Caldwell County

Here are key demographics for Caldwell County, Kentucky (latest Census/ACS figures; rounded):

Population size

• 2020 Census: 12,649
• 2023 estimate: ~12,4–12,5k

Age

• Median age: ~42
• Under 18: ~21%
• 65 and over: ~21%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Racial/ethnic composition

• White (non-Hispanic): ~86%
• Black or African American: ~8%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~2–3%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• Asian: ~0.3%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.2%

Households

• Total households: ~5,300
• Persons per household: ~2.34
• Family households: ~63% (about half married-couple)
• Owner-occupied housing: ~73%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey (ACS) 2018–2022 5-year; Census QuickFacts. Figures rounded for clarity.

Snapshot: Caldwell County, KY (pop. ≈12,600)

Estimated email users: 9,800–10,200 residents (age 13+). Method: county population × share age 13+ × typical KY/U.S. email adoption (≈90–92% adults; ≈85% teens).

Age distribution of email use (approx.):

• 13–17: 80–90%
• 18–29: 97–99%
• 30–49: 95–97%
• 50–64: 88–92%
• 65+: 75–85%

Gender split:

• Population ≈51% female/49% male; email usage is near parity (no meaningful gap).

Digital access trends:

• Household broadband subscription: ~78–82%; about 1 in 5 households lacks home broadband.
• Smartphone‑only internet: ~15–20% of households rely mainly on mobile data.
• Rural density and connectivity: ~36 residents per square mile (low density raises last‑mile costs and limits fixed‑line options). Fiber is expanding from town centers, but DSL and fixed wireless remain common in outlying areas; public Wi‑Fi (libraries/schools) fills gaps.

Notes: Figures are estimates synthesized from 2020 Census population, recent ACS broadband indicators for rural Kentucky, and Pew Research on email adoption. Actual usage will vary by neighborhood and provider coverage within the county.

Mobile phone usage in Caldwell County, Kentucky — summary (with estimates) and how it differs from statewide trends

Key differences versus Kentucky overall

• Higher reliance on mobile phones as the primary internet connection due to lower fixed-broadband adoption in rural areas.
• Older age profile leads to slightly lower smartphone penetration, more basic/feature-phone use among seniors, and longer device upgrade cycles.
• Carrier mix skews more toward AT&T/Verizon (rural coverage and FirstNet) than T-Mobile, and 5G mid-band availability is sparser than the state average.
• Prepaid/MVNO plan usage is higher than statewide, reflecting lower median incomes and credit constraints.
• Usage patterns tilt more toward voice/SMS and practical apps (banking, telehealth, weather, ag/markets) than entertainment-heavy streaming compared with urban Kentucky.

User estimates (order-of-magnitude, based on ACS demographics, rural adoption gaps from Pew/NTIA, and typical carrier penetration in rural KY)

• Population base: ~12.5–13.0k residents; adults ~9.7–10.3k.
• Any mobile phone users (adults): ~85–88% → roughly 8.2–9.0k adult users.
• Smartphone users (adults): ~80–82% of adult mobile users → about 6.6–7.4k.
• Teens (13–17): ~600–700; smartphone adoption ~90–95% → +540–660 users.
• Total individual mobile users (all ages): roughly 9.0–9.7k.
• Smartphone-only internet (no home broadband): estimated 20–30% of adult smartphone users in Caldwell vs roughly mid-teens statewide.
• Prepaid/MVNO share: estimated 30–35% of lines locally vs roughly mid-20s statewide.

Demographic breakdown and usage nuances

• Age: Seniors (65+) are a larger share than the Kentucky average. Smartphone ownership and app adoption are notably lower in this group; many maintain voice/SMS-centric usage and keep devices longer.
• Income/education: Lower median household income than the state average correlates with higher prepaid plans, smaller data bundles, shared family plans, and slower upgrade cadence.
• Race/ethnicity: The county is predominantly White with small Black and Hispanic populations. Where income and education gaps exist, mobile dependence tends to rise (smartphone-only households and reliance on public Wi‑Fi), mirroring statewide equity patterns but on a smaller scale.
• Work/industry mix: Agriculture, small retail, logistics, and public sector roles mean fewer remote workers than statewide urban centers; daytime traffic patterns are steadier, with commuting and school-time peaks rather than large work-from-home loads.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage: 4G LTE is the baseline countywide; service is strongest in and around Princeton and along I‑69/US‑62 corridors. Low-density areas toward county edges can see weaker signal and indoor coverage challenges.
• 5G: Low-band 5G from major carriers is present along main corridors; mid-band (e.g., C‑band/n41) is spottier than the Kentucky average and typically clustered near Princeton/transport routes. mmWave is not a factor.
• Carriers: AT&T (including FirstNet Band 14) and Verizon generally provide the most consistent rural coverage; T‑Mobile’s extended-range 5G has improved but remains less consistent off the main corridors than in Kentucky’s urban counties.
• Backhaul/fiber: Middle-mile capacity is improving regionally (state initiatives and private builds), but last-mile fiber to homes/farms lags urban Kentucky. Where fiber is absent, households lean more on mobile data and fixed wireless access (FWA) from carriers.
• Resiliency: Western Kentucky’s severe weather experience has pushed carriers to add backup power and harden select sites; nonetheless, single-backhaul paths and extended outages remain risks in the most rural pockets.
• Public access: The public library, schools, and some civic sites offer Wi‑Fi that supplements limited home broadband; these are more heavily used than in many urban Kentucky counties.

