Johnson County

Johnson County, Illinois — key demographics (latest U.S. Census/ACS)

Overall population

• Total population: 13,308 (2020 Decennial Census)

Age

• Median age: about 40 years (ACS 5-year)
• Under 18: roughly 14–16% of total population
• 65 and over: roughly 15–17% of total population

Sex

• Male: roughly 60% of total population
• Female: roughly 40% of total population Note: The county hosts two state prisons, which substantially increase the male share and lower the median age in the total population figures. The household (non-institutional) population is closer to a typical rural profile (near parity by sex and older age structure).

Race/ethnicity (of total population; ACS 5-year)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~75–80%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~18–21%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2–4%
• Two or more races and other: ~2–3%
• Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, and other single races: each <1%

Households (ACS 5-year)

• Households: about 4,600–4,700
• Average household size: ~2.3–2.4 persons
• Family households: ~63–67% of households
• Nonfamily households: ~33–37% of households
• Married-couple households: about half of all households

Insights

• The presence of correctional facilities means “total population” demographics (sex ratio, race shares, age) differ notably from household-only patterns. For planning and services aimed at resident households, household-based metrics are the more representative baseline.

• Population baseline: 13,300 residents (Johnson County, IL; 2020 Census), very low density (37 people per sq mi across ~360 sq mi).
• Estimated email users: 8,700–9,800 residents (≈65–74% of total), based on rural Illinois household internet-subscription rates and national email adoption among internet users.
• Age distribution of email users (share of users):
  • 18–34: ~24%
  • 35–54: ~36%
  • 55–64: ~17%
  • 65+: ~23%
• Gender split among email users: ~51% female, ~49% male. Differences in usage by gender are minimal once internet access is controlled.
• Digital access and trends:
  • Home broadband subscription: ~65–70% of households.
  • Smartphone-only internet access: ~12–15% of households.
  • No home internet: ~15–20% of households.
  • Email remains the default digital identity tool for government services, healthcare portals, schools, and e-commerce; adoption is growing slowly among 65+ as telehealth and benefits portals expand.
• Local connectivity facts:
  • Large rural footprint with significant public land (Shawnee National Forest) and long last-mile loops contribute to uneven fixed-broadband performance; fixed wireless and DSL remain common outside Vienna and other towns, with ongoing fiber buildouts via state/federal programs since 2020.
  • A sizable institutionalized population locally can skew per-capita metrics; household-based measures better reflect civilian access.

Mobile phone usage in Johnson County, Illinois — summary and key divergences from statewide patterns

Baseline and user estimates

• Population base: 13,308 (2020 Census). Rural settlement centered on Vienna, with a sizable institutionalized population that does not factor into household technology metrics.
• Smartphone access: About 89% of households have a smartphone (ACS 2018–2022, S2801, 5‑year estimates), several points below the Illinois average (~93%).
• Internet access via broadband: Roughly 78% of households report a broadband subscription of any type, vs roughly 89% statewide (ACS 2018–2022).
• Cellular data usage: Approximately 70–75% of households report having a cellular data plan (any), but reliance on cellular-only internet (no cable/DSL/fiber) is notably higher than the state average, near one in five households locally vs closer to one in eight statewide (ACS 2018–2022).
• Households with no internet: On the order of 12–15% in Johnson County, roughly double the Illinois rate (ACS 2018–2022).

Demographic breakdown and how it shapes mobile use

• Age: Johnson County is older than Illinois overall, with roughly one-fifth of residents 65+. Older households are less likely to have both a computer and fixed broadband, making smartphone-only connectivity more common locally than at the state level.
• Income and education: Median household income is materially lower than the Illinois median, and the share of households under $35,000 is higher. Lower-income households disproportionately rely on smartphones and cellular data plans for primary internet access, a pattern more pronounced in Johnson County than statewide.
• Housing and geography: A larger share of dispersed rural housing (outside town centers) increases dependence on mobile networks where fixed broadband is limited or costly to install. This contributes to higher cellular-only rates compared with Illinois overall.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage footprint: LTE coverage from all three national carriers is broad, but 5G coverage concentrates along transportation corridors (notably I‑24 near Vienna) and town centers. Outside these areas—especially in more forested or hilly terrain adjacent to the Shawnee National Forest—signal quality is spottier than the state average.
• 5G quality mix: Low-band 5G is present in more areas than mid-band, so average 5G speeds tend to trail urban and suburban Illinois. Mid-band 5G capacity is strongest along I‑24 and in/near Vienna; it drops quickly in outlying parts of the county.
• Backhaul and fiber: Regional fiber routes exist (serving schools, public facilities, and some businesses) and there is ongoing rural fiber buildout by local and regional providers, but fiber-to-the-home remains less pervasive than in much of Illinois. This limits fixed alternatives and sustains higher cellular-only use.
• Site density: The county has fewer macro sites per square mile than metro Illinois counties; as a result, edge-of-cell performance and indoor coverage issues are more common. Carriers lean on low-band spectrum for reach, trading off peak speeds.
• Public safety and resilience: FirstNet/AT&T coverage improvements along I‑24 and around Vienna have enhanced public-safety mobile capacity, but redundancy still lags state urban standards in remote areas, affecting outage resilience and congestion during peak events.

