
  • Facebook: Community info, events, fundraisers, local government/schools, and classifieds; strong for broad reach 25+.
  • Instagram: Visual branding for eateries, boutiques, venues; Reels for discovery.
  • TikTok: Awareness and word-of-mouth among students; trend/joke formats tied to local identity work.
  • Snapchat: Peer-to-peer/social life; effective for geo-filters during campus events.
  • YouTube: How-to, entertainment, and sports highlights; useful for search-driven discovery.

Notes on method and uncertainty

• Percentages reflect national adult usage (Pew, 2024) adjusted upward for youth-skewed platforms (TikTok/Snapchat/Instagram) due to EIU’s presence, and slightly downward for professional platforms (LinkedIn) given local industry mix.
• Treat ranges as planning estimates; for campaigns, validate with platform ad-reach tools by ZIP (61920, 61938, surrounding) and first-party analytics.