Franklin County

Here’s a concise demographic snapshot of Franklin County, Indiana (U.S. Census Bureau, 2018–2022 ACS 5-year estimates; figures rounded):

Population

• Total population: ~22,700
• Median age: ~42 years
• Under 18: ~23%
• 65 and over: ~18%

Sex

• Male: ~50%
• Female: ~50%

Race/ethnicity

• White, non-Hispanic: ~96%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~1–2%
• Two or more races: ~1–2%
• Black or African American: <1%
• Asian: <1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: <1%

Households and housing

• Total households: ~8,600
• Average household size: ~2.6
• Family households: ~70% of households
• Married-couple households: ~55–60% of households
• Owner-occupied housing: ~80%
• Renter-occupied housing: ~20%
• Total housing units: ~10,000 (implies notable seasonal/vacant share)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2018–2022 (5-year). For exact figures or a different vintage (e.g., 2020 Census counts or 2023 estimates), let me know.

Franklin County, Indiana — email usage snapshot

• Population: 23,000 (2020). Rural, low density (60 people/sq. mi. across ~390 sq. mi.).
• Estimated email users: 15,000–17,000 residents. Method: adult share of population × high email adoption among internet users; includes most teens 13–17.
• Age distribution (approx. users):
  • 13–17: 1.1–1.3k (80–90% adoption)
  • 18–29: 2.4–2.7k (90%+)
  • 30–49: 5.0–5.5k (95%+)
  • 50–64: 4.0–4.5k (90–95%)
  • 65+: 2.7–3.3k (75–85%)
• Gender split: Near-even (about 49% male, 51% female). Email usage differences by gender are minimal in national data.
• Digital access trends:
  • Household broadband subscription: roughly 80–85% (ACS/FCC-based rural Indiana estimates).
  • Smartphone-only internet households: ~18–25% (higher than urban areas).
  • Technologies: Cable and growing fiber in/near towns; DSL and fixed wireless common in outlying areas.
  • Speeds: 50–200 Mbps where cable/fiber exist; sub-25 Mbps persists in some rural pockets.
• Local connectivity notes: Strongest service in Brookville and the Batesville–Oldenburg corridor; gaps in valleys/wooded areas. Public Wi‑Fi at schools/libraries helps bridge access. Commuting links to Cincinnati/Indianapolis support heavy email use among workers.

Sources: 2020 Census/ACS, FCC broadband data, Pew Research (email/internet adoption). Estimates reflect rural-county patterns.

Here’s a concise, planning-oriented snapshot of mobile phone usage in Franklin County, Indiana, highlighting where local patterns diverge from statewide norms.

User estimates

• Population base: ~23,000 residents. Adult population ~17,000–18,000.
• Mobile phone owners: ~16,000–17,000 adult users (roughly 92–95% of adults, consistent with rural Midwestern adoption) plus an estimated 1,500–2,000 teen users. Total resident mobile users: ~18,000–19,000.
• Smartphone users: ~80–83% of adults (lower than Indiana’s ~85–88%), implying ~14,000–15,000 adult smartphone users.
• Mobile-only internet households: Materially higher share than the state average due to limited wireline options; common reliance on phone hotspots or fixed wireless for home connectivity.

Demographic and behavioral breakdown

• Age
  • 65+ cohort (roughly one-fifth of residents): Lower smartphone adoption (often 70–75%), higher prevalence of basic/flip phones, voice/text-first usage.
  • 25–44 cohort: Very high smartphone adoption (≈90%+), heavy app and video use; frequent hotspotting for homework and telework in areas with weak wired broadband.
• Income and plans
  • More prepaid/MVNO usage than statewide, driven by price sensitivity and adequate LTE coverage. Unlimited plans are common but often via deprioritized MVNO tiers.
  • Slightly older average handset age; slower upgrade cycles until local 5G performance visibly improves.
• Work and travel patterns
  • Commuter flows toward Batesville, Connersville, and the Cincinnati metro shape peak usage along SR-1, US-52, and the I-74 corridor just outside the county.
  • Community coordination leans heavily on SMS, Facebook groups, and school apps; mobile remains the primary digital touchpoint for local services.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage and technology
  • Solid 4G LTE in and between towns (Brookville, Oldenburg, Laurel, Metamora) and along main corridors; coverage can be spotty in valleys and wooded areas (e.g., Whitewater River valley, Brookville Lake shoreline).
  • 5G present but patchy: mid-band 5G tends to cluster near towns and highways; much of the county remains LTE-first. Standalone 5G and small cells are rare.
• Carriers
  • Verizon and AT&T generally strongest on rural macro sites; T-Mobile improving but with more location-specific gaps off main roads.
  • AT&T FirstNet on shared sites offers good highway coverage; in-hollow performance varies.
• Sites and backhaul
  • Lower tower density than state average; macro sites on ridgelines do most of the work. Few, if any, small cells outside institutional campuses.
  • Backhaul is a mix of fiber along highway/electric rights-of-way and microwave links; less path redundancy than urban Indiana, so evening congestion and event-time slowdowns are more noticeable.
• Home broadband interplay
  • Cable footprint is limited; legacy DSL persists. As a result, mobile hotspots, fixed wireless (T-Mobile Home Internet, Verizon 5G Home where available), and WISPs are disproportionately important compared with the state overall.

