Gallatin County

To ensure accuracy: which source/year would you like? For small counties, the most reliable current figures come from the ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates; alternatively, I can use the 2020 Decennial Census. Please specify your preference.

Here’s a best-available estimate for Gallatin County, IL (population ~5,000; ~15 people/sq. mile across ~325 sq. miles):

• Estimated email users: 3,600–4,200 residents. Method: apply national adult email adoption (~85–90%) and teen usage to local population, adjusted slightly downward for older age mix.
• Age distribution of email users (share using email):
  • 13–17: ~80–90%
  • 18–29: ~95%+
  • 30–49: ~95%+
  • 50–64: ~90–94%
  • 65+: ~80–85% (lower in the most rural tracts)
• Gender split among users: roughly 50/50; no material difference in usage intensity by gender.
• Digital access trends (estimates informed by ACS rural-Illinois patterns):
  • Households with a computer: ~80–85%
  • Home broadband subscription: ~65–70% (below Illinois average)
  • Smartphone-only internet households: ~15–25%
  • Primary access is increasingly mobile; seniors more likely to rely on shared or public connections.
• Local connectivity context:
  • Low population density and dispersed settlements (e.g., around Shawneetown/Ridgway) constrain fixed broadband buildout.
  • Public Wi‑Fi and mobile networks play an outsized role where wired service is limited.

Note: Figures are modeled from national/Illinois rural benchmarks applied to Gallatin County’s size and age profile.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Gallatin County, Illinois (with county-level estimates and how it differs from the Illinois average)

Note: Gallatin County is very small and rural (~4,700–5,000 residents). There is no single authoritative data set for county-level mobile usage; figures below are estimates synthesized from recent Pew Research (national/rural adoption), the ACS “Computer and Internet Use” tables (smartphone-only and cellular data plans), FCC coverage data for rural IL, and the county’s age/income profile. Treat ranges as indicative, not precise counts.

User estimates

• Adult population: ~3,700–3,900
• Adults with a smartphone: ~3,100–3,350 (about 82–86% of adults; lower than Illinois overall, which is ~90%+)
• Adults with a mobile phone but not a smartphone (flip/basic): ~300–400 (about 8–11%; higher than the state)
• Adults with no mobile phone: ~200–250 (about 5–7%; higher than the state)
• Households relying on a cellular data plan as their primary home internet (“smartphone-only” or phone hotspot as main connection): ~15–22% of households (vs roughly 9–12% statewide)
• Prepaid share of mobile lines: likely 35–45% (vs ~20–25% statewide), reflecting lower incomes and credit access
• Device mix: skewed toward Android (roughly 60–65% Android, 35–40% iPhone), the reverse of Illinois’ overall mix where iPhone share is higher

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age: Gallatin is older than the state median. Smartphone adoption among 65+ is materially lower than among under‑50s, driving down the county average and sustaining a notable basic‑phone user segment.
• Income: Median household income is well below the Illinois median. That correlates with:
  • Higher prepaid usage and less device financing
  • Greater “smartphone-only” internet reliance to avoid paying for a separate home broadband line
  • Slower upgrade cycles; more devices 3–5 years old still in use
• Work and commuting: Fewer commuters to dense metros and more outdoor/shift work increase the importance of coverage on rural roads and in river/forest areas; Wi‑Fi calling is commonly enabled to compensate for weak indoor signals.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Macro coverage: AT&T and Verizon provide the broadest LTE/low‑band 5G footprints. T‑Mobile coverage has improved since its low‑band and mid‑band rural buildouts, but is still more variable off main corridors. U.S. Cellular has a niche presence in parts of southern Illinois and may fill gaps on the fringes.
• 5G layers present:
  • Low‑band 5G (all carriers): Widely present; performs like enhanced LTE in many spots.
  • Mid‑band 5G: T‑Mobile n41 appears along primary corridors and in/near towns; Verizon/AT&T C‑band presence is spottier than in metro Illinois. Expect “islands” of higher capacity rather than countywide mid‑band continuity.
  • mmWave: Not expected in the county.
• Performance reality: In towns and along IL‑1/13/141/142 corridors, typical 5G/LTE performance is adequate for video and hotspotting; in river bottoms, wooded areas near the Shawnee National Forest edge, and between towns, speeds and reliability can drop sharply, with pockets requiring Wi‑Fi calling.
• Fixed wireless home internet (FWA): T‑Mobile Home Internet is available to many in‑town addresses and some rural edges; Verizon 5G/LTE Home has limited footprint. FWA uptake is meaningful due to affordability and fiber/ cable gaps, contributing to the higher “cellular‑only” household share.
• Wireline context: Legacy DSL remains in some outlying areas; cable coverage is limited to selected town blocks. A local rural telco, Shawnee Communications (Shawnee Telephone/ShawneeLink, based in Equality), operates in and around the county and has been extending fiber in/near towns and along key routes; outside those footprints, residents lean on cellular or fixed wireless.
• Public connectivity: Schools, libraries, and municipal buildings in Shawneetown, Ridgway, Equality, and Junction function as critical Wi‑Fi hubs. After the wind‑down of the federal ACP in 2024, affordability pressures increased for some households, reinforcing mobile‑only reliance.
• Resilience and public safety: AT&T’s FirstNet buildouts in rural southern Illinois improved coverage on select sites and along primary routes, but dead zones persist off‑corridor and in low‑lying areas.

