Greene County

Key demographics for Greene County, Illinois

• Population

  • 11,985 (2020 Decennial Census)
  • Down about 14% from 13,886 in 2010

• Age (ACS 2018–2022)

  • Median age: ~43.8 years
  • Under 18: ~21%
  • 18–64: ~58%
  • 65 and over: ~21%

• Sex (ACS 2018–2022)

  • Female: ~50%
  • Male: ~50%

• Race and ethnicity (ACS 2018–2022; shares may not sum to 100 due to rounding and race/ethnicity reporting)

  • White alone: ~95%
  • Black or African American alone: ~2%
  • Two or more races: ~2%
  • Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander combined: <1%
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~1–2%

• Households (ACS 2018–2022)

  • ~4,900–5,000 households
  • Average household size: ~2.35–2.40
  • Family households: ~61%; nonfamily: ~39%
  • Households with children under 18: ~27%
  • One-person households: ~31% (about half of these are 65+ living alone)

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

Greene County, IL snapshot

• Population ≈11,400 (2023); land ≈546 sq mi; density ≈21 residents/sq mi.
• Digital access (ACS 2018–2022): households with a computer ≈88%; households with a broadband subscription ≈78%.

Email usage

• Estimated users: ≈8,900 residents (about 78–80% of the population; >90% of internet users).
• Gender split: ≈51% female, 49% male among users, mirroring the county’s population mix.

Age distribution of email users (applying typical U.S. adoption rates to Greene County’s age profile)

• 13–17: ≈6%
• 18–34: ≈21%
• 35–54: ≈32%
• 55–64: ≈17%
• 65+: ≈24%

Digital access trends and local connectivity

• Broadband subscription and speeds trail Illinois averages; smartphone‑only internet reliance is higher than in urban counties.
• Fixed wireless and satellite commonly fill gaps outside population centers; fiber/cable are concentrated in and around towns such as Carrollton and White Hall.
• Adoption is rising gradually, but affordability and sparse last‑mile infrastructure remain constraints.
• Low population density and dispersed farms create coverage variability: stronger along major routes, weaker in remote agricultural areas.

Mobile phone usage in Greene County, Illinois — 2024 snapshot

User estimates

• Population base: approximately 11,500–12,000 residents (2023 Census estimate range; 2020 Census: 11,985).
• Estimated mobile phone users (any cellphone): about 10,500 residents (~90% of population).
• Estimated smartphone users: about 9,300 residents (~80% of population).
• Household base: roughly 4,700–4,900 households.

Demographic context that shapes usage

• Older population: about 21% of residents are 65+ (vs ~17% statewide), increasing the share of basic/voice-first users and lowering smartphone uptake among seniors.
• Income and education: median household income is materially lower than the Illinois median and bachelor’s attainment is lower, both correlating with higher mobile-only reliance and lower home broadband adoption.
• Rural settlement pattern: small towns (Carrollton, Greenfield, Roodhouse) surrounded by low-density farmland and river bottoms, which affects tower spacing, indoor coverage, and 5G rollout cadence.

Device ownership and internet subscriptions (ACS 2018–2022 five-year estimates; rounded)

• Households with a smartphone: Greene County ~85–87%; Illinois ~90–92%.
• Households with a desktop/laptop: Greene County ~66–70%; Illinois ~77–80%.
• Households with any internet subscription: Greene County ~88–90%; Illinois ~92–93%.
• Fixed broadband (cable/fiber/DSL) subscription: Greene County ~65–70%; Illinois ~80–82%.
• Cellular data plan subscription (any mobile broadband): Greene County ~72–76%; Illinois ~74–78%.
• Mobile-only internet households (cellular data plan with no fixed broadband): Greene County ~18–20%; Illinois ~11–13%.
• No internet subscription: Greene County ~10–12%; Illinois ~6–8%.

How Greene County differs from the Illinois average

• Higher mobile-only reliance: about 6–8 percentage points more households rely exclusively on cellular data, reflecting both cost sensitivity and patchy wireline options outside town limits.
• Lower fixed-broadband subscription: roughly 10–15 points below the state, driven by limited fiber/cable footprints beyond town centers and legacy DSL performance.
• Slightly lower smartphone-in-household rate: a few points below Illinois due to older age structure and lower incomes, even though cellphone ownership overall remains high.
• More device substitution: desktop/laptop ownership runs 8–12 points below the state, pushing residents to do more on smartphones for banking, school platforms, and telehealth.
• Larger share with no internet: roughly 3–4 points above the state, concentrated among older and low-income households in rural tracts.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks present: AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile provide countywide 4G LTE coverage on primary corridors and in towns; UScellular presence is regional but limited compared with the big three.
• 5G footprint: about two-thirds of residents have access to 5G from at least one national carrier, primarily in and around Carrollton, Greenfield, Roodhouse, White Hall, and along US‑67 and IL‑routes. Large agricultural areas and river bottoms remain LTE‑only or have fringe 5G.
• Tower density: sparse, typical of rural Illinois; macro sites are spaced widely, producing strong highway coverage but variable indoor signal in outlying homes and metal‑roofed buildings.
• Backhaul and fiber: fiber backhaul exists along main transport corridors and into towns; outside municipal limits, fixed wireline options degrade quickly from cable/fiber to legacy DSL, encouraging use of mobile hotspots and fixed‑wireless alternatives.
• Fixed wireless and 5G home internet: T‑Mobile and Verizon 5G Home Internet are available in and around the main towns with real‑world speeds commonly 50–200 Mbps where signal is strong; WISPs fill gaps in rural areas with 25–100 Mbps links depending on line‑of‑sight.
• Known weak spots: low‑lying river bottoms and wooded bluffs show higher incidence of dead zones and capacity drops, especially during peak hours or foliage season.

