Henry County

Henry County, Indiana — key demographics (U.S. Census Bureau)

Population size

• 48,914 (2020 Census)

Age structure (ACS 2019–2023 5-year)

• Median age: ~42.7 years
• Under 18: ~21.8%
• 18 to 64: ~58.5%
• 65 and over: ~19.7%

Gender (ACS 2019–2023)

• Female: ~50.6%
• Male: ~49.4%

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023; race is non-Hispanic; Hispanic can be any race)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~92–93%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~2–3%
• American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic): ~0.2–0.3%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ~0.3%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic): ~0.0–0.1%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~2%
• Some other race (non-Hispanic): ~0–1%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2–3%

Household data (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: ~19.7k
• Average household size: ~2.4
• Family households: ~64% of households
• With children under 18: ~26% of households
• Average family size: ~3.0
• Homeownership rate: ~73% (owner-occupied); renters ~27%

Insights

• Population is stable to slightly declining since 2010, with an older age profile than the U.S. overall.
• The county is predominantly non-Hispanic White with small but present Black and Hispanic/Latino populations.
• Households are mostly family-based with high homeownership relative to national averages.

Henry County, IN email usage snapshot

• Population and density: 48,900 residents (2020) across 394 sq mi; ≈124 people/sq mi. New Castle (17,000) is the primary population and connectivity hub along I‑70.
• Estimated email users: ≈35,000 residents use email regularly.
• Age distribution of email users (approximate counts):
  • 18–34: ~9,500
  • 35–54: ~12,000
  • 55–64: ~6,000
  • 65+: ~7,500
• Gender split: Female ~17,700; Male ~17,300 (reflecting the county’s near‑even sex ratio).
• Digital access and trends:
  • ≈81% of households subscribe to broadband; ~11% have no home internet; ~16% rely primarily on smartphone-only access.
  • Adoption and speeds have trended upward since 2020; access is strongest in and around New Castle and along the I‑70 corridor, with more gaps in rural townships.
  • ~19,500 households countywide; email and internet use concentrate in higher‑density tracts near New Castle, major road corridors, and cable/fiber plant, with fixed wireless and satellite more common in low‑density areas.

These figures reflect county population structure combined with typical U.S. email adoption patterns and Indiana ACS internet‑subscription rates for similarly situated counties.

Henry County, Indiana — mobile phone usage summary (2024)

Population baseline

• Population: ~48,800 (2023 estimate); land area ~394 sq mi; ~19,600 households
• Adults (18+): ~37,600 (≈77% of population)
• Age mix skews older than Indiana overall: ~20% of residents are 65+ vs ~16–17% statewide

User estimates

• Adult mobile phone users (any cellphone): ~35,700 (≈95% of adults)
• Adult smartphone users: ~33,700 (≈90% of adults), derived by applying Pew 2023 age-specific ownership rates to Henry County’s age structure:
  • 18–29: ~9,300 adults × 97% = ~9,000
  • 30–49: ~9,800 × 97% = ~9,500
  • 50–64: ~8,800 × 89% = ~7,800
  • 65+: ~9,800 × 76% = ~7,400
• Active mobile lines (phones, tablets, IoT) in use: ~55,000–60,000, consistent with typical per-capita line density in similar rural Indiana counties
• Households relying primarily on cellular data for home internet (mobile-only broadband): ~3,300–3,900 (≈17–20% of households), higher than the Indiana average

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age:
  • Younger adults (18–49): near-saturation smartphone ownership (~97%), on par with state levels
  • Seniors (65+): smartphone adoption ~72–76%, several points below state average; higher prevalence of basic phones and voice/SMS-centric usage than the state overall
• Income and plan mix:
  • With median household income below the state median, Henry County shows a higher share of value/prepaid plans and multi-line family plans than the Indiana average
  • Mobile-only broadband dependence is notably higher among lower-income and rural households
• Geography (urban–rural split):
  • New Castle and towns along major corridors show usage patterns close to state norms (high 5G availability, heavier video/social use)
  • Outlying townships exhibit more conservative device upgrade cycles and greater reliance on cellular as the primary internet connection

Digital infrastructure points

• Networks present: AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon operate countywide LTE; 5G is established in and around New Castle and along major corridors (notably I-70 on the southern edge and US/State routes), with rural coverage a mix of low-band 5G and LTE
• Macro site density: ~30–45 macro cell sites across the county, with limited small-cell densification outside New Castle
• Backhaul: fiber-fed sites concentrated along interstate/US routes and into New Castle; rural sectors more dependent on longer microwave/fiber laterals, which can constrain capacity versus urban Indiana markets
• Public safety: AT&T FirstNet coverage is available; local PSAPs benefit from priority service on AT&T’s network
• Terrain/land-use effects: open farmland supports broad coverage, but signal can be inconsistent around lakes/wooded areas (for example, in and around Summit Lake State Park) and in some low-density pockets

