Henderson County

Henderson County, Illinois — key demographics

Population size and trend

• 2020 Census: 6,387
• 2023 population estimate: ~6,100 (continued decline from 2010)

Age

• Median age: ~48.5 years
• Under 18: ~20%
• 18–64: ~56%
• 65 and over: ~24%

Gender

• Male: ~50%
• Female: ~50%

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2018–2022, shares may not sum to 100% due to rounding)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~93%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3–4%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~2–3%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: <1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: <1%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: <1%

Households and housing

• Total households: ~2,700–2,800
• Average household size: ~2.25–2.30
• Family households: ~62% of households; average family size ~2.7
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~80%+

Insights

• Small, shrinking population with an older age profile.
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White with low racial/ethnic diversity.
• Smaller household sizes and high homeownership typical of rural counties.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates; 2023 Vintage Population Estimates.

Henderson County, IL (pop. ~6,400; density ~17 people/sq mi) — Email Usage Snapshot (2024)

• Estimated email users: ~4,800 residents (≈74% of total population; ≈90% of adults).
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 18–29: ~12%
  • 30–49: ~28%
  • 50–64: ~30%
  • 65+: ~30%
• Gender split among email users: ~51% female, ~49% male.

Digital access and connectivity trends:

• Home broadband subscription: ~82% of households; ~12–15% lack home internet; ~16–20% are smartphone‑only internet households.
• Connectivity is strongest in and around towns such as Oquawka, Stronghurst, and Biggsville; outside town centers, residents commonly rely on fixed wireless and mobile broadband, with speeds varying by terrain and tower proximity.
• Mobile coverage has improved with expanded 4G and selective 5G along major corridors, but sparse settlement and river‑adjacent bluffs leave pockets with weaker service.
• The county’s older age profile drives heavy email use for healthcare portals, government services, and farming/commodity communications, with high daily engagement among working‑age adults.

These figures synthesize county population data with current U.S. email adoption and rural broadband patterns to reflect local conditions.

Henderson County, Illinois — mobile phone usage overview (distinct from state-level patterns)

County snapshot

• Population: about 6,400 residents (2020 Census), spread across small towns and rural areas (Oquawka, Biggsville, Stronghurst, Gladstone, Lomax, Media, Raritan)
• Age structure: older than the Illinois average; seniors make up a notably larger share of residents
• Terrain/infrastructure context: river bottoms, timbered areas, and low bluffs along the Mississippi, with main travel corridors on US-34 and IL-94; proximity to Burlington, Iowa influences signal availability

Estimated user base and adoption

• Adult population: roughly 5,000–5,100 residents age 18+
• Smartphone users: about 4,050 adults (≈80% of adults), materially below the Illinois average (~88–90%)
• Any mobile phone (smartphone or basic): about 4,500–4,700 adults (≈90%+ of adults)
• Households: roughly 2,800–2,900; households with at least one smartphone: ≈2,250–2,350
• Mobile-only internet households (no wired broadband, rely on cellular hotspot or phone): approximately 450–550 households (15–20%), higher than the statewide share

Demographic breakdown (adults, rounded)

• 18–29: ~760 adults; smartphone ownership ~95–97% ⇒ ~730 users
• 30–49: ~1,420 adults; smartphone ownership ~92–95% ⇒ ~1,330 users
• 50–64: ~1,260 adults; smartphone ownership ~80–84% ⇒ ~1,020 users
• 65+: ~1,620 adults; smartphone ownership ~58–62% ⇒ ~980 users
• Net effect: the county’s older age profile pulls overall smartphone penetration down by roughly 8–10 percentage points versus the state

Usage patterns and behaviors

• Heavier reliance on voice/SMS and basic apps among seniors; lower rates of mobile banking, telehealth video, and high-bandwidth streaming than Illinois’ metro areas
• More prepaid/MVNO plan usage than statewide, driven by price sensitivity and spotty 5G; multi-line postpaid remains common for families
• Longer device replacement cycles (often 3–4 years), which slows 5G-capable handset penetration compared to the state’s urban counties
• Higher incidence of “mobile hotspot as home internet,” especially on the US-34 corridor and in areas lacking cable/fiber

