Fulton County

Here are concise, recent Census-based indicators for Fulton County, Kentucky.

Population

• Total: ~6,300 (2023 estimate); 6,515 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~43–44
• Under 18: ~20%
• 18–64: ~56%
• 65 and over: ~24%

Gender

• Female: ~51–52%
• Male: ~48–49%

Race/ethnicity

• White (non-Hispanic): ~72%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~22%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~2%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, other: each <1%

Households and housing

• Households: ~2,700–2,800
• Average household size: ~2.2–2.3
• Family households: ~60–62% (married-couple ~38–40%)
• Nonfamily/1-person households: ~35–40% (65+ living alone ~15–17%)
• Tenure: ~67–70% owner-occupied; ~30–33% renter-occupied

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates; 2020 Decennial Census; 2023 Population Estimates. Values rounded for clarity.

Fulton County, KY overview (estimates)

• Population: ~6.4–6.6k, very rural; low density (under ~35 people/sq. mile).
• Estimated email users: ~4.2–4.6k residents.
• Age distribution of email users (share of users):
  • 13–17: 5–7% (high school accounts; lighter personal use)
  • 18–34: 22–26% (near‑universal adoption)
  • 35–54: 30–34% (near‑universal adoption for work/family)
  • 55–64: 15–18% (high, but slightly lower than younger adults)
  • 65+: 18–22% (lower/more intermittent use)
• Gender split: roughly even (about 50/50; women slightly higher among older cohorts).
• Digital access trends:
  • Email is nearly universal among internet users; many are smartphone‑first.
  • Home broadband availability is improving via state/federal builds, but adoption lags urban KY; mobile‑only access is common in outlying areas.
  • Public Wi‑Fi (libraries/schools/city buildings) supplements access; older and lower‑income residents have lower adoption and frequency of use.

Notes: User counts and splits are derived from county population patterns and rural Kentucky/Pew Research adoption rates; treat as planning estimates rather than a census.

Mobile phone usage in Fulton County, Kentucky — summary (2025)

At-a-glance user estimates

• Population baseline: roughly 6,400–6,700 residents.
• Unique mobile phone users: about 4,900–5,300 people.
  • Adults (18+): ~5,000–5,300; mobile phone ownership 90–92% → 4,500–4,900 adult users.
  • Teens (13–17): ~320–380; mobile ownership 85–95% → 270–360 teen users.
• Smartphone vs basic:
  • Smartphone users: ~4,300–4,800.
  • Basic/feature phone only: ~300–600 (skews older).
• Household internet posture: a notably higher share of “smartphone-only” households than the Kentucky average (see “How Fulton differs” below).

Demographic patterns shaping usage

• Age: Older than the state overall. Seniors (65+) are a larger slice of the population and are less likely to own smartphones or large data plans; flip/voice-only devices and shared/family plans are more common. Many seniors rely on Wi‑Fi calling at home due to weak indoor coverage.
• Income: Lower median incomes and price sensitivity drive higher prepaid adoption, multi-line discount plans, and slower device upgrade cycles (often 3+ years). With the wind-down of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in 2024, expect more churn toward prepaid and “mobile hotspot as home internet” solutions.
• Race/ethnicity: Black residents (a higher share here than statewide) are more likely to be “smartphone-dependent” for internet access (cellular rather than wired broadband) compared with white residents. Hispanic population is small but also skews toward mobile-first access.
• Work and cross-border ties: Daily life is interlinked with South Fulton, TN and nearby towns; usage patterns include cross-border roaming and plan selections influenced by which carrier performs best near the KY–TN line.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Cellular coverage:
  • 4G LTE: Broad along main corridors and in/around Fulton and Hickman; patchier in river bottoms and low-lying farmland.
  • 5G: Primarily low-band 5G from national carriers along US‑51/US‑45 and town centers; mid-band 5G capacity is limited outside these areas, so peak speeds and indoor penetration lag urban Kentucky.
  • Tower spacing: Sparser than state average; terrain along the Mississippi River bluffs creates shadow zones. Indoor coverage can be weak in metal-roof buildings; many users lean on Wi‑Fi calling.
• Backhaul and capacity: A mix of fiber-fed and microwave-fed sites. Where sites rely on microwave backhaul, busy-hour speeds degrade more noticeably than in Kentucky’s metro counties.
• Wired and fixed wireless:
  • Fiber: Present in pockets via local co-ops and regional providers (e.g., Gibson Connect, WK&T) near and within towns and along some corridors; coverage is not countywide.
  • Cable/DSL: Legacy cable in the city of Fulton; copper/DSL persists in some areas with limited speeds.
  • Fixed wireless home internet: 4G/5G-based services are available around population centers; more limited in outlying areas where signal quality drops.
• Public and anchor connectivity: Schools, libraries, and public buildings provide essential Wi‑Fi access and device charging; these locations function as de facto digital hubs.