What the trends mean locally

• Mobile is the primary on‑ramp: residents are more likely than the average Illinoisan to use smartphones as their only internet connection for day‑to‑day tasks.
• Affordability and availability drive behavior: lower fixed‑broadband adoption is less about disinterest and more about limited options and price; when 5G home internet is offered, uptake is visible in sign‑ups.
• Service quality is bimodal: in‑town users often see competitive speeds from 5G and cable, while rural users may experience LTE‑only service and reliance on hotspots, with performance varying by distance to towers and terrain.
• Digital equity gap: the combination of older demographics and lower incomes increases the share of households with no internet or smartphone‑only access, affecting telehealth, homework, and remote work participation.

Sources and notes

• Figures are drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018–2022 American Community Survey (computer and internet use) and 2023 population estimates, combined with 2024 FCC broadband and carrier coverage disclosures. Ranges reflect ACS margins of error typical for small rural counties.

Social media usage in Greene County, IL (2025 snapshot)

Overview

• Estimated share of adult residents using at least one social platform: 70–75%
• Daily social media users (any platform): ~60% of adults
• Context: Figures reflect a rural, older-leaning county profile and are modeled from recent U.S. and rural-Illinois usage patterns applied to Greene County’s demographics.

Most-used platforms (estimated share of adults who use each)

• YouTube: ~75%
• Facebook: ~66%
• Instagram: ~38%
• Pinterest: ~30%
• TikTok: ~28%
• Snapchat: ~24%
• X (Twitter): ~20%
• WhatsApp: ~20%
• Reddit: ~16%
• LinkedIn: ~14%

Age group usage patterns (share of adults in each cohort using selected platforms)

• Ages 18–29: Any platform ~90–95%; YouTube ~90%+, Instagram ~70–75%, Snapchat ~65–70%, TikTok ~60–65%, Facebook ~45–50%
• Ages 30–49: Any platform ~85–90%; Facebook ~70–80%, YouTube ~85–90%, Instagram ~50–55%, TikTok ~35–45%, Snapchat ~30–35%
• Ages 50–64: Any platform ~70–75%; Facebook ~70–75%, YouTube ~70–75%, Pinterest ~30–40%, Instagram ~25–30%, TikTok ~20–25%
• Ages 65+: Any platform ~50–55%; Facebook ~50–55%, YouTube ~50–55%, Pinterest ~20–25%, Instagram ~10–15%, TikTok ~8–12%

Gender breakdown

• Overall social media users: roughly mirrors county population, about 51–52% women and 48–49% men
• Platform skews: Pinterest and TikTok lean female; Facebook slight female tilt; YouTube, Reddit, and X lean male; Instagram close to even with a slight female tilt; LinkedIn near even

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the community hub: heavy use of Groups (schools, youth sports, churches, local government), Events, and Marketplace. Local news, weather alerts, school announcements, and community fundraisers drive engagement.
• Video-first habits: YouTube for how-to, DIY, outdoor/recreation, ag and equipment content; TikTok for short-form entertainment and local happenings. Cross-posted short-form video (Reels/Shorts) performs well.
• Messaging over feeds for coordination: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are commonly used for quick, private communication among families and youth; WhatsApp use is present but secondary.
• Instagram for small business visibility: local boutiques, salons, eateries, and event vendors rely on Stories/Reels; discovery is hashtag and location driven.
• X (Twitter) is niche: concentrated among local journalists, sports followers, and public safety/transportation updates; limited general audience reach.
• Time-of-day engagement: peaks in early morning (commute/school drop-off), evening (after 7 pm), and weekends; live spikes around school sports, festivals, parades, and severe weather.
• Creative that works: hyperlocal visuals, faces, before/after projects, and practical info (hours, specials, road closures) outperform generic brand posts; giveaways and community partnerships boost reach.
• Ads and ROI: Facebook/Instagram provide the most efficient paid reach via tight geotargeting; small population means frequency caps matter; video and carousel formats outperform static images.
• Trust and word-of-mouth: recommendations in Facebook Groups carry outsized influence on purchasing decisions for services, contractors, and local retail.

Notes on method

• County-specific social media figures are not directly published; percentages above are modeled from recent Pew Research Center and similar large-scale U.S. datasets with rural adjustments applied to Greene County’s age structure. Rounded to reflect reasonable precision for a small, rural county.