Union County

Union County, Illinois – key demographics

Population size

• 17,244 (2020 Census)
• 16,978 (2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimate)

Age

• Median age: 43.9 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: 21.3%
• 18 to 64: 58.1%
• 65 and over: 20.6%

Gender

• Female: 50.8%
• Male: 49.2%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2019–2023)

• Non-Hispanic White: 90.9%
• Non-Hispanic Black: 2.1%
• Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native: 0.3%
• Non-Hispanic Asian: 0.4%
• Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.0%
• Non-Hispanic Some other race: 0.2%
• Non-Hispanic Two or more races: 1.7%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): 4.4%

Households and housing (ACS 2019–2023)

• Households: 6,980
• Average household size: 2.39
• Family households: 62.8% of households
• Married-couple households: 47.0%
• Households with children under 18: 25.9%
• Nonfamily households: 37.2%; living alone: 31.5%; 65+ living alone: 12.8%
• Housing units: 7,900; occupied: 88.3%
• Tenure: 74.8% owner-occupied; 25.2% renter-occupied

Insights

• The county is shrinking modestly versus 2010 and skews older, with one in five residents 65+.
• Population is predominantly non-Hispanic White, with a small but present Hispanic community.
• Household structure is dominated by owner-occupied, married-couple family households, with a substantial share of single-person households.

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

Union County, Illinois snapshot (population ≈16,900; density ≈40 residents per square mile – rural)

Estimated email users

• ≈11,500 residents use email (≈68% of all residents; ≈87% of adults 18+)

Age distribution of email users (share of users; ≈counts)

• 18–29: ~18% (≈2.1k)
• 30–49: ~34% (≈3.9k)
• 50–64: ~24% (≈2.7k)
• 65+: ~24% (≈2.7k)

Gender split among email users

• ≈51% female, 49% male

Digital access and trends

• About 4 in 5 households have a home broadband subscription; adoption has edged upward in recent years, while DSL dependence has declined in favor of cable, fiber where available, and fixed wireless.
• Smartphone access is widespread; a meaningful minority of households rely primarily on mobile data where fixed broadband is limited.
• Fiber and higher-speed cable are concentrated in and around Anna–Jonesboro; outside town centers, residents more often rely on cable/DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite.

Connectivity context

• Low population density and the hilly, forested terrain near Shawnee National Forest raise last‑mile costs and contribute to service gaps; speeds and reliability are best in town centers and along primary corridors (e.g., US‑51/IL‑146).

Union County, Illinois — mobile phone usage snapshot (2025)

Population and household base

• Population: ~16,900 (2023 estimate), ~6,900 households
• Age 65+: ~22% of residents (older than the Illinois average), which materially shapes device adoption and plan choices

User estimates

• Mobile phone users (any cellphone), age 13+: 13,900 users (95–96% of residents age 13+; ~82% of total population)
• Smartphone users, age 13+: 12,800 users (88% of residents age 13+; ~76% of total population)
• By age (users, rounded):
  • Ages 18–64: ~9,500 with a cellphone; ~9,000 with a smartphone
  • Ages 65+: ~3,400 with a cellphone; ~2,800 with a smartphone
  • Ages 13–17: ~960 with a cellphone; ~910 with a smartphone
• Takeaway: Adult smartphone adoption in Union County is a few points lower than the Illinois average, with the gap concentrated among residents 65+

Demographic patterns behind usage

• Older population share: Higher-than-state senior share drives lower smartphone penetration and slightly higher basic-phone use
• Income and plan mix: Lower median household income relative to the state correlates with elevated prepaid and budget MVNO usage and higher likelihood of mobile-only internet households
• Mobile-only internet households: ~15% of households rely on a cellular data plan as their primary home internet (vs ~8% statewide), reflecting gaps in affordable wired broadband
• No-home-internet households: ~16% of households lack any home internet subscription (vs ~11% statewide); many still have mobile phones and use handset data as a substitute

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Carriers present: AT&T (including FirstNet), Verizon, T-Mobile, and UScellular have macro coverage; MVNOs ride these networks
• Coverage pattern: 4G LTE is broadly available in populated corridors (Anna–Jonesboro, US‑51, IL‑146, and near I‑57 access routes). 5G is present but mostly low-band; mid-band 5G capacity is notably sparser than in Illinois metro areas
• Terrain effects: Hills and forest canopy on the Shawnee National Forest side create localized dead zones and variable in-building signal, especially off the highways and in hollows
• Backhaul: Fiber backbones along primary routes (including regional carriers and the Illinois Century Network) feed town-center sites; off-corridor sites more often rely on microwave backhaul, constraining peak capacity
• Public safety: AT&T FirstNet coverage is established along primary corridors and county facilities; off-corridor coverage is adequate for voice but less consistent for high-throughput data
• Fixed-wireless role: CBRS and licensed LTE/5G fixed wireless fill gaps where DSL/cable are limited, reinforcing the higher share of mobile-only or mobile-first households

