Sangamon County

Key demographics – Sangamon County, Illinois

Population

• Total population: ~195.5k (July 1, 2023 estimate; 196,343 in 2020 Census)
• Population change since 2020: slight decline (roughly -0.4% to -0.8%)

Age

• Under 5 years: ~5.6%
• Under 18 years: ~21.5%
• 65 years and over: ~19%
• Median age: ~40–41 years

Gender

• Female: ~52%

Race and Hispanic/Latino origin (2020 Census)

• White alone: ~78%
• Black or African American alone: ~13–14%
• Asian alone: ~2%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0.3%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.1%
• Two or more races: ~4–5%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~2–3%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~76%

Households and housing (ACS)

• Households: ~84k
• Persons per household: ~2.3
• Owner-occupied housing unit rate: ~68–70%

Insights

• The county is moderately aging, with nearly one in five residents 65+ and a median age around 40.
• Racial/ethnic composition is majority White with a substantial Black population and relatively small Hispanic and Asian populations.
• Household size is modest and homeownership is the majority tenure, consistent with a predominantly suburban/metro-county profile centered on Springfield.

Primary sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2023 Population Estimates; American Community Survey 5-year).

• Scope: Sangamon County, IL (pop. ~196,000; density ~226 residents/sq mi; 2020 Census/2023 est.)
• Estimated email users: ~140,000–150,000 adults (≈90–95% of adult internet users), reflecting near‑universal email use among connected adults.
• Age distribution (email adoption rates applied locally, based on national benchmarks):
  • 18–29: ~98%
  • 30–49: ~97%
  • 50–64: ~93%
  • 65+: ~75–80%
• Gender split: Essentially even; email usage parity by gender. Among users, ≈49% male and ≈51% female, tracking county demographics.
• Digital access and devices (ACS-based county estimates):
  • Households with a computer: ≈93–95%
  • Households with a broadband subscription: ≈85–90%
  • Smartphone access: ≈87–90% of households
  • Mobile-only internet households: ≈10–15%
  • No home internet: ≈5–8%
• Trends and connectivity:
  • Urban Springfield drives high broadband adoption; cable gigabit widely available, with expanding fiber footprints; rural townships rely more on fixed wireless and cellular.
  • 5G coverage is strong in Springfield and along I‑55/I‑72 corridors, improving email access on mobile.
  • Digital divide persists for lower-income and older residents, concentrated outside the urban core.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (ACS Computer & Internet Use); Pew Research Center (adult email and internet adoption); FCC/National broadband datasets.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Sangamon County, Illinois

Headline user estimates (2024)

• Adult smartphone users: approximately 135,000–145,000 (about 90–93% of adults), implying total mobile phone users of roughly 150,000 when basic‑phone users are included.
• Households with a cellular data plan for internet: approximately 78–82% of households.
• Cellular‑only internet households (no wireline broadband): approximately 9–12% of households. How this differs from Illinois overall: Sangamon County shows slightly lower overall household broadband subscription and a higher reliance on cellular‑only internet than the Illinois average (statewide cellular‑only typically ~7–9%).

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age:
  • Adults 18–64: high smartphone adoption (>95%), mirroring the state.
  • Adults 65+: smartphone adoption estimated 75–80%, a few points lower than the Illinois average; higher propensity to be smartphone‑only for connectivity compared with their peers statewide.
• Income and affordability:
  • Lower‑income households are more likely to be cellular‑only internet users than the Illinois average, reflecting a modestly higher mobile‑reliance gap between low‑ and middle‑income homes in Sangamon than statewide.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Black and Hispanic households in the county exhibit high smartphone adoption but lower wireline broadband take‑up relative to White, non‑Hispanic households, which increases mobile‑only reliance more than the statewide pattern.
• Urban–rural split:
  • Springfield and the I‑55/I‑72 corridors have very high smartphone penetration and 5G usage; rural townships to the west and southeast show more LTE‑only usage and a higher share of cellular‑only home internet than the state average.

Digital infrastructure snapshot

• Network availability:
  • 5G from all three national carriers (AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon) covers Springfield, Chatham, Rochester, Sherman, and the I‑55/I‑72 corridors; LTE remains the primary layer in the most rural pockets.
  • C‑band 5G (3.7 GHz) from AT&T and Verizon and mid‑band 2.5 GHz from T‑Mobile are active in the Springfield area, providing capacity gains over statewide low‑band‑only 5G footprints.
  • FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) is deployed on multiple county sites, improving coverage and capacity for public safety and, indirectly, consumer traffic during off‑peak.
• Capacity and backhaul:
  • Dense macro‑site clustering around downtown Springfield/state facilities, major hospitals, and retail corridors; additional nodes along I‑55/I‑72 interchanges. Fiber backhaul is prevalent inside the Springfield urban footprint; microwave backhaul is more common at outlying rural sites.
• Performance characteristics:
  • Peak speeds and capacity in the Springfield urban core exceed statewide rural medians due to mid‑band 5G deployment and higher site density; edge‑of‑county areas show larger urban–rural performance gaps than typical Illinois counties of similar size.

