Warren County

Warren County, Illinois — key demographics (latest Census/ACS)

Population size

• 2023 estimate: 16,1xx (approx. 16.1k)
• 2020 Census: 16,835
• Trend: modest decline since 2020

Age

• Under 5 years: ~5–6%
• Under 18 years: ~23%
• 65 years and over: ~20%
• Median age: ~40 years

Gender

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50%

Racial/ethnic composition

• White alone: ~86–87%
• Black or African American alone: ~2%
• American Indian & Alaska Native alone: ~0.5%
• Asian alone: ~1%
• Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander alone: ~0.1%
• Two or more races: ~4%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~13–14%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~74–75%

Household data

• Households (ACS 5-year, recent): ~6.7k
• Persons per household: ~2.47–2.50

Insights

• The county is aging (about 1 in 5 residents are 65+).
• Population has edged down since 2020.
• Predominantly White with a sizable Hispanic/Latino community (low-teens share).

Warren County, IL snapshot (2023 est. pop. ≈16,400)

Estimated email users

• Adults ≈12,956; email users ≈12,107 (≈93% of adults)

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

• 18–29: ≈2,598 (≈22%)
• 30–49: ≈3,696 (≈31%)
• 50–64: ≈3,392 (≈28%)
• 65+: ≈2,421 (≈20%)

Gender split among users

• ≈49% male, ≈51% female (near parity with county population)

Digital access and trends

• Household broadband subscription: ≈84% (ACS S2801; rising modestly since late 2010s)
• Households with a computer/smartphone: ≈92%
• Smartphone-only internet households: ≈13% (higher in lower-density areas)
• Email adoption is mature and stable; growth concentrates among adults 65+, narrowing the age gap.

Local density/connectivity facts

• Land area ≈542 sq mi; population density ≈30 people/sq mi (rural).
• Connectivity strongest in and around Monmouth; rural townships show lower subscription and greater reliance on fixed wireless/satellite, which correlates with slightly lower email adoption among older and low-income residents.

Mobile phone usage in Warren County, Illinois — 2024 snapshot

Bottom line

• Warren County is a high–mobile-reliance, lower-density market with near-universal 4G LTE, expanding but still patchy 5G, and a markedly higher share of cellular-only households than the Illinois average. Seniors and lower-income residents lag the state in smartphone adoption, while younger adults and college-affiliated users (Monmouth) align with statewide norms.

User estimates

• Population and households: ~16–17K residents; ~6.7–6.9K households.
• Smartphone users (adults): ≈10.5–11.5K adult smartphone users (roughly 80–85% of adults), lower than Illinois’ urban counties but on par with rural Illinois.
• Households with at least one smartphone: ≈5.6–5.9K (about 82–86% of households).
• Cellular data for home internet (any use): ≈3.4–3.8K households (about half).
• Cellular-only internet households (no cable/DSL/fiber): ≈1.0–1.2K (about 15–18%), materially higher than the Illinois average (roughly low teens).

Demographic breakdown (usage and adoption patterns)

• Age:
  • 18–34: Very high smartphone penetration (mid-90s%), heavy app/social/video and mobile payments; usage profile similar to state-level peers.
  • 35–64: High adoption (low–mid 80s%), heavy use for navigation, work messaging, and streaming; slightly more price-sensitive plan selection than metro Illinois.
  • 65+: Lower adoption (roughly mid-60s to ~70%); greater reliance on voice/SMS; device upgrade cycles are longer than the state average.
• Income:
  • <$35K household income: Significantly higher likelihood of cellular-only internet and prepaid plans than statewide; mobile serves as primary broadband for many renters and single-adult households.
  • $35–100K: Mixed plans (postpaid family bundles common); multi-line discounts drive adoption of midrange Android and prior‑generation iPhones.
• Education/college presence:
  • Monmouth College students drive dense data usage around campus and town, with above-average 5G utilization and app-based mobility (rideshare, food delivery) compared with the rest of the county.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Hispanic and Black residents show higher smartphone-only reliance than White non-Hispanic residents, mirroring rural Midwestern patterns; prepaid penetration and reliance on messaging apps are above the county average.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks present: AT&T (including FirstNet), Verizon, T-Mobile, and UScellular operate in the county; regional roaming fills some fringe areas.
• 4G LTE: Broad coverage countywide; reliable in Monmouth and along US‑34/IL‑67 corridors; rural indoor coverage can degrade in metal buildings and low-lying farmland.
• 5G:
  • Low-band 5G (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) covers Monmouth and main corridors; reaches much of the population but not all rural tracts.
  • Mid-band 5G (C‑band/2.5 GHz) is present in and near Monmouth and along primary routes; far less pervasive than in metro Illinois, with rapid drops outside town.
• Performance expectations:
  • Town/corridors: Consistent 4G/5G with “tens to low hundreds” Mbps typical on 5G; 4G LTE generally adequate for HD streaming and video calls.
  • Rural edges: LTE dominant; speeds often in the single- to low‑tens Mbps range; signal boosters and Wi‑Fi calling materially improve reliability indoors.
• Tower/spectrum context:
  • Lower tower density than metro Illinois; low-band spectrum (600/700/850 MHz) underpins rural reach, while mid-band capacity is concentrated in Monmouth.
• Emergency connectivity:
  • FirstNet coverage is solid in population centers and along highways; volunteer departments and farms increasingly use signal boosters for station/onsite reliability.

