Anderson County

Anderson County, Kentucky — key demographics

Population size

• Total population: 23,852 (2020 Census); ~24,100 (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~40.6 years
• Under 18: ~24.7%
• 18–64: ~58.7%
• 65 and over: ~16.6%

Gender

• Female: ~50.7%
• Male: ~49.3%

Race/ethnicity (share of total population)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~89–90%
• Black or African American: ~3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3–4%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• Asian: ~0.4%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.1–0.2%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.0–0.1%

Households

• Number of households: ~9,200
• Average household size: ~2.6
• Family households: ~68% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~31%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~76%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census and American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Figures rounded.

Anderson County, KY email usage (estimates)

• Estimated users: Population ≈24,000. Based on US/KY adoption, about 17,000–19,000 residents use email (roughly 75–80% of all residents; ~88–92% of adults).
• Age distribution (usage rates):
  • 13–17: 70–80% use email
  • 18–34: 95%+
  • 35–54: ~95%
  • 55–64: 85–90%
  • 65+: 70–80%
• Gender split: Roughly even; men and women show very similar email adoption (near 90% among adults).
• Digital access trends:
  • Household broadband subscription is likely around 80–85% (in line with Kentucky/ACS patterns), with 10–15% of households relying primarily on mobile data.
  • Fiber coverage is expanding from the county seat outward; rural fringes have more gaps in fixed broadband, which increases smartphone-only access.
  • 4G/5G service is generally available from major carriers in population centers; performance drops in some low-density areas.
• Local density/connectivity context: Population density is roughly 115–120 people per square mile, concentrated in and around Lawrenceburg; lower-density outlying areas face last‑mile challenges that modestly depress fixed-broadband and email use among older adults.

Notes: Figures are derived from county population and state/national adoption benchmarks (Pew/ACS/FCC). For precise local metrics, consult latest ACS and FCC Broadband Map.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Anderson County, Kentucky

Scope note: Figures are modeled estimates based on recent national and Kentucky patterns (e.g., Pew Research smartphone adoption, ACS demographics, FCC coverage data) and on Anderson County’s suburban–rural profile near Frankfort/Lexington. Use for planning, not as an audited count.

User estimates

• Population base: about 24,000 residents; roughly 18,000 adults.
• People with any mobile phone: 21,000–22,000 (about 90–92% of residents).
• Smartphone users: 17,000–19,000 (about 75–80% of residents; roughly 84–88% of adults).
• Total mobile connections (phones, tablets, watches, hotspots): 28,000–32,000 lines (roughly 115–130 lines per 100 residents), near the U.S. average and a bit higher than the typical Kentucky rural county.

Demographic breakdown (ownership and usage patterns)

• Age
  • 13–17: smartphone access near universal; heavy social/video use.
  • 18–34: 95–98% smartphone ownership; highest data consumption, heavy commuter streaming.
  • 35–54: 92–95% smartphone; broad device stacking (watch, tablet).
  • 55–64: 80–85% smartphone; rising telehealth and messaging.
  • 65+: 68–75% smartphone; steady growth post‑2020, but below younger cohorts.
• Income
  • $60k+ households: near-universal smartphones; postpaid family plans dominate.
  • <$35k households: 75–80% smartphones; higher reliance on prepaid/MVNOs and hotspotting when fixed broadband is unavailable.
• Race/ethnicity and language
  • County is majority non‑Hispanic White with small Black and Hispanic/Latino populations; adoption rates are broadly similar across groups.
  • Spanish‑speaking households are slightly more likely to be mobile‑first (phone as primary internet) where wired broadband options are limited.
• Work/commute
  • Many residents commute toward Frankfort/Lexington; above‑average weekday on‑the‑road usage (navigation, music/podcast streaming, messaging).

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Radio access
  • All three national carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile) provide broad 4G LTE coverage; 5G low‑band is common, with mid‑band 5G concentrated in and around Lawrenceburg and along US‑127 and the Bluegrass Parkway.
  • Rural fringes often fall back to LTE, with occasional capacity constraints at peak times.
• Sites and backhaul
  • Macro towers cluster near Lawrenceburg and major corridors; fewer sites serve the western/southern rural areas.
  • Fiber backhaul is present in town; some outlying sectors still use microwave backhaul, which can bottleneck during commute and evening peaks.
• Terrain gaps
  • River valleys and ridgelines (especially toward the Kentucky River) create localized dead zones and in‑building coverage challenges (metal‑roof structures).
• Alternatives and anchors
  • Cable/fiber home broadband is available in town; fixed wireless (5G home or WISP/CBRS) fills gaps in outer areas.
  • Public Wi‑Fi anchors include schools, library, and municipal buildings.
• Public safety
  • AT&T’s FirstNet‑capable coverage is generally available on primary sites serving the county.

