Franklin County

Here are concise, recent estimates for Franklin County, Kentucky.

Population

• Total: 51,541 (2020 Census). 2023 estimate: ~52,000.

Age

• Median age: ~40 years.
• Under 18: ~20%
• 18–64: ~62%
• 65 and over: ~18%

Gender

• Female: ~51–52%
• Male: ~48–49%

Race/ethnicity

• White (non-Hispanic): ~79–80%
• Black/African American: ~12–13%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~4%
• Asian: ~1–2%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Other (including American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/PI): ~1%

Households and housing

• Households: ~21,500
• People per household: ~2.26
• Family households: ~55–57%
• Owner-occupied housing unit rate: ~59–61% (renter-occupied ~39–41%)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates). Figures rounded; use ACS for precise, year-specific values.

Franklin County, KY email usage (estimates)

• Population and density: ≈51.5k residents; about 240 people per sq. mi., concentrated in Frankfort.
• Estimated email users: 34–37k adults; 36–39k residents age 13+. Method: population × adult share × local internet adoption (~85–90%) × email use among internet users (>90%; Pew/ACS).
• Age distribution of email users (approx.):
  • 18–29: 18–22%
  • 30–49: 33–37%
  • 50–64: 24–28%
  • 65+: 18–22% (lower use but rising)
• Gender split: mirrors county demographics, about 52% female / 48% male among users.
• Digital access trends:
  • 85–88% of households report a broadband subscription; >90% have a computer/smartphone (ACS).
  • 15–20% of adults are smartphone‑only internet users (Pew), higher among lower‑income renters.
  • Fiber is expanding; Frankfort Plant Board offers gigabit fiber/cable in the city; Spectrum and AT&T serve much of the remainder.
  • 4G LTE is ubiquitous and 5G is growing along I‑64 and populated corridors; some outlying areas still face speed/affordability gaps.

Notes: Figures are synthesized from ACS broadband/computer access and national email adoption patterns; local counts are rounded estimates.

Below is a county-level view built from recent ACS demographics, Pew and CDC/NCHS mobile-use benchmarks, carrier buildout patterns, and Kentucky-specific infrastructure programs. Figures are estimates; ranges reflect uncertainty and year-to-year change.

Quick context

• Population: about 51–52k (county seat: Frankfort). More urbanized than many KY counties and home to a large state-government workforce and Kentucky State University.
• Implication: better-than-average 5G availability in and around Frankfort and a sizable weekday influx of commuters compared with the resident base.

Estimated mobile users and behaviors

• Unique mobile users: roughly 40–45k people carry a mobile phone on a typical day in the county.
  • Adults: 39–41k; adult smartphone ownership estimated 84–87% → ~33–36k adult smartphone users.
  • Teens (13–17): ~3–3.5k; smartphone ownership ~90–95% → ~2.7–3.3k.
  • Wireless-only households (no landline): 70–72% of ~22k households → ~15–16k households. This is lower than Kentucky’s statewide share (often mid-70s), reflecting Franklin’s older median age and government-employee mix.
• Prepaid vs postpaid: prepaid line share is likely 22–28% in Franklin County, versus a higher statewide share (~27–33%). Higher-income, benefit-eligible public workers and family plans tilt Franklin toward postpaid.
• Data usage: average smartphone data use likely 20–24 GB/month in Frankfort and nearby suburbs (mid-band 5G present), modestly above the Kentucky average (often high teens to ~20 GB) but below big-metro national leaders.
• Daytime device density: state offices pull in commuters from surrounding counties; expect a weekday active-device lift of roughly +15–25% over resident device counts, concentrated in downtown/capitol complexes and along US-60/US-127.

Demographic patterns affecting usage

• Age: Franklin is slightly older than Kentucky’s largest metros but younger than many rural counties.
  • 18–34: high smartphone and app-centric usage; heavy reliance on unlimited plans and mobile payments.
  • 55+: strong basic mobile ownership but lower 5G handset penetration and lower streaming/video calling use; more likely to keep a home broadband line.
• Income/education: median household income is near or modestly above state median due to public-sector employment; that correlates with slightly higher postpaid adoption, family plans, and 5G-capable devices compared with the statewide average.
• Race/ethnicity: Black and Hispanic residents are more likely to be mobile-first for internet and to choose prepaid/MVNO options than White residents, similar to statewide patterns—but overall prepaid share is tempered by Franklin’s public-sector profile.
• Students: Kentucky State University adds a small but meaningful cluster of heavy data users near campus and downtown Frankfort.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• 5G coverage: all three nationals (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) provide 5G in Frankfort proper.
  • Mid-band 5G (T-Mobile 2.5 GHz, Verizon/AT&T C-band/3.45 GHz) is active in core corridors, enabling faster speeds and driving up per-line data use.
  • Coverage degrades in some river-valley and outer-rural pockets; indoor signal can be weaker in older state buildings without in-building systems.
• FirstNet/public safety: strong AT&T Band 14 presence due to state-capital functions; this improves capacity and resilience near government complexes compared with many KY counties.
• Backhaul/fiber: the KentuckyWired middle-mile network runs through Frankfort, improving backhaul options for carriers, public agencies, and ISPs; this is a differentiator versus many rural KY counties.
• Macro/small-cell mix: macro sites cluster along I-64, US-127, US-60; small cells or upgraded nodes appear near downtown, campus, and high-density state buildings to handle commuter peaks.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA): 5G Home/Internet from Verizon and T-Mobile is widely available in Frankfort and adjacent suburbs; coverage thins toward the county edges. This gives mobile carriers a stronger home-broadband foothold here than in many rural KY areas.

