Knox County

Key demographics for Knox County, Illinois

Sources noted per metric for clarity; values are the most recent widely used Census Bureau releases.

• Population size

  • 49,967 (2020 Decennial Census)
  • Ongoing decline since 2010; 2023 Census Bureau estimates indicate further decrease

• Age (ACS 2018–2022, 5-year)

  • Median age: ~43 years
  • Under 18: ~19–20%
  • 65 and over: ~22%

• Gender (ACS 2018–2022, 5-year)

  • Female: ~51%
  • Male: ~49%

• Racial/ethnic composition

  • 2020 Decennial Census (race alone, percent of total population):
    • White: ~85%
    • Black or African American: ~7%
    • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0–0.5%
    • Asian: ~1%
    • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0%
    • Two or more races: ~4–5%
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~6–7%
  • White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~80%

• Households (ACS 2018–2022, 5-year)

  • Households: ~20,000
  • Average household size: ~2.25
  • Family households: ~58% of households
  • Nonfamily households: ~42%
  • Households with children under 18: ~25%
  • Average family size: ~2.9

Insights

• The county is aging, with about one in five residents 65+ and a median age near 43.
• Population has been declining since 2010.
• The population is predominantly non-Hispanic White, with notable Black and Hispanic/Latino communities.
• Household sizes are modest and a large share are nonfamily households, reflecting an older and more single-adult household profile.

Primary sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey (ACS) 2018–2022 5-year estimates; Population Estimates Program.

Knox County, IL snapshot (2024 est.)

• Estimated email users: ~38,000 residents age 13+ (roughly 86–90% adoption among teens/adults, aligned with U.S./Illinois norms).
• Age mix of email users (est.): 13–17: 4% (1.5k); 18–34: 26% (9.9k); 35–54: 32% (12.2k); 55–64: 16% (6.1k); 65+: 22% (~8.3k). Usage is near-universal among 18–54, slightly lower among teens and seniors but still high.
• Gender split: ~51% female, 49% male among email users, mirroring the county’s population.
• Digital access trends:
  • Home internet: ~80–83% of households subscribe to broadband; smartphone-only internet access around 12–15%, higher in lower‑income and rural areas.
  • Speeds/availability: Cable and some fiber deliver 100–1000 Mbps in Galesburg and other population centers; rural townships rely more on DSL/fixed wireless with typical speeds 25–100 Mbps.
  • Mobile: 4G LTE is countywide; 5G covers Galesburg/major corridors, aiding email on mobile.
  • Public access: Libraries, schools, and municipal Wi‑Fi remain important for students and low‑income residents.
• Local density/connectivity facts: Population ~50,000 over ~720 sq mi (≈70 people/sq mi). FCC data indicate >95% of locations can get at least 25/3 Mbps, while 100/20 Mbps coverage is strongest in and around Galesburg, tapering in outlying areas.

Knox County, Illinois — Mobile phone usage snapshot (2024)

Headline user estimates

• Adult population (18+): ~38,900 (out of ~48,600 residents; 2023 Census estimate)
• Smartphone users: ~32,500 adults (≈84% of adults; modeled from Pew 2023 age-specific adoption rates applied to the county’s age mix)
• Any mobile phone (smartphone or feature phone): 36,900 adults (95%); adults without a mobile phone: ~1,900
• Feature phone users: 4,400 adults (11% of adults), reflecting a larger senior and lower-income share than the state average

Demographic breakdown of smartphone users (modeled counts)

• 18–29: ~7,000 users (≈96% adoption within this group; Knox College presence lifts this segment above a typical rural county)
• 30–49: ~11,100 users (≈95% adoption)
• 50–64: ~8,500 users (≈83% adoption)
• 65+: ~5,900 users (≈61% adoption) Notes: Knox County’s age structure is older than Illinois overall, with a larger 65+ share and a smaller 30–49 share. Median household income is materially below the Illinois median, and the poverty rate is higher; both factors correlate with slightly lower smartphone take-up and a higher likelihood of prepaid plans and mobile-only internet access.

Mobile-only home internet and plans

• Households: ~21,100 (persons per household ~2.3)
• Mobile-only home internet (no fixed subscription; relies on smartphone hotspot or cellular home internet): ~2,500 households (≈12%, ACS-style measure of cellular-only access modeled for a rural IL county with Knox’s income and age profile)
• Prepaid share: ~30% of mobile lines (notably higher than the state’s ~20–22%), driven by lower income, student lines, and MVNO usage

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage and technology
  • All national operators serve the county: AT&T (including FirstNet Band 14), Verizon, T-Mobile; UScellular also operates in this region.
  • 5G availability:
    • T-Mobile mid-band 5G (n41) is broadly available in and around Galesburg and along major corridors (I‑74/US‑34), with extensive low-band coverage (n71) countywide.
    • Verizon and AT&T 5G (including C-band n77) concentrate in Galesburg, along I‑74/US‑34, and larger towns; LTE remains the dominant layer in outlying townships.
  • Spectrum in use locally includes low-band (700/850 MHz: Bands 12/13/14/5), mid-band (AWS/PCS: Bands 2/4/25/66; T-Mobile n41; AT&T/Verizon n77), and carrier aggregation on LTE/5G for capacity in town centers.
• Backhaul and capacity
  • Fiber-fed sites in Galesburg and along interstate/corridor nodes underpin higher 5G capacity; rural macro sites more often rely on microwave or longer fiber laterals, limiting peak speeds and indoor penetration at distance.
  • Population density ~67/sq mi and agricultural land use lead to wider macro cell spacing, which increases edge-of-cell areas compared with urban Illinois.
• Practical performance pattern
  • In-town users typically see consistent 5G with higher throughputs and lower latency.
  • Rural roads and farmsteads frequently fall back to LTE or low-band 5G with lower throughput and higher variability, especially indoors in metal-clad buildings.

