Marion County

Marion County, Kentucky — key demographics (latest available from U.S. Census Bureau; ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates unless noted)

Population size

• Total population (2023 estimate): ~20,000
• 2020 Census: ~19,600

Age

• Median age: ~40 years
• Under 18: ~24%
• 18 to 64: ~59%
• 65 and over: ~17%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race and ethnicity

• White (alone): ~86%
• Black or African American (alone): ~8–9%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~4–5%
• Two or More Races: ~2–3%
• Asian: ~0.5%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.2%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.1%

Households and housing

• Total households: ~7,600–7,900
• Average household size: ~2.5
• Family households: ~5,000–5,300
• Average family size: ~3.0
• Married-couple households: ~45–50% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~28–30%
• Homeownership rate: ~70–75%
• Housing units: ~8,000–8,500

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 (5-year) and Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023) for total population. Figures rounded for clarity.

Marion County, KY snapshot: 2020 population 19,581 across 347 sq mi (≈56 people/sq mi), centered on Lebanon with largely rural surroundings.

Estimated email users

• Adults ≈ 77% of population → ~15,100; adult email adoption ≈ 88% (national/rural benchmarks) → ~13,300 regular adult email users.

Age distribution of email users (est.)

• 18–29: 18%
• 30–49: 34%
• 50–64: 28%
• 65+: 20% Younger adults are near‑universal users; adoption tapers modestly with age but remains strong among seniors.

Gender split (est.)

• ~49% male, ~51% female among email users, mirroring county demographics and near‑equal adoption by gender.

Digital access trends (county‑level estimates informed by ACS/FCC/KY data)

• ~88% of households have a computer; ~80% subscribe to broadband (cable/DSL/fiber/fixed wireless); ~92% have internet of any type.
• ~17% are smartphone‑only internet households, indicating mobile‑centric access for a notable minority.
• Fixed broadband availability is strongest in and around Lebanon; outlying areas rely more on fixed wireless and cellular, with ongoing upgrades expanding 100/20 Mbps+ service.

Local density/connectivity facts

• Low population density and dispersed addresses increase last‑mile costs, shaping a mixed fiber/cable/fixed‑wireless footprint and slightly lower subscription rates than urban Kentucky.

Mobile phone usage in Marion County, Kentucky (2024 snapshot)

Topline estimates

• Population and households: ~19,600 residents; ~7,200 households.
• Adult mobile users: ~14,350 adults use a mobile phone (≈95% of the ~15,100 adults).
• Adult smartphone users: ~13,200 (≈87% of adults), modestly below Kentucky’s statewide share (≈89–90%).
• Wireless-only telephony (no landline): ~5,400–5,600 households (≈75–78%), higher than Kentucky overall (≈70–73%).
• Smartphone-only internet households (smartphone data plan but no home broadband): ~1,200–1,300 (≈16–18%), above Kentucky’s average (≈12–14%).

Demographic breakdown (adults)

• By age
  • 18–34: ~3,900 adults; smartphone ownership ≈97% ⇒ ~3,800 users.
  • 35–64: ~8,000 adults; smartphone ownership ≈90% ⇒ ~7,200 users.
  • 65+: ~3,100 adults; smartphone ownership ≈68% ⇒ ~2,100 users.
  • Key contrast vs state: Marion County’s older age mix pulls overall smartphone adoption a bit lower than Kentucky’s average, and the 65+ gap is wider (county ≈68% vs state closer to low–70s).
• Income and access
  • Higher reliance on mobile as primary internet among lower-income households contributes to the county’s elevated smartphone-only internet share (≈16–18%), outpacing the state by ~3–4 percentage points.
• Race/ethnicity
  • The county’s population is predominantly White, with smaller Black and Hispanic communities than Kentucky overall; smartphone adoption within minority groups tends to be at least on par with county averages, but their smaller share of the population means they have limited impact on the aggregate rate.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Cellular networks
  • All three national carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile) provide 4G LTE countywide and market 5G service.
  • 5G coverage: low-band 5G broadly covers populated parts of the county; mid-band 5G capacity is concentrated in and around Lebanon and along primary corridors (e.g., US‑68/KY‑55). Outside these areas, users typically see LTE or low-band 5G performance.
  • Public safety: AT&T FirstNet (Band 14) is available in the county, improving resilience and rural reach for first responders.
• Capacity and speeds
  • Marion County relies more on low-band 5G/LTE than Kentucky’s metro counties, so median mobile speeds and peak-time capacity are typically lower than the statewide median. Performance improves near Lebanon where mid-band 5G is present.
• Home internet interplay
  • Cable/fiber: Gigabit cable service is widely available in the city of Lebanon; fiber is present in pockets and expanding, but many outlying areas still depend on older DSL or non-wired options.
  • Fixed wireless: 5G/4G fixed wireless (from mobile carriers) is available to a meaningful share of households, especially around Lebanon and along major corridors, and has seen visible uptake—contributing to the county’s above-average smartphone-/mobile-only internet reliance.
  • Satellite remains a fallback in the most rural parts of the county.