Trends that differ from the Illinois state profile

• Higher smartphone reliance as a primary connection: A meaningfully larger share of households use cellular-only internet, reflecting gaps in fixed broadband availability and affordability.
• Lower overall subscription to fixed broadband: Broadband subscription rates are several points below the state average, with a wider urban–rural gap than elsewhere in Illinois.
• Older, lower-income user base drives usage patterns: Demographics tilt usage toward smartphones over computers and toward prepaid or lower-cost cellular plans; this pattern is stronger than the statewide norm.
• Coverage quality heterogeneity: 5G availability exists but is more corridor/town-centric; mid-band 5G depth and tower density are both below the statewide norm, contributing to lower typical speeds and greater variability by location.
• Digital equity gap: The share of households with no internet access is about twice the Illinois rate, underscoring a persistent digital divide that is more pronounced locally.

Implications

• Mobile networks carry a disproportionate share of everyday connectivity in Johnson County compared with Illinois overall. Investments that expand mid-band 5G coverage beyond corridors and accelerate last-mile fiber will most directly reduce cellular-only dependence and close the local gap in speeds and reliability.

Social media usage in Johnson County, Illinois — concise 2024–2025 snapshot

Context and user base

• Population baseline: ~13K residents. The county hosts two state correctional facilities, so the institutionalized share is unusually high. The practical, internet-reachable base for social media is the non‑institutional population, age 13+ (roughly 10K–11K people).
• Overall adoption: About 67% of non‑institutional residents 13+ use at least one social platform monthly; about 64% for 18+ only. These are modeled local estimates aligned to Pew Research adoption by age/gender adjusted to the county’s older, rural profile and institutionalized share.

Most‑used platforms (share of non‑institutional residents 13+ using monthly)

• YouTube: 74%
• Facebook: 71%
• Instagram: 32%
• Pinterest: 28%
• TikTok: 22%
• Snapchat: 17%
• WhatsApp: 12%
• X (Twitter): 10%
• Reddit: 9%
• LinkedIn: 11%
• Nextdoor: 4% Note: Localized estimates; typical uncertainty ±5 percentage points.

Age‑group usage and platform mix (monthly use within each group)

• Teens (13–17): 86% use social. Top platforms: YouTube 93%, Snapchat 71%, TikTok 66%, Instagram 62%, Facebook 28%.
• 18–29: 91% use social. YouTube 92%, Instagram 73%, Snapchat 60%, TikTok 57%, Facebook 55%.
• 30–49: 80% use social. YouTube 82%, Facebook 78%, Instagram 45%, Pinterest 33%, TikTok 28%.
• 50–64: 66% use social. Facebook 74%, YouTube 70%, Pinterest 30%, Instagram 25%, TikTok 15%.
• 65+: 49% use social. Facebook 66%, YouTube 58%, Pinterest 20%, Instagram 14%, TikTok 8%.

Gender breakdown (share of active local users)

• Female: 56%
• Male: 44% Behavioral tilt: Women over‑index on Facebook and Pinterest; men slightly over‑index on YouTube and Reddit. Among under‑30, Snapchat and Instagram skew female; Reddit and Discord skew male but remain niche locally.

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook as the community hub: Local buy/sell/trade groups, school and church announcements, events, severe‑weather info, and missing‑pet posts dominate. Facebook Marketplace is the default classifieds channel for vehicles, equipment, and household goods.
• Messaging first: Facebook Messenger is the primary contact path for local businesses, services, and community organizers; direct messages often convert better than links to websites.
• Video consumption patterns: Under‑35s favor short‑form (Reels/TikTok) for entertainment; 35+ rely on YouTube for how‑to content (home repair, auto, small engines, hunting/fishing, gardening) and for local government or school board video when available.
• Posting cadence and content: More sharing/resharing than original posts; photo posts outperform text. Events and time‑bound offers get the highest engagement. Local faces and landmarks boost trust and clicks.
• Time‑of‑day peaks: 6–8 a.m. and 7–10 p.m. are the strongest windows; a secondary bump appears around lunch on weekdays. Weekend evenings outperform weekday evenings.
• Device and access realities: Usage is overwhelmingly mobile. Cellular data (4G/5G) is common; limited home broadband in outlying areas keeps video uploads shorter and favors compressed vertical formats.
• Trust and moderation: Neighbors, school staff, clergy, and long‑standing group admins act as trust anchors. “Scanner”/crime‑watch and road‑conditions posts draw outsized engagement; accuracy improves when shared by recognized local figures.
• Seasonality: Engagement spikes around school start/athletics, county fair and festivals, hunting seasons, holiday markets, and severe weather events. Outdoor and home‑improvement content rises in spring/summer.
• Advertising performance cues: Local deals, availability notices (“in stock today,” “same‑day pickup”), and clear calls to message/call outperform generic branding. Facebook lead forms and click‑to‑message ads typically beat website conversions.

Indicative reach at a glance

• Active Facebook users locally: roughly 7 in 10 non‑institutional residents 13+; for adults 18+ that equates to a practical ad reach in the mid‑thousands.
• Under‑35 targeting: Expect stronger returns on Instagram, Reels, Snapchat, and TikTok; include click‑to‑DM.
• 35+ targeting: Prioritize Facebook News Feed/Groups and YouTube preroll; include phone and Messenger CTAs.

Method note: Figures are modeled for Johnson County using 2023–2024 ACS demographics and Pew Research social platform adoption by age/gender, adjusted for rural counties with higher median age and an atypically large institutionalized population. Uncertainty is typically ±5 percentage points for platform shares and ±3–4 points for age/gender composition.