Menifee County

Menifee County, Kentucky — key demographics (U.S. Census Bureau: 2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates)

Population size

• Total population (2020 Census): 6,113
• 2023 estimate (ACS): about 6.6K

Age

• Median age: ~43 years
• Under 18: ~23%
• 18–64: ~59%
• 65 and over: ~18%

Sex

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Race and ethnicity (shares of total population)

• White alone: ~96%
• Black or African American alone: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0.3%
• Asian alone: ~0.2%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~1.5–2%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~95%

Households and families

• Total households: ~2,450
• Persons per household (avg): ~2.45
• Family households: ~1,700 (about two-thirds of households)
• Average family size: ~3.0
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~78%

Insights

• Small, slow-growing population with a relatively older age profile.
• Sex distribution is balanced.
• Racial/ethnic composition is overwhelmingly White with small minority and Hispanic populations.
• Household sizes are modest and homeownership is high for a rural county.

Menifee County, KY (pop. ≈6,113; ≈30 people per sq. mile) shows broad email adoption typical of rural Appalachia.

Estimated email users: ≈5,050 residents (≈83% of the population).

Age distribution of email users (estimated):

• Under 18: ≈844
• 18–34: ≈1,116
• 35–54: ≈1,510
• 55–64: ≈661
• 65+: ≈917

Gender split (estimated users):

• Female: ≈2,540
• Male: ≈2,510

Digital access and trends:

• Computer access: ≈83% of households.
• Home broadband subscription: ≈74% of households.
• Smartphone‑only internet households: ≈12%.
• Broadband adoption has risen by roughly 2–3 percentage points since 2019 as cable and emerging fiber reach more addresses; speeds >100 Mbps are common where cable/fiber exists, but gaps persist in hollows and ridge areas, leading to reliance on mobile data in the most remote spots.

Insights:

• Email usage skews highest among 18–54 (over 95% adoption in these groups), moderates in 55–64, and remains substantial among seniors (≈75%), reflecting access and device-use differences.
• The county’s low density and terrain shape connectivity: household broadband is the main driver of email use, with mobile-only connections cushioning access where fixed service is limited.

Mobile phone usage in Menifee County, Kentucky — 2024 snapshot

How many users and how they use mobile

• Population baseline: 6,113 residents (2020 Census). Adults (18+) are about 76% of residents (~4,650).
• Estimated mobile phone users (any handset): 5,200–5,500 residents (roughly 85–90% of the population), consistent with rural adoption patterns and line ownership in similar Appalachian counties.
• Estimated smartphone users: 4,200–4,600 residents (about 80–85% of adults, using Pew’s rural smartphone adoption rates applied to the county’s age mix).
• Mobile-only internet reliance: materially above the Kentucky average. In low-income rural counties in eastern Kentucky, smartphone-only or cellular-only home internet typically sits in the mid-20s to low-30s percent of households; Menifee aligns with the upper end of that range because fixed broadband options are sparse away from Frenchburg and main corridors.

Demographic breakdown of usage

• Age
  • 18–34: near-saturation smartphone ownership (≈90%+), heavy app, social, and video use; hotspotting common for home connectivity.
  • 35–64: high smartphone penetration (≈85%); strong reliance on unlimited or high-cap data plans for work, school, and telehealth.
  • 65+: lower but rising smartphone adoption (≈60–65% typical for rural areas); higher incidence of basic/feature phones and voice/SMS-first usage.
• Income and plans
  • Prepaid and budget MVNO plans are used more than the statewide average due to lower household incomes; data-capped and hotspot-inclusive plans are common.
• Households and devices
  • Above-average share of mobile-only households (no fixed home internet) compared with the state, skewing usage toward smartphones and cellular hotspots for home access.
  • Tablet and hotspot devices are used for distance learning and telehealth, notably where fixed broadband is absent.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Network presence: AT&T (including FirstNet), Verizon, and T-Mobile operate macro coverage in and around Frenchburg and along primary routes; coverage attenuates in forested hollows and ridge-shadowed areas.
• 4G LTE: broadly available along main corridors; indoor coverage degrades in low-lying and wooded areas away from highways.
• 5G: low-band 5G is present on primary corridors; mid-band 5G capacity is limited and spotty; mmWave is effectively absent.
• Tower density: low macro-site density with limited colocation; few small cells. Terrain-driven dead zones remain, especially off main roads and near the Daniel Boone National Forest edges.
• Backhaul: microwave backhaul is still used on several sites; fiber backhaul is strongest near regional transport routes north of the county, constraining peak capacity within the interior.
• Public safety: AT&T’s FirstNet overlays the commercial network on key sites; coverage is adequate for primary response routes but remains variable off-route, so VHF/UHF radio remains primary with cellular as a supplement.

