Bartholomew County

Here are concise, current demographic highlights for Bartholomew County, Indiana.

Population

• Total population: 82,208 (2020 Census)
• Recent growth: ~85,000 (2023 Census estimate, approx.)

Age

• Median age: ~38.5 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~24%
• 65 and over: ~16%

Gender

• Male: ~50%
• Female: ~50%

Race and ethnicity (shares of total population)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~77%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~9–10%
• Asian: ~6–7%
• Black or African American: ~2%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~3–4%
• Other (including AI/AN, NHPI): <1%

Households and housing

• Households: ~31,000–32,000
• Average household size: ~2.5–2.6 persons
• Family households: ~65–67% of households
• Owner-occupied housing: ~68–70%; renter-occupied: ~30–32%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year; 2023 Vintage population estimates). Figures rounded for clarity.

Bartholomew County, IN — estimated email usage

• Estimated users: 60–65k residents use email. Method: ≈83–85k population; ≈75–80% are 13+; applying ~90–95% email adoption among teens/adults (Pew benchmarks) yields ~60–65k users.
• Age distribution (share using email, approximate):
  • 13–29: 95–99%
  • 30–49: 95–98%
  • 50–64: 90–95%
  • 65+: 80–90% Older adults are slightly less likely to use email, but usage remains high.
• Gender split: Near parity; differences typically under 2–3% (Pew shows minimal gender gap in email adoption).
• Digital access trends:
  • Device access: 90%+ of households have a computer or smartphone (ACS/Pew).
  • Home internet: ~80–85% of households subscribe to broadband in line with Indiana/ACS county norms; adoption rises with income and education.
  • Mobile: High smartphone adoption (~85%+) supports email use even where fixed broadband is weaker.
• Local density/connectivity:
  • Population is concentrated in Columbus and along the I‑65 corridor, where cable/fiber options and network capacity are denser; outer rural townships rely more on DSL/fixed wireless.
  • FCC/ACS patterns show rural tracts with lower subscription rates and fewer high‑speed options than the urban core.

Sources: Pew Research Center (US email/tech adoption); U.S. Census Bureau ACS (computer and broadband subscription). Estimates scaled to local population.

Below is a concise, data-informed picture of mobile phone usage in Bartholomew County, Indiana, with modeled estimates and the main ways the county diverges from statewide patterns. Figures are approximate and based on 2023–2024 public datasets (ACS demographics), national/state adoption research (e.g., Pew, CTIA), and carrier coverage disclosures.

Headline user estimates

• Population baseline: ~85,000 residents
• Adults (18+): ~64,000–66,000
• Smartphone users (all ages): ~63,000–66,000
  • Adults: ~56,000–58,000 (≈87–90% of adults)
  • Teens 13–17: ~4,700–5,000 (≈95% adoption)
  • Children 5–12 with a phone: ~2,000–3,000 (≈25–35% have a mobile phone; many others use tablets)
• Mobile phone users of any type (smartphone or basic): ~70,000–74,000
• Active mobile lines (SIMs) in market: roughly 115,000–125,000 (lines often exceed people due to work lines, tablets, wearables; ~135–150 lines per 100 residents is typical)

Demographic breakdown (usage patterns)

• Age
  • 18–29: near-saturation smartphone adoption (≈95–98%); heavy app, video, and social use
  • 30–49: very high adoption (≈93–96%); high multi-device and work-related mobility
  • 50–64: high but below younger cohorts (≈82–88%); increasing use of telehealth and navigation
  • 65+: moderate and rising (≈65–72%); larger share uses larger-font devices and Wi‑Fi offload
• Income and education
  • County median income and bachelor’s attainment are a bit above the Indiana average; this correlates with:
    • Slightly higher smartphone adoption
    • Higher iOS share and multi-line/device households
    • More postpaid and employer-subsidized plans
• Race/ethnicity and language
  • A larger-than-average foreign-born and Asian population (relative to Indiana overall) is associated with strong use of over‑the‑top messaging (e.g., WhatsApp, LINE/WeChat) and international calling features
  • Mobile-only internet dependence is present among lower-income and newcomer households, but fiber availability in Columbus lowers the overall county share compared with the state
• Home internet interplay
  • Mobile-only households: estimated 14–17% in Bartholomew vs roughly high‑teens to low‑20s statewide; better fixed broadband in the city reduces reliance on phones as the only connection

