Magoffin County

Magoffin County, Kentucky — key demographics (most recent Census Bureau data: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates; Population Estimates Program 2023)

Population size

• Total population: ≈11.6K (2023 estimate)
• Trend: Continued gradual decline since 2010

Age

• Median age: ~42
• Under 18: ~22–23%
• 18 to 64: ~57%
• 65 and over: ~20%

Gender

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50%

Racial/ethnic composition

• White (alone): ~98%
• Black or African American (alone): ~0–1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native (alone): ~0–1%
• Asian (alone): ~0–1%
• Two or more races: ~1–2%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~1% (Hispanic can be of any race)

Household data

• Households: ≈4.7K
• Persons per household (avg): ~2.5
• Family households: ~70%
• Nonfamily households: ~30%
• Living alone: ~28% of households (≈12% 65+ living alone)
• Housing units: ≈5.4K
• Owner-occupied rate: ~75–80%

Insights

• Small, aging population with a high share of older adults
• Overwhelmingly White, very low racial/ethnic diversity
• High owner-occupancy and relatively small household sizes typical of rural Appalachia

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (county population, 2023); American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates (age, sex, race/ethnicity, households, housing).

Magoffin County, KY snapshot (estimates; latest available Census/ACS and Pew benchmarks)

• Population and density: 11,637 residents (2020 Census) across ~309 sq mi ≈ 38 people per sq mi (rural Appalachian).
• Estimated email users: 8,250 adult users. Method: adults ≈ 77% of population (8,960) × 92% adult email adoption (Pew).
• Age distribution of email users (approx.): 18–34 ~22%; 35–64 ~54%; 65+ ~24%. Adoption is near‑universal for 18–64 and somewhat lower for 65+.
• Gender split among users: ~51% female, ~49% male (population is ~even; email usage shows no material gender gap in national surveys).
• Digital access trends:
  • Home internet: Kentucky households with a broadband subscription ~82% (ACS); rural counties like Magoffin trend lower, implying a modest email access gap in outlying areas versus Salyersville.
  • Device mix: High smartphone ownership (≈ nine in ten adults, Pew) supports email via mobile; rural “smartphone‑only” reliance is higher than urban Kentucky, affecting attachment‑heavy use.
  • Infrastructure: Low population density and terrain increase last‑mile costs, limiting fixed high‑speed options outside town centers; improvements track state middle‑mile investments along the Mountain Parkway corridor.

Implications: Email reach is strong among working‑age adults; seniors are growing but remain the main adoption gap. Mobile‑optimized email is essential given rural access patterns.

Mobile phone usage in Magoffin County, Kentucky: summary and contrasts with state-level patterns

User estimates (scale and dependency)

• Population base: 11,637 residents (2020 Census), roughly 4,600 households (ACS 2018–2022).
• Estimated smartphone users: approximately 9,000–10,000 residents (about 80–85% of residents age 10+; in line with rural U.S. smartphone adoption but a few points below Kentucky’s urban/suburban rates).
• Cellular-only internet households: approximately 22–26% of households rely primarily or exclusively on a cellular data plan for home internet, notably higher than Kentucky’s statewide low-teens share. This indicates stronger mobile dependence for broadband substitution than the state as a whole.

Demographic breakdown and its impact on mobile use

• Age: Seniors (65+) make up roughly one-fifth of residents, a larger share than found in Kentucky’s higher-growth metros. Senior smartphone adoption is materially lower than younger cohorts, pulling down the countywide average relative to the state. Working-age adults demonstrate high smartphone uptake and are the core of mobile-only home internet use.
• Income and poverty: Median household income is about $33,000 with poverty around 30% (ACS 2018–2022), both markedly worse than statewide figures. Lower income correlates with higher reliance on prepaid and smartphone-only access in lieu of computers and wired broadband.
• Education: Only about 1 in 10 adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher (well below the Kentucky average). Lower educational attainment tracks with fewer multi-device households and higher dependence on a single smartphone for both communications and internet access.
• Race/ethnicity: The county is overwhelmingly White (>97%), so observed usage differences are primarily driven by age, income, and geography rather than racial composition.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Carrier footprint: Appalachian Wireless (regional), AT&T, and Verizon provide the primary coverage; T‑Mobile presence is limited. Regional carrier share is materially higher than the Kentucky average.
• 5G availability: Low-band 5G is present around Salyersville and key corridors (e.g., Mountain Parkway/US‑460), but mid-band 5G capacity is limited outside those areas. Many communities remain LTE‑only. This contrasts with Kentucky’s urban counties, where mid-band 5G is more common.
• Terrain and tower grid: Mountainous terrain and valley floors create sharp signal variability. Macro sites concentrate along ridgelines and main roads; indoor coverage away from corridors can be weak, driving widespread use of Wi‑Fi calling and, in some cases, signal boosters.
• Performance: Typical outdoor mobile downloads range roughly 10–40 Mbps near population centers and main highways, often dropping below 10 Mbps off-corridor due to terrain, tower spacing, and constrained backhaul. State urban/suburban medians are higher and more consistent.
• Fixed broadband context (drives mobile dependence): Fiber is available in parts of Salyersville and selected communities (e.g., via Foothills Communications), but DSL remains common and cable footprint is limited. Where fiber/cable are absent, households frequently substitute with smartphone hotspots or dedicated cellular data plans.

