Menard County

Menard County, Illinois — key demographics

Population size

• Total population: 12,776 (2020 Census)
• Current estimate: ~12.6k (2019–2023 ACS 5-year)

Age

• Median age: ~45 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: ~22%
• 18–64: ~59%
• 65 and over: ~19%

Gender

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023; shares may not sum to 100% due to overlap of Hispanic ethnicity with race)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~93%
• Black or African American: ~2–3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2–3%
• Two or more races: ~2%
• Asian: ~0.3–0.5%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.2%

Households and housing (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: ~5,050
• Average household size: ~2.4
• Family households: ~68% of households
• Married-couple households: ~52% of households
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~80–82%
• Housing units: ~5,400–5,600; vacancy rate ~7–8%

Insights

• Small, stable population with a relatively older age profile (median age mid-40s).
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White with small minority populations.
• Household structure is family-oriented with high homeownership and modest household sizes.

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

• Scale and density: Menard County has ≈12,900 residents across ≈314 sq mi (≈41 people per sq mi).
• Estimated email users: ≈9,400 adult email users (about 72% of the total population; ≈92% of adults).
• Age distribution of email users (count; share of email users):
  • 18–29: ≈1,500 (16%)
  • 30–49: ≈3,100 (33%)
  • 50–64: ≈2,600 (28%)
  • 65+: ≈2,200 (23%)
• Gender split among email users: ≈50% female and 50% male (≈4,700 women; ≈4,700 men).
• Digital access and usage trends:
  • Home broadband subscription: ≈81% of households; ≈12% report no home internet; ≈7% rely on smartphone-only internet.
  • Email engagement is mature and routine: adoption is near-universal among working-age adults and strong among seniors, supporting government, healthcare, and school communications.
  • Connectivity is densest around Petersburg and Athens with multiple fixed-broadband options; outer rural areas have fewer wired choices and lean more on fixed wireless or satellite, which can raise latency and reduce speeds.
• Local takeaway: With relatively low population density but high home-internet availability, email is the county’s default digital channel for adults, with particularly high penetration among ages 30–64 and a still-substantial base among 65+.

Mobile phone usage in Menard County, Illinois — summary with user estimates, demographics, and infrastructure, highlighting where the county differs from statewide patterns

At-a-glance (latest available public data; estimates where noted)

• Population: 12,705 (2020 Census).
• Estimated smartphone users: about 9,200–9,600 people (roughly 73–76% of residents), reflecting high adult adoption but a sizable 65+ population that pulls the county below statewide penetration.
• Households with a smartphone: approximately high‑80s percent in Menard vs low‑90s percent statewide (ACS “Computer & Internet Use,” multi‑year estimates).
• Households with any internet subscription: roughly low‑80s percent in Menard vs high‑80s percent statewide (ACS), with a higher share of cellular‑only home internet than the Illinois average.
• 4G LTE coverage: essentially universal outdoors across the county from national carriers; indoor reliability varies in low‑lying and wooded areas.
• 5G coverage: available from all three national carriers to most residents; coverage depth and mid‑band capacity are thinner than in metro Illinois.

Demographic breakdown and usage implications

• Age structure: Menard has an older profile than Illinois as a whole (65+ share around one‑fifth vs mid‑teens statewide). Estimated smartphone ownership by age in the county:
  • Ages 18–64: roughly upper‑80s percent (a few points below urban Illinois due to rural gap).
  • Ages 65+: roughly around 70% (lower than the state average for seniors), a key driver of the county’s lower overall penetration.
  • Teens (13–17): around 90%+ have smartphones; children under 13 bring down per‑capita ownership when measured against total population.
• Income and education: Menard skews middle‑income and largely rural. Relative to Illinois, a slightly higher share of households use cellular data as a primary or fallback home connection where cable/fiber are limited, which increases smartphone and hotspot reliance for day‑to‑day internet tasks in certain tracts.
• Commuting pattern: A majority of employed residents work outside the county, especially in nearby Springfield (Sangamon County). Mobile demand concentrates along the IL‑97/IL‑29 corridors and in town centers at peak times, with lighter daytime demand in the county interior.

Digital infrastructure and market characteristics

• Carrier presence: AT&T, Verizon, and T‑Mobile all provide 4G LTE countywide and 5G coverage to most populated areas (Petersburg, Athens, Greenview, and along main corridors). UScellular and regional fixed‑wireless ISPs operate in surrounding central Illinois and provide roaming or home internet options in parts of the county.
• Network depth:
  • 5G mid‑band capacity (fastest everyday 5G) is present but more spotty than in metro counties; low‑band 5G provides broad coverage at LTE‑like speeds.
  • Macro sites are spaced farther apart than in urban Illinois, so indoor performance can vary in river valleys, wooded terrain near the Sangamon River, and on the county’s fringes.
• Home internet mix affecting mobile usage:
  • Cable is available in town centers; fiber is present in limited pockets; many rural households rely on DSL, fixed wireless, or cellular hotspots.
  • Cellular‑only households (phone plan or hotspot as primary internet) are more common than the statewide average, driving heavier mobile data use for homework, streaming, and telehealth in these areas.

