Allen County

Here are key, high-level demographics for Allen County, Kentucky. Figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census for the population count; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5‑year estimates for the rest) and are rounded.

• Population

  • Total: 20,588 (2020 Census)
  • Recent estimate: ~21,000–21,500 (ACS/Census estimates)

• Age

  • Median age: ~41 years
  • Under 18: ~24%
  • 65 and over: ~18–19%

• Gender

  • Female: ~50–51%
  • Male: ~49–50%

• Race and ethnicity (Hispanic is any race)

  • White (non-Hispanic): ~92–94%
  • Black or African American: ~1–2%
  • Hispanic/Latino: ~2–3%
  • Two or more races: ~2–3%
  • Asian: <1%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: <1%

• Households and housing

  • Households: ~8,000
  • Average household size: ~2.5–2.6
  • Family households: ~65–70% of households
  • Owner-occupied housing rate: ~75–80%

Allen County, KY snapshot (estimates)

• Population: ~20.6k (2020). Adults ~16k.
• Email users: 15–17k residents. Method: applied national adult email adoption (90–95%; slightly lower for 65+) to local age mix; added partial teen use.
• Users by age (approx. share of email users):
  • 18–29: 16–18%
  • 30–49: 32–36%
  • 50–64: 26–30%
  • 65+: 18–22%
• Gender split among users: roughly even (≈49% male, 51% female), mirroring county demographics.

Digital access and trends

• Broadband at home: ~80–85% of households; 5–10% have no home internet and rely on mobile/public access.
• Devices: 90%+ have a computer or smartphone; 10–15% are smartphone‑only users.
• Access pattern: Fiber/cable concentrated in and near Scottsville; outside town, many depend on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite. 4G/5G coverage is strong along major corridors; gaps persist on rural back roads. Ongoing fiber builds and improved mobile speeds since 2020.

Local density/connectivity context

• Population density ~60 residents per square mile (rural).
• Proximity to Bowling Green (Warren Co.) supports regional network backbones and commuter‑driven mobile coverage.

Sources: U.S. Census/ACS (2018–2022), NTIA, FCC coverage maps, and Pew Research on email adoption. Estimates modeled from these datasets.

Allen County, KY: mobile phone usage summary (with county–vs–state contrasts)

Headline estimate

• Total smartphone users: roughly 15,000–16,000 people in Allen County (out of ~21,000–22,000 residents). This is based on typical adult smartphone adoption in rural counties (about mid-80s percent), very high teen adoption, and local age structure.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age
  • Adults under 50: adoption near statewide levels (mid/upper 80s%).
  • 50–64: slightly lower than KY average, reflecting the county’s older age mix.
  • 65+: noticeably lower than KY statewide seniors, but rising year over year as basic Android and older iPhone models remain in use longer.
  • What differs from KY: Allen is older than the state average, so overall adoption is pulled down a bit by seniors—but reliance among working-age adults is high and close to statewide norms.
• Income and education
  • Higher smartphone dependence among lower-income households; a larger share use the phone as their primary internet connection.
  • Prepaid/MVNO plans are more common than statewide, reflecting price sensitivity.
  • What differs from KY: Allen’s lower median income correlates with more “smartphone-only” internet use and a higher prepaid share than the state average.
• Households and access
  • Cellular-only (no landline): high, likely around the state average or just below due to the older population.
  • Smartphone-as-main internet: meaningfully higher than KY overall, especially outside Scottsville where fixed broadband choices are sparse.
  • What differs from KY: More residents rely on mobile data for home access than the state average, despite slightly lower senior adoption.
• Race/ethnicity
  • The population is predominantly White, with small Black and Hispanic communities. Device adoption gaps by race are small locally; income and location (in-town vs rural) drive most differences.
  • What differs from KY: Less urban diversity and smaller metro-adjacent neighborhoods mean fewer density-driven adoption differences seen in cities like Louisville/Lexington.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage
  • 4G LTE: broadly available across the county; performance strongest in and around Scottsville and along primary corridors (US-231, KY-100/101).
  • 5G: low-band 5G from major carriers is present in/near Scottsville and along main routes; mid-band 5G (for higher speeds) is spottier and largely tied to spillover from the Bowling Green/Warren County market.
  • What differs from KY: Compared with urban KY, Allen has far less mid-band 5G and fewer capacity upgrades; speeds and consistency trail metro counties.
• Capacity and towers
  • Service is anchored by a handful of macro towers; small cells are rare outside school, civic, or downtown clusters.
  • What differs from KY: Far fewer densification sites than in state metros; peak-time slowdowns are more common on the edges of town and in low-density areas.
• Home internet alternatives
  • Fiber/cable: good options in Scottsville proper (cable and some fiber footprints); outside town, fiber is patchy and cable often absent.
  • Fixed wireless: 4G/5G home internet offerings (from mobile carriers) are increasingly available and are being adopted where wired options lag.
  • What differs from KY: Reliance on fixed wireless and mobile hotspots is higher than statewide; wired gigabit availability is far less uniform than in metro/suburban KY.