Trends that differ from Illinois overall

• Higher cellular-only reliance: A larger share of households depend on mobile data as their sole home internet compared with the state average; this dependence is most pronounced among lower-income and renter households.
• Slower 5G mid-band rollout beyond town centers: Mid-band 5G capacity drops off more quickly outside Monmouth than in Illinois metro areas, widening the performance gap between town and rural tracts.
• More prepaid and budget device mix: Prepaid and value plans, along with midrange Android devices and older iPhone models, represent a bigger share than in metro Illinois.
• Older adult adoption gap: The 65+ smartphone adoption rate lags state averages more noticeably, with longer upgrade cycles and stronger preference for voice/SMS.
• Mobility for work and agriculture: Above-average use of mobile connectivity for farm operations, seasonal work coordination, and small-business point-of-sale, compared with urban Illinois where fixed broadband is more universal.

Actionable insights

• Coverage investments that prioritize mid-band 5G sectors outside Monmouth and along secondary farm-to-market roads will deliver outsized benefits versus statewide averages.
• Programs that bundle affordable smartphones with generous hotspot/tethering support will meet the county’s higher cellular-only demand better than standard metro-centric plans.
• Senior-focused device training and subsidies can narrow the county’s age-based adoption gap faster than general-purpose digital literacy programs.
• Signal boosters and Wi‑Fi calling advisories for metal buildings and rural homes materially improve user experience; promoting these locally has higher ROI than in urban Illinois.

Notes on sources and estimation

• Figures synthesize 2018–2022 ACS device/subscription patterns, 2023–2024 FCC mobile coverage filings, statewide adoption benchmarks, and rural Illinois differentials; household counts are derived from county population and average household size. Where county microdata are sparse, values are rounded estimates consistent with rural-county patterns in western Illinois.

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

Population baseline

• Total population: 16,835 (U.S. Census, 2020). County seat: Monmouth. Presence of Monmouth College increases the 18–24 share relative to similar rural counties.

User stats (best-available local estimate derived from county demographics + Pew 2024 usage rates for rural U.S.)

• Estimated monthly social media users (residents 13+): 9,000–12,000
• Primary access: mobile-first; rural adults nationally report ~83–86% smartphone ownership, which tracks with usage patterns observed in similar Illinois counties

Age groups (share of total population; ACS profile for comparable rural IL counties adjusted for the local college presence)

• Under 18: ~21–23%
• 18–24: ~9–11% (elevated vs. rural average due to Monmouth College)
• 25–44: ~22–24%
• 45–64: ~25–27%
• 65+: ~18–20%

Gender breakdown

• Overall population roughly even, with a slight female majority (~50–51% female, ~49–50% male)
• Platform skews typical of the Midwest: Pinterest and Facebook skew female; LinkedIn and X (Twitter) skew slightly male; Snapchat and TikTok skew younger rather than by gender

Most‑used platforms in Warren County (modeled shares of residents 13+ using monthly; triangulated from Pew Research Center 2024, DataReportal 2024, and rural Midwest adjustments for local age mix)

• YouTube: 78–85%
• Facebook: 70–78% (dominant overall; highest reach among 35+)
• Instagram: 35–45% (strongest 18–34)
• Snapchat: 34–42% overall; 70–80% among ages 13–24
• TikTok: 33–40% overall; rapidly growing in 18–34 and 35–44
• Pinterest: 28–34% overall; 40–50% among women 25–54
• X (Twitter): 18–22% (light, event- and sports-driven)
• LinkedIn: 16–20% (used for hiring in education, healthcare, manufacturing/ag)
• Nextdoor: <5% (limited neighborhood coverage; Facebook Groups fill this role)

Behavioral trends and local patterns

• Facebook is the community hub: Groups for schools, athletics, festivals, churches, and garage sales drive daily activity; Marketplace is widely used for farm/rural equipment, furniture, and vehicles
• Video is ascendant: Reels and TikTok short‑form get outsized reach vs. static posts; YouTube long‑form and Shorts are both active, with Connected TV viewing rising for local households
• Youth split attention: Teens/college users lean Snapchat for daily communication and TikTok for entertainment; Instagram is secondary but strong for sports and campus life
• Local stories outperform ads: Posts featuring known local faces, high school sports, weather alerts, and community events outperform generic promotional content
• Timing: Engagement peaks before work/school (6–8 a.m.), lunch (11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.), and evenings (7–9 p.m.). Weekends drive event, sports, and hobby content
• Commerce: Low CPMs on Facebook/Instagram relative to metro areas; lead‑gen and event RSVPs perform well. Pinterest converts for home, crafts, and recipes among women 25–54. TikTok is effective for reach and awareness; direct response can be variable but improving
• News and information: Residents rely on Facebook Pages/Groups and YouTube for local news and sports highlights. X usage spikes around severe weather and county/city announcements
• Professional use: LinkedIn is niche but important for recruiting in schools, healthcare systems, manufacturers, and agri‑business; best used for job postings and employer branding

Notes on data

• Definitive local counts: population figures from the U.S. Census (2020).
• Platform percentages are best‑available small‑area estimates derived from Pew Research Center’s 2024 Social Media Use report, DataReportal’s 2024 U.S. digital overview, and adjusted for Warren County’s age profile and rural context. These reflect realistic local ranges rather than statewide averages to provide decision‑useful planning numbers.