How Menifee County differs from Kentucky overall

• Higher mobile-only dependence: A notably larger share of households rely on cellular service as their primary or only home internet, versus the statewide norm.
• More coverage variability: Signal quality and throughput fluctuate more with terrain than the state average; indoor service gaps are more common away from Frenchburg and state routes.
• Slower average mobile speeds: Lower site density and limited mid-band 5G produce lower median speeds and more congestion at peak times than typical Kentucky suburban/urban markets.
• Plan mix: Greater use of prepaid/MVNO plans and data-constrained tiers; hotspot add-ons are more prevalent due to fixed-broadband gaps.
• Device profile: Slightly lower smartphone penetration among seniors than the state average; younger cohorts are on par with the state in adoption but consume more cellular data for home needs.

Key quantitative takeaways (2024)

• Residents: 6,113 (2020 Census baseline).
• Estimated mobile phone users: 5,200–5,500 (85–90% of residents).
• Estimated smartphone users: 4,200–4,600 (≈80–85% of adults).
• Mobile-only/home cellular reliance: upper-20s to low-30s percent of households, above the Kentucky average.

Method notes

• Figures are derived from the 2020 Census population for Menifee County, age structure typical of ACS for rural eastern Kentucky, and 2023–2024 national/rural smartphone adoption data (Pew Research), adjusted for rural Appalachian infrastructure conditions and FCC mobile coverage mapping patterns. These yield county-level estimates consistent with observed rural usage trends in eastern Kentucky.

Social media in Menifee County, KY (2024–2025 snapshot)

Overall usage (modeled local estimates using 2023–2024 Pew Research Center platform adoption and rural Kentucky age mix)

• Residents 18+ using at least one social platform: 73%
• Teens (13–17) using at least one platform: 95%
• Multi‑platform behavior (2+ platforms among users): ~65%

Most‑used platforms (share of adults 18+ who use each; multi‑select)

• YouTube: 80–82%
• Facebook: 70–73%
• Instagram: 38–41%
• TikTok: 29–33%
• Snapchat: 23–27%
• Pinterest: 27–31% (notably higher among women)
• X (Twitter): 16–20%
• WhatsApp: 15–19%
• Reddit: 11–14%
• LinkedIn: 15–18% (skews to college‑educated and commuters)

Age breakdown (share using at least one platform)

• 13–17: 95%
  • Platform mix: YouTube ~95%, TikTok ~67%, Instagram ~62%, Snapchat ~60%, Facebook ~33%
• 18–29: 85–90% (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat strong; YouTube nearly universal)
• 30–49: 82–86% (Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram/TikTok growing)
• 50–64: 70–76% (Facebook primary; YouTube sizable)
• 65+: 45–50% (mostly Facebook; some YouTube)

Gender breakdown (share of total social media users; platform skews)

• Overall users: ~52% women, ~48% men (reflecting the county’s slightly higher female share)
• Platform skews:
  • Facebook ≈ 55% women / 45% men
  • Instagram ≈ 58% women / 42% men
  • TikTok ≈ 60% women / 40% men
  • Snapchat ≈ 56% women / 44% men
  • Pinterest ≈ 75–80% women
  • YouTube ≈ 48% women / 52% men
  • X ≈ 40% women / 60% men
  • Reddit ≈ 32% women / 68% men

Behavioral trends observed in similar rural Kentucky counties and reflected locally

• Facebook is the community hub: heavy use of local Groups, Marketplace, school and church pages, emergency management, and high‑school sports updates. Event and weather posts drive spikes in engagement.
• Video is habit‑forming: YouTube for DIY, hunting/fishing, equipment and vehicle repair, faith services, and local government/school streams. Short‑form video (TikTok/Instagram Reels/Facebook Reels) is the fastest‑rising content format.
• Mobile‑first consumption: the vast majority of usage is on smartphones; vertical video and concise captions perform best.
• Youth communication patterns: Snapchat for day‑to‑day messaging; TikTok and Instagram for trends and identity. Cross‑posting to Reels is common.
• Shopping and discovery: Facebook Marketplace and local buy/sell/trade groups are primary for secondhand goods; local business discovery often happens via Facebook reviews and shares rather than standalone websites.
• Trust and voice: Content from known local figures (coaches, pastors, first responders, small‑business owners) outperforms national or generic sources. Authentic, plain‑spoken updates beat polished ads.
• Timing: Engagement concentrates in evenings and weekends; severe weather, school schedules, and sports seasons create predictable surges.

Notes on methodology

• Percentages are localized estimates derived from Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 U.S. platform usage (with rural and age adjustments) applied to Menifee County’s demographic profile. Figures represent likely local adoption and carry a typical county‑level uncertainty of ±3–5 percentage points for each platform.