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Cellular networks
  • 4G LTE is effectively ubiquitous in populated areas; 5G coverage is strong in Columbus and along I‑65/US‑31 corridors
  • T‑Mobile mid‑band (2.5 GHz) and Verizon C‑Band 5G deliver typical median speeds in the 100–300 Mbps range within the city and along highways; AT&T 5G is present with pockets of mid‑band
  • Rural townships show patchier mid‑band 5G and more band‑locking to LTE; indoor coverage varies in low‑density areas and metal‑roof structures
  • FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) is available for public safety; coverage is solid along primary corridors
• Backhaul and fixed broadband (important for mobile performance)
  • Columbus has strong fiber presence (e.g., Metronet FTTH and AT&T Fiber in many neighborhoods) plus a major cable DOCSIS provider; these improve mobile backhaul and enable 5G capacity upgrades
  • Fixed wireless (T‑Mobile/Verizon 5G Home, various LTE/WISP options) fills gaps at the urban edge; rural areas still lean on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite where fiber/coax is absent
• Capacity hotspots and patterns
  • Highest capacity and fastest 5G along I‑65, US‑31, and in commercial/industrial zones
  • School campuses and large employers drive daytime load; residential neighborhoods see heavy evening video traffic with widespread Wi‑Fi offload

How Bartholomew County differs from Indiana overall

• Adoption slightly higher: Thanks to higher income/education and employer presence, adult smartphone adoption is a few points above the state average; iOS share and multi‑device plans are also a bit higher
• Fewer mobile‑only households: Better fiber/cable availability in Columbus lowers the share of households relying solely on mobile data compared with Indiana overall
• Better 5G where people are: Mid‑band 5G coverage and speeds are above typical for similarly rural Indiana counties, especially along I‑65 and in Columbus; rural fringes still trail but not as sharply as in many peers
• More international messaging use: The county’s comparatively higher share of foreign‑born residents correlates with heavier use of OTT messaging and international features than the statewide norm
• Enterprise influence: Large employers increase the footprint of employer-paid/postpaid lines and can drive denser small‑cell/backhaul investments than in many Indiana counties of similar size

Method notes and assumptions

• Population and age structure from recent ACS county estimates; smartphone adoption by age from recent Pew research, adjusted slightly upward for local income/education
• Line-per-capita ratios from CTIA/state norms; carrier coverage from public 5G maps and observed deployment patterns for mid‑band/C‑Band along interstate corridors
• Fixed broadband availability based on known provider footprints in Columbus and typical southern Indiana rural broadband patterns

Bartholomew County, IN — social media snapshot (estimates)

User stats

• Population: ~84,000 (U.S. Census 2023 est.)
• Active social media users: ~55,000–60,000 residents (about 65–72% of total population)
  • Adults: ~78–83% of 18+ use at least one platform
  • Teens (13–17): ~90%+ use at least one platform

Age mix among local social media users (estimated share)

• 13–17: ~9–11%
• 18–29: ~18–22%
• 30–49: ~35–40%
• 50–64: ~20–25%
• 65+: ~10–14%

Gender breakdown among users (estimated)

• Female: ~51–53%
• Male: ~47–49%
• Platform skews: Pinterest and Instagram lean female; Reddit, X (Twitter), and Discord lean male; LinkedIn slightly male-leaning.

Most-used platforms locally (share of social media users; estimates mapped from 2023–2024 U.S. usage, adjusted for local workforce and age mix)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 65–72% (dominant for community info)
• Instagram: 45–55%
• TikTok: 30–40% (teens/20s-heavy; short-form video)
• Snapchat: 28–35% (strong among teens/young adults)
• Pinterest: 30–38% (home, DIY, events)
• WhatsApp: 25–30% (international families; shift workers)
• LinkedIn: 30–38% (boosted by Cummins/professional base)
• X (Twitter): 18–25% (news, local sports, state govt)
• Reddit: 18–25% (younger/male skew)
• Nextdoor: 15–22% (homeowners, neighborhood alerts)

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first on Facebook: Heavy use of Groups for school updates, local news, road closures, yard sales, lost/found pets, and event coordination. Facebook Events drives foot traffic to festivals and downtown Columbus activities.
• Short-form video growth: TikTok and Instagram Reels used for high school sports highlights, restaurant features, and “what’s happening this weekend” content.
• Visual discovery: Instagram guides and stories help local restaurants, coffee shops, and arts/architecture spots (a Columbus strength) reach 18–40.
• Streaming/long-form: YouTube for how‑tos, church services, local gov meetings, and youth sports replays.
• Professional networking: Above-average LinkedIn usage for engineering, manufacturing, and healthcare recruiting; employer branding matters.
• Private sharing > public posting: Many residents “lurk” and share via Messenger, WhatsApp, and Snapchat rather than posting publicly.
• Timing patterns: Engagement peaks around 7–8 am (commute), noon, and 7–10 pm; shift work creates late-night spikes.
• Neighborhood chatter: Nextdoor and Facebook neighborhood groups used for safety alerts, contractor recommendations, and seasonal services.
• Buying behavior: Facebook Marketplace and Groups popular for local resale; Instagram and Facebook ads with geo-targeting (10–20 mile radius around Columbus) convert well with clear offers and event CTAs.

Notes on methodology

• County-level platform stats aren’t directly published. Figures above are estimates derived from 2023–2024 Pew Research Center U.S. social media adoption patterns, adjusted for Bartholomew County’s age structure, urban/suburban mix, and professional workforce profile.