Logan County

Key demographics for Logan County, Kentucky

Population

• 27,432 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: 40 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: ~24%
• 65 and over: ~18%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~85%
• Black or African American: ~9%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~4%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~2%
• Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, and other groups combined: ~1%

Households and housing (ACS 2019–2023)

• Households: ~10,800
• Average household size: ~2.5
• Family households: ~68% of households
• Owner-occupied housing: ~72%
• Median household income: roughly $54,000
• Individuals below poverty level: ~17%

Insights

• Population is stable and modest in size, with an age profile slightly older than the national median.
• The county is predominantly non-Hispanic White, with Black residents as the largest minority and a small but present Hispanic/Latino population.
• High homeownership and modest incomes reflect a largely rural housing market; poverty exceeds the national rate.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates.

Logan County, KY context

• Population: 27,432 (2020 Census) across 557 sq mi (49 people/sq mi).

Estimated email users

• Adults (18+): ~21,100. Applying typical rural U.S. adoption, ~85% use email ≈ 18,000 users.

Age distribution of email users (est.)

• 18–29: ~3,600 users (high adoption ~95%).
• 30–49: 5,400 users (92%).
• 50–64: 5,000 users (85%).
• 65+: 4,100 users (75%), fastest growth segment over the past few years.

Gender split

• County population is roughly even; email users mirror this: ~51% female, ~49% male.

Digital access and trends

• ~82% of households have an internet subscription; ~74% have fixed broadband (cable/DSL/fiber); ~18% are smartphone‑only connections.
• Connectivity is densest in and around Russellville and Auburn; rural areas south/west of Russellville show more gaps and lower speeds.
• Ongoing fiber buildouts by local providers (e.g., Logan Telephone Cooperative/LTC Connect) and regional cable expansions are improving rural coverage; 4G/5G coverage is strongest along US‑68/79 corridors.
• Email reliance is high for government/school notices and local commerce; senior adoption and mobile‑only usage continue to rise, narrowing but not eliminating rural access disparities.

Mobile phone usage in Logan County, Kentucky — 2024 snapshot

Baseline

• Population: 27,432 (2020 Census). Roughly 10,500–10,800 households.
• Settlement pattern: Predominantly rural with a single small urban center (Russellville), which shapes coverage and adoption.

User estimates (people, not lines)

• Mobile phone users: 23,000–24,500 residents (≈84–89% of the total population).
• Smartphone users: 19,000–21,000 residents (≈69–77% of the total population).
• Cellular-data–only home internet households: 14–18% (vs 10–12% statewide), reflecting heavier reliance on mobile service for primary internet in rural areas.
• Households with no home internet: roughly 15–20% (a few points higher than the Kentucky average), further pushing everyday connectivity onto mobile phones.

Demographic breakdown (patterns vs Kentucky overall)

• Age
  • 18–49: Near-universal phone ownership and >90% smartphone adoption; usage closely tracks state levels.
  • 50–64: High adoption but a few points below state averages; more prepaid and budget Android usage than in Kentucky’s urban counties.
  • 65+: Smartphone adoption materially lower than the state average (older, more rural population), with a larger share using basic/feature phones and relying on voice/SMS first.
• Income
  • A larger share of low-to-moderate income households than the state average translates to more mobile-first connectivity: smartphone-only and cellular hotspot use for school/work is notably higher than statewide.
  • Prepaid plans are more common than in Kentucky overall, reflecting price sensitivity and credit constraints.
• Race/ethnicity
  • County is majority White with small Black and Hispanic communities. Differences in phone ownership are small; the notable gap is higher smartphone-dependence for internet among Hispanic households, consistent with statewide and national patterns.
• Urban vs rural within the county
  • Russellville residents experience faster 5G and better indoor coverage; outlying areas see more low-band 5G/4G, occasional dead zones, and greater reliance on signal boosters and Wi‑Fi calling.

Digital infrastructure points

• Carriers and coverage
  • All three national carriers (AT&T/FirstNet, Verizon, T‑Mobile) provide countywide 4G LTE and low-band 5G. Mid-band 5G (e.g., T‑Mobile 2.5 GHz, Verizon/AT&T C‑band) is concentrated in and around Russellville and along primary corridors (US‑68/KY‑80, US‑431), with noticeably thinner mid-band footprints than Kentucky’s urban counties.
  • FirstNet (AT&T) is the public-safety anchor and tends to be the most consistent low-band coverage option in remote stretches.
• Backhaul and middle mile
  • Logan Telephone Cooperative (LTC Connect) and the Russellville Electric Plant Board (municipal cable/fiber) provide local fiber that supplies both households and cellular backhaul. KentuckyWired’s middle‑mile presence strengthens connectivity along major routes. This fiber footprint underpins tower performance in and near Russellville but is sparser in the far rural south and west, where backhaul constraints limit mid-band 5G expansion.
• Sites and capacity
  • Macro towers are sited along highways and around towns; small-cell deployment is limited to pockets in Russellville. Capacity is generally ample in town but can degrade during peak evening hours on rural sectors with long cell radii.
• Fixed wireless interplay
  • 5G fixed wireless (especially T‑Mobile) is available in and near Russellville and select corridors; availability drops off quickly in farm and holler terrain. Where fiber/cable isn’t present, households lean on smartphone hotspots and metered mobile plans.