How Franklin County differs from Kentucky overall

• Higher 5G quality and capacity in the urban core (capital city, I-64 corridor), so average mobile speeds and data consumption are slightly higher than the state average.
• Lower wireless-only household share than the state (still high, but not as high as many rural KY counties).
• Lower prepaid share and higher postpaid/family-plan penetration, tied to a stable public-sector workforce and income/credit profiles.
• Noticeable weekday spikes in device density from commuters, unlike most KY counties of similar size.
• Better fiber/backhaul access (KentuckyWired) supports carrier performance and resilience more than in typical rural counties.
• Coverage gaps persist on the rural periphery and in river-valley terrain—similar to rural Kentucky—but they affect a smaller share of the county’s population due to its urban concentration.

Planning notes

• If your goal is outreach or service planning, prioritize:
  • Capacity around state offices and KSU during weekday peaks.
  • In-building solutions for older government facilities.
  • Rural-edge fill-ins and indoor coverage along river valleys.
  • ACP sunset impacts: monitor for shifts to prepaid/MVNOs and FWA migration; Franklin will feel this less than lower-income rural counties, but it will still move some households.

Franklin County, KY social media snapshot (estimates)

How these numbers were derived: Public, county-level platform stats aren’t published. Figures below apply recent U.S. adoption rates (Pew Research, 2024) to Franklin County’s adult population. County pop ≈ 51.5k; adults ≈ 40k. Treat as planning estimates, not official counts.

User stats

• Estimated social media users: 30–33k adults (about 75–82% of adults)
• Daily users: roughly 70% of users check daily (≈ 21–23k people)
• Device: overwhelmingly mobile-first; video dominates time spent

Most-used platforms (share of adults; estimated local headcount)

• YouTube: 83% (33k)
• Facebook: 68% (27k)
• Instagram: 47% (19k)
• Pinterest: 35% (14k)
• TikTok: 33% (13k)
• LinkedIn: 30% (12k)
• Snapchat: 30% (12k)
• WhatsApp: 27% (11k)
• X (Twitter): 22% (9k)
• Reddit: 19% (8k)

Age patterns (who’s using what)

• Teens/18–29: Very high overall usage. Heavy on TikTok (60%+), Snapchat (60%+), Instagram (70%+), YouTube (90%+). Facebook used, but less central.
• 30–49: Broad multi-platform. Facebook (75%+), YouTube (90%+), Instagram (55–60%), TikTok (35–40%), LinkedIn (~35–40%).
• 50–64: Facebook (65–70%) and YouTube (75–85%) lead; Pinterest (35–45%); Instagram (30–40%); some TikTok (~20–25%).
• 65+: Facebook (50%±) and YouTube (55–65%) are primary; lighter on others.

Gender breakdown (directional)

• County adult base is roughly balanced (about 51–52% women, 48–49% men).
• Platform skews (typical U.S. pattern applied locally):
  • More women: Pinterest (heavily), Facebook (slight), Instagram (slight), Snapchat (slight)
  • More men: Reddit (strong), X/Twitter (moderate), YouTube (slight), LinkedIn (slight)

Behavioral trends (local implications)

• Facebook is the community hub: local news, schools/sports, government updates, yard-sale/Marketplace, and Events. Groups drive comments and shares.
• Video wins: Short-form video (Reels/TikTok) outperforms static; cross-posting Reels to Facebook reaches 30–49 and 50–64 segments effectively.
• Event discovery: Facebook Events and Instagram Stories are primary; reminders day-of boost turnout.
• Messaging-first: Younger users favor Snapchat and IG DMs; adults use Messenger and WhatsApp for coordination.
• Trust and tone: Content featuring recognizable local places, people, and causes outperforms polished “ad” creative.
• Timing (typical peaks): Weeknights 6–9 pm; weekend mornings; LinkedIn reacts best Tue–Thu midday; weather/news spikes push fast engagement on Facebook and X.
• Advertising tips: Geo-target around Frankfort and major corridors; use FB/IG Lead Ads for services; creator-style short videos for 18–34 on TikTok/IG; straightforward offers and clear CTAs for 50+ on Facebook; LinkedIn for recruiting/public-sector/professional audiences.