Elliott County

Key demographics for Elliott County, Kentucky

Population

• 7,354 (2020 Census)
• ~7,130 (2023 population estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~42
• Under 18: ~22%
• 65 and over: ~19%

Gender

• Female: ~49.5%
• Male: ~50.5%

Race/ethnicity (mutually exclusive; ACS 2018–2022)

• Non-Hispanic White: ~96–97%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~1–2%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~1–2%
• Non-Hispanic Black: ~0–1%
• Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, and other: each ~0–1%

Households (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~2,800
• Average household size: ~2.5
• Family households: ~68%
• Married-couple families: ~47%
• Households with children under 18: ~24%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year; 2023 Vintage Population Estimates).

Elliott County, KY snapshot (estimates)

• Population/density: ~7,500 residents (2020 Census) across ~234 sq mi; ~30–32 people per sq mi (very rural).
• Estimated email users: 4,700–5,300 residents. Based on rural internet adoption (~85–90% of adults online; >90% of internet users use email, per Pew).
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 18–34: ~25–30%
  • 35–54: ~35–40%
  • 55–64: ~15–18%
  • 65+: ~15–20% (lower adoption among seniors)
• Gender split: Approximately even (near 50/50; email use shows minimal gender gap nationally).
• Digital access trends:
  • About 60–70% of households have a home broadband subscription (ACS-type rural KY range); many others rely on smartphones, hotspots, or satellite. Smartphone‑only internet users likely 15–25%.
  • Fixed high‑speed options (cable/fiber) are concentrated near Sandy Hook; outlying hollows rely more on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite. 4G mobile coverage is common along main roads; 5G remains spotty.
  • Public access points (libraries/schools) are important for account setup and routine email use.
• Implication: Email is widespread among working‑age adults; the main constraint is reliable home broadband, not willingness to use email.

Below is a concise, county-specific snapshot built from national/state adoption research (e.g., Pew), Appalachian/rural usage patterns, FCC/National Broadband Map patterns for eastern Kentucky, and Elliott County’s small, older, lower-income profile. Figures are estimates and ranges rather than point values, with emphasis on how Elliott County likely differs from Kentucky overall.

Summary snapshot

• Population baseline: Small, rural county centered on Sandy Hook; older-than-state median age; predominantly White; lower household incomes than KY average.

User estimates (adults)

• Mobile phone owners: ~5,300–5,800 adults (about 85–95% of adults), roughly on par with rural U.S. but slightly below Kentucky overall.
• Smartphone users: ~4,100–4,800 adults (about 70–80% of adults), likely 5–10 percentage points lower than the KY state average.
• Mobile-only internet users (smartphone as primary or only connection at home): roughly 25–35% of adults, notably higher than the KY average (often ~15–20%).
• Prepaid share: Higher than state average, with strong MVNO use (e.g., Cricket, Straight Talk) due to budget constraints and credit hurdles.
• Device replacement cycle: Longer than state average (often 3–5 years), contributing to older handset mix and lower 5G-capable penetration.

Demographic patterns

• Age:
  • 18–29: Near-universal smartphone ownership; usage patterns similar to the state.
  • 30–64: High ownership but more budget plans and data-constrained use than statewide.
  • 65+: Significantly lower smartphone ownership (roughly 55–65%), below the KY average for seniors.
• Income and education:
  • Lower-income and lower-education households show higher reliance on prepaid plans and mobile-only internet.
  • Lifeline participation historically above state average; end of the ACP subsidy likely increased plan downgrades or data rationing.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • County is overwhelmingly White; any usage differences by race are muted due to small sample sizes. Income and age are the primary drivers of differences.
• Work patterns:
  • Service, trades, and seasonal work increase reliance on text/voice and messaging apps for scheduling; less consistent streaming/gaming due to data limits and patchy coverage.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Topography-driven gaps: Hills/hollows produce more dead zones and weak in-building signal than the KY average.
• Technology mix:
  • 4G LTE is the baseline in and around Sandy Hook and along main corridors; coverage falls off faster on secondary roads.
  • 5G presence is mostly low-band; mid-band 5G sites are sparse relative to state population centers, so 5G capacity gains are limited.
• Carriers:
  • AT&T and Verizon are typically the most dependable; T-Mobile shows improvement on major routes but remains variable off-corridor. MVNOs piggyback these networks for cost savings.
• Backhaul and resilience:
  • Fewer fiber-fed macro sites per area than in more urban KY counties; storm-related power/backhaul outages can degrade mobile data more noticeably than the state average.
• Home broadband context (affects mobile behavior):
  • Limited or spotty cable availability and uneven fiber-to-the-home; DSL and fixed wireless are more common than in many KY suburbs.
  • Ongoing fiber builds have improved pockets near town centers, but many households still lean on mobile data to fill gaps.