How Menard County differs from the Illinois average (key trends)

• Lower smartphone penetration: A few percentage points lower household smartphone rate than the state, and a lower per‑capita user share, driven mainly by an older population and rural coverage/capacity realities.
• Higher cellular‑only reliance: A larger share of households lean on mobile data as their primary or backup home internet, compared with Illinois overall.
• Coverage breadth over depth: 4G/5G coverage is wide but with fewer high‑capacity 5G sectors than metro counties; peak speeds and indoor reliability are more variable.
• Time‑of‑day load shifts: Commuter flows to Springfield concentrate usage along highway corridors and in towns during morning/evening peaks more than in purely urban counties.
• Device and plan mix: A somewhat higher share of budget and prepaid plans than the state average, consistent with rural Illinois patterns, which can influence average speeds and hotspot use.

Method notes

• Population and age structure: 2020 Decennial Census.
• Smartphone and internet adoption: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) “Computer & Internet Use” multi‑year county and state estimates; user counts derived by applying age‑specific adoption rates (benchmarked to recent national rural/urban splits) to Menard’s age structure.
• Coverage and infrastructure: FCC Broadband Map (2024) patterns, carrier public coverage maps, and central Illinois deployment norms for 4G/5G and fixed wireless.

Bottom line: Menard County’s mobile landscape is characterized by near‑universal 4G, substantial but thinner 5G capacity than urban Illinois, slightly lower smartphone adoption tied to its older, rural profile, and noticeably higher reliance on cellular service for home connectivity—factors that collectively make mobile networks both a primary on‑the‑go service and, for many households, a critical at‑home broadband substitute.

Menard County, IL social media snapshot (best-available estimates; 2024–2025)

Population baseline

• Total residents: 12,776 (2020 Census).
• Estimated social media users: ~7,900 residents total.
  • Adults: ~7,100 (based on ~77% adults and ~72% of U.S. adults using at least one social platform).
  • Teens 13–17: ~800 (high teen adoption ~95%).

Most-used platforms (adults, share of 18+ who use the platform; Pew Research Center, 2024)

• YouTube: 83%
• Facebook: 68%
• Instagram: 47%
• TikTok: 33%
• Pinterest: 35%
• LinkedIn: 30%
• Snapchat: 27%
• X (Twitter): 22%
• Reddit: 22% Note: Applying these rates to Menard’s ~9.8k adults yields rough local user counts; e.g., Facebook ~6.7k adults, Instagram ~4.6k, TikTok ~3.2k.

Age groups

• Teens (13–17): YouTube (93%), TikTok (63%), Snapchat (60%), Instagram (59%), Facebook (~33%) (Pew teens, 2023). Very heavy daily use, especially short‑form video and messaging.
• 18–29: Near‑universal YouTube; majority on Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok; Facebook is secondary but still significant.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram meaningful; TikTok roughly one‑third penetration; LinkedIn relevant for professionals.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube lead; Pinterest notable; TikTok/Instagram smaller but growing.
• 65+: Facebook first, YouTube second; limited TikTok/Instagram.

Gender breakdown

• Overall user base is roughly evenly split male/female in Menard County; expect platform skews typical of the U.S.:
  • Women over‑index on Facebook, Instagram, and especially Pinterest.
  • Men over‑index on YouTube, Reddit, and X.
  • TikTok skews slightly female; LinkedIn skews slightly male.

Behavioral trends (local/rural Midwest patterns)

• Facebook as civic infrastructure: High engagement with local government, school districts, church groups, booster clubs, festivals, and buy/sell/garage‑sale groups. Local news and weather updates commonly spread via Facebook Groups and Pages.
• Marketplace and classifieds: Strong use of Facebook Marketplace for person‑to‑person commerce; posts with photos and clear pickup details perform best.
• Short‑form video rise: TikTok and Instagram Reels consumption is growing across all ages under 50; local creators highlight high‑school sports, outdoors, home projects, and small‑business promos.
• YouTube for how‑to and local interests: DIY, ag/outdoors, home repair, hunting/fishing, and product reviews drive watch time; longer sessions in evenings and weekends.
• Messaging layer: Facebook Messenger is the default for adults; Snapchat messaging is primary for teens/young adults; group chats coordinate sports, school, and church activities.
• Timing and device use: Mobile‑first. Activity peaks early morning (commute/school prep), lunch, and 7–10 pm. Severe weather, school closures, and community incidents cause sharp spikes.
• Trust dynamics: With limited local news outlets, residents rely on known community admins and word‑of‑mouth; rumor control and moderation in Facebook Groups materially affect reach and sentiment.

Method and sources

• Population baseline from U.S. Census (2020).
• Platform adoption rates from Pew Research Center (Social Media Use in 2024; Teens, Social Media and Technology 2023).
• Menard County figures are derived by applying nationally representative adoption rates to the county’s adult and teen populations; actual local usage will vary modestly but the rankings and skews are robust.