Richland County

Richland County, Illinois — key demographics

Population size

• 15,813 (2020 Census)
• 15,5xx–15,6xx (2023 Census estimate; modest decline from 2020)

Age

• Under 5 years: ~5%
• Under 18 years: ~22%
• 65 years and over: ~21%
• Median age: ~42 years (ACS 2018–2022)

Gender

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50% (ACS/QuickFacts)

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2018–2022)

• White alone: ~94%
• Black or African American alone: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0.3%
• Asian alone: ~0.5–0.6%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~2–3%
• White alone, not Hispanic: ~92%

Household data (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~6,600–6,700
• Persons per household: ~2.33
• Owner-occupied housing unit rate: ~74%
• Family households: ~60% (approx.)
• Households with children under 18: ~27% (approx.)
• Households made up of individuals: ~30% (approx.); ~12% with someone 65+ living alone

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates; 2023 Population Estimates Program).

Richland County, IL email usage snapshot

• Population and density: 15,813 residents (2020 Census); ~44 people per sq. mile.
• Estimated email users: 11,800–12,600 residents (about 75–80% of the population), based on local broadband subscription levels and near‑universal email use among internet users.
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 13–17: ~7–9%
  • 18–29: ~16–18%
  • 30–49: ~32–35%
  • 50–64: ~25–28%
  • 65+: ~15–18%
• Gender split of email users: ~51% female, 49% male, mirroring county demographics.
• Digital access and trends:
  • Broadband: Low‑to‑mid 80% of households are subscribed, with strongest connectivity in and around Olney; outer rural areas have fewer high‑speed options.
  • Mobile: Smartphone access is widespread; roughly 15–20% of households are mobile‑only for internet.
  • Usage: Email is near‑universal among working‑age adults and steadily rising among seniors; most reading occurs on mobile devices.
• Local connectivity context: Low population density and dispersed settlement increase last‑mile costs, but continued expansion of fiber and fixed‑wireless is narrowing rural gaps; libraries, schools, and public Wi‑Fi remain important access points.

These figures reflect county population structure, rural Illinois broadband patterns, and national email adoption rates.

Richland County, Illinois — mobile phone usage summary (distinct from statewide patterns)

Headline takeaways

• Smaller, older, more rural than Illinois overall, which translates into high mobile reliance for basic connectivity but lower 5G capacity and speeds than the state median.
• Mobile ownership is near-universal among adults, yet smartphone adoption lags large metro Illinois; a larger share of households rely on mobile as their primary or only internet access.

Population context

• 2023 population estimate: about 15,300; households: ~6,700; land area: ~360 sq mi.
• Older population profile: roughly 22–23% age 65+ (vs ~16–17% statewide), which affects device mix and plan selection.
• Predominantly rural; Olney is the primary population center.

Estimated users and adoption (2024)

• Adults with a mobile phone (any mobile): approximately 11,000–11,500 users (around 93–96% of adults), near statewide levels.
• Adults with a smartphone: approximately 9,800–10,500 (around 83–88% of adults), a few points below Illinois’ large-metro average.
• Households relying only on mobile for voice (no landline): approximately 4,300–4,900 (about 65–73% of households), in line with national rural trends and slightly higher than Illinois’ metro-heavy average.
• Households that are smartphone-/cellular-only for internet at home: approximately 1,300–1,700 (about 19–25% of households), materially higher than the statewide share, reflecting patchier wired broadband.
• Prepaid usage: meaningfully above Illinois’ metro average; prepaid and value carriers account for a larger minority of lines given income mix and credit preferences.

Demographic usage patterns

• 18–34: Near-urban smartphone adoption and heavy app/video usage; hotspots used for portable connectivity.
• 35–64: High smartphone penetration; multi-line family plans common; more work and school hotspot use than in metro Illinois where wired broadband is stronger.
• 65+: Lower smartphone penetration than the state average, with a higher share of basic/flip phones or limited-data plans; however, text/voice use is high and growing, and telehealth adoption is rising off a lower base.
• Income: Lower median income than Illinois overall correlates with higher prepaid uptake, slower upgrade cycles, and greater price sensitivity.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Networks present: AT&T (including FirstNet), Verizon, T-Mobile, and UScellular provide LTE and low-band 5G across populated corridors; roaming/MVNO coverage is broadly available.
• 5G footprint: Low-band 5G is widespread along primary routes and in Olney; mid-band 5G (capacity) is concentrated in and around Olney and along main highways, with sparse coverage in the most rural tracts. Small-cell deployments are limited; coverage relies on macro towers.
• Speeds and experience: Typical rural results are lower than Illinois’ metro-dominated median. Expect low-band 5G/LTE downloads roughly 10–100 Mbps depending on proximity to towns and towers, with higher variance at edges of coverage. Uplink and indoor performance drop notably outside Olney.
• Reliability and backhaul: Capacity constraints appear during evening peaks and at school and event locations. Fiber backhaul is more limited than in metro areas, which constrains 5G mid-band reach and sustained throughput.
• Fixed wireless: 4G/5G fixed wireless access fills gaps where cable/fiber are absent, reinforcing the above-average share of mobile-/cellular-only households.

