Butler County

Butler County, Kentucky – key demographics (latest Census/ACS)

• Population:

  • 12,371 (2020 Decennial Census)
  • ~12,800 (2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimate)

• Age:

  • Median age: ~41
  • Under 18: ~22%
  • 18–64: ~59%
  • 65 and over: ~19%

• Sex:

  • Male: ~49%
  • Female: ~51%

• Race/ethnicity (Hispanic can be any race):

  • White, non-Hispanic: ~93–95%
  • Black or African American: ~0.5–1%
  • Hispanic or Latino: ~2–3%
  • Two or more races: ~2–3%
  • Other groups (Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, NH/PI): each <1%

• Households:

  • ~4,900 households; average household size ~2.5
  • Family households: ~68% (married-couple ~50% of all households)
  • With children under 18: ~28–30%
  • Nonfamily households: ~32%; living alone ~27% (65+ living alone ~12%)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates. Figures rounded for readability.

Summary for Butler County, Kentucky (estimates)

• Population base: ~12.4K residents; rural density ~29 people per sq. mile (centered on Morgantown).
• Estimated email users: 7,500–9,000 residents (roughly 60–70% of total population; ~75–85% of residents age 13+), reflecting rural internet adoption.
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 13–17: ~6–8%
  • 18–34: ~22–26%
  • 35–54: ~32–36%
  • 55–64: ~14–16%
  • 65+: ~18–22%
• Gender split among users: approximately even (about 49% male, 51% female).
• Digital access trends:
  • Household internet subscription around three-quarters of households; a notable share are mobile-only (≈10–15%).
  • Email is primarily accessed via smartphones; younger adults rely on app-based inboxes, while seniors more often use webmail on larger screens.
  • Gradual growth in 65+ adoption as telehealth, benefits portals, and church/community communications move online.
• Local connectivity context:
  • Best fixed-broadband options cluster in/near Morgantown; speeds and reliability drop in outlying hollows and along tertiary roads.
  • 4G LTE coverage is common on main corridors; 5G presence is limited/spotty.
  • Public Wi‑Fi and device help available via county schools and the public library, bridging gaps for students and low-income households.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Butler County, Kentucky (focus on what differs from statewide patterns)

High-level snapshot

• Population context: Butler County has roughly 12.5–13.0k residents; about 9.5–10.2k adults.
• Mobile phone users (any cellphone): estimated 90–94% of adults, or ~8.6–9.6k users.
• Smartphone users: estimated 80–85% of adults, or ~7.6–8.6k users.
• Smartphone-only internet users (no home broadband): estimated 22–30% of adults, notably higher than Kentucky overall (~16–20%).

How Butler County differs from Kentucky overall

• Greater smartphone-only dependence: More residents use phones as their primary or only internet, driven by patchier home broadband in rural areas.
• More LTE reliance, slower mid-band 5G: 5G low-band is present along main corridors, but mid-band/high-capacity 5G is sparse; LTE remains the workhorse outside Morgantown and highways.
• Coverage variability: Signal drop-offs are more common in river bottoms, wooded hollows, and low-density roads compared with statewide averages.
• Plan mix skews value/prepaid: A larger share of users rely on prepaid and discount MVNOs due to lower incomes; multi-line family plans are common.
• Usage patterns favor on-device data: Above-average hotspot use and streaming on phones as substitutes for home internet; mobile data consumption per line is likely higher than the state median among smartphone-only users.
• Lower small-cell density: Few small cells; coverage depends on a handful of macro sites—unlike denser urban Kentucky markets.

Demographic breakdown (and implications for mobile usage)

• Age:
  • 65+ share is higher than the state average. Estimated smartphone adoption among seniors: ~60–70% (lower than state urban seniors).
  • 18–49 adoption near-saturation (~92–97%); these cohorts drive most mobile data and app usage.
• Income and education:
  • Median household income below the state average; correlates with higher prepaid usage, budget Android devices, and shared data plans.
  • Lower bachelor’s attainment than state average; digital literacy varies; Facebook, Messenger, and SMS are primary channels for many.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Predominantly White; small but growing Hispanic population. Spanish-language usage is present but modest; WhatsApp adoption growing in these households.
• Work and lifestyle:
  • Fewer remote workers than statewide; farms and small trades use mobile hotspots and SMS for operations and logistics.
  • Telehealth reliance grew but is constrained by spotty coverage outside town centers.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Cellular networks:
  • AT&T and Verizon generally provide the most consistent rural coverage; T‑Mobile coverage is improving along US‑231, KY‑70, and near Morgantown but remains thinner off-corridor.
  • 5G reality: Low-band 5G appears along primary roads and in/near Morgantown; mid-band/capacity 5G is limited. LTE remains primary in most outlying areas.
  • Known dead zones: Terrain-related gaps near the Green River and in wooded hollows; in-building coverage can be weak in metal-roof structures without boosters.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • Regional middle-mile fiber exists (statewide initiatives and utility fiber), but last-mile fiber buildouts are uneven. Where fiber reaches, it reduces smartphone-only dependence; elsewhere, residents lean on mobile or satellite.
  • Microwave backhaul still supports some towers; this can limit peak capacity compared to fiber-fed sites.
• Towers and density:
  • Macro towers cluster near Morgantown and major corridors; colocation is common. New tower builds are incremental; small cells are rare.
• Public safety and resilience:
  • FirstNet (AT&T) coverage is available; agencies rely on it, but terrain still affects handheld reliability in fringe areas.
  • Power outages can impact rural sites longer; carriers with generators or faster refueling maintain service better during storms.
• Alternative access:
  • Fixed wireless (licensed and unlicensed) and satellite (e.g., newer LEO options) fill gaps; library/school Wi‑Fi remains important for homework access.