Trends that differ from Kentucky overall

• Higher mobile dependence: More households rely on mobile phones as their only telephone service (≈75–78% vs ≈70–73% statewide) and more use mobile data as their primary home internet (≈16–18% vs ≈12–14%).
• Slightly lower smartphone penetration: Overall adult smartphone ownership is a bit lower (≈87% vs ≈89–90% statewide), driven by a larger share of older adults and patchier mid-band 5G coverage outside Lebanon.
• Infrastructure skewed to low-band: Compared with Kentucky’s urban counties, Marion’s 5G deployment is more weighted to low-band, with mid-band capacity relatively limited geographically—producing slower typical speeds and more congestion at peak times.
• Faster adoption of fixed wireless for home internet: Due to gaps in wireline coverage outside the city, fixed wireless and smartphone tethering see higher use than the state average, reinforcing mobile-first behavior.

Method notes

• Figures are 2024 county-level estimates derived from recent Census/ACS population and household counts, Pew and CDC/NCHS wireless adoption benchmarks, FCC coverage filings, and carrier public network disclosures, scaled to Marion County’s demographics and settlement pattern.

Marion County, KY social media snapshot (2025 modeled estimates)

Overall usage

• Adults (18+): ~71% use at least one social platform; ~70% of those users are on social media daily.
• Teens (13–17): ~95% use at least one platform daily or near-daily.

Most‑used platforms (adults, 18+)

• YouTube ~82% of adults
• Facebook ~69%
• Instagram ~50%
• Pinterest ~35%
• TikTok ~33%
• Snapchat ~27%
• X (Twitter) ~22% These shares reflect platform use among adults and align with rural U.S. usage patterns; YouTube and Facebook dominate reach, with Instagram and TikTok growing among under‑40s.

Most‑used platforms (teens, 13–17)

• YouTube ~95%
• TikTok ~67%
• Instagram ~62%
• Snapchat ~60%
• Facebook ~32% Short‑form video (TikTok/Reels) and messaging (Snapchat) anchor daily teen activity.

Age pattern highlights

• 18–29: Very high on YouTube (>90%), Instagram (75%), TikTok (70%), Snapchat (~65%); Facebook used but secondary for daily posting.
• 30–49: Facebook (75%) and YouTube (85%) lead; Instagram (55%) rising; TikTok (40–45%) for entertainment and product discovery.
• 50–64: Facebook (70%) and YouTube (65–70%) are primary; Pinterest (~35–40%) for home/recipes/DIY.
• 65+: Facebook (50%) and YouTube (50%) remain the core; minimal Instagram/TikTok.

Gender breakdown

• Overall user base mirrors county demographics: ~51% female, ~49% male.
• Platform skews (approximate share of each platform’s local audience):
  • Pinterest ~70% female / 30% male
  • Facebook ~56% female / 44% male
  • Instagram ~54% female / 46% male
  • TikTok ~56% female / 44% male
  • Snapchat ~53% female / 47% male
  • YouTube ~48% female / 52% male
  • X (Twitter) ~42% female / 58% male
  • Reddit ~37% female / 63% male

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the community hub: local news, churches, schools, youth sports, civic groups; Marketplace is a top commerce channel.
• Video‑first consumption: YouTube for how‑to, product research, local sports highlights; short‑form (Reels/TikTok) drives discovery and shareability for local businesses.
• Messaging over public posting among under‑30: Snapchat DMs and Instagram Messages carry much of day‑to‑day sharing.
• Events and service info outperform pure brand ads: giveaways, seasonal promotions, and behind‑the‑scenes content earn higher engagement.
• Older adults favor Facebook groups and long‑form posts; younger cohorts prefer Stories/Reels and creator‑style vertical video.
• LinkedIn and Nextdoor have relatively low penetration; X is niche, used mainly for sports and breaking news.

Method and sources

• Modeled local estimates based on 2024 Pew Research Center Social Media Use (adults), 2023 Pew teen platform use, and rural vs. urban differentials applied to Marion County’s ACS demographic profile (U.S. Census Bureau, most recent available). Percentages rounded to whole numbers for clarity.