Logan County

Logan County, Illinois — key demographics

Population size

• 27,987 (2020 Decennial Census), down from 30,305 in 2010 (−7.6%)

Age

• Median age: ~41–42 years
• Under 18: ~19%
• 18–64: ~61%
• 65 and over: ~20%

Gender

• Male: ~51%
• Female: ~49%

Race/ethnicity (Hispanic can be of any race)

• White: ~86%
• Black or African American: ~8%
• Hispanic/Latino: ~4%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• Asian: ~0.5%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.3%

Households and housing

• Households: ~10,900
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Family households: ~61% (married-couple ~47%)
• Nonfamily households: ~39%; living alone ~33%
• Homeownership rate: ~73% (owner-occupied); renters ~27%

Insights

• Small, aging county with population decline since 2010.
• Predominantly White with modest racial/ethnic diversity.
• Household structure leans toward family households and high homeownership.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates.

• Scope: Logan County, Illinois (population ~26,500; land area ~618 sq mi; density ≈43 people/sq mi).
• Estimated email users: ≈19,300 adults (18+) actively use email, based on local adult counts and U.S. email adoption norms.
• Age profile (email adoption rates among adults):
  • 18–29: ~97%
  • 30–49: ~96%
  • 50–64: ~92%
  • 65+: ~86% These rates imply a user base skewed slightly older than urban areas but still near-universal among working-age adults.
• Gender split: ≈51% female, ≈49% male among email users, mirroring the county’s adult population.
• Digital access and trends:
  • About 8 in 10 households subscribe to home broadband; roughly 1 in 7 lacks home internet, with a small but notable smartphone-only segment.
  • Device access is high (≈9 in 10 households have a computer and/or smartphone), supporting routine email use.
  • Connectivity is mixed: wired high-speed options are strongest in and around Lincoln; many rural townships rely more on fixed wireless or satellite, which can depress heavy email attachment use and work-from-home intensity.
• Insight: Despite rural density, email penetration is robust due to strong mobile access and adequate broadband in population centers, with adoption gaps concentrated among the oldest age group and the no-home-internet households.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Logan County, Illinois (2024–2025)

Headline estimates

• Population and households: ~27,000 residents and ~10,700 households (ACS 2020–2023).
• Smartphone users: 24,000–25,000 people (about 89–92% of residents, including teens); lower than Illinois overall (93–95%).
• Households with a smartphone: ~90–92% in Logan County vs ~94–95% statewide (ACS S2801).
• Households with any cellular data plan: ~88–91% vs ~92–94% Illinois (ACS S2801; counts any plan used by smartphones/tablets).
• Cellular-only home internet (no cable/fiber/DSL at home, relies on mobile data or hotspots): ~15–18% vs ~10–12% Illinois.
• No internet subscription at home: ~11–13% vs ~8–10% Illinois.
• Adults living in wireless-only households (no landline): ~68–72% vs ~72–75% Illinois (CDC NHIS state benchmarks, adjusted for older age mix).

Demographic breakdown and adoption patterns

• Age:
  • 18–64: smartphone adoption ~92–96%.
  • 65+: ~78–82% (a larger gap than the state, where 65+ adoption is closer to mid-80s).
  • Result: countywide adoption trails the state primarily because Logan County is older than Illinois overall.
• Income and affordability:
  • Households under $35k: higher reliance on cellular-only home internet (~28–32% vs ~20–22% statewide) and higher prepaid share, reflecting cost sensitivity.
  • Middle-income households (35–75k): mixed fixed broadband plus mobile; rural addresses push more mobile fallback than in metro Illinois.
• Urban–rural split:
  • Lincoln and the I‑55/I‑155 corridor exhibit near-state smartphone penetration and more mid‑band 5G use.
  • Outlying towns and farmsteads show the highest cellular‑only home internet reliance and the lowest fixed-broadband adoption.
• Device/platform mix:
  • Android share is a few points higher than the Illinois average, tied to prepaid and value device channels.
• Household composition:
  • Families with school‑age children show near‑universal smartphone adoption and high hotspot use for homework in areas with limited fixed options, higher than the state average outside major metros.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage:
  • 4G LTE is effectively universal in populated areas.
  • Low‑band/sub‑6 5G from all three national carriers covers Lincoln and the I‑55/I‑155 corridors, extending along IL‑10/IL‑121/US‑136 routes; coverage thins in low‑density farmland and inside metal/steel buildings.
• Capacity and speeds:
  • Mid‑band 5G (e.g., T‑Mobile n41, Verizon/AT&T C‑band) is present in and around Lincoln and along I‑55; typical median 5G downloads run ~70–150 Mbps in those zones, dropping to ~10–30 Mbps on LTE at the rural edges or in challenging indoor locations.
• Sites and backhaul:
  • Macro cellular footprint is consistent with roughly 25–35 macro sites countywide (about one site per 18–25 square miles), plus small cells near high‑traffic areas in Lincoln and along the interstates.
  • Fiber backhaul follows the interstate and state‑route corridors into Lincoln; fixed fiber availability remains patchy outside town limits, contributing to above‑average mobile hotspot dependence.
• Public safety and resilience:
  • FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) overlays the main corridors and population centers; redundant coverage along I‑55 is stronger than on east–west rural routes.

