Carroll County

To provide accurate figures, which reference do you prefer?

• Latest ACS 5-year estimates (2019–2023) — best current view for small counties
• 2020 Decennial Census — official counts as of April 1, 2020

Also, confirm which household metrics you want (e.g., number of households, average household size, family vs. nonfamily share, owner-occupancy).

Carroll County, KY snapshot (estimates)

• Population/density: ~10–11k residents across ~130 sq mi (≈80–90 people/sq mi). County seat: Carrollton; I‑71 corridor traverses the county.
• Estimated email users: ~6,500–7,800 residents use email at least occasionally.
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 13–17: ~70–85% use email; ~8–10% of total email users
  • 18–34: ~92–97%; ~30–35% of users
  • 35–49: ~92–97%; ~25–30% of users
  • 50–64: ~85–92%; ~18–22% of users
  • 65+: ~70–85%; ~12–16% of users
• Gender split: Approximately even (about 50% women, 50% men among users).
• Digital access trends:
  • Household broadband subscription likely ~70–80% (below U.S. average), with 15–20% of households relying primarily on smartphones for internet.
  • Public access points (libraries/schools) remain important for residents without home broadband.
  • Cellular coverage is strongest along I‑71 and in/near Carrollton; river valleys and hilly, wooded areas can have weaker signals.
  • Gradual improvements from ongoing state/regional rural broadband initiatives, but last‑mile gaps persist.

Method: County population and rural profile combined with ACS patterns for rural Kentucky broadband and PEW national email adoption by age; figures are indicative ranges, not official counts.

Below is a practical, data-informed snapshot of mobile phone usage in Carroll County, Kentucky. Because fine-grained, up-to-the-month local usage data aren’t publicly released, figures are presented as careful estimates derived from the county’s size and rural profile, blended with Kentucky and national adoption patterns (Pew Research, ACS Computer & Internet Use, FCC coverage filings) as of 2022–2024.

Quick context and what’s different from Kentucky overall

• Carroll County is small (~11k residents) and more rural/industrial than the state average, with a major steel facility (Ghent) and an I‑71 corridor. This produces distinct daytime demand spikes around worksites and logistics nodes and better corridor coverage than interior rural areas.
• Compared with Kentucky overall, the county likely has:
  • Higher reliance on mobile-only internet at home.
  • A higher prepaid share and longer device replacement cycles.
  • Slightly lower 5G/mid-band availability away from the interstate, but stronger coverage along I‑71 than many rural peers.
  • More cross-border usage interplay with Indiana sites (Madison area), which can shape perceived coverage and roaming in river-adjacent zones.

User estimates (orders of magnitude, not exact counts)

• Total mobile phone users (any mobile) age 13+: about 8.4k–8.7k people.
• Smartphone users age 13+: about 7.8k–8.0k people.
• Mobile-only internet households (no fixed broadband, rely primarily on cellular): roughly 24–30% of households. With ~4,000–4,500 households countywide, that’s on the order of 1,000–1,300 households—above the Kentucky average (≈18–22%).
• Prepaid share of lines: estimated 35–45% in the county vs ~28–32% statewide, tied to income mix and rural coverage dynamics.

Demographic breakdown (how usage likely differs across groups)

• Age
  • 18–29: very high smartphone penetration (≈95–98%); heavy app/social/video use; tends to drive 5G adoption where available.
  • 30–49: high penetration (≈93–96%); family plans common; frequent hotspotting for homework/shift work schedules.
  • 50–64: solid penetration (≈83–88%); notable use of large-screen Android devices and Wi‑Fi calling to offset weaker indoor signal outside towns.
  • 65+: lower but rising adoption (≈64–72%); voice/text and messaging-first; some feature phone retention; assistance programs (ACP/Lifeline) matter.
  • Teens (13–17): very high smartphone access (≈90–95%); school-driven data needs elevate evening and weekend mobile usage when fixed broadband is absent.
• Income and plan type
  • Below-median incomes correlate with higher prepaid usage, multi-line discounts, and device financing constraints; expect longer replacement cycles (often 3–4 years vs ~2.5–3 years statewide).
  • Mobile-only households are concentrated outside cable footprints and in manufactured housing clusters.
• Race/ethnicity and language
  • Predominantly White, with a visible Hispanic workforce tied to manufacturing. Expect higher use of WhatsApp, Messenger, and bilingual calling plans in and around Ghent and Carrollton shifts.
• Commuting and cross-border effects
  • Daytime network load spikes near industrial sites, I‑71 ramps, and Carrollton. River-adjacent neighborhoods sometimes lean on Indiana-facing sites; users may experience carrier-by-carrier variability and occasional roaming/hand-off quirks.

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

• Macro coverage
  • 4G LTE is broadly available in towns and along I‑71; interior rural roads can drop to weaker LTE or spotty signal, especially in low-lying or hilly stretches south and west of the river corridor.
  • Low-band 5G is present along the interstate and in/near Carrollton; mid-band 5G appears in pockets (corridor-first). Expect LTE-only performance in many interior areas.
• Capacity and performance
  • Strongest speeds and reliability cluster around Carrollton, Ghent/industrial sites, and the interstate. Evening/weekend slowdowns are more noticeable in neighborhoods lacking cable/fiber, where residents offload to mobile.
• In-home experience
  • Towns: cable internet is the default where available; mobile is a supplement.
  • Rural: DSL and fixed wireless are common; many households rely primarily on mobile data or FWA (5G home/fixed wireless access). Wi‑Fi calling is frequently used to stabilize voice service indoors.
• Public and anchor connectivity
  • Schools and libraries provide key Wi‑Fi access points (E‑Rate supported); Kentucky’s middle‑mile (KyWired) presence helps backhaul but does not guarantee last‑mile fiber to homes.
• Resilience and public safety
  • First responder coverage is generally strongest along the interstate and in the county seat. Volunteer fire/EMS districts may deploy boosters in known weak zones.