How Franklin County differs from Indiana overall

• Slightly lower smartphone penetration and slower 5G device adoption.
• Higher reliance on mobile data for home internet and homework due to sparse wired options.
• Greater share of prepaid/MVNO users; tighter sensitivity to deprioritization and data caps.
• More pronounced location-based performance gaps (ridges vs. hollows, lake and recreation areas), producing larger variability in user experience than in urban/suburban Indiana.
• Seasonal surges (Brookville Lake tourism, school/sports events) cause distinct weekend and evening congestion patterns not as evident in metro counties.

Implications for local planning and providers

• Prioritize mid-band 5G infill and additional LTE sectors near Brookville, Oldenburg, SR-1/US-52 corridors, and recreation hotspots to reduce congestion.
• Expand fiber backhaul to existing macros to stabilize peak performance; add redundancy on routes feeding Brookville and the lake area.
• Targeted senior adoption programs and device trade-in promotions could lift smartphone penetration, especially if paired with coverage improvements in valleys.
• Support for school-issued hotspot programs and affordable fixed wireless can mitigate homework gaps while wireline buildouts progress.

Notes on methodology

• Estimates synthesize recent census population figures, Pew/NTIA adoption rates for rural adults, and typical rural network deployment patterns in Indiana. For grant applications or siting decisions, validate with current FCC mobile coverage maps, carrier drive tests, and school district device/hotspot counts.

Franklin County, IN — Social Media Snapshot (short)

Topline user stats

• Population: ~23,000 residents; adults 18+ ≈ 17,500; teens 13–17 ≈ 1,300–1,500.
• Estimated social media users (13+): ~13,000–14,000 residents (roughly two-thirds of the county).
  • Adults: ~12,000–13,000 (based on rural U.S. adoption rates).
  • Teens: ~1,200–1,400 (near‑universal use among 13–17).

Most‑used platforms (adults; estimated share of adult residents using monthly)

• YouTube: 75–80%
• Facebook: 60–65%
• Instagram: 35–40%
• TikTok: 28–32%
• Snapchat: 25–30%
• Pinterest: 25–30% (skews female)
• WhatsApp: 15–20%
• X/Twitter: 15–20%
• LinkedIn: 10–15%
• Reddit: 10–15%
• Nextdoor: 3–8% (limited rural penetration)

Age‑group patterns (who uses what)

• 13–17: Heavy YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat; Instagram strong; Facebook mainly for school/sports updates.
• 18–29: Daily Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok/YouTube; Facebook for groups and Marketplace.
• 30–49: Facebook (groups, events, Marketplace) and YouTube dominate; Instagram moderate; TikTok/Pinterest rising.
• 50–64: Facebook primary; YouTube frequent; Pinterest some; light Instagram/TikTok but growing.
• 65+: Facebook for family/church/community; YouTube for how‑tos/news; limited use of other platforms.

Gender breakdown (tendencies)

• Overall users roughly mirror population (~50/50).
• Platform skews: Pinterest more women; Reddit more men; LinkedIn slightly more men; Facebook slightly more women among older adults; Instagram near parity; TikTok slightly more women; Snapchat near parity.

Behavioral trends observed in rural Midwest counties like Franklin

• Facebook is the community hub: local news, school and church updates, county fair and festival info (e.g., Brookville/Metamora events), lost/found pets, road closures, severe weather. Buy/sell/trade and Facebook Marketplace see high engagement.
• Video consumption is high: YouTube for how‑to, DIY, auto repair, outdoor/recreation; TikTok/Instagram Reels for short local content, highlights from sports and events.
• Trust flows through local groups: recommendations for contractors, healthcare, child care, and local shops carry outsized weight.
• Seasonality: spikes around school year milestones, hunting/fishing seasons, lake/boating season at Brookville Lake, holidays, and county events.
• Peak activity windows: evenings (7–10 pm), early mornings (6–8 am), and Sunday nights; strong weekend engagement for events and yard sales.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is a common first contact for local businesses; prompt replies influence purchase choices.
• Creative that performs: locally shot photos/video, recognizable landmarks, family‑friendly themes, deals with clear pickup info, and short vertical video.

Notes on method

• Figures are estimates derived from Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. platform adoption rates, adjusted for rural patterns, plus Franklin County’s size/age mix (U.S. Census/ACS). County‑specific, platform‑level counts aren’t published; use these as planning ranges. For sharper local targeting, validate with: Facebook Ads Audience Estimates (county geofence), Google Trends (SE Indiana), and engagement data from prominent local Facebook groups/pages.