How Logan County differs from Kentucky overall

• Higher mobile-first reliance: A meaningfully larger share of households rely on cellular data as their primary or only home internet, and a larger fraction are smartphone-only internet users.
• More prepaid, budget devices: A higher prepaid mix and greater Android share than the state average, tied to income and credit profiles.
• Wider urban–rural performance gap: Mid-band 5G coverage and speeds fall off more sharply outside the county seat than the typical statewide pattern, making Russellville an outlier for performance within the county.
• Older-adult adoption gap: Seniors are less likely to use smartphones than seniors statewide, increasing the relative presence of voice/SMS-centric usage.

Key takeaways

• Mobile phones are the de facto connectivity layer for most residents, with roughly seven in ten residents using smartphones and a notable minority using mobile service as their primary home internet.
• Infrastructure is solid for coverage (low-band 5G/LTE) but uneven for capacity (mid-band 5G), producing a pronounced town-versus-country experience compared with Kentucky overall.
• Policies and investments that extend fiber backhaul to rural towers and expand mid-band 5G sectors outside Russellville would narrow Logan County’s gap with the state’s urban counties and reduce dependence on capped mobile plans for home internet.

Logan County, Kentucky — social media snapshot (2025)

Population baseline (ACS-based)

• Total population: ≈27.5K
• Residents age 13+: ≈23.0K (about 84% of population)
• Gender: ≈50.5% female, 49.5% male
• Age structure (rounded): Under 18 ≈23%; 18–34 ≈20%; 35–54 ≈27%; 55–64 ≈13%; 65+ ≈17%

Estimated social media users

• Social media users (13+): ≈19K–20K (≈82–86% of 13+)
• Adults using at least one platform: ≈75–80% of 18+

Most‑used platforms (estimated monthly reach in 13+; county-adjusted from national usage and local age mix)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 70–75%
• Instagram: 40–45%
• TikTok: 28–33%
• Snapchat: 24–29%
• Pinterest: 28–32% (notably higher among women 25–54)
• X (Twitter): 17–21%
• LinkedIn: 14–18% Note: Ranking reflects rural Kentucky patterns—Facebook and YouTube skew higher; TikTok/Snapchat/Instagram modestly lower than large metros.

Age‑group usage patterns (relative emphasis)

• Teens (13–17): Heavy YouTube; Snapchat and TikTok are daily drivers; Instagram for peers/sports; Facebook minimal except for family/groups.
• Young adults (18–29): YouTube, Instagram, TikTok strong; Snapchat for messaging; Facebook used for groups, marketplace, events.
• Adults (30–49): Facebook is the hub (groups, marketplace, schools); YouTube for how‑tos, local sports; Instagram moderate; TikTok rising.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominant; Pinterest for projects/recipes; lighter Instagram/TikTok adoption.
• 65+: Facebook for community, churches, local news; YouTube for entertainment/how‑tos.

Gender nuances

• Women: Over‑index on Facebook Groups/Marketplace, Instagram Stories/Reels, and Pinterest; strong engagement with local deals, school/church communications.
• Men: Over‑index on YouTube (DIY, outdoors, automotive), Facebook groups for trading/auctions, and sports content.

Behavioral trends and posting windows

• Community-first behavior: Facebook Groups (schools, churches, youth sports) and Marketplace are central daily touchpoints.
• Video habits: Short-form video performs on Facebook/Instagram Reels and TikTok; long‑form/how‑to on YouTube. Local game highlights, church streams, and event recaps get consistent views.
• Local commerce: Small businesses rely on boosted Facebook posts and cross‑posted IG content; clear offers and local faces outperform generic brand creative.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is widely used across ages; Snapchat messaging dominates among teens/college‑age.
• Time-of-day peaks (Central Time): 6–8 a.m., lunch 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., and evenings 7–10 p.m.; weekend mornings are strong for errands/marketplace content.
• Content that performs: Community events, school updates, faith‑based notices, farm/outdoors, bargains, and practical how‑tos; authenticity outperforms polish.

Practical implications

• If you must pick two channels for broad reach: Facebook and YouTube.
• To reach under 30: Add Instagram and TikTok; use short vertical video.
• To reach women 25–54: Lean into Facebook Groups/Marketplace and Pinterest.
• For cost‑efficient reach: Boosted Facebook posts targeted by town and interests; pair with YouTube in‑feed shorts for recall.

Sources and method

• US Census Bureau American Community Survey (latest 5‑year estimates) for population/age/sex mix.
• Pew Research Center (2023–2024) for national platform usage by age; adjusted to Logan County’s older‑than‑average age structure to derive county‑level estimates. Percentages shown are modeled estimates for monthly reach in the 13+ population.