Lawrence County

Lawrence County, Illinois – key demographics (most recent U.S. Census/ACS)

Population size

• Total population (2020 Census): 15,280
• 2023 population estimate: ~15,100

Age

• Under 5 years: ~4–5%
• Under 18 years: ~16–17%
• 65 years and over: ~20–21%
• Median age: ~40 years

Sex

• Male: ~57%
• Female: ~43%
• Note: The male share is elevated due to the presence of a state correctional facility counted in the county’s population.

Race and Hispanic origin

• White alone: ~85–86%
• Black or African American alone: ~10%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0.3–0.4%
• Asian alone: ~0.3–0.4%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~3–4%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~82–83%

Households and housing

• Households: ~5,600–5,700
• Persons per household: ~2.25–2.30
• Family households: ~58%
• Married-couple households: ~45–47%
• Nonfamily households: ~42%
• Households with children under 18: ~22–24%
• 1-person households: ~35–36% (about 15–16% are age 65+ living alone)
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~71–72%; renter-occupied: ~28–29%

Insights

• Population is slowly declining and older-leaning, with about one in five residents 65+.
• Sex ratio and the shares of Black and Hispanic residents are influenced upward by the incarcerated (group quarters) population.
• Household size is modest and homeownership is typical for rural Illinois counties. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 and 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates; Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023).

• Scope: Lawrence County, Illinois (pop ~15,000; land area ~372 sq mi; density ~40 persons/sq mi).
• Estimated email users: ~10.6k residents (about 71% of all residents; ~90% of adults).
• Gender split among email users: ~51% female, ~49% male.
• Age distribution of email users (counts rounded):
  • 13–17: ~0.6k (≈6%)
  • 18–34: ~2.65k (≈25%)
  • 35–54: ~3.17k (≈30%)
  • 55–64: ~1.79k (≈17%)
  • 65+: ~2.41k (≈23%)
• Digital access and usage trends:
  • Households with a broadband subscription: ~78%.
  • Smartphone-only internet households: ~14%.
  • Daily email use: ~70% of email users check daily.
  • Adoption is highest among ages 18–54 (≈92–96% have email); seniors 65+ show solid but lower adoption (≈70%), rising as telehealth and e-government services expand.
  • Town centers (e.g., Lawrenceville/Bridgeport) have the most reliable wired options; rural areas rely more on DSL/fixed wireless with patchier performance, reflecting typical rural Illinois gaps.
• Connectivity context:
  • Rural county with dispersed population increases last-mile costs and dead zones; service quality is strongest along main corridors and near population clusters, with ongoing upgrades narrowing—but not eliminating—rural coverage gaps.

Lawrence County, Illinois: Mobile phone usage snapshot (2024)

Core user estimates

• Population baseline: ~15,000 residents; ~11,800 adults (18+).
• Mobile phone users (any mobile, 12+): ~11,600 users (about 92–94% of residents aged 12+).
• Adult smartphone users: ~10,000 (about 84–86% of adults).
• Smartphone users countywide (including teens): ~10,800.
• Mobile-only home internet households (rely primarily on cellular data plans, no fixed broadband): ~18% of households, versus ~10% statewide.

Demographic breakdown of usage

• Age
  • 18–34: smartphone adoption ~95% (near state-level).
  • 35–64: ~88–90% (a few points below state average).
  • 65+: ~60–65% (notably below Illinois, where seniors are closer to ~75–80%).
• Income
  • Under $35k: smartphone adoption ~75–80%; mobile-only home internet ~24–28%.
  • $35k–$75k: smartphone adoption ~85–90%; mobile-only ~14–16%.
  • $75k+: smartphone adoption ~93–96%; mobile-only ~6–8%.
• Geography within the county
  • Lawrenceville and Sumner areas: highest smartphone and 5G usage, more postpaid plans.
  • Outlying rural townships: higher share of LTE-only use, more prepaid plans, and more mobile-only home connectivity.
• Other indicators
  • Device refresh cycles run longer than the state average (more 3–4+ year-old devices in use).
  • Multiline family plans are common; eSIM adoption remains lower than in metro Illinois.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• 4G LTE: broadly available across populated areas; reliable along US 50 and IL 1. Patchier coverage in low-lying river-bottom and wooded areas near the Wabash River and away from state routes.
• 5G availability: low-band 5G from national carriers is present in and around Lawrenceville and along major corridors; mid-band 5G is limited to town centers and select corridors. Practical 5G population coverage is materially lower than in Illinois metro counties.
• Backhaul and capacity: fewer fiber-fed macro sites relative to urban Illinois; more LTE fallback and capacity constraints during peak evening hours.
• Fixed broadband context: cable/fiber availability is concentrated in Lawrenceville; DSL, fixed wireless, and satellite fill gaps elsewhere. This drives higher mobile-only reliance than the statewide norm.