How Logan County differs from Illinois overall

• More mobile‑dependent households: Cellular‑only home internet is ~3–6 percentage points higher than the state, driven by gaps in fixed broadband on rural roads.
• Slightly lower smartphone penetration: Countywide adoption is a few points below the state, explained by an older age profile and lower incomes in parts of the county.
• Larger prepaid and Android footprint: Price sensitivity and retail mix raise prepaid share several points above the statewide average.
• Coverage vs capacity pattern: Outdoor coverage is broad, but mid‑band 5G capacity is concentrated in Lincoln and along interstates; rural interior areas spend more time on LTE and experience wider speed variability than typical Illinois suburbs and metros.
• Digital divide markers: The shares of households with no internet subscription and of older adults without smartphones are both higher than statewide norms, reinforcing the county’s above‑average reliance on mobile for essential connectivity.

Methodological notes

• Figures draw on the 2020 Census and 2019–2023 American Community Survey (S2801, B28002), CDC NHIS wireless‑only benchmarks (state level, adjusted to county age structure), FCC coverage filings, and operator-disclosed 5G deployments as of 2024. Where county‑specific measurements are not directly published (e.g., exact macro site counts, speed medians), values are derived from infrastructure density, topology, and observed deployment patterns in comparable rural Illinois counties.

Social media usage in Logan County, Illinois (2025 best-available estimates)

Overall reach and users

• Residents: ~27,000
• Internet users: 22,000–23,000 (about 82–86% of residents)
• Active social media users: 19,000–21,000 (about 70–76% of residents; 83–90% of internet users)
• Access is mobile-first (>85% of social activity happens on smartphones)

Most-used platforms (share of social media users who use each at least monthly)

• YouTube: 80–83%
• Facebook: 74–79%
• Instagram: 36–41%
• TikTok: 28–33%
• Snapchat: 23–29% (skews heavily to under-30s)
• Pinterest: 27–32% (skews female)
• LinkedIn: 14–18% (education/healthcare/government hiring)
• X (Twitter): 12–16% (local sports, statewide news, politics)
• Reddit: 10–14% (tech, gaming, hobbies)
• Nextdoor: 6–9% (limited footprint in rural blocks)

Age mix of social media users (share of users)

• 13–17: 6–8% (near-universal usage; platforms: Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube)
• 18–24: 9–11% (TikTok/Snapchat/Instagram dominant; Facebook for events/jobs)
• 25–34: 15–17% (Instagram/TikTok rising; Facebook Groups/Marketplace)
• 35–44: 17–19% (Facebook and YouTube core; Reels/Shorts adoption)
• 45–54: 16–18% (Facebook, YouTube; Pinterest for home/recipes)
• 55–64: 15–17% (Facebook daily; YouTube how‑to and local content)
• 65+: 15–18% (Facebook for family/community; YouTube news/how‑to)

Gender breakdown of social media users

• Female: ~52–54%
• Male: ~45–47%
• Nonbinary/other: ~1%

Behavioral trends and patterns

• Community-first usage: Heavy participation in Facebook Groups (schools, youth sports, churches, farming, local buy/sell) and frequent event RSVPs for fairs and community fundraisers.
• Marketplace and “shop local”: Facebook Marketplace is a primary channel for P2P commerce; service businesses rely on Facebook Pages + Messenger for inquiries and bookings.
• Video habits: Strong growth in short-form video (Reels/Shorts/TikTok) for local highlights, sports clips, and quick updates; YouTube favored for how‑to, church/ceremony streams, and school content.
• News and weather: Above-average engagement with local outlets, emergency alerts, and winter weather updates; shares and comments drive reach more than follows.
• Daily rhythm: Engagement concentrates in evenings (roughly 7–10 pm) with secondary midday/lunch spikes; weekends, especially Sunday evenings, perform well for family and community content.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are the primary private channels; WhatsApp usage is niche.
• Cross-posting behaviors: Instagram content is frequently auto-shared to Facebook; TikTok clips often reposted as Reels; YouTube links shared in Groups.
• Advertising response: Best results come from tight geo-targeting around Lincoln and nearby towns (15–25 mile radius), creative featuring recognizable local places/people, and clear calls to message or call. Fundraisers, promotions, and limited-time offers outperform generic brand ads.

Notes on basis

• Figures are county-specific estimates synthesized from U.S. Census/ACS population structure, rural Midwest broadband and smartphone adoption, and 2024–2025 platform usage patterns reported by Pew Research and platform ad reach tools. They reflect Logan County’s older-leaning, rural profile and the dominance of community/utility use cases.