How Union County differs from Illinois overall

• Lower smartphone penetration among seniors: ~5 points below state norms, pulling down overall adoption despite near-universal cellphone ownership
• More mobile-only households: Roughly double the statewide share, due to patchier wired options and cost sensitivity
• Heavier prepaid/MVNO use: Meaningfully higher than the state average, aligned with income mix and coverage variability
• 5G capacity gap: Wider reliance on low-band 5G and LTE, with limited mid-band build-out compared to metro Illinois; this shows up as slower median speeds at peak times and larger rural dead zones
• Infrastructure dispersion: Tower siting is corridor-centric with terrain-limited propagation, so service quality drops faster with distance from towns than in flatter parts of the state

Definitions and sources

• Estimates combine U.S. Census/ACS 2022–2023 population and household structure with Pew Research ownership rates by age cohort (cellphone and smartphone), applied to the county age mix; infrastructure points reflect FCC Broadband Data Collection (2024), Illinois Century Network documentation, and carrier public coverage disclosures for southern Illinois.

Social media usage in Union County, Illinois (2024–2025) Note: Figures are modeled county-level estimates combining U.S. Census Union County demographics with recent Pew Research Center platform adoption by age and rural residence. Percentages are rounded and refer to residents ages 13+ unless noted.

Headline user stats

• Population: ≈16,700
• Social media users (13+): ≈11,300 (≈68% of total population; ≈79% of residents 13+)

Age distribution of social media users

• 13–17: 8%
• 18–29: 17%
• 30–44: 24%
• 45–64: 31%
• 65+: 20%

Gender breakdown

• Female: 54%
• Male: 46%
• Platform skews: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest lean female; YouTube and X (Twitter) lean male; Snapchat slightly female.

Most-used platforms (monthly reach among residents 13+)

• YouTube: ≈71%
• Facebook: ≈66%
• Instagram: ≈34%
• Pinterest: ≈29%
• TikTok: ≈26%
• Snapchat: ≈22%
• X (Twitter): ≈14%
• LinkedIn: ≈11% (Note: Many residents use multiple platforms; percentages overlap.)

Behavioral trends and local patterns

• Facebook as the town square: Highest daily reach, driven by Groups (schools, churches, youth sports, local government) and Marketplace. Local news, weather, school closures, and high-school sports generate above-average comments and shares.
• Video first: Short-form video (Facebook Reels, Instagram Reels, TikTok) draws higher view-through than static images across age groups; how‑to, local events, and behind‑the‑scenes content perform best.
• Lurkers > posters: Adults 30+ are more likely to browse, react, and share than publish original posts; comments cluster around community issues and events.
• Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger is the default for most adults; Snapchat is common among teens and early 20s. WhatsApp use is limited.
• Commerce and discovery: Facebook Marketplace is widely used for local buying/selling. Pinterest is strong for DIY, home, recipes; YouTube is used for tutorials, product research, and sports highlights. Instagram is the go‑to for younger adults following local boutiques, salons, and eateries.
• News mix: Facebook and YouTube dominate for local information; X is used more for state/national news and sports updates than for local community content.
• Timing: Engagement typically peaks evenings and weekends; snow days, severe weather, and major local events produce sharp, short-lived spikes.

Implications

• Prioritize Facebook (Pages, Groups, Events, Marketplace) and YouTube for county-wide reach; add Instagram and TikTok for under‑45 reach and creative/video formats.
• Lead with short videos and clear local hooks; include event-based posting and timely updates to ride engagement spikes.
• For women 25–54, use Facebook + Pinterest (DIY, deals, seasonal content); for men 25–54, use YouTube (how‑to, product demos). Teens/20s respond best to Reels/TikTok with music and quick cuts.
• Keep calls-to-action local (in‑store promos, community tie‑ins) and leverage Messenger for responses and lead capture.

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau (Union County, IL; 2020–2023 population and age/sex structure)
• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (adult platform adoption by age/rurality)
• Pew Research Center, Teens, Social Media and Technology 2022 (teen platform adoption)