How Elliott County differs from Kentucky overall

• Lower smartphone penetration (by roughly 5–10 percentage points).
• Higher reliance on mobile-only internet for home connectivity.
• Higher prepaid/MVNO share and tighter data budgets.
• Sparser 5G mid-band capacity and more terrain-related dead zones; in-building coverage is a bigger challenge.
• Older device mix and slower upgrade cycles.
• Senior adoption gap is wider than the state average.

Notes on method and uncertainty

• These figures synthesize county demographics with rural/Appalachian usage patterns, state and national adoption surveys, and observed infrastructure patterns for eastern KY. County-level mobile ownership data are not published in a single official source; treat values as reasonable ranges, with confidence highest on directional differences from the state.

Below is a compact, planning-ready snapshot. Notes: Precise, county-level social media stats aren’t publicly reported. Figures are estimates modeled from Elliott County demographics (2020 Census), rural Kentucky broadband/phone adoption (ACS), and Pew Research on rural social media use. Treat ranges as ±5–10 points.

Headline user stats

• Population: ~7,300
• Estimated active social media users (13+): 4,500–5,500 (roughly 60–75% of residents 13+)
• Device mix: 80–90% access via smartphone; 20–30% are mobile-only users (little/no home broadband)

Age mix of local social users

• 13–17: 12–15%
• 18–29: 18–22%
• 30–49: 28–32%
• 50–64: 20–24%
• 65+: 15–18%

Gender breakdown of local social users

• Women: 52–55%
• Men: 45–48%

Most‑used platforms among local social users (share of users)

• Facebook: 70–80% (largest daily reach; Groups + Marketplace are core)
• YouTube: 75–85% (heavy for how‑to, music, sports highlights; less “social,” more viewing)
• Facebook Messenger: 60–70% (default DM)
• Instagram: 30–40% (skews 18–39)
• TikTok: 25–35% overall; 60–70% among under‑30s
• Snapchat: 20–30% overall; 60–70% among teens/young adults
• Pinterest: 20–30% (women 30–40%)
• X/Twitter: 5–10%
• LinkedIn: 5–10% (job‑seekers, public sector)

Behavioral trends to know

• Community hubs: Facebook Groups/Pages for schools, churches, county offices, local buy/sell, lost/found. Word‑of‑mouth travels via reshares.
• Marketplace first: Strong use for classifieds; photos + price + pickup details outperform links.
• Video preference: YouTube/Facebook video for local sports, outdoor life (hunting/fishing), DIY repairs, small‑engine/how‑to. TikTok/Shorts growing among <35.
• Messaging norms: Facebook Messenger for adults; Snapchat for teens. Many prefer DMs or a phone number over web forms.
• Timing: Peak engagement evenings (7–10 pm) and lunch hour (12–1 pm); Sunday afternoons are reliable for community content.
• News behavior: Follows local TV/state outlets on Facebook; high spikes for severe weather, school closures, road conditions. Rumor correction by trusted local voices matters.
• Content that works: Faces and names locals recognize; plain language; clear calls to action; event posts with date/time/location in image; videos under 60–90 seconds.
• Access constraints: Patchy broadband and data caps mean short videos, compressed images, minimal external links; expect some mobile‑only users.
• Seasonality: School‑year sports and holiday periods lift engagement; summer events/fairs do well with photo galleries and short reels.
• Ads/practical targeting: Simple boosted posts with 15–25 mile radius around Sandy Hook; interest clusters include school athletics, hunting/fishing, trucks/outdoors, gospel/bluegrass, home/auto repair. Static images and short vertical video both perform; keep file sizes small.

Method note: Estimates combine rural Kentucky adoption rates with national rural platform splits (Pew) scaled to Elliott County’s population. For planning, use the midpoints; validate with a quick Facebook/Instagram Ads audience check in a 20–25 mile radius to fine‑tune.