Trends that differ from Kentucky statewide averages

• Higher 5G device and plan adoption
  • Anderson County’s proximity to Lexington/Frankfort corridors and better mid‑band coverage drive 5G handset penetration to an estimated 55–65% of smartphones, a bit above the Kentucky average (often ~45–55% outside metros).
• Lower prepaid share
  • Postpaid family plans are more common among commuter households; prepaid/MVNO share estimated at 20–25%, below Kentucky’s statewide mix (~30–35%).
• Fewer mobile‑only households
  • Due to stronger in‑town cable/fiber availability, an estimated 10–13% of households rely on mobile data as their primary internet, lower than Kentucky’s overall rate (often 15–18%, higher in eastern rural counties).
• Slightly higher per‑line mobile data use on weekdays
  • Commuter streaming and navigation likely push average mobile data per line 5–10% above the state average, even as many homes offload to Wi‑Fi in the evenings.
• Network quality/capacity
  • Better mid‑band 5G along key roads yields higher median speeds than many rural Kentucky counties, but Anderson still shows rural‑fringe fallbacks to LTE and valley dead zones—less acute than in the state’s mountainous east.

Recent shifts (last 3–5 years)

• Rapid migration to 5G devices/plans; expansion of mid‑band 5G along US‑127/BG Parkway.
• Growth of fixed‑wireless home internet in outer areas lacking cable/fiber.
• Increased telehealth and school‑to‑home connectivity, lifting smartphone adoption among older adults and low‑income families.
• More device “stacking” (watches, tablets) among working‑age commuters.

Planning implications

• Prioritize new or upgraded mid‑band 5G sectors and fiber backhaul on rural towers west/south of Lawrenceburg and near river valleys.
• Target digital‑inclusion offers to low‑income seniors and mobile‑first households to reduce reliance on metered data.
• Encourage carrier small cells or indoor solutions for public venues and metal‑roof buildings where in‑building coverage is weak.

Below is a concise, decision-ready snapshot. Figures are modeled estimates for Anderson County, KY, derived by applying recent U.S./rural usage rates (Pew Research Center, 2024) to local population. Use as planning baselines and validate with platform ad tools.

Snapshot

• Population baseline: ~24,000 residents; ~18,500 adults (18+).
• Estimated adults using at least one social platform: 65–75% (~12,000–14,000).

Most-used platforms (adults), with localized estimates

• YouTube: 78–83% of adults (≈14,500–15,500)
• Facebook: 65–72% (≈12,000–13,500)
• Instagram: 38–48% (≈7,000–9,000)
• TikTok: 28–35% (≈5,000–6,500)
• Pinterest: 32–38% (≈6,000–7,000; skews female)
• Snapchat: 22–28% (≈4,000–5,000; concentrated under 30)
• LinkedIn: 18–25% (≈3,500–4,500; lower in rural labor markets)
• X (Twitter): 18–25% (≈3,500–4,500)
• Reddit: 12–18% (≈2,000–3,000)
• Nextdoor: 5–10% (≈900–1,800; limited neighborhood coverage)

Age patterns

• Teens (13–17): Very high on YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok; minimal Facebook. Heavy use for school sports, clubs, and church/youth events.
• 18–29: Instagram (≈70%+), TikTok (≈60%+), Snapchat (≈60%+), YouTube (≈90%+). Facebook used but not primary.
• 30–49: Facebook dominant (≈70%), YouTube (≈90%), Instagram (≈50%), TikTok (≈35–45%). Strong family- and home-related content.
• 50–64 / 65+: Facebook remains the main network (≈55–65%), YouTube widely used; TikTok modest (≈10–20%), Instagram lighter.

Gender breakdown (tendencies)

• Women: Higher use of Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; lead local shopping, school/parent, and community group discussions.
• Men: Higher use of YouTube, Reddit, X; strong in sports, tech, outdoor/hobby communities.

Behavioral trends (local context)

• Facebook Groups are the community hub: local news, buy/sell/trade, yard sales, school and sports updates, road closures, weather alerts, and civic info. Marketplace is heavily used.
• Short-form video is rising: Reels and TikTok clips of local restaurants, bourbon/distillery visits (Wild Turkey, Four Roses), events, and high school sports perform well; cross-posting Reels↔TikTok works.
• Messenger-first customer service: Residents DM businesses for hours, specials, and bookings; quick responses materially affect conversion.
• Event-centric engagement: Fairs, festivals, school athletics (Bearcats), church events, and seasonal tourism drive spikes. Local pride and “shop local” content over-index.
• Timing: Engagement typically peaks evenings (7–10 pm) and weekends; morning checks (7–9 am) also see activity—plan posts and replies accordingly.
• Information trust: Local pages/groups and known personalities carry outsized influence; concise, plain-language updates outperform polished corporate tone.

How these numbers were derived (useful for internal notes)

• Adult population estimated from Census/ACS shares.
• Platform percentages based on Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. adult usage, adjusted slightly downward for rural adoption on Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat and for LinkedIn/Nextdoor; rounded to practical planning ranges.
• For precise targeting, validate with current platform ad audience estimates (Meta, TikTok Ads, Google/YouTube) geofenced to Anderson County and 10–20 mile radius around Lawrenceburg.