Hardin County

Hardin County, Illinois — key demographics

Population size

• 3,649 residents (2020 Decennial Census)
• Change since 2010: −15.5% (4,320 in 2010)

Age

• Median age: 48.6 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: 20%
• 18–64: 54%
• 65 and over: 26%

Gender

• Male: 50%
• Female: 50% (ACS 2018–2022)

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2018–2022)

• White (non-Hispanic): 96–97%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~0–1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic): ~0–1%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ~0–1%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~1–2%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~1–2%

Household data (ACS 2018–2022)

• Total households: ~1,600
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Family households: ~65% of households; average family size: ~2.8
• Married-couple households: ~55–60% of households
• One-person households: ~28–30%
• Owner-occupied housing: ~80%; renter-occupied: ~20%

Insights

• Very small, aging population with a high share of residents 65+, small household sizes, and high owner-occupancy; population has declined meaningfully since 2010 and remains overwhelmingly non-Hispanic White.

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

Hardin County, IL snapshot

• Population and density: 3,649 residents (2020 Census), ~20 people per square mile (one of Illinois’ sparsest counties).
• Estimated email users: ~2,360 adult users (≈82–83% of ~2,850 adults).
• Age distribution of email users (share of users; est. adoption by age):
  • 18–34: ~26% of users; ~95% adoption in this group.
  • 35–64: ~53% of users; ~85% adoption.
  • 65+: ~21% of users; ~68% adoption.
• Gender split among users: ~52% female, 48% male, tracking the county’s slightly older, female-skewed population.
• Digital access and trends:
  • Broadband subscription: ~70% of households, below the Illinois average.
  • Smartphone-only internet households: ~17%, indicating mobile-reliant access.
  • Fixed broadband availability: roughly two-thirds of addresses can get ≥100/20 Mbps; fiber is limited, with DSL/cable common; satellite is widely available.
  • Mobile networks: reliable 4G along main corridors and towns; 5G is spotty in rural areas.
  • Trendlines: subscriptions and speeds have improved since 2016, but gaps persist for scattered homes and seniors; email is increasingly accessed via smartphones.

Notes: Estimates synthesize 2020 Census population, ACS broadband indicators, rural Illinois connectivity data, and Pew age-based email adoption norms updated through 2023.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Hardin County, Illinois

Headline estimates (adults, 2024)

• Population baseline: 3,649 residents (2020 Census), ≈1,650 households; ≈2,850 adults (18+).
• Any cellphone users: ≈2,650 adults (≈93%).
• Smartphone users: ≈2,360 adults (≈83%).
• Basic/feature-phone users: ≈290 adults (≈10%).
• Adults without a mobile phone: ≈200 (≈7%).
• Households relying on cellular/mobile as their primary home internet (“mobile-only”): ≈340 households (≈20–21%).

How these differ from Illinois statewide

• Smartphone ownership is several points lower: ≈83% in Hardin County vs ≈90–92% statewide.
• Any-cellphone adoption is lower: ≈93% vs ≈97% statewide.
• Mobile-only internet reliance is notably higher: ≈20–21% of households vs ≈11–13% statewide, reflecting sparser wired broadband options and affordability constraints.
• 5G usage is constrained by coverage mix: residents encounter low-band 5G and 4G LTE far more often than mid-band 5G; statewide, a much larger share of residents live under dense mid-band 5G footprints.
• Prepaid/MVNO share is materially higher than the Illinois average (estimated 40–50% of lines in Hardin vs roughly one-third statewide), driven by income mix, credit requirements, and variable coverage that favors flexible plans.
• Use patterns skew more to voice/SMS and conservative data use; video-heavy usage is limited by coverage variability and data caps. Conversely, mobile-only households generate heavier cellular data consumption than the county average.

Demographic breakdown of usage (adult population)

• Age 18–34 (≈620 adults): near-universal mobile adoption; smartphone users ≈96% (≈595 people). Behavior more aligned with statewide norms, but speeds/coverage limit high-bandwidth apps in many locations.
• Age 35–64 (≈1,280 adults): any cellphone ≈96% (≈1,225); smartphones ≈90% (≈1,150). Work-related reliance on voice/SMS remains strong due to patchy data in field settings.
• Age 65+ (≈950 adults): any cellphone ≈85% (≈810); smartphones ≈65% (≈620). Basic/feature phones are concentrated in this group, with more persistent use of voice-first devices and larger reliance on Wi‑Fi at home.
• Income effects: lower-income households are more likely to be smartphone-only for home internet and to choose prepaid/MVNO plans; these patterns are more pronounced than in Illinois overall.

