Garrard County

Do you want official 2020 Census counts or the latest estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year)? I can provide both; figures differ slightly by source/year.

Estimated scope (Garrard County, KY)

• Population: ~18,000; ~7,000 households; density ~75 people per sq. mile.
• Adult email users: ~12,000–13,000 (assumes ~90–92% of ~13.5–14k adults use email; Pew national norms).

Age distribution among adults (est. adoption)

• 18–49: ~95–99% use email; roughly 55–60% of local email users.
• 50–64: ~90–93% use email; roughly 20–25% of users.
• 65+: ~75–85% use email; roughly 15–20% of users. Note: Rural seniors show lower adoption than younger adults.

Gender split

• Near parity; men and women use email at similar rates (~90%+ each). Minor differences are negligible.

Digital access and trends

• Household internet subscription likely ~78–82% (ACS-like rural KY levels), with smartphone‑only access around 18–22%.
• Best fixed broadband (cable/fiber) clusters in/near Lancaster and along US‑27; many outlying areas rely on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite.
• Public Wi‑Fi at libraries/schools helps bridge gaps; mobile coverage is generally good on main corridors, weaker in hollows.

Local connectivity context

• Low population density and terrain contribute to patchy last‑mile coverage; ongoing fixed‑wireless/fiber buildouts are improving speeds and reliability.

Below is a concise, county-focused view based on rural Kentucky patterns, recent federal datasets (e.g., ACS Computer and Internet Use, FCC coverage filings), and reasonable assumptions for a county of Garrard’s size.

High-level snapshot

• Population/households context: Garrard County has roughly 17.5–18.5k residents and about 6.7–7.2k households. It is rural, with the largest town Lancaster and heavy daily travel along US‑27 toward Jessamine/Fayette.
• Big picture trend vs Kentucky overall: Usage patterns look more “rural Kentucky” than “state average”: slightly lower smartphone adoption among seniors, higher reliance on mobile-only internet in households without good fixed broadband, and more uneven 5G performance outside main corridors.

User estimates (ballpark)

• Adult smartphone users: 10.5k–12.5k
  • Assumptions: ~13–14k adults; rural adult smartphone adoption ~75–85% (a few points below Kentucky statewide).
• Teen smartphone users (13–17): 2.5k–3.2k
  • Assumptions: 65–75% adoption among teens in rural areas.
• Total unique smartphone users (all ages): roughly 13–15k
• Active mobile lines/SIMs: 15–18k
  • Assumptions: 1.1–1.3 lines per user due to work phones, tablets, hotspots, and secondary devices.
• Mobile-only internet households: 18–25% of households (vs ~14–18% statewide)
  • Rationale: pockets with limited or expensive fixed broadband push some homes to rely on phone hotspots or unlimited mobile plans.

Demographic patterns that shape usage (how Garrard differs from state-level)

• Age: Share of 65+ is typically a bit higher than the statewide average, which drags down overall smartphone and app adoption. You’ll see more basic/flip phones among the oldest residents and heavier use of voice/SMS for coordination.
• Income/plan mix: With fewer competitive fixed-broadband options in some areas, price-sensitive users lean toward prepaid and MVNOs (Cricket, Straight Talk, Boost). Prepaid share is likely higher than the Kentucky average; family plans are common but not as dominant as in metro counties.
• Work/commute patterns: Many residents commute on US‑27 toward Nicholasville/Lexington. That creates time‑of‑day “corridor heavy” usage: stronger signals and higher network load along US‑27 during peaks, with sparser off‑corridor usage at home in the evenings.
• App/platform behavior: Facebook/Marketplace and Messenger are more prominent channels for local commerce and community coordination than standalone apps; mobile banking usage lags slightly among older users; telehealth usage rises where fixed broadband is weak.

Digital infrastructure notes (local nuances vs statewide)