Behavioral and service trends to watch

• Mobile as primary internet: Elevated smartphone-only and FWA adoption is likely to persist until fiber expands. This drives higher sensitivity to data caps and network congestion.
• App mix: High adoption of pragmatics (banking, government services, weather, telehealth) and school apps; slightly lower penetration of high-bandwidth entertainment subscriptions than state urban averages.
• Payments/commerce: Mobile payments and wallet use are growing but lag urban Kentucky; card-present and cash remain common in small retailers.
• Emergency comms: Strong FirstNet uptake among public safety and schools; community expectations for priority service and coverage during storms are high.

What this means compared with Kentucky overall

• Access gap is more about capacity/quality than pure coverage: bars of signal are common, but consistent mid-band 5G speeds and indoor penetration lag the state average.
• Digital equity efforts that couple affordable plans (Lifeline/ACP successors, nonprofit plans) with device support will have outsized impact relative to urban counties.
• Investments that matter most locally: additional mid-band 5G sectors near population clusters, rural small cells or repeaters for indoor coverage, redundant backhaul on key towers, and continued fiber middle-mile to enable both FWA and future last-mile builds.

Notes on methodology

• Figures are modeled from county population and age structure, national/rural smartphone adoption benchmarks (Pew/NTIA), and typical rural Kentucky carrier/technology footprints (FCC maps and industry disclosures). For planning, validate with current carrier maps, local 911/public-safety contacts (FirstNet usage), school district tech leads, and the public library system.

Here’s a concise, county-specific picture based on Caldwell County’s size and age mix, combined with the latest Pew Research U.S. social media patterns and rural-adjusted adoption. Figures are modeled estimates; county-level platform stats aren’t directly published.

Quick snapshot

• Population: about 12.7k residents (older-leaning, rural).
• Estimated social media users: 8.5k–9.5k (roughly 70–75% of residents; ~80–85% of those age 13+).
• Gender mix: ~51% female, ~49% male in the county; among social users, women slightly over-index on Facebook/Instagram, men on YouTube/Reddit/X.

Most-used platforms (share of local social media users)

• YouTube: 75–80%
• Facebook: 70–75% (Marketplace and local groups dominate)
• Instagram: 35–45% (strong under 40)
• TikTok: 30–40% (teens/20s; growing via Reels cross-posts)
• Snapchat: 25–35% (concentrated among teens/college-age)
• Pinterest: 20–30% (DIY, recipes, seasonal)
• X/Twitter: 12–18% (state sports, breaking news)
• Reddit: 10–15% (younger males)
• LinkedIn: 10–15% (professionals; smaller base)
• Nextdoor: 2–5% (limited rural footprint)

Age-group patterns (approximate)

• Teens (13–17): 95%+ on at least one platform; YouTube 90%+, TikTok 60–70%, Snapchat 60–70%, Instagram 50–60%, Facebook low except for school/sports updates.
• 18–29: Near-universal use; YouTube 90%+, Instagram 70–80%, TikTok 60–70%, Snapchat 50–60%, Facebook ~60–65%.
• 30–49: High use; Facebook 75–80%, YouTube 85–90%, Instagram 45–55%, TikTok 35–45%.
• 50–64: Facebook 75–80%, YouTube 70–80%, Instagram 25–35%, TikTok 15–25%.
• 65+: Facebook 60–70%, YouTube 55–65%, Instagram <20%, TikTok <10%.

Gender notes

• Facebook and Instagram skew slightly female locally (Facebook users ~55–60% women).
• YouTube, Reddit, and X skew male (YouTube ~55–60% men).
• TikTok near even; Snapchat leans female.

Behavioral trends in Caldwell County

• Local-first usage: Heavy reliance on Facebook groups (buy/sell/trade, school sports, church/civic events, weather/road updates, obituaries/prayer requests). Marketplace is a primary local commerce channel.
• Information sources: Local outlets’ Facebook pages (radio/newspaper/county gov) drive breaking news, school closings, and severe-weather alerts; posts get high shares/comment threads.
• Content formats: Short vertical video (Reels/Shorts/TikTok) performs best; photo carousels for events/merchandise; live streams for games, meetings, and church services.
• Engagement times: Peaks outside work/school hours—early morning, lunch, and 7–9 pm; weekends are strong for community and yard-sale content.
• Messaging: Many transactions and event RSVPs move to Facebook Messenger/DMs after initial post.
• Commerce and causes: Fundraisers, local sponsorships (especially school athletics), seasonal events, and coupon offers get strong response; trust is tied to known admins and local brands.

Note: Figures are modeled from Pew Research’s 2023–2024 U.S. platform use, adjusted for rural/older demographics, and Census demographics for Caldwell County. Exact county-by-platform percentages are not published; treat above as best-fit estimates.