How Lawrence County differs from Illinois overall

• Adoption gap: adult smartphone adoption is roughly 5–7 percentage points lower than the state average; “any mobile” ownership is also a few points lower.
• Senior usage: the 65+ adoption gap versus the state is pronounced (roughly 10–15 points lower), materially shaping overall county averages.
• Connectivity pattern: mobile-only home internet dependence is significantly higher than the state level, reflecting sparser fixed broadband options outside town centers.
• Network experience: more LTE-first usage and less mid-band 5G depth than typical Illinois markets; coverage holes remain in fringe rural areas.
• Plan and device mix: relatively higher prepaid share and slower device upgrade cycles than statewide, modestly dampening advanced 5G feature uptake.

Bottom line

• Lawrence County is a high-usage, mobile-first rural market with near-ubiquitous LTE, selective 5G, and a higher-than-average reliance on cellular data for home connectivity. Overall smartphone adoption is strong but trails the Illinois average, with the gap driven mainly by older and lower-income segments and by infrastructure that remains less dense and less fiber-fed than in metropolitan parts of the state.

Lawrence County, Illinois social media usage — concise snapshot (2025)

Baseline and addressable audience

• Total residents: ≈15,100
• Notable adjustment: The county hosts Lawrence Correctional Center (≈2,300–2,500 incarcerated men). Institutionalized residents are not part of the social media audience.
• Community-dwelling adults (18+): ≈10,100
• Adults who are online: ≈8,400 (about 83% of adults; rural broadband plus mobile usage)

Estimated adult reach by platform (share of all adults; approximate count)

• YouTube: 83% (~8.4k)
• Facebook: 68% (~6.9k)
• Instagram: 47% (~4.8k)
• Pinterest: 35% (~3.5k)
• TikTok: 33% (~3.3k)
• Snapchat: 30% (~3.0k)
• LinkedIn: 30% (~3.0k)
• X (Twitter): 22% (~2.2k) Notes: These are overlapping audiences. Percentages reflect typical U.S. adult usage applied to the county’s adult population; they align with observed rural/older-skew adoption patterns.

Age patterns

• County skews older (roughly one in five residents is 65+), which lifts Facebook and YouTube usage relative to Instagram/TikTok.
• 18–29: Near-universal social use; heaviest on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok; Facebook retained for family/groups.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube dominant; Instagram secondary; TikTok growing for entertainment and local promotions.
• 50–64: Facebook is primary; YouTube second; limited use of newer platforms.
• 65+: Facebook for community, church, and family updates; YouTube increasingly used on smart TVs for news and services.
• Teens (13–17): Prefer Snapchat and TikTok; Instagram present; Facebook mostly for teams/clubs/parents.

Gender breakdown

• Among community-dwelling adults, the active social media audience skews slightly female: ≈53% women, 47% men.
• Platform tilt: Women over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube and X. The county’s male-heavy official population is inflated by incarceration and does not translate to more active male social users.

Behavioral trends and usage habits

• Facebook is the local hub: Groups for school districts, sports, yard sales, obituaries, weather alerts, and community safety; Marketplace is widely used for buying/selling.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is the default across age groups; Snapchat messaging is strong among teens/young adults.
• Video: YouTube serves DIY, agriculture, auto repair, church services, and local news; short-form video (Reels/TikTok) is now a core format for small-business promotion.
• Content that performs: Local faces, place names, school and church events, severe-weather updates, and practical tips; polished “corporate” creative underperforms versus authentic local footage.
• Device and timing: Mobile-first consumption; peak engagement evenings (7–10 pm) and lunchtime; weekend mornings are strong for events and Marketplace.
• Advertising behavior: Small businesses rely on boosted Facebook posts and simple geotargeting; cross-posting TikTok/Instagram Reels to Facebook is common to reach older audiences.

Method notes

• Population and age structure reflect recent ACS/Census patterns for Lawrence County, with institutionalized populations excluded from the addressable base.
• Platform reach percentages are based on the latest Pew Research national adult usage rates applied to the county’s adult population and adjusted for its rural/older profile. Counts are rounded approximations.