Ford County

Here are key demographic facts for Ford County, Illinois. Figures are rounded; most come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates, with population count from the 2020 Census.

• Population size:

  • 13,534 (2020 Decennial Census)
  • 2023 estimate: ~13.3k (Population Estimates Program)

• Age:

  • Median age: ~43
  • Under 18: ~22%
  • 18–64: ~58%
  • 65 and over: ~20%

• Gender:

  • Female: ~51%
  • Male: ~49%

• Race/ethnicity (share of total population):

  • Non-Hispanic White: ~88–90%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~5–6%
  • Black or African American: ~2%
  • Two or more races: ~3–4%
  • Asian: <1%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: <1%

• Households:

  • Total households: ~5,600
  • Average household size: ~2.3
  • Family households: ~62–65% of households (married-couple ~50%)
  • Households with children under 18: ~26–28%
  • Housing tenure: ~76–78% owner-occupied; ~22–24% renter-occupied

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year; Population Estimates Program (2023). Figures have margins of error due to the county’s small population.

Ford County, IL context

• Population: about 13.5K (2020 Census); density ≈28 people/sq mi across largely rural terrain.
• Connectivity: Internet access is mixed—stronger around Paxton (I‑57 corridor) and Gibson City; patchier in outlying farm areas. Libraries and schools provide key public Wi‑Fi. Fiber expansion is ongoing via state/federal programs, but many households still rely on DSL/fixed wireless or cellular-only service.

Estimated email usage

• Users: roughly 10,000–11,500 residents use email (about 75–85% of the total population; driven by near‑universal adoption among adults).
• Age distribution of users (approx.):
  • 13–17: 6–8%
  • 18–34: 20–25%
  • 35–64: 45–50%
  • 65+: 22–28% (older share elevated vs. U.S. average but still high email adoption)
• Gender split: roughly 49% male, 51% female among users (mirrors county demographics).

Digital access trends

• Household internet subscription likely around 75–85%; 15–25% may be smartphone‑only or lack home broadband, reflecting rural constraints.
• Email is commonly accessed via smartphones; seniors more often use webmail on desktops at home or public locations.
• Usage peaks on weekdays and along better‑served corridors; service gaps can depress use in remote areas.

Below is a county-level picture built from public rural adoption benchmarks (e.g., Pew/NTIA), census-scale demographics, and typical rural Illinois network layouts. Figures are estimates intended to highlight Ford County’s patterns versus Illinois overall.

Quick profile

• Population: roughly 13–14 thousand residents, older and more rural than the Illinois average.
• Settlement pattern: small towns (e.g., Paxton, Gibson City) with large, low-density farm/ranch areas; primary travel corridor is I‑57.

User estimates

• Total active mobile lines: about 14–15 thousand (roughly 1.05–1.15 lines per resident; slightly below the state’s big‑metro average where multi‑device ownership is higher).
• Smartphone users: about 9–10 thousand residents.
  • Adults: 80–85% smartphone ownership in rural areas implies ~8–9 thousand adult users.
  • Teens: very high smartphone adoption adds several hundred more users.
• Basic/feature phone users: concentrated among seniors; likely a few hundred residents, a higher share than the state average due to the county’s older age mix.
• Home internet substitution: mobile-only internet households are meaningfully higher than Illinois overall (rural households are more likely to rely on smartphone hotspots or 5G fixed wireless when cable/fiber are absent).

Demographic drivers and usage patterns (how Ford County differs from Illinois overall)

• Older age structure: More residents 65+, which lowers overall smartphone penetration and raises the share of talk/text‑centric users compared with the state, especially Chicagoland.
• Income/price sensitivity: A bigger tilt to prepaid/MVNO plans and budget Android devices; iPhone share is lower than in metro Illinois.
• Work patterns: Agriculture, trades, and commuting along I‑57 shape usage peaks (early morning, late afternoon) and emphasize wide‑area coverage and battery life over very high speeds.
• Device/plan mix: Hotspot use and 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) as a home broadband alternative are more common than the statewide average.
• Digital equity: The wind‑down of the Affordable Connectivity Program in 2024 likely had a larger local impact than in metro areas, increasing churn toward lower‑cost mobile plans or FWA promotions.