Digital infrastructure and coverage profile

• Operators present: AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile, and UScellular operate in and around Hardin County. AT&T and Verizon generally provide the broadest rural LTE footprints; UScellular fills important gaps; T‑Mobile coverage is improving but remains more corridor‑focused.
• 4G LTE: Outdoor LTE covers the main towns (Elizabethtown, Rosiclare, Cave‑In‑Rock) and primary corridors (IL‑1, IL‑34, IL‑146), with terrain‑related gaps in forested hollows and along some river bottoms.
• 5G: Low‑band 5G (AT&T, T‑Mobile; Verizon DSS in pockets) is present along primary corridors and town centers. Mid‑band 5G capacity layers are sparse compared with Illinois metro areas, limiting high-throughput performance.
• Expected performance:
  • 4G LTE: typical 5–30 Mbps down, 1–10 Mbps up; higher near towers, lower in valleys/indoors.
  • Low‑band 5G: typical 20–100 Mbps down under good conditions; mid‑band 5G capacity seen only sporadically.
• Tower density: sparse rural macro grid; on the order of 5–9 macro sites in or immediately adjacent to the county, with multi‑carrier colocation. Topography (Shawnee hills/bluffs) produces dead zones even where maps show nominal coverage.
• Backhaul and fiber: Limited middle‑mile fiber relative to metro Illinois; regional providers (e.g., Shawnee Communications/Shawnee Telephone, Clearwave Fiber) and electric co‑ops anchor key fiber routes to schools, clinics, and town centers. Where fiber backhaul is absent, sectors can be capacity‑constrained.
• Fixed wireless and cellular home internet: CBRS/other fixed‑wireless ISPs and LTE/5G‑based home internet products are important substitutes for cable/fiber, contributing to the higher mobile‑only share.
• Public safety: AT&T FirstNet Band 14 coverage is present on select sites along major corridors and towns; priority services from Verizon and UScellular also used by local agencies. In‑building/public‑safety coverage still varies with construction type and terrain.
• Known problem areas: forested hollows near Garden of the Gods and interior Shawnee National Forest tracts; low‑lying river bottoms; metal‑roof and concrete buildings. Residents commonly use signal boosters and Wi‑Fi calling to mitigate indoors.

What the trends mean locally

• Adoption is robust but not universal, with a meaningful minority—especially seniors—still on basic phones or unconnected.
• Coverage and capacity, not only cost, shape usage: residents adapt by relying on voice/SMS, Wi‑Fi calling, and intermittent high‑throughput sessions in town centers or along ridgelines.
• Mobile networks shoulder more of the “home internet” role than elsewhere in Illinois, which elevates the importance of backhaul upgrades, additional macro sites, and fixed‑wireless buildouts.
• Closing the gap with state‑level performance hinges on more mid‑band 5G overlays, additional sites in terrain‑shadowed areas, and continued fiber middle‑mile expansion.

Sources and method

• Population and age structure anchored to the 2020 Census and recent ACS patterns for rural southern Illinois.
• Adoption rates derived by adjusting Pew Research/NTIA smartphone and cellphone ownership benchmarks for rural/older demographics.
• Coverage/infrastructure synthesized from FCC coverage/map filings and carrier public disclosures for southern Illinois, plus known regional providers. Estimates are rounded to emphasize order of magnitude and reflect rural variability.

Hardin County, IL social media usage snapshot (2024 estimate)

• Population baseline

  • Total residents: 3,649 (U.S. Census, 2020)
  • Estimated residents age 13+: ≈3,200
  • Monthly social media users (13+): ≈2,500 (≈78% penetration, reflecting rural adult usage plus near-universal teen usage)

• Gender breakdown (users)

  • Female: ≈53% (≈1,325 users)
  • Male: ≈47% (≈1,175 users)

• Age mix of users (share of total users)

  • 13–17: ≈7% (≈175)
  • 18–29: ≈14% (≈350)
  • 30–44: ≈22% (≈550)
  • 45–64: ≈33% (≈825)
  • 65+: ≈24% (≈600)

• Most-used platforms among local social media users (at least monthly; multi-platform use common)

  • YouTube: ≈85% (≈2,125)
  • Facebook: ≈82% (≈2,050)
  • Instagram: ≈38% (≈950)
  • Pinterest: ≈34% (≈850; skew female)
  • TikTok: ≈31% (≈775; skew under 35)
  • Snapchat: ≈24% (≈600; skew under 30)
  • X (Twitter): ≈18% (≈450)
  • WhatsApp: ≈16% (≈400; family comms)
  • LinkedIn: ≈12% (≈300; small professional niche)
  • Nextdoor: ≈6% (≈150; limited neighborhood coverage)

Behavioral trends observed in similar rural Illinois counties and applicable to Hardin County’s age profile

• Facebook Groups are the community hub (local news, school and church updates, county alerts, buy–sell–trade); Messenger is a primary contact channel.
• Video-first consumption continues to rise: Facebook Reels and YouTube Shorts see the most passive viewing; TikTok growth is strongest among under-35s.
• Engagement peaks evenings and weekends; weekday early morning and lunch are secondary windows. Scheduled posts and local event reminders perform well.
• Mobile-dominant usage (≥85% of interactions via smartphones); short captions, vertical video, and click-to-call/message CTAs outperform.
• Practical, hyper-local content outperforms polished brand creative: local deals, event notices, weather and road conditions, hunting/fishing/outdoors, high school sports.
• Trust and word-of-mouth matter: recommendations in Groups and user comments drive conversions more than standalone ads; boosting posts with social proof is effective.
• Cross-posting is common: Facebook remains the anchor; Instagram is secondary for visuals; YouTube holds longer-form content (games, council meetings, how-tos).

Notes on method and sources

• User counts and platform shares are modeled for Hardin County by combining its population (U.S. Census 2020) with Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 social media usage rates (including rural vs. urban patterns and teen vs. adult adoption). Figures rounded to reflect the county’s small population and multi-platform behavior.