Lincoln County

Lincoln County, Kentucky — key demographics

Population size

• Total population (2020 Census): 24,275
• Recent estimate (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023): approximately 24.5k

Age

• Median age: about 42 years
• Age distribution: Under 18: ~23%; 18–64: ~59%; 65 and over: ~18%

Gender

• Female: ~50.5%
• Male: ~49.5%

Racial/ethnic composition (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~93%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~2–3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2–3%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~2–3%
• Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: each <1%

Household data (ACS 5-year)

• Number of households: ~9,300–9,500
• Average household size: ~2.5 persons
• Family households: ~65–67% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~28–30%
• Average family size: ~3.0 persons

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey (5-year estimates) and Census population estimates.

Email usage snapshot — Lincoln County, Kentucky (estimates; ACS 2023, Pew 2023, FCC 2023)

• Population and density: 24,600 residents across ~334 sq mi (74 people/sq mi).
• Estimated email users (ages 13+): ~18,700 (≈76% of total population; ≈91% of residents age 13+).
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 13–17: ~7%
  • 18–34: ~22%
  • 35–54: ~30%
  • 55–64: ~16%
  • 65+: ~26%
• Gender split: Roughly even; females ~50–51% of users, males ~49–50% (email adoption rates are near-identical by gender).
• Digital access and trends:
  • Household broadband subscription: ~80–82%.
  • Fixed broadband availability (≥25/3 Mbps): ~85–90% of residents, highest in and around Stanford/Hustonville/Crab Orchard, lower in sparsely populated tracts.
  • Smartphone-only internet households: ~12–15%, supporting strong mobile email use.
  • Public access via schools and libraries augments connectivity for non-subscribing households.
• Insight: With broad (though uneven) fixed broadband and high smartphone penetration, email is effectively ubiquitous among working-age adults and a strong majority of seniors; growth now comes mainly from improved rural last‑mile coverage and continued mobile-first use.

Mobile phone usage in Lincoln County, Kentucky (latest available public data through 2022–2024)

Headline figures (people and households)

• Population and households: ~24,300 residents and ~9,600 households (Census/ACS 2018–2022).
• Households with a smartphone: 89% (about 8,500 households), slightly below the Kentucky statewide rate (91%).
• Households with a cellular data plan (any mobile data subscription): 73% (about 7,000), a bit below Kentucky (78%).
• Households with no internet subscription: 18% (about 1,700), higher than Kentucky (14%).
• Estimated adult smartphone users: ~16,000–17,000 adults, based on county population structure and recent national smartphone ownership levels applied to Lincoln’s demographics.

Distinct trends vs. the Kentucky average

• Higher mobile-only reliance: An estimated 20–23% of Lincoln County households rely on cellular data as their primary/only internet connection, versus roughly mid-teens statewide. This reflects more limited fixed-broadband options and lower incomes in rural tracts.
• Slightly lower device penetration: Household smartphone access and cellular-plan take-up run a few percentage points below the state average, consistent with an older median age and higher poverty rate locally.
• More prepaid and budget plans: A larger share of users on prepaid or entry-tier data plans than the state average, tied to income mix and credit constraints, increases sensitivity to data caps and peak-hour congestion.
• Coverage quality gap outside corridors: 4G LTE and low‑band 5G are broadly available, but in-building and valley/”hollow” coverage lags the state average in the eastern and southern hills; LTE remains the primary service layer outside towns.

Demographic breakdown linked to usage

• Age: The county’s median age is higher than the state average (low‑40s vs. high‑30s), which lowers overall smartphone uptake. Estimated smartphone adoption among seniors (65+) is mid‑60% locally, versus higher in Kentucky’s urban counties; adoption among adults under 35 is effectively universal.
• Income: Median household income trails the state by several thousand dollars. Households under $35k are markedly more likely to be mobile‑only for home internet and to choose prepaid plans; households $75k+ more often bundle fixed broadband and use mobile as a supplement.
• Education and housing: Lower bachelor’s attainment and a higher share of renters correlate with greater mobile-only dependence and lower ownership of multiple devices per household.
• Race/ethnicity: The county is predominantly White non‑Hispanic; small Black and Hispanic populations show higher mobile‑only reliance (consistent with statewide patterns), but absolute numbers are modest due to the county’s composition.

