Douglas County

Douglas County, Illinois – key demographics

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

• Population size: 19,740 (2020 Census)
• Age:
  • Median age: ~40 years
  • Under 18: ~24%
  • 65 and over: ~17%
• Gender:
  • Male: ~50%
  • Female: ~50%
• Race (alone):
  • White: ~92–93%
  • Black or African American: ~0.5–1%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.3%
  • Asian: ~0.5%
  • Some other race: ~2%
  • Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Ethnicity:
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~6–7%
• Households (ACS 2019–2023):
  • Total households: ~7,700
  • Average household size: ~2.6
  • Family households: ~67%
  • Owner-occupied housing units: ~73–75%

Douglas County, IL email usage (estimates)

• Users: 12–15k residents use email at least occasionally. Basis: ~19.7k population, ~77% adults, 80–85% internet adoption, and near‑universal email among internet users (Pew).
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 18–29: 18–22%; near‑universal use.
  • 30–49: 30–35%; heaviest daily use for work/school.
  • 50–64: 25–28%; high adoption, slightly less frequent.
  • 65+: 15–20%; adoption lower but rising; more intermittent.
• Gender split: Roughly even (≈50/50), mirroring the population.
• Digital access trends:
  • 78–85% of households subscribe to home broadband; 85–90% have a computer.
  • 90%+ have smartphones; 12–18% are smartphone‑only internet users.
  • Gradual growth in fiber and fixed‑wireless; email increasingly checked on mobile.
• Local density/connectivity:
  • Population density ~47 people/sq mi (well below Illinois’ ~231), leading to longer last‑mile runs and patchier fixed broadband outside towns.
  • Tuscola, Arcola, and Arthur have the strongest wired options; rural fringes rely more on fixed‑wireless/satellite.
  • Presence of Old Order Amish communities may modestly reduce household internet/email adoption versus state averages.

Notes: Approximations synthesized from Census/ACS S2801, FCC availability, and Pew adoption patterns.

Douglas County, Illinois — mobile phone use snapshot (focus on what differs from statewide)

Topline estimates (rounded, 2024)

• Population baseline: roughly 19–20k residents.
• Mobile phone users (any handset): about 13.5k–14.5k people.
• Smartphone users: about 11k–12.5k (roughly 70–75% of residents; 80–88% of non‑Amish teens/adults).
• Feature/flip phone users: about 1.5k–2.5k, disproportionately older adults and Old Order Amish. How these were estimated: county population (ACS), national/rural adoption rates (Pew), and an adjustment for the Arthur–Arcola Old Order Amish community, which meaningfully lowers smartphone uptake relative to Illinois overall.

What’s different from Illinois statewide

• Lower smartphone penetration: County-wide smartphone adoption lands several points below Illinois averages, largely because the local Old Order Amish (a nontrivial share of the county) limit or avoid smartphones. Outside the Plain community, adoption looks closer to Illinois norms.
• More basic/flip phones in service: A visibly higher share of feature phones than the state average, centered among seniors and Plain households.
• Heavier reliance on prepaid and discount carriers: Price sensitivity and rural coverage needs push more users to prepaid (e.g., Cricket, Straight Talk, Metro) than in metro Illinois.
• Carrier mix skews to coverage leaders: Verizon and AT&T tend to dominate off‑highway; T‑Mobile’s share lags the state average away from I‑57, though its 5G reach on the interstate is solid.
• Mobile-as-primary internet is more common for some groups: Among non‑Amish lower‑income households and renters in Tuscola, Arcola, and Villa Grove, “smartphone-only” or phone‑hotspot home internet is notably higher than the Illinois average. At the same time, overall county averages are pulled down by Plain households that avoid both smartphones and home internet.
• Agriculture and seasonality matter: Precision ag, harvest logistics, and roaming crews cause distinct seasonal and daytime load patterns on rural sites—effects that are muted in urban Illinois.

Demographic breakdown (how use varies within the county)

• Old Order Amish (Arthur–Arcola area): Very low smartphone adoption; some use basic/flip phones or shared/business phones, often kept off‑person. Strong social norms shape device choice more than price or coverage.
• Age
  • Teens/young adults: Near‑universal phone ownership; smartphone adoption akin to statewide, heavy messaging/social/video use. High school programs and sports drive evening spikes around schools.
  • 65+: Lower smartphone share; more flip phones and voice‑centric plans; frequent use of signal boosters in farm homes.
• Income and plan type: Median incomes trail Illinois overall, boosting prepaid/discount plan penetration and slower device turnover. Family plans are common in Hispanic households; international/WhatsApp usage is above average.
• Hispanic community (notably in and around Arcola): High smartphone and app‑centric communication (WhatsApp, Facebook), bilingual support needs, and a higher incidence of mobile‑first home connectivity.