User estimates (rounded ranges)

• Adults with any cellphone: ~8.6–9.6k
• Adults with smartphones: ~7.6–8.6k
• Adults relying primarily on smartphones for internet: ~2.1–3.0k
• Households using mobile hotspots as home internet: meaningfully higher share than state; common among outlying areas lacking cable/fiber.

Trends to watch

• Gradual infill of mid-band 5G along corridors and near Morgantown should lift speeds and reliability, but far‑flung hollows may remain LTE-first for several years.
• Electric cooperative and ISP fiber projects in the broader region can reduce smartphone-only dependence where they reach; expect a patchwork improvement rather than countywide transformation in the short term.
• T‑Mobile market share likely to grow along improved 5G corridors; AT&T/Verizon remain preferred in deeper rural spots unless new sites go live.

Notes on method and confidence

• Estimates synthesize: county population and age structure (ACS/Census patterns for similar rural KY counties), Pew smartphone adoption benchmarks adjusted for rural/older/lower‑income skews, and typical FCC-reported rural coverage patterns in south‑central/western Kentucky. Ranges are provided due to map and reporting uncertainties at fine geographic levels.

Butler County, KY — social media snapshot (estimates for 2025)

Population base

• Residents: ~13,000
• Residents age 13+: ~10,000–11,000
• Household internet: roughly 70–80% have a broadband subscription (rural KY benchmark)

Overall usage

• Social media penetration (13+): 78–82% (≈8.0k–8.8k people)
• Daily users: 65–70% of 13+
• Average platforms used per person: ~2–3

Most-used platforms (share of residents 13+ using at least monthly; est.)

• YouTube: 70–75%
• Facebook: 60–65%
• Instagram: 30–36%
• TikTok: 28–33%
• Snapchat: 22–27%
• Pinterest: 25–30% (heavier among women 25–54)
• WhatsApp: 15–18%
• X (Twitter): 10–14%
• Reddit: 10–12%
• LinkedIn: 12–16%

Age patterns (share of each age group using any social; top platforms)

• 13–17: 90–95%; Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube; Instagram rising
• 18–24: 96–98%; YouTube, Instagram, TikTok; Snapchat strong
• 25–34: 90–93%; YouTube, Facebook, Instagram; TikTok moderate
• 35–44: 86–90%; Facebook, YouTube; Instagram moderate
• 45–54: 78–82%; Facebook, YouTube
• 55–64: 70–75%; Facebook, YouTube
• 65+: 55–62%; Facebook primary; YouTube for how‑to/news

Gender breakdown (who’s more likely to use each; est.)

• Facebook: slight female tilt (≈55–60% of users female)
• Instagram, TikTok: slight female tilt (≈53–58% female)
• Pinterest: strong female tilt (≈75–80% female)
• YouTube: slight male tilt (≈52–55% male)
• X/Twitter, Reddit, LinkedIn: male‑leaning

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first: Heavy use of Facebook Groups/Pages for school updates, church events, local sports, yard sales, obituaries, road/weather alerts.
• Peak times: Evenings (7–9 pm) and early morning scroll (6–8 am). Weather or school-closure posts spike engagement.
• Format preferences: Short vertical video (Reels/TikTok) is rising under 35; over 45s engage with photo posts, simple text, flyers, and local faces.
• Trust signals: Local admins, county offices, schools, churches, and known small businesses get higher credibility and shares.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is default; WhatsApp used for family/out-of-area ties; teens prefer Snapchat DMs.
• Commerce: Strong response to local deals, giveaways, jobs, and event reminders; skepticism toward unknown e‑commerce links.
• Content that travels: Local pride stories, high school sports highlights, severe-weather info, community fundraisers.

Notes and method

• County-specific platform stats aren’t directly published. Figures are derived from Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 U.S. social platform adoption (with rural adjustments), applied to Butler County’s size and age profile from the American Community Survey. Treat as directional estimates, useful for planning rather than exact counts.