How Fulton County differs from Kentucky overall

• Higher smartphone-only reliance: A larger share of households depend on mobile phones for primary internet access versus the statewide average, due to patchy wired options and cost.
• More prepaid and subsidy sensitivity: Prepaid lines and discounted plans are more common than statewide. The ACP funding lapse in 2024 had an outsized impact here, increasing cost pressure and shifting some users to smaller data plans.
• Slower 5G capacity growth: Low-band 5G is present, but mid-band 5G capacity (the driver of higher speeds) is less prevalent than in Louisville/Lexington/Northern Kentucky. Real-world median speeds are lower and more variable.
• Greater cross-border effects: Network performance and plan choice are influenced by Tennessee towers around South Fulton; cross-border roaming and signal “hand-offs” are a routine part of daily usage, unlike most of the state.
• Older user base: A larger senior population means more basic phones, lower app adoption, and heavier reliance on voice/SMS and Wi‑Fi calling compared with the state average.
• Sparser tower grid and terrain impacts: Fulton’s river-bluff topography and wider inter-site distances produce more dead zones than typical in Kentucky’s populated corridors.

Practical implications for service and outreach

• Expect higher demand for:
  • Plans with generous hotspot data (mobile-as-home use).
  • Reliable in-building coverage solutions (Wi‑Fi calling, femtocells).
  • Affordable prepaid options and community Wi‑Fi access points.
• Network investments with the biggest lift locally:
  • Additional or upgraded sites along river bottoms and between towns.
  • Mid-band 5G overlays where fiber backhaul exists to boost capacity.
  • Continued fiber buildout from co-ops to reduce smartphone-only dependency.

Data notes

• Figures are estimates using recent population counts, national/rural smartphone adoption patterns, and known rural Kentucky infrastructure characteristics. Exact county-level mobile adoption data are limited; ranges are provided to reflect uncertainty.

Here’s a concise, best-available snapshot for Fulton County, Kentucky. County‑level social media datasets aren’t published, so figures below are modeled estimates based on Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 U.S. and rural trends, applied to Fulton County’s small, older‑leaning population (~6.4K residents). Treat as directional, not exact.

Overall usage (residents 13+)

• Estimated social‑media penetration: 70–78% of residents 13+ (roughly 3.9K–4.6K people)
• Daily users: ~60–72% of social‑media users
• Primary access: smartphones first; home broadband is decent but not universal, so mobile data matters

Age mix (share of local social‑media users)

• 13–17: 10–12%
• 18–29: 18–22%
• 30–49: 30–35% (largest cohort online)
• 50–64: 22–27%
• 65+: 12–16%

Gender breakdown (share of local social‑media users)

• Female: ~52–55%
• Male: ~45–48% Notes: Women skew more toward Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest; men skew more toward YouTube, X (Twitter), Reddit, LinkedIn.

Most‑used platforms locally (share of social‑media users; ranges reflect rural adjustments)

• YouTube: 82–90%
• Facebook: 72–82%
• Facebook Messenger: 65–75%
• Instagram: 32–45%
• TikTok: 28–40%
• Snapchat: 25–35% (heavy among teens/20s)
• Pinterest: 25–35% (strong among women 25–54)
• X (Twitter): 10–18%
• Reddit: 8–15%
• LinkedIn: 8–14%
• WhatsApp: 10–18% (lower than national average; Messenger dominates)
• Nextdoor: limited presence in very small/rural areas; penetration likely low

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the local hub: community groups, school and church updates, local government, buy/sell/trade, storm and road conditions.
• Video is rising: short‑form (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) for entertainment; YouTube for how‑to, hunting/fishing, farming, small‑engine repair, and local sports.
• Messaging over public posting: heavy use of Messenger and group chats for coordinating events, youth sports, church activities, and classifieds follow‑ups.
• Local trust dynamics: recommendations in Facebook groups and comment threads carry outsized weight; user reviews and word‑of‑mouth outperform polished brand content.
• Timing: evening peaks (7–9 pm CT), secondary spikes at lunch and early morning; strong weekend activity around high‑school sports and church events; weather events drive surges.
• Younger users: Snapchat/TikTok for daily socializing; Instagram for style/music; still maintain a Facebook account for local info.
• Older users: Facebook as primary platform; growing YouTube usage; Pinterest for recipes, crafts, home/holiday planning.
• Content that works: short, direct video; faces and names locals recognize; deals with clear pickup/delivery info; event reminders; before/after posts; farm/outdoors content; high‑school highlights.
• Ads: geo‑targeted Facebook/Instagram perform best; exclude broad metros to avoid spillover; use click‑to‑message CTAs; boost posts in local groups when allowed.