• Coverage shape:
  • Strongest, most consistent LTE/low‑band 5G along US‑27 and in/around Lancaster; coverage thins in hilly, wooded, and lakeside areas (e.g., around Herrington Lake and the county’s eastern/southeastern ridges).
  • 5G mid‑band capacity is spottier than in Lexington‑area counties; LTE fallback is common off‑corridor. Practical takeaway: speeds swing more widely than the state average once you leave main roads.
• Carrier mix:
  • AT&T and Verizon generally provide the most reliable rural footprint; T‑Mobile’s low‑band 5G often reaches corridors and towns but can trail off in backroads. MVNOs that ride these networks are widely used for cost control.
• Backhaul and tower spacing:
  • Rural tower spacing means fewer macro sites per square mile than urban Kentucky, producing dead zones between sites and inside hollows. Where fiber backhaul to towers is limited, peak‑time speeds degrade faster than state averages.
• Public and anchor connectivity:
  • Public Wi‑Fi at schools, libraries, and county buildings acts as a safety valve for residents without robust home broadband. “Parking‑lot Wi‑Fi” remains a practical workaround more than in metro counties.
• Policy shock (ACP sunset):
  • With the Affordable Connectivity Program winding down in 2024–2025, Garrard households lacking affordable fixed broadband are more likely than the state average to pivot to mobile‑only or to throttle plans—amplifying the mobile‑dependence gap vs metro Kentucky.

What this means in practice

• Expect slightly fewer smartphone users per capita than the Kentucky average, but a higher fraction of households relying mainly on mobile for home internet.
• Daytime demand clusters along US‑27; evening demand spreads into weaker‑coverage zones, causing more variability than in metro counties.
• Prepaid/MVNO share and Android share likely run higher than the statewide average; iPhone share and use of data‑intensive services trail somewhat in older cohorts.

Where to validate or refine numbers

• ACS Table S2801/S2802 (Computer and Internet Use) for county vs state mobile‑only and device ownership rates.
• FCC National Broadband Map (mobile layer) and carrier coverage maps for 5G/LTE depth off corridors.
• Ookla/RootMetrics/Crowdsource apps for real‑world speed/availability along US‑27, KY‑52, KY‑39, Bryantsville, Paint Lick, and lakeside areas.

Below is a concise, best-available snapshot. County-level social media stats aren’t published directly; figures are modeled from Garrard County’s demographics (ACS/Census) and recent U.S. rural platform usage patterns (e.g., Pew Research), so treat them as estimates.

Quick context

• Population: ~17.5k; adults ~13.5k
• Estimated adult social media users: ~10.5k–11.2k (roughly 78–83% of adults)
• Daily users: ~7.4k–7.8k (about 70% of social users check daily)
• Device mix: Mobile-first; many “smartphone-only” users due to patchy rural broadband

Age groups (estimated share of adults using any social media)

• 18–29: ~95%
• 30–49: ~90%
• 50–64: ~75%
• 65+: ~55%

Gender breakdown (adoption and notable skews)

• Women: ~82% use social platforms; higher on Facebook and Pinterest; modest lead on TikTok and Instagram
• Men: ~78% use social platforms; higher on YouTube and X (Twitter)
• Overall adult split in the county is close to 51% women / 49% men, so total user base follows that mix

Most-used platforms among adult social media users in Garrard County (est.)

• YouTube: ~82%
• Facebook: ~72%
• Instagram: ~41%
• TikTok: ~36%
• Pinterest: ~30% (heavily female, DIY/recipes/home)
• Snapchat: ~25% (strong under-30 use)
• X (Twitter): ~18% (news/sports/politics)
• LinkedIn: ~12% (lower given local industry mix)
• Nextdoor: ~3% (limited footprint in rural areas)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: local news, school and youth sports updates, churches, civic notices, buy-sell-trade, and Marketplace. Word-of-mouth in FB Groups strongly influences purchasing and event turnout.
• Short-form video is surging: Reels and TikTok clips get cross-posted to Facebook/Instagram; local businesses use short videos for specials and behind-the-scenes.
• Messaging matters: Facebook Messenger is the default for adults; Snapchat dominates teen/young adult chatting; many small businesses handle inquiries via Messenger.
• Video utility: YouTube is big for how-to content (home, auto, farm/DIY) and church or local-event streams; data constraints can limit long live-streams.
• Timing: Engagement peaks evenings (6–9 pm), with secondary bumps at lunch and on weekend afternoons. Spikes around weather alerts, school events, and sports.
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace and group posts outpull formal e-commerce for many peer-to-peer transactions; local service providers see best ROI boosting FB posts to ZIP-targeted audiences.
• Civic/alerts: Local officials and agencies rely on Facebook for urgent updates; X usage is modest outside of media/politics watchers.

Method note

• Estimates blend: ACS/Census demographics for Garrard County; national/rural platform usage rates and demographics from recent Pew Research and similar studies; rural adjustments (higher Facebook/YouTube, lower LinkedIn/Nextdoor). For planning, consider a brief local survey or page insights to validate these baselines.