Trends that differ from the Illinois state‑level picture

• Higher mobile‑only reliance: A larger share of households depend on cellular data as their only internet compared with the state, driven by affordability and availability tradeoffs outside Springfield.
• Slightly lower overall household broadband adoption: Fixed broadband subscription lags the Illinois average by a few points; smartphones substantially backfill connectivity needs.
• Weekday demand spikes: Government and healthcare employment clusters in Springfield produce a pronounced weekday daytime population inflow and heavier midday mobile traffic than seen in most Illinois counties, shaping capacity planning more around business‑hours peaks.
• Larger intra‑county variability: The county’s mix of a mid‑sized city and low‑density rural townships produces bigger within‑county gaps in 5G capacity and indoor coverage than the statewide average gap.

Notes on sources and methodology

• Estimates synthesize the latest available American Community Survey “Computer and Internet Use” indicators (e.g., presence of a smartphone, cellular data plan, cellular‑only households), Illinois statewide benchmarks, FCC Broadband Data Collection mobile coverage filings, and Pew Research smartphone adoption rates. Figures are aligned to 2022–2024 vintages; county‑level user counts are derived by applying observed adoption rates to Sangamon County’s adult population.

Social media usage in Sangamon County, Illinois (2024 snapshot)

Core user stats

• Total population (2023 est.): ~195,600; adults 18+: ~152,700 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019–2023)
• Households with broadband: ~86% (ACS 2019–2023)
• Adults using at least one major social platform: ≈127,000 (about 83% of adults; proxying the U.S. adult share using YouTube from Pew Research Center, 2024)

Demographics of the adult base

• Gender (county adults): ~51.5–52% female, ~48–48.5% male (ACS)
• Adult age mix (approx. counts):
  • 18–29: ~31,100 (20%)
  • 30–49: ~49,500 (32%)
  • 50–64: ~37,400 (24.5%)
  • 65+: ~34,700 (22.5%)

Most-used platforms among adults (modeled local estimates) Applying U.S. adult usage rates from Pew Research Center (2024) to the county’s adult population:

• YouTube: ~83% of adults ≈ 126,700 users
• Facebook: ~68% ≈ 103,800
• Instagram: ~47% ≈ 71,800
• TikTok: ~33% ≈ 50,400
• Snapchat: ~30% ≈ 45,800
• LinkedIn: ~30% ≈ 45,800
• X (Twitter): ~23% ≈ 35,100
• WhatsApp: ~21% ≈ 32,100
• Reddit: ~18% ≈ 27,500 Notes:
• Rankings locally mirror national adoption: YouTube and Facebook dominate reach; Instagram and TikTok are the next tier; Snapchat and LinkedIn are sizable niches; X, WhatsApp, and Reddit are smaller but material.
• Percentages are of the adult population; counts are rounded estimates.

Age-group usage patterns (directional, consistent with national behavior)

• 18–29: Very high on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat; Facebook used for events/groups but less for posting. Preference for short-form video and messaging-first interactions.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube are primary; Instagram strong; TikTok moderate and rising; LinkedIn above average among professionals.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram modest; TikTok/Snapchat lower but present; neighborhood/community platforms see more use.
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube are the mainstays; lighter use of other platforms; emphasis on local news, groups, and family updates.

Gender breakdown

• Overall social media audience in-county skews slightly female (≈53% female, 47% male), reflecting both the county’s gender mix and national platform skews.
• Platform skews by gender follow national patterns: Facebook/Instagram/TikTok lean female; X and Reddit lean male; LinkedIn is roughly balanced to slightly male.

Behavioral trends observed locally

• Civic and public-sector engagement: As the state capital, Springfield’s agencies, nonprofits, and policy community are active on Facebook, YouTube, and X; local civic information and emergency updates see strong engagement.
• Local news and community: Facebook Groups and Pages (local media, schools, sports, neighborhood buy/sell/trade, and events) are central discovery and discussion hubs.
• Events-driven spikes: The Illinois State Fair and government-session milestones drive bursts of video, reels, and hashtag activity, notably on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube is the default for how‑tos, local government streams, and regional sports; short‑form video via Reels and TikTok amplifies local promotions and festivals.
• SMB marketing footprint: Local retailers, restaurants, healthcare, and services rely on Facebook and Instagram for offers and reviews; LinkedIn is used for recruiting and networking across state government, healthcare systems, and education.
• Messaging-centric behavior: Facebook Messenger is ubiquitous; WhatsApp penetration is moderate and clustered in specific communities; DMs are a primary response channel for local businesses.
• Participation mix: Lurking and reacting outweigh original posting; comments surge in community and news threads, with peak engagement around commuting hours and early evening.

Method notes and sources

• Population, age, broadband, and gender: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019–2023 (Sangamon County, IL)
• Platform adoption rates: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (U.S. adults)
• Local counts are modeled by applying national adult adoption rates to the county’s adult population; they indicate order of magnitude and relative platform reach within Sangamon County.