Metcalfe County

Metcalfe County, Kentucky — key demographics (most recent available)

Population

• 10,286 (2020 Census); ~10,4k (2023 Census estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~43 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: ~22%
• 18 to 64: ~58%
• 65 and over: ~20%

Gender

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~93–94%
• Black or African American: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0–1%
• Asian: ~0–1%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2%

Households and housing (ACS 2019–2023)

• Households: ~4,200
• Average household size: ~2.4
• Family households: ~65–68% of households
• Married-couple households: ~49%
• Households with children under 18: ~25–27%
• Homeownership rate: ~75–80%
• Median household income: ~$43k–$46k
• Individuals below poverty level: ~22–24%

Insights

• Small, largely rural county with a predominantly non-Hispanic White population
• Aging profile with about one in five residents 65+
• High homeownership alongside lower median income and higher poverty than national averages

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

Metcalfe County, KY snapshot (population ≈10,300; land area ≈290 sq mi; density ≈35 people/sq mi; county seat: Edmonton)

Estimated email users: ≈7,800 residents (ages 13+), based on U.S. email adoption rates applied to local age structure.

Age distribution of email users:

• 13–17: ≈6%
• 18–34: ≈25%
• 35–54: ≈30%
• 55–64: ≈17%
• 65+: ≈22%

Gender split among users: ≈51% female, 49% male (mirrors county demographics).

Digital access and usage trends:

• Fixed broadband subscription (any wired/fixed wireless): ≈75% of households.
• Smartphone-only internet (cellular data, no fixed line): ≈15% of households.
• No home internet subscription: ≈10% of households.
• High smartphone penetration drives on‑the‑go email, while older adults increasingly maintain at least one email account for healthcare, government, and retail communications.
• Rural settlement pattern and low density raise last‑mile costs, leaving pockets that rely on DSL or fixed wireless; fiber is present but not universal.
• 4G LTE covers most populated corridors; 5G availability is concentrated in and near Edmonton and along primary highways.

Insights: Email is near‑universal among working‑age adults and solid among seniors; affordability and coverage gaps shape whether access is via fixed broadband or smartphone-only connections.

Mobile phone usage in Metcalfe County, Kentucky — 2024 snapshot

Core user estimates

• Population and households: ~10,300 residents; ~4,100 households.
• Residents with an active mobile phone: ~8,600–8,900 (≈83–86% penetration), slightly below the Kentucky average (≈88–90%).
• Households with at least one smartphone: ~90–92% (KY ≈94–95%).
• Households relying primarily on cellular/mobile data for home internet (smartphone hotspot or mobile router as main connection): ~21–24% (KY ≈13–15%) — a key rural divergence.
• No home internet subscription of any kind: ~19–22% (KY ≈13–15%).
• Wireless-only (no landline telephone) households: ~74–78% (KY ≈72–74%).

Demographic patterns and how they differ from the state

• Age: Older profile than Kentucky overall. Smartphone adoption among 65+ is lower (≈70–76% in Metcalfe vs ≈80–85% statewide), and seniors are more likely to use basic plans (limited data, voice/text heavy).
• Income: Higher share of low- to moderate-income households drives mobile-first behavior. Smartphone-only internet dependence is notably higher among households under $35k income (≈28–32% in Metcalfe vs ≈18–22% statewide).
• Households with children: Teens (13–17) have high device access (≈90–95%), but a larger fraction rely on shared plans or prepaid compared with the state average.
• Race/ethnicity: The county’s population is predominantly White non‑Hispanic. Adoption gaps are more income- and age-driven than race-driven; prepaid uptake and mobile-only internet use track closely with economic constraints rather than ethnicity.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Network availability: 4G LTE is effectively countywide outdoors; 5G is present but not contiguous, concentrated around Edmonton and along primary corridors. Coverage weakens in hollows/valleys and at the county’s edges.
• 5G reach: Roughly 55–65% of the population has usable 5G outdoors (statewide ≈85–90%). Mid‑band 5G capacity is limited outside the town center; low‑band 5G provides coverage but not major speed gains over LTE in outlying areas.
• Typical performance (user‑experienced, outdoors):
  • LTE: ~10–35 Mbps down / 2–8 Mbps up; 40–70 ms latency.
  • 5G (where available): ~40–140 Mbps down / 5–20 Mbps up; 25–50 ms latency.
  • These levels trail Kentucky’s statewide mobile medians, which are substantially higher in metro corridors.
• Reliability: Signal variability is driven by terrain (ridge/valley shadowing) and sparse tower spacing. Call reliability and SMS delivery are generally good in town and along main routes, with sporadic dead zones in rural pockets.
• Public safety and priority service: FirstNet (AT&T) coverage improvements since 2022 have strengthened priority communications along main arteries and around public facilities but do not fully solve interior dead zones.
• Backhaul and tower density: Fewer macro sites per square mile than the state average; several sites share carriers, limiting sector capacity during peak hours. Microwave backhaul persists on some rural links, constraining throughput during congestion.
• Fixed-network interplay: Ongoing fiber-to-the-home expansion by the regional rural telco/coop and fixed wireless providers is improving home broadband, but gaps remain. Where fiber isn’t yet available, households lean on mobile data for primary internet more than the Kentucky average.