Digital infrastructure snapshot

• Coverage baseline:
  • All three national carriers have 4G LTE across towns and major roads; low‑band 5G generally follows the highway/town grid. Off‑highway farm roads can see weaker indoor coverage than the state average.
  • Mid‑band 5G (capacity 5G) is present in/near towns and along I‑57 but is patchy in outlying areas, so top‑end speeds vary more than in metro Illinois.
• Capacity and performance:
  • Typical outdoor speeds: low‑band 5G/LTE in the tens of Mbps; mid‑band 5G in town centers can reach 100–300+ Mbps. Indoors in dispersed areas, speeds are often lower than the statewide median.
  • Network selection is coverage‑led: Verizon/AT&T historically strong in rural east‑central Illinois; T‑Mobile coverage/speeds have improved along highways and towns, but single‑carrier “lock‑in” by location is more common than in metro Illinois.
• Towers and backhaul:
  • Macro sites cluster along I‑57, rail, and town perimeters; spacing is wider than in suburban Illinois, so in‑building penetration is a recurring issue.
  • Backhaul is increasingly fiber along highway/utility corridors, with microwave links persisting on remote sites—another difference from fiber‑dense metro counties.
• Home broadband interplay:
  • Cable internet is typically available in the main towns; outside them, options tilt to DSL, fixed wireless, or 5G FWA. Fiber builds are occurring but remain spotty compared with metro/suburban Illinois.
  • Because wired options thin out quickly outside town limits, FWA take‑up is higher than the state average and contributes to the “mobile‑centric” pattern.
• Public/anchor connectivity:
  • Libraries and schools are key connectivity hubs and often provide Wi‑Fi and hotspot lending; reliance on these anchors tends to be higher than Illinois’ metro counties.

Key trends versus Illinois overall

• Slightly fewer total lines per capita, but a higher share of prepaid and mobile‑only households.
• Lower average speeds and less consistent mid‑band 5G coverage outside towns; service quality varies more by location.
• Older demographic pulls down overall smartphone penetration and keeps a noticeable basic‑phone segment.
• Greater dependence on cellular/FWA for home internet where cable/fiber are limited, making coverage and indoor signal quality more consequential than in metro parts of the state.

Notes on method and confidence

• Estimates combine county‑scale population with rural smartphone adoption benchmarks and national per‑capita line ratios; precise, carrier‑by‑carrier counts aren’t publicly available at the county level.
• Local exceptions exist (e.g., new fiber builds, specific tower adds). For planning or procurement, verify block‑level coverage on current FCC Broadband Maps and carrier tools, and check town‑specific ISPs.

Ford County, IL — social media snapshot (estimates)

Method note: Platforms don’t publish county-level stats. Figures below are estimated from Pew Research Center 2023–2024 U.S. usage, rural Midwest benchmarks, and Ford County’s demographics (pop. ~13.4k).

Overall usage

• Active social media users: ~9,000–10,500 (about 70–78% of residents; ~82–88% of adults)
• Skews slightly older than the U.S. average, so Facebook remains dominant; Instagram/TikTok adoption trails metro areas

Gender breakdown (users)

• Female: ~52–55%
• Male: ~45–48%

Age mix of users

• 13–17: ~6–8% (near-universal social use; Snapchat/TikTok heavy)
• 18–29: ~18–22% (Instagram/TikTok core; Snapchat strong)
• 30–49: ~34–38% (Facebook + Messenger core; Instagram secondary)
• 50–64: ~22–26% (Facebook primary; YouTube rising)
• 65+: ~14–18% (Facebook primary; YouTube for news/how‑to)

Most‑used platforms (share of active users, monthly)

• Facebook: ~75–85%
• YouTube: ~72–82% (more viewing than posting)
• Facebook Messenger: ~65–75%
• Instagram: ~35–45%
• TikTok: ~28–38% (dominant under 30; growing 30–44)
• Snapchat: ~22–30% (teens/20s)
• Pinterest: ~20–28% (women 25–54)
• LinkedIn: ~8–12% (skews toward healthcare/education/admin roles)
• X/Twitter: ~5–10%
• Nextdoor: ~2–5% (limited neighborhood coverage)

Behavioral trends

• Local‑first content: school sports, weather alerts, obituaries, church and civic events, yard sales, road closures; Facebook Groups and Marketplace are central hubs.
• Peak times: 6:30–8:30 a.m., lunch (11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.), and 7–9 p.m.; weekend spikes for Marketplace and events.
• Messaging > comments for business: Many residents DM via Messenger or text to ask prices, hours, and availability.
• Short‑form video growth: TikTok and Instagram Reels consumption rising; most local videos are cross‑posted rather than original creator content.
• Trust anchors: School districts, local government, county EMS, coaches, pastors, and established group admins drive higher engagement and shares.
• Event‑driven surges: Severe weather, playoffs/tournaments, elections, and closures yield rapid, county‑wide reach.
• Ads that work: Boosted Facebook posts with tight geo‑radius and clear “call or message us” CTAs; promos that support in‑person pickup or local service outperform website‑only funnels.