Trends that stand out versus Kentucky overall

• Slightly lower overall smartphone penetration driven by a larger senior share, but near-parity among working-age adults.
• Significantly higher “smartphone-only” or “mobile-first” internet use, especially in rural parts of the county.
• Higher prevalence of prepaid plans/MVNOs and older device models in active use.
• 5G is mostly low-band; mid-band capacity lags urban counties, so real-world speeds are lower and more variable.
• Adoption of carrier fixed-wireless/home 5G as a substitute for cable/fiber is ahead of the state average in rural tracts.

Notes on estimation

• Figures synthesize recent federal datasets on device and internet use (e.g., ACS computer/internet tables), national smartphone adoption by age/income, Kentucky’s rural/urban patterns, and carrier coverage/broadband maps through 2023–2024. Local totals are presented as ranges to reflect margin of error at the county level.

Below is a concise, best-available estimate for Allen County, KY. County-level social media data aren’t published directly, so figures are modeled from Pew Research (US adults), rural/Southern usage patterns, Kentucky age mix, and county population (~21K).

Headline user stats

• Total social media users: ~12K–14K residents (roughly 60–70% of all residents; ~70–75% of adults; ~90% of teens).
• Internet access: ~78–82% of households have reliable internet; smartphone access among adults ~80–90%.

Most‑used platforms (monthly reach; adults; estimated)

• Facebook: 65–75% (largest single platform; spans all ages)
• YouTube: 70–80%
• Instagram: 30–40%
• TikTok: 25–35%
• Snapchat: 20–30% (heaviest among teens/20s)
• Pinterest: 20–30% overall; 30–45% of adult women
• WhatsApp: 8–15%
• X (Twitter): 8–15%
• Reddit: 8–12%
• LinkedIn: 7–12%
• Nextdoor: <5% (limited rural footprint)

Age profile (who uses what most)

• 13–17: TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube dominant; Instagram common; minimal Facebook posting
• 18–29: YouTube 85–90%; Instagram 60–70%; TikTok 55–65%; Snapchat 50–60%; Facebook 50–60%
• 30–49: Facebook 75–85%; YouTube 80–85%; Instagram 40–50%; TikTok 30–40%
• 50–64: Facebook 70–80%; YouTube 70–80%; Instagram 25–35%; TikTok 15–25%
• 65+: Facebook 55–65%; YouTube 55–65%; Instagram 10–20%; TikTok 5–12%

Gender breakdown (directional)

• Women: Slightly higher overall social use (≈72–78% of adult women). Over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, local groups/marketplace. TikTok use modest to strong among <45.
• Men: ≈65–72% of adult men. Over-index on YouTube, Reddit, X; strong for DIY, sports, tech, auto/outdoors content. Facebook still common but slightly lower than women.

Behavioral trends (what people actually do)

• Facebook is the community hub: school and sports updates, churches, local gov’t alerts, yard-sale/“buy-sell-trade” groups, Marketplace. Event pages drive attendance (fairs, festivals, fundraisers).
• YouTube is utility-first: repair/DIY, farming and outdoor content, small engine/auto, cooking, and local sports highlights; lean-back evening viewing.
• TikTok and Instagram Reels: short-form entertainment, food/recipes, home projects, local business promos; growth strongest among under-35s. Many Reels are TikTok cross-posts.
• Snapchat: default private messaging for teens/college-age; streaks and group chats; used heavily around school events and sports.
• Pinterest: recipes, crafts, home decor, seasonal projects; strong among adult women.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is mainstream; Snapchat for younger users; WhatsApp niche.
• Peak engagement windows: Weeknights 7–10 pm; lunch 11:30 am–1 pm; weekend mornings; Sunday early afternoon.
• Content that performs: familiar faces/places, local wins (sports, students), deals under $50, weather/emergency info, short video (15–45s), plain-language posts. Trust flows through local admins/coaches/PTA leaders more than polished brand pages.

Notes and method

• Figures are estimates for Allen County based on national Pew platform reach (2023–2024), adjusted for rural Kentucky adoption, age structure, and county population. Use ranges for planning; validate with page/group insights or platform ad tools for precise targeting.