How Knox County differs from Illinois overall

• Adoption level: Overall adult smartphone adoption is several points lower (≈84% in Knox vs ≈90–92% statewide), owing to an older age mix and lower median incomes.
• Device mix: Feature phone retention is higher (~11% vs mid–single digits statewide), concentrated among seniors and very price-sensitive users.
• Plan type: Prepaid and MVNO reliance is higher (~30% vs ~20–22% statewide), reflecting income, student lines, and lighter credit usage.
• Access pattern: Mobile-only home internet is more common (~12% of households vs ~9–10% statewide), substituting for fixed broadband where cost or availability is a constraint.
• Network experience: 5G is present and expanding, but Knox users are more likely than state-average users to operate on low-band 5G/LTE outside towns, with greater variability in speeds and indoor coverage. T-Mobile’s relative 5G coverage advantage is more pronounced here than in Illinois’ large metros, while Verizon and AT&T capacity peaks near Galesburg and along interstates.

Method notes (for transparency)

• Population and household counts reflect recent Census/ACS estimates for Knox County.
• Smartphone and mobile-only figures are modeled by applying Pew Research Center’s 2023 age-specific adoption rates and ACS-style access patterns to Knox County’s age and income profile; they yield point estimates suitable for planning and benchmarking.

Social media in Knox County, IL (2025 snapshot)

Population base

• Residents: about 49,000 (ACS 2023)
• 13+ population: about 42,000; 18+ adults: about 39,000
• Gender: roughly 51% female, 49% male

How many use social media

• Adults (18+): ~81% use at least one social platform → about 31,500 adult users
• Teens (13–17): ~95% use at least one platform; teen adoption is effectively universal
• Combined 13+: roughly 36,000 residents use social media

Most-used platforms and expected local reach (Percentages are U.S. adult usage from Pew 2024; applied to Knox County’s adult base for local counts.)

• YouTube: about 83% of adults → ~32,400 users
• Facebook: about 68% → ~26,500
• Instagram: about 47% → ~18,300
• Pinterest: about 35% → ~13,700
• TikTok: about 29% → ~11,300
• LinkedIn: about 27% → ~10,500 (likely a bit lower locally given industry mix)
• Snapchat: about 22% → ~8,600
• X (Twitter): about 22% → ~8,600
• Reddit: about 20% → ~7,800
• Nextdoor: about 15% → ~5,900

Age-group usage patterns

• Teens (13–17): YouTube (95%), TikTok (67%), Snapchat (60%), Instagram (62%), Facebook (~33%) — video and messaging dominant
• 18–29: Very high YouTube; Instagram and Snapchat heavy; TikTok strong; Facebook moderate
• 30–49: YouTube and Facebook lead; Instagram solid; TikTok growing; LinkedIn relevant for professionals
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram/Pinterest moderate; TikTok emerging
• 65+: Facebook first; YouTube second; lighter use of Instagram/TikTok; some Nextdoor for neighborhood info

Gender breakdown insights

• County split: ~51% women, 49% men
• Platform skews: Pinterest and Facebook lean female; YouTube, Reddit, and X lean male; Instagram and TikTok are mixed with slight female tilt; Snapchat skews younger/female

Behavioral trends observed in counties like Knox

• Facebook is the digital town square: heavy use of Groups (community, schools, youth sports, buy-sell-trade), Marketplace, and local event RSVPs; strong reach across 30+ and seniors
• Instagram for local discovery: food, boutiques, festivals; Stories/Reels outperform feed for engagement; 18–34 core
• TikTok drives short-form discovery: local eateries, events, behind-the-scenes at schools/teams; creator-style content outperforms polished ads
• Snapchat as default messaging among high school/college; Stories used for campus life and weekend plans
• YouTube for how-to, repairs/DIY, outdoors (hunting/fishing), and local sports highlights; CTV/long-form viewing rising
• Pinterest strong with women 25–54 for home, recipes, crafts; effective for retail and seasonal campaigns
• X for real-time weather, traffic, public safety, and high school/college sports updates; smaller but influential audience
• Usage is mobile-first; engagement peaks evenings (7–10 pm) and weekends; school calendars and sports seasons shape spikes
• Local businesses that post consistently to Facebook/Instagram and respond promptly in Messenger/DMs earn outsized reach; community photos, employee spotlights, and event tie-ins outperform generic promotions

Notes on methodology

• County-level platform penetration is not directly published; percentages shown are Pew Research Center’s latest U.S. adult usage rates applied to Knox County’s adult population (ACS 2023). Teen figures reflect Pew’s teen survey. This yields realistic local estimates and rank order that match patterns seen in Midwestern micropolitan counties.

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Community Survey (ACS)
• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (U.S. adults)
• Pew Research Center, Teens, Social Media and Technology 2023