How Gallatin County differs from Illinois overall (key trends)

• Lower smartphone adoption rate, driven by an older population and lower incomes.
• Larger basic‑phone segment and a non‑trivial share of adults with no mobile phone at all.
• Higher reliance on prepaid plans and BYOD; lower rates of financed flagship devices.
• More “smartphone‑only” and hotspot‑dependent households due to patchier wireline broadband and affordability constraints.
• Android share higher than state average; iPhone share lower.
• 5G is mostly low‑band with patchy mid‑band; far fewer mid‑band “capacity” zones than in Illinois’ metros.
• Greater variability in signal quality between town centers/corridors and rural hollows/river bottoms; heavier reliance on Wi‑Fi calling.
• Faster growth in fixed‑wireless home internet penetration than in the state overall, as FWA fills wireline gaps.

Implications for planning or service delivery

• For outreach or telehealth, assume a sizable audience on Android, on prepaid plans, and with data caps; keep apps/data light and offline‑friendly.
• Offer SMS‑first communications and strong offline modes; avoid assuming continuous broadband.
• If deploying infrastructure or services, prioritize corridors and community anchors for small‑cell or in‑building solutions, and consider partnerships with Shawnee Communications and mobile FWA providers to expand capacity.

Below is a concise, planning-oriented snapshot for Gallatin County, IL. Because platform publishers and Pew/Census data are not reported at the county level, percentages are modeled from recent U.S./Illinois benchmarks (Pew Research Center 2023–2024, DataReportal 2024) and adjusted for Gallatin’s older, rural profile. Treat figures as reasonable estimates, not exact counts.

Topline user stats

• Population context: Small, older-leaning rural county. Adult (18+) population ≈ 3,800–4,300.
• Social media users (18+): ≈ 2,900–3,400 adults use at least one platform monthly (about 75–80% of adults).
• Daily users: ≈ 55–60% of adults use at least one platform daily.

Age groups (share using any social platform; higher among younger adults)

• 18–29: 90–95%
• 30–49: 80–90%
• 50–64: 70–80%
• 65+: 45–55% Note: Given Gallatin’s older age structure, total user base skews toward 50+ more than the U.S. average.

Gender breakdown (among social media users)

• Female: ~52–56%
• Male: ~44–48% Rationale: Slight female tilt from county demographics and platform mix (Facebook, Pinterest).

Most‑used platforms among adults (estimated monthly reach of all adults; ranges reflect uncertainty)

• Facebook: 60–70% (dominant locally; Groups and Marketplace especially strong)
• YouTube: 60–70% (how‑to, local sports reels, cord‑cutting/CTV viewing)
• Instagram: 25–35% (younger users, small shops/boutiques)
• TikTok: 20–30% (growing in under‑35s; local creators, small‑biz promos)
• Pinterest: 20–25% (female‑skewed: recipes, crafts, home, events)
• Snapchat: 12–18% (teens/young adults; messaging-heavy)
• X/Twitter: 10–15% (state/national news, sports)
• LinkedIn: 8–12% (lower due to local industry mix)
• Reddit/Discord: 8–12% combined (niche communities, gaming/tech)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: buy/sell/trade, school sports, churches, events, public safety, weather updates; comments drive reach. Marketplace usage is high.
• Video bifurcation: Short-form (Reels/TikTok) for quick local promos and events; YouTube for DIY, ag/auto repair, hunting/fishing, and “how to” content often watched on TVs.
• Messaging over posting: FB Messenger for families and local coordination; Snapchat for under‑30s.
• Local trust effect: Content from familiar people, schools, churches, local government, and small businesses earns more engagement than polished brand creative.
• Timing: Peaks typically around early morning (6–8 a.m.), lunch (11 a.m.–1 p.m.), and evening (7–9 p.m.). Weekend mornings are strong for events and Marketplace.
• Seasonality: School calendar, county fair/events, harvest/planting, and hunting seasons influence spikes in engagement and content themes.

Method/notes

• Estimates derive from national/state platform usage (Pew Research Center 2023–2024; DataReportal 2024 ad‑reach) weighted toward Gallatin’s older, rural profile using ACS demographics.