How Carroll County’s trends diverge from statewide patterns

• Reliance on mobile as primary home internet is several points higher than the Kentucky average.
• Prepaid penetration and Android tilt are higher; iPhone share and rapid device refresh are lower.
• Coverage quality is more polarized: corridor/town areas can match or exceed the state average, while interior pockets lag—creating sharper “good vs weak” contrasts than the state overall.
• Daytime demand patterns are more tied to industrial shifts and interstate traffic than typical rural counties, influencing tower sector loading and perceived speeds during work hours.
• Cross-state radio environment (Indiana adjacency) plays a larger role in user experience than for many Kentucky counties.

Notes on method and uncertainty

• Population base ≈11k (recent Census estimates). Adoption rates by age and plan type draw from recent Pew/ACS/FCC trends adjusted for rural Kentucky. Ranges reflect uncertainty without a countywide survey or carrier disclosures.
• For concrete local validation, pair this with: FCC Broadband Map layers (mobile and fixed), carrier coverage maps, Ookla/MLab speed tests, school district tech surveys, and 911/public safety radio feedback.

Note: Precise, county-level social media figures aren’t published. The estimates below apply recent Pew Research Center benchmarks for U.S./rural users and teen use to Carroll County’s size and age mix.

Quick snapshot

• Population baseline: about 10.5–10.8k residents; ~7.8–8.3k adults (18+) and ~600–700 teens (13–17).
• Estimated social media users (13+): 6.5k–7.5k residents use at least one platform (roughly 75–85% of adults; 90%+ of teens).

Most-used platforms (adults 18+, estimated share of adults who use each; platforms are multi-use so totals exceed 100%)

• YouTube: 75–85%
• Facebook: 65–75% (highest single-platform reach; especially strong among 30+ and in rural areas)
• Instagram: 30–45% (skews under 45)
• TikTok: 20–35% (fast growth among 18–44)
• Snapchat: 15–25% (concentrated under 30)
• Pinterest: 25–35% (skews female, home/DIY, recipes)
• X/Twitter: 10–20% (news/sports enthusiasts)
• LinkedIn: 10–20% (professionals, job seekers)
• Reddit: 10–15% (younger men, hobby communities)
• WhatsApp: 10–15% (family/group messaging; some Hispanic/intl ties)

Teens (13–17, platform use; national teen benchmarks applied locally)

• YouTube: 90–95%
• TikTok: 60–70%
• Snapchat: 60–70%
• Instagram: 50–60%
• Facebook: 20–35%
• Discord: 20–30%
• Twitch: 15–25%

Age-group highlights (behavior + relative platform mix)

• 13–17: Short‑form video and messaging dominate (YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat). Facebook used mainly for groups/events tied to school or sports.
• 18–29: Heavy multi‑platform use; Instagram/TikTok for discovery and entertainment, Snapchat for close friends; Facebook for local events and buy–sell groups.
• 30–44: Facebook + YouTube core; Instagram rising; TikTok use growing. Heavy use of Facebook Groups/Marketplace; parents follow school, youth sports, and local businesses.
• 45–64: Facebook primary, YouTube close second; light Instagram/TikTok. Reliance on groups for local info, churches, civic updates.
• 65+: Facebook first, YouTube for how‑to and news clips; Messenger widely used. Lower usage of newer apps.

Gender tendencies (directional)

• Women: Higher on Facebook and Pinterest; strong engagement with Marketplace, community groups, events, schools, health/wellness, and shopping content. Instagram use solid among under‑50 women.
• Men: Higher on YouTube, Reddit, and X; sports, automotive, outdoor (hunting/fishing), tools/equipment trading; local government and emergency updates.

Behavioral trends in Carroll County–type rural communities

• Facebook is the local “public square”: town and neighborhood groups, school/team pages, churches, and civic alerts drive consistent daily engagement.
• Marketplace is high‑traffic: used goods, vehicles, tools, furniture; trust is built via mutual contacts and local pickup.
• Messaging over phone calls: Facebook Messenger and SMS for contacting small businesses and sellers.
• Short‑form video is rising: TikTok and Instagram Reels clips are frequently reshared inside Facebook groups for local reach.
• Local visuals perform best: school sports highlights, youth leagues, fair/festival coverage, riverfront/outdoor scenes, restaurant specials, openings/closings.
• Posting windows: early morning (6:30–8:30a), lunch (11:30a–1p), and evenings (7–9p); weekend afternoons for events.
• Jobs and services: Video job posts and simple how‑to/demo content convert well for manufacturing, trades, logistics, and healthcare roles common in the region.
• Caution with scams: residents are attentive to authenticity signals in Marketplace and group posts (real profiles, local references).

Sources/method: Estimates use Pew Research Center’s 2024 adult social media use (with rural vs. urban patterns), Pew’s 2023–2024 teen platform data, and Carroll County’s population/age structure from recent Census/ACS releases.