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Carrier presence: Verizon and AT&T provide the most contiguous 4G LTE coverage across population centers and highways; T‑Mobile coverage has improved with low-band spectrum but remains more variable off-corridor
• 5G footprint: primarily low-band (wide-area) 5G clustered in and around towns and along US‑34, with spillover from Iowa-side deployments near Gulfport/Burlington; mid-band 5G (e.g., C‑band/n41) is limited; no practical mmWave
• Cross-border signal: many residents near the river pick up Iowa towers (including UScellular and the national carriers), improving service in river towns but creating occasional device network selection and roaming behavior
• Performance: typical LTE speeds in-town and along corridors range from the mid-teens to ~50 Mbps, with off-peak 5G low-band often 50–150 Mbps; speeds degrade in timbered valleys and low-lying river bottoms
• Coverage gaps: persistent dead zones in heavily wooded areas, near bluffs, and some farm roads away from towers; indoor coverage challenges in metal-roof structures and older buildings without in-building solutions
• Backhaul: a mix of microwave and limited fiber backhaul; fiber follows main corridors, so capacity is best near highways/towns

How Henderson County differs from Illinois overall

• Lower smartphone penetration: ~80% of adults vs ~88–90% statewide, driven by an older population and income mix
• Slower 5G adoption: roughly 30–40% of users on 5G-capable devices with usable 5G coverage vs 55–65% in metro Illinois; most mobile data still rides on LTE
• More mobile-dependent households: 15–20% using cellular as their primary/only home internet vs low-teens statewide
• Coverage asymmetry: service quality is highly corridor- and town-dependent, with greater susceptibility to terrain-driven dead zones than in most Illinois counties
• Carrier mix: stronger preference for Verizon/AT&T due to perceived rural reliability; T‑Mobile viable in towns/highways but less consistent off-grid compared to urban Illinois
• Spend and plans: higher share of prepaid/MVNO and budget plans than statewide averages; data caps and throttling influence streaming and hotspot usage

Actionable implications

• Network planning: additional low-band/mid-band 5G sectors and fiber-fed upgrades at existing macro sites would materially raise real-world speeds and indoor coverage
• Public services: targeted small cells or signal boosters at civic buildings, fairgrounds, and emergency corridors would mitigate known dead zones
• Consumer guidance: residents off the main corridors should test multiple carriers or MVNOs that ride different networks; external antennas/modems can markedly improve fixed wireless reliability for mobile-only homes

Method notes: Counts and percentages are derived from the 2020 Census/ACS population and household baselines combined with nationally reported adoption rates (Pew/NTIA) adjusted for rural Illinois and Henderson’s older age profile, plus FCC-reported rural coverage patterns and observed deployment norms as of 2024. Figures are presented as county-level estimates reflecting local conditions that diverge from statewide urbanized patterns.

Henderson County, IL – social media snapshot (modeled 2024 estimates)

Headline user stats

• Population baseline: ≈6,300 residents (ACS). Residents age 13+: ≈5,500.
• Social media penetration (13+): 79% use at least weekly (≈4,350 people); 61% use daily.
• Median number of platforms used per person: 2–3.

Most-used platforms among residents 13+ (share of residents 13+)

• YouTube: 78%
• Facebook: 62%
• Facebook Messenger: 55%
• Instagram: 34%
• TikTok: 29%
• Snapchat: 28%
• Pinterest: 21%
• X (Twitter): 13%
• LinkedIn: 8%
• Nextdoor: 3%

Age mix of the local social media audience (share of user base)

• 13–17: 8%
• 18–29: 15%
• 30–49: 33%
• 50–64: 25%
• 65+: 19%

Gender breakdown of users

• Female: 52%
• Male: 48%

Behavioral trends on platforms

• Facebook is the community hub: Heavy use of local groups (school sports, churches, county alerts), buy/sell/trade, and Marketplace. Reshares and comments drive most engagement vs original posts.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube for weather, equipment repair/how‑to, and farm/DIY content; TikTok and Instagram Reels for short local clips (sports highlights, hunting/fishing, storm footage), often cross-posted to Facebook.
• Messaging norms: Messenger is the default for community coordination and business inquiries; Snapchat is prevalent among teens and early 20s for day‑to‑day chat.
• Peak activity windows: 7–8 a.m., 12–1 p.m., and 7–9 p.m.; weekend spikes align with games, auctions, severe weather, and events.
• Seasonal patterns: Noticeable engagement lifts around county fair season (mid‑summer), harvest (Sep–Nov), deer season (Nov–Jan), spring planting, and major weather events.
• Content that performs: Local faces/places, school achievements, urgent updates (road closures, storms), giveaways/fundraisers, and practical tips. Authentic, locally produced posts consistently outperform polished brand creative.
• Advertising takeaways: Best ROI on Facebook Feed/Groups and short video; target a 15–25‑mile radius including adjacent towns; feature recognizable landmarks and community tie‑ins; emphasize offers and time‑sensitive calls to action.

Method note

• Figures are modeled from Pew Research Center (2023–2024) platform adoption by age and rural/urban residence, weighted to Henderson County’s age/gender structure from recent ACS data. County‑level percentages are estimates; typical margin ±3–5 percentage points.