Digital infrastructure and performance notes

• Network layers present: All three national carriers (AT&T/FirstNet, Verizon, T‑Mobile) operate countywide. Low‑band 5G (coverage-first) is available in and around Stanford and along US‑27 and KY‑150; mid‑band 5G capacity is spottier than the state average, so LTE remains the workhorse in outlying areas.
• Coverage geography: Best reliability clusters along US‑27 (Stanford–Hustonville corridor) and KY‑150 (toward Danville and Mt. Vernon). Terrain-driven shadowing appears in the eastern Knobs and some southern ridgelines, where outdoor service is available but indoor signal is weaker.
• Backhaul and traffic: Fiber backhaul follows the main corridors; away from them, sites are fewer and more load-sensitive at the evening peak, leading to more pronounced speed dips than in Kentucky’s metro counties.
• Public safety: AT&T FirstNet Band‑14 overlays the main corridors and population centers, improving priority access for first responders; gaps remain similar to commercial low‑band coverage in remote tracts.
• Device mix: A higher-than-average share of budget Android handsets and LTE-only hotspots persists relative to Kentucky’s urban counties; iPhone and premium-Android share rises in/near Stanford and commuter households.

What this means for planning and service strategy

• Expect sustained demand for mobile-only home internet, especially among lower-income and renter households; capacity upgrades (mid‑band 5G where feasible) will yield outsized benefits.
• Indoor coverage solutions (small cells, repeaters) are more impactful in eastern/southern census tracts than the Kentucky average due to terrain and housing stock.
• Affordability programs (ACP successors, prepaid discounts) and broad device compatibility support are more critical locally than statewide averages would suggest.

Data notes

• Household device and subscription statistics are from the latest available ACS 2018–2022 county estimates; statewide comparators use the same series. Coverage and technology mix reflect FCC broadband/mobile filings and carrier public deployments through 2023–2024, synthesized for Lincoln County’s geography. User counts are derived by applying observed adoption rates to the county’s age/income structure.

Social media snapshot: Lincoln County, Kentucky (2025)

Baseline

• Population: approximately 24.7k (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 estimate). About 76% are 18+, so roughly 18.8k adults. Female: ~51%.
• Modeled adult social media users: approximately 15.0k (about 80% of adults), aligning with Pew Research findings for rural adults.

Most‑used platforms among adults (estimated share of adults who use each platform)

• YouTube: ~80%
• Facebook: ~67–70%
• Instagram: ~40–45%
• TikTok: ~28–33%
• Pinterest: ~28–32% (skews female)
• Snapchat: ~25–30% (skews younger)
• X/Twitter: ~18–22% (skews male)
• LinkedIn: ~18–22% (concentrated among college‑educated professionals) Note: These are county‑level estimates calibrated from Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. platform adoption rates, adjusted for rural usage patterns.

Age group usage (share of adults in each age band who use any social media)

• 18–29: ~90%+
• 30–49: ~85–90%
• 50–64: ~70–75%
• 65+: ~45–50% Implication: Adults under 50 account for the majority of active users and multi‑platform behavior; 65+ are active mainly on Facebook and YouTube.

Gender patterns

• Women: higher likelihood of Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok use; more engagement with community groups, school updates, local events, recipes/crafts, and Marketplace.
• Men: higher likelihood of YouTube, Reddit, and X; more use for sports, news, tech, DIY, and farm/outdoors content.
• Overall gender gap in “any social media” use is small; differences are primarily platform‑specific.

Behavioral trends in Lincoln County (rural Kentucky profile)

• Facebook is the community hub: heavy reliance on Groups (schools, churches, sports, yard‑sale/buy‑sell‑trade), Pages for local government and first responders, and Marketplace for classifieds.
• Video dominates: short‑form (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) for entertainment and local highlights; YouTube for how‑to, church services, high‑school sports, and local meetings.
• Messaging is integral: Facebook Messenger is widely used for coordination; WhatsApp penetration remains low.
• Local news discovery is social-first: weather alerts, school closings, road conditions, events, and high‑school athletics circulate fastest on Facebook; YouTube/Facebook Live used for announcements/streams.
• Younger users (teens/20s): TikTok and Snapchat for daily socializing; Instagram for highlights; Facebook used intermittently for events and groups tied to school or work.
• Older users (50+): Facebook is primary; YouTube for learning, sermons, and product research; Pinterest popular among women for recipes, crafts, and home projects.
• Commerce and fundraising: Facebook Marketplace, group raffles, local vendor pop‑ups, and non‑profit drives perform well; short video + local faces increases trust and reach.
• Timing and devices: mobile‑first consumption; peak engagement typically early morning (commute/school drop‑off), lunch, and evening (after 7 p.m.), with weekend spikes around local sports, festivals, and church activities.

Method and sources

• Population and age/sex baseline: U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts/ACS for Lincoln County, KY (2023 estimates).
• Platform and demographic adoption: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024; rural vs. urban adoption differentials applied to derive county‑level estimates.
• Figures shown are modeled local estimates based on the county’s adult population and the latest rural U.S. usage rates, suitable for planning and targeting in Lincoln County.