Digital infrastructure notes (coverage, capacity, and access)

• Macro coverage pattern: A sparse rural macrocell grid with the densest clustering along I‑57 (Tuscola/Arcola interchanges) and town centers (Tuscola, Arcola, Villa Grove). Off‑corridor farm roads can see coverage drop‑offs and indoor penetration issues.
• 5G status:
  • Interstate corridor: Mid‑band 5G from major carriers along I‑57 and around retail nodes (e.g., Tuscola’s outlet/retail area), delivering strong speeds.
  • Off‑highway: “Extended‑range” low‑band 5G/LTE predominates; capacity can dip during school events, harvest, and weekend retail peaks.
• Carrier specifics (general tendencies in rural east‑central Illinois):
  • Verizon: Broadest off‑highway LTE/5G reliability; strong share among farms and emergency services.
  • AT&T: Solid along highways/towns; FirstNet improves public safety coverage; some gaps on remote township roads.
  • T‑Mobile: Good along I‑57/US‑45; improving but still patchier indoors and on farmlands compared to Verizon/AT&T.
• Public and anchor connectivity: Libraries (Tuscola, Arcola, Villa Grove) and schools offer reliable Wi‑Fi that spills into parking lots; these are important access points for homework and telehealth.
• Home broadband interplay: Fiber and cable are present in town centers but fall off quickly in the countryside; many rural addresses face DSL/WISP limits. That drives above‑average use of mobile data/hotspots as primary or backup internet for non‑Amish households.
• Devices and boosters: Higher-than-average use of in‑home boosters and external antennas on farmsteads and metal buildings to overcome weak indoor signal.
• Resilience: Flat terrain favors long cell sectors but also creates big single‑site footprints—individual tower outages or backhaul cuts can affect large areas more than in dense metro Illinois.

Implications for service and outreach

• Expect a bimodal market: very connected non‑Amish users with typical app/video habits, and Plain households that eschew smartphones—necessitating alternative outreach channels for public services.
• Price and coverage trump cutting‑edge features: Plans with robust rural coverage, generous hotspot data, and reasonable prepaid pricing resonate more than premium 5G perks.
• Capacity investments pay off at a few hotspots: Upgrades near the I‑57 interchanges, schools, and the Tuscola retail cluster yield outsized benefits. Rural sector adds aimed at harvest routes can relieve seasonal slowdowns.
• Digital equity efforts should lean on anchors: Library/school Wi‑Fi, device lending, and managed hotspots remain crucial where home broadband is thin—and should include Spanish‑language support.

Note on methodology and uncertainty Figures above combine ACS population structure, national rural adoption benchmarks (Pew), FCC coverage patterns for east‑central Illinois, and a local adjustment for the Arthur–Arcola Old Order Amish community. Because current, county‑specific handset data aren’t published, numbers are presented as ranges with the main differences vs. Illinois highlighted.

Douglas County, IL social media snapshot (2025, estimates)

How many use social media

• Population: ~19.6k (≈15k adults).
• Adults using at least one platform: 70–75% ≈ 10.5k–11.5k.
• Note: A small local Amish population and older age mix slightly reduce adoption vs. U.S. average.

Age mix of adult users (share of each age group using social media)

• 18–29: 85–90%
• 30–49: 80–85%
• 50–64: 60–70%
• 65+: 40–50%

Gender (share of users)

• Female ~53%
• Male ~47%

Most-used platforms among adults (share of total adult population; county-adjusted estimates)

• YouTube: 75–80%
• Facebook: 60–65%
• Instagram: 35–40%
• Pinterest: 30–35% (skews female)
• TikTok: 25–30%
• WhatsApp: 20–25% (higher among Spanish-speaking households in/around Arcola)
• Snapchat: 20–25% (teens/20s)
• LinkedIn: 12–18% (below U.S. avg)
• X (Twitter): 12–16%
• Reddit: 12–15%
• Nextdoor: 8–12% (limited neighborhood density)

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the community hub: local news, school and church updates, buy/sell groups, lost-and-found, Marketplace. Engagement peaks evenings/weekends; storms, school closings, and high school sports drive spikes.
• Instagram is younger and visual: Stories/Reels outperform feed; local boutiques, cafes, gyms, and events use promos and UGC; lots of cross-posts from Facebook pages.
• TikTok growing with teens/20s: short-form around rural/farm life, sports highlights, local eats; small businesses testing Reels/TikTok for hiring and event pushes.
• YouTube is universal utility: DIY/repair (including ag equipment), church services, product reviews; pre-roll ads have broad reach at low CPMs.
• Snapchat dominates teen communication; heavy use around games and school events.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp are key for family and bilingual group chats; many local businesses field inquiries via Messenger.
• LinkedIn is niche (education, healthcare, manufacturing managers); hiring often leans on Facebook groups and Indeed rather than LinkedIn.
• X/Reddit are small but vocal: live weather, sports scores, and niche hobbies; limited use for everyday local news.
• Seasonality: back-to-school and sports seasons, county fair and Broomcorn Festival, holidays all boost posting and video views.

Notes on methodology

• Estimates synthesize U.S. platform adoption (e.g., Pew Research 2024), adjusted for Douglas County’s rural profile, age mix, and known local factors (Amish presence, Latino community), applied to recent ACS population figures. County-level platform data is not directly published; figures are best-fit estimates rather than precise counts.