How Henry County trends differ from Indiana overall

• Older population drives a wider adoption gap for seniors: smartphone uptake among 65+ is several points lower than the state average, pulling down overall county smartphone penetration despite near-saturation among under-50s
• Higher mobile-only broadband reliance: an estimated 17–20% of households primarily use cellular data at home, above the statewide share, reflecting patchier fixed broadband in rural townships and cost sensitivity
• Plan composition tilts more toward prepaid/value offerings and slower device refresh cycles than the state norm
• 5G capacity growth lags urban Indiana: fewer small cells and a higher share of low-band 5G/LTE outside New Castle lead to lower median speeds and more variability than statewide results, especially off the I-70 corridor

Key takeaways

• Roughly 33,700 adult smartphone users and ~35,700 adult mobile users overall, with near-state-level adoption in younger groups but a notable senior gap
• Mobile phones play an outsized role in home connectivity for rural and lower-income households, with mobile-only broadband use clearly above the Indiana average
• Infrastructure is comprehensive for coverage but thinner for capacity outside core corridors, resulting in performance that trails urban/suburban Indiana despite broad 5G availability in population centers

Social media usage in Henry County, Indiana — concise snapshot (2025)

Baseline user stats

• Population: ~48,900 (2020 Census). Adults comprise roughly three-quarters of residents.
• Social-media penetration (adults): about 7 in 10 adults use at least one social platform (Pew Research Center national benchmark applied locally).

Most-used platforms (estimated adult reach; benchmarked to 2024 U.S. adoption and reflective of Henry County’s older-leaning, small‑metro/rural profile)

• YouTube: ~80–85% of adults
• Facebook: ~65–72%
• Instagram: ~45–50%
• Pinterest: ~30–35% (notably higher among women 25–54)
• TikTok: ~28–35% (skews younger)
• Snapchat: ~25–32% (strongest with 13–29)
• LinkedIn: ~25–33% (concentrated among college‑educated professionals)
• X (Twitter): ~20–24%
• WhatsApp: ~18–22% Note: Percentages are shares of adults; multi‑platform use is common, so totals exceed 100%.

Age-group usage patterns

• Teens (13–17): Heavy TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube; Instagram strong; Facebook used mainly for family/school groups.
• Young adults (18–29): Daily Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok; YouTube near-universal; Facebook secondary.
• Adults (30–49): Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram and Reels for shopping and local businesses; TikTok moderate and rising.
• Adults (50–64): Facebook Groups and Marketplace central; YouTube for DIY, local church/school streams; Pinterest for projects.
• Seniors (65+): Facebook for community/news and family; YouTube for how‑to and long‑form; limited TikTok/Snapchat uptake.

Gender breakdown

• Overall user base: close to even (county population is roughly half female, half male; usage mirrors that).
• Platform skews:
  • More women: Pinterest (strongly), Facebook (slight), Instagram (slight).
  • More men: YouTube (slight), Reddit (strong), X/Twitter (moderate), Discord (niche).
  • TikTok: near‑balanced; Snapchat: leans female among younger users.

Behavioral trends observed in similar Indiana counties and expected locally

• Community-first usage: Facebook Groups for schools, athletics, weather alerts, yard sales, lost & found, and local government updates.
• Marketplace behavior: High engagement with buy/sell/trade; price sensitivity and rapid weekend response patterns.
• Video habits: YouTube for DIY, auto, home, outdoor, and faith content; short‑form (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) drives discovery, especially for local eateries, events, and services.
• News consumption: Local news, school and county agency posts primarily via Facebook; regional TV pages extend reach.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger prevalent across ages; Snapchat core for teens/young adults; group texts and private groups coordinate community activities.
• Timing: Engagement peaks early morning (6–8 a.m.) and evenings (7–10 p.m.), with lunchtime micro‑spikes; weekend surges for events and Marketplace.
• Content that performs: Local faces and landmarks, high school sports, before/after projects, seasonal offers, giveaways, and behind‑the‑scenes videos.

How to interpret the numbers

• County‑specific platform shares aren’t published by platforms or official agencies; percentages above reflect Pew Research Center’s latest U.S. adult adoption rates, adjusted to a small‑metro/rural county with a slightly older age mix. They are reliable planning baselines for Henry County.