How Richland County differs from statewide Illinois

• Higher reliance on mobile for primary home connectivity and for voice-only households due to uneven wired broadband.
• Lower smartphone penetration among seniors and a larger basic-phone segment, pulling down overall smartphone share versus the state.
• Lower median mobile speeds and capacity, fewer mid-band 5G nodes, and minimal small-cell density compared with Chicago-area and larger Downstate metros.
• Higher prepaid and MVNO usage share, reflecting local income and credit profiles.
• Greater dependence on macro-grid coverage along highways and in towns; coverage gaps and indoor performance challenges are more pronounced in the most rural blocks than in statewide averages.

Implications

• Demand is strong for competitively priced plans, robust rural coverage, and mid-band 5G buildouts around Olney and along commuter corridors.
• Mobile and fixed wireless will continue to substitute for wireline in outlying areas; programs that expand fiber backhaul and mid-band 5G will disproportionately improve user experience relative to statewide gains.
• Senior-focused device support and simplified plans can expand smartphone adoption where it lags, while maintaining strong text/voice reliability remains critical for emergency and telehealth access.

Notes on figures

• Counts and percentages are 2023–2024 estimates derived from county population and household totals, rural Illinois mobile adoption patterns, and national device-use benchmarks applied to Richland County’s age and rural profile. They are intended to be directionally accurate for planning and comparison to state-level trends.

Richland County, IL social media snapshot (modeled 2025)

Context

• Population: about 15.8k residents (2020 Census). Rural profile with slightly older age mix than the U.S. average.

Overall usage (adults 18+)

• Use any social platform monthly (incl. YouTube): 82–87%
• Use social platforms monthly (excl. YouTube): 68–73%

Most-used platforms (monthly reach, adults)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 68–74%
• Instagram: 32–38%
• TikTok: 22–28%
• Snapchat: 20–25%
• Pinterest: 24–29%
• X (Twitter): 14–18%
• LinkedIn: 11–14%
• Reddit: 9–12%
• Nextdoor: 5–8%

Age patterns (share using monthly, adults)

• 18–29: YouTube ~95%; Instagram 70–80%; Snapchat 60–70%; TikTok 55–65%; Facebook 50–60%
• 30–49: YouTube ~90%; Facebook 70–75%; Instagram 45–55%; TikTok 28–35%; Snapchat 25–30%
• 50–64: Facebook 65–72%; YouTube 80–85%; Instagram 28–35%; TikTok 12–18%
• 65+: Facebook 55–62%; YouTube 55–65%; Instagram 12–18%; TikTok 5–10%

Gender differences (share using monthly)

• Facebook: women ~70–75%; men ~62–67%
• YouTube: men ~83–88%; women ~78–83%
• Instagram: women 36–42%; men 28–34%
• TikTok: women 24–30%; men 18–24%
• Pinterest: women 40–48%; men 10–15%
• X: men 18–22%; women 10–15%
• Snapchat: women 22–27%; men 18–23%

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the community hub: Groups for buy/sell, school athletics, churches, civic updates; Marketplace is the dominant local classifieds channel.
• Messaging splits by age: Messenger is standard for most adults; Snapchat is the default for teens/younger adults; WhatsApp remains niche.
• Video habits: YouTube for how‑to, local sports/church streams; TikTok for under‑35 entertainment and trends.
• Commerce and discovery: Facebook Events drive attendance; Instagram supports local boutiques/crafters; Pinterest influences home/garden projects.
• Engagement timing: Peaks around 6–8 am, lunch, and 7–10 pm; weekend spikes for Marketplace; seasonal surges around school sports and severe weather.
• News consumption: Local government and regional news stations’ Facebook pages are primary; X serves a small, news/sports‑oriented cohort.
• Ads: Boosted Facebook posts deliver the best local reach/ROI; Instagram boosts help with under‑40; TikTok ads are emerging but still limited; LinkedIn is used mainly for healthcare/education recruiting.

Notes on method

• Figures are modeled for Richland County by combining 2020 Census demographics with Pew Research Center 2024 U.S. platform adoption, adjusted modestly for rural Midwest usage patterns.