How Magoffin County differs from Kentucky overall (key trends)

• Higher mobile-dependence: A significantly larger share of households rely on cellular data as their primary or only home internet connection than the statewide average.
• Lower-capacity 5G: Coverage is more likely to be low-band 5G or LTE, with sparser mid-band 5G capacity. Resulting speeds and indoor reliability trail state urban/suburban norms.
• Carrier mix: Regional carrier (Appalachian Wireless) and prepaid plans have a higher share than statewide, while T‑Mobile penetration is lower.
• Demographic drag on adoption: An older age profile and lower incomes slightly depress overall smartphone penetration relative to Kentucky’s metro counties, even as working-age adults show strong reliance on smartphones for daily connectivity.
• Greater within-county variability: Signal quality changes quickly with topography, producing much larger gaps between “on‑corridor” and “off‑corridor” experiences than typically seen in flatter parts of the state.

Key statistics and indicators (best-available public data)

• Population: 11,637 (2020 Census).
• Households: ~4,600; median household income ~ $33,000; poverty ~ 30% (ACS 2018–2022).
• Device and subscription indicators: Households with a smartphone are in the mid-to-high 80s percent; households reporting a cellular data plan are in the mid‑70s percent; cellular-only home internet is roughly mid‑20s percent in Magoffin versus low‑teens statewide (ACS S2801, 2018–2022 5‑year).
• State context: Kentucky’s wireless‑only (no landline) household share is among the nation’s highest, near two‑thirds; rural Appalachian counties, including Magoffin, tend to be at or above this level (NCHS, 2022–2023).

Implications for planning and programs

• Mobile networks are a primary on‑ramp to the internet for many households; policies that enhance mid‑band 5G coverage and fiber backhaul will yield outsized benefits.
• Affordability and device programs (ACP/Lifeline alternatives, low‑cost smartphone plans, hotspot allowances) are particularly impactful here.
• Public safety, telehealth, and education outcomes depend on improving off‑corridor coverage, indoor signal, and power resiliency.

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5‑year (Tables S2801, DP02, S1701).
• FCC National Broadband Map (2024) for provider presence and 5G/LTE availability.
• National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Health Interview Survey, 2022–2023 (wireless‑only households, state context).
• Pew Research Center (2023) for age‑cohort smartphone adoption patterns.
• Regional carrier information: Appalachian Wireless (East Kentucky Network).

Magoffin County, KY — Social media usage snapshot (modeled 2025 estimates)

Overall user stats

• Penetration: 72–80% of residents age 13+ use at least one social platform monthly (roughly 7,500–8,500 people).
• Device mix: Predominantly smartphone-first (well over 85% of local users access platforms mainly via mobile); desktop usage is occasional and task-specific (e.g., longer YouTube sessions, marketplace listings).
• Activity frequency: A clear majority of users check platforms daily; teens/young adults check multiple times per day.

Age profile (penetration by age group; share of total user base in parentheses)

• 13–17: 88–93% use (≈8–10% of users)
• 18–29: 95–98% use (≈18–20% of users)
• 30–49: 86–90% use (≈28–32% of users)
• 50–64: 70–78% use (≈22–26% of users)
• 65+: 55–62% use (≈16–20% of users)

Gender breakdown among social media users

• Female: 54–56%
• Male: 44–46%
• Platform skews: Pinterest and Facebook skew female; YouTube skews slightly male; Snapchat/TikTok skew younger with a slight female tilt.

Most-used platforms (share of residents 13+ using monthly)

• Facebook: 66–72%
• YouTube: 64–70%
• Facebook Messenger: 58–64%
• TikTok: 36–42% (heaviest among under-35s)
• Instagram: 32–38% (younger adults and women)
• Snapchat: 25–30% (teens and 18–24)
• Pinterest: 14–18% (mostly women, home/crafts/recipes)
• X (Twitter): 8–11% (news/sports/politics watchers)
• Reddit: 6–9% (mostly men 18–34)
• WhatsApp: 5–8% (family and cross-border contacts)
• Nextdoor: ≤4% (coverage limited; local Facebook groups fill this role)

Behavioral trends

• Community-first Facebook usage: Local groups (yard sale/swap, school sports, church, civic updates) and Marketplace dominate engagement. Obituaries, weather alerts, school closings, and local events drive spikes.
• Short-form video rise: Facebook Reels and TikTok see strong evening consumption; practical “how-to,” hunting/fishing, auto repair, gospel/bluegrass, and local sports highlights perform best. Under-30s are heavy creators; 30+ are primarily viewers/sharers.
• Messaging as infrastructure: Facebook Messenger is the default for coordinating services (handymen, yard work, fundraisers). Teens rely on Snapchat for friends; group chats coordinate school and sports.
• Timing: Peak activity 7–10 pm ET on weeknights; secondary peaks around lunchtime (noon–1 pm) and Sunday afternoons. Weather events and high-school sports nights create real-time surges.
• Local trust signals: Content from recognizable community members, schools, churches, and small businesses outperforms generic posts. Posts with faces, names, and local landmarks increase shares.
• Shopping behaviors: Facebook Marketplace is the main local commerce channel (used goods, vehicles, tools). Instagram is secondary for boutiques/crafts; TikTok drives discovery but less local conversion. Many transactions finalize via Messenger and in-person meetups.
• Connectivity realities: Smartphone data limits favor short, compressed video and photo posts; long YouTube viewing is often on Wi‑Fi at home or work.
• News diet: County residents lean on Facebook groups/pages for local news more than dedicated news apps; statewide/college sports and severe-weather coverage pull users to YouTube and X.

Notes on method and data quality

• Figures are county-level estimates derived by weighting national platform-adoption benchmarks (Pew Research Center 2023–2024) by Magoffin’s age/sex profile (U.S. Census Bureau 2023 estimates) and adjusting for rural usage patterns and mobile-first access (NTIA Internet Use Survey; Pew rural splits). They reflect monthly active use among residents age 13+ as of early 2025.