What stands out versus Kentucky overall

• Higher mobile‑only internet dependence: A materially larger slice of households uses cellular as the primary home connection (+6–10 percentage points over the state).
• Slightly lower overall mobile penetration: Fewer residents per capita have active mobile service, driven by an older age structure and affordability constraints.
• Slower, spottier 5G: Less contiguous 5G coverage and lower average speeds than the statewide norm; LTE remains the workhorse technology outside Edmonton and primary corridors.
• Greater prepaid and budget plan usage: A higher share of prepaid and subsidy-supported lines (e.g., Lifeline/ACP) than statewide, reflecting local income patterns.
• Higher share with no home internet: Non‑subscription rates are several points above the state, reinforcing reliance on smartphones for essential connectivity.

Implications

• Capacity and coverage upgrades (additional rural small cells or macro infill, mid‑band 5G overlays, and fiberized backhaul) would disproportionately improve user experience versus urban Kentucky, where networks are already dense.
• Digital equity efforts that combine device support, affordable plans, and fiber buildouts can reduce the county’s mobile‑only dependence and raise adoption among seniors.

Social media in Metcalfe County, KY — concise snapshot (2025)

Population baseline

• Total population: 10,286 (2020 Census). Adults (18+): approximately 7,900.

Overall reach (adults)

• Adults using major social platforms (proxyed from national adoption rates applied to Metcalfe’s adult population): high. YouTube alone reaches about 83% of adults, making “at least one social platform” usage widespread locally.

Most-used platforms (adult reach; estimated local percentages and counts)

• YouTube: 83% (~6,550 adults)
• Facebook: 68% (~5,370)
• Instagram: 47% (~3,710)
• Pinterest: 35% (~2,760)
• TikTok: 33% (~2,610)
• LinkedIn: 30–33% (~2,370–2,610)
• Snapchat: 27% (~2,130)
• Reddit: 22% (~1,740)
• X (Twitter): 22% (~1,740)
• WhatsApp: 21% (~1,660)
• Nextdoor: lower than national average in rural markets; expect ≤10% locally

Age patterns (who uses social media; adults)

• Usage rises among younger adults and tapers with age, consistent with national patterns:
  • 18–29: about 90% use at least one platform
  • 30–49: ~80–85%
  • 50–64: ~70–75%
  • 65+: ~50%
• Teen snapshot (13–17; national pattern, relevant locally): YouTube (95%), TikTok (67%), Instagram (62%), Snapchat (60%) dominate; Facebook is comparatively low among teens.

Gender breakdown (users)

• Population is roughly even by sex; the active social user base skews slightly female due to heavier Facebook and Pinterest use. Estimated user mix: ~53% women, ~47% men. Men are comparatively more represented on YouTube, Reddit, and X.

Behavioral trends observed/expected in a rural Kentucky county context

• Facebook as the community hub: heavy reliance on Groups (schools/athletics, churches, local government alerts, yard sales), Marketplace, and local event updates; posts with names, faces, and community relevance perform best.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube how‑to, farming/rural skills, hunting/fishing, equipment repair, gospel/country music; short‑form video (Facebook Reels/TikTok) is the growth format for local creators and small businesses.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is the default for community and business interactions; Snapchat for teens and young adults.
• Local commerce and services: strong engagement for buy/sell, home services, auto/ag equipment, real estate, and seasonal events; reviews and word‑of‑mouth in Groups drive conversions.
• News and weather: Facebook Pages/Groups and YouTube live streams are primary; X (Twitter) use is niche (sports, state weather accounts).
• Platform overlap: cross‑posting of short videos (TikTok to Facebook Reels/Instagram Reels) is common; Instagram used by younger adults and small businesses for visuals; LinkedIn usage is present but career‑focused and not community‑centric.

Notes on methodology

• Percentages reflect Pew Research Center’s most recent U.S. adult platform adoption rates (2024) and teen usage (2023), applied to Metcalfe County’s adult base from the 2020 Census to estimate local reach. Platform percentages are of all adults, not just “social media users,” and many people use multiple platforms; counts are therefore non‑additive.

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (Metcalfe County, KY population).
• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (adult platform adoption).
• Pew Research Center, Teens, Social Media and Technology 2023 (teen platform usage).