Monroe County

I want to provide you with precise, up-to-date numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau (2023 Population Estimates and 2018–2022 ACS 5-year). I don’t have Monroe County’s exact figures cached locally. If you enable web access or allow me to query the Census API, I will return definitive statistics for:

• Population size (latest estimate and recent change)
• Age structure (median age; % under 18, 18–64, 65+)
• Sex composition (% female/male)
• Race/ethnicity (% White non-Hispanic, Black, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Two or more)
• Household metrics (number of households, average household size, family vs. nonfamily share, owner-occupancy rate, median household income, poverty rate)

Sources to be used: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (PEP, vintage 2023) and American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year.

Summary (Monroe County, Kentucky)

• Population and density: 11,338 residents (2020 Census); ≈34 people per sq. mile, indicating low rural density.
• Estimated email users: ≈7,900 adult users (≈89% of ≈8,900 adults; ≈70% of total residents). Basis: 2020 Census/ACS demographics and Pew adult email adoption.
• Age distribution (estimated penetration among adults):
  • 18–29: ≈98%
  • 30–49: ≈96%
  • 50–64: ≈90%
  • 65+: ≈82%
• Gender split (estimated): Men ≈88% use email; Women ≈90%; users ≈49% male, 51% female (reflecting local population mix).
• Digital access and connectivity:
  • Home broadband subscription: ≈75–78% of households (ACS-style rural KY benchmark), up ~5–7 points since mid‑2010s.
  • Device access: ≈85% of households have a computer; ≈18% are smartphone‑only internet users.
  • Mobile coverage: 4G/5G covers the vast majority of residents; fixed high‑speed options thin outside Tompkinsville.
  • Low density and dispersed settlement patterns raise last‑mile costs, contributing to lower broadband subscription than Kentucky’s statewide average.

Notes: Figures are county‑level estimates synthesized from 2020 Census/ACS and Pew Research adoption rates, calibrated to rural Kentucky conditions.

Monroe County, KY: Mobile phone usage summary (2024)

Scope and approach

• Base population anchor: 2020 Census count 11,338; roughly 4,700 households; older age profile (about 22% age 65+), higher poverty rate than Kentucky overall.
• Mobile usage estimates integrate ACS 2018–2022 county-level computer/Internet indicators, Kentucky statewide benchmarks, Pew smartphone adoption patterns, and local provider footprints.

User and subscription estimates

• Adult smartphone users: ≈7,500 residents (about 85% of ≈8,800 adults), below the Kentucky statewide benchmark (≈89%).
• Households with a smartphone: ≈4,100 (≈87% of households) vs Kentucky ≈90%.
• Cellular data–only households (no cable/DSL/fiber at home, rely on phone hotspot or mobile router): ≈1,030 (≈22%) vs Kentucky ≈15%—a clear rural skew toward mobile-only connectivity.
• Households with no home internet subscription of any kind: ≈850 (≈18%) vs Kentucky ≈11%.
• Fixed broadband subscriptions (cable/DSL/fiber at home): ≈2,770 households (≈59%) vs Kentucky ≈71%.
• Practical takeaway: Monroe County residents depend on mobile networks for everyday connectivity at materially higher rates than the state average, with fewer fixed broadband subscriptions.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age: Seniors (≈22% of residents) depress overall smartphone take-up and are more likely to have voice/text-only or basic plans. Working-age adults reach near-saturation smartphone use, while 65+ adoption trails the county average by a wide margin.
• Income: A higher-than-state poverty rate (low-20s percent) correlates with more prepaid plans and mobile-only internet substitution for home broadband. This drives heavier reliance on unlimited or high-cap mobile data and hotspot usage.
• Household composition: Smaller, lower-income, and renter households are overrepresented among cellular-only connections; family households with school-age children are more likely to maintain a fixed line when available at adequate speeds.

Digital infrastructure and market context

• Carrier footprint:
  • Verizon has strong coverage in and around Tompkinsville and along main corridors, bolstered by the legacy Bluegrass Cellular network assets (acquired by Verizon in 2021).
  • AT&T provides countywide LTE with 5G in town centers and along primary routes.
  • T-Mobile service is present, with 5G in/near population centers; coverage thins in outlying hollows and ridge/valley terrain.
• 5G availability: Low-band 5G is live in Tompkinsville and along key state routes; much of the rural area remains LTE-first. Mid-band capacity is limited outside town, affecting peak speeds and consistency.
• Tower density and terrain: Macro sites cluster along transportation corridors; topography (valleys, wooded ridges) creates localized dead zones and indoor signal variability away from highways.
• Fixed broadband context: South Central Rural Telephone Cooperative (SCRTC) and Windstream/Kinetic serve the area; fiber is present in and around town and selected exchanges, but large rural sections still face legacy DSL or no wired option. This scarcity materially elevates cellular-only household rates compared with Kentucky overall.
• Performance: Typical rural mobile downlink speeds fall below state medians; users experience greater evening congestion on LTE and low-band 5G, particularly for video streaming and hotspot use.

How Monroe County differs from Kentucky overall

• Higher mobile dependence: Cellular-only households are roughly 7 percentage points higher than the state average, and no-internet households about 7 points higher—both driven by limited fixed options and income constraints.
• Lower fixed broadband adoption: At roughly 59% of households, fixed subscriptions lag the statewide rate by about 12 points.
• Older, lower-income profile: A larger senior share and higher poverty rate translate into more basic plans, lower device turnover, and greater use of prepaid and budget MVNOs.
• Coverage pattern: 5G is more geographically patchy, with performance hinging on proximity to town centers and corridors; LTE remains the workhorse outside town.

Implications

• Mobile networks are the primary on-ramp to the internet for a sizable share of Monroe County households, so capacity upgrades (mid-band 5G, additional sectors) would yield outsized benefits.
• Continued fiber buildout by SCRTC and incumbents would directly reduce cellular-only reliance, improving education and telehealth outcomes.
• Targeted device and plan affordability programs will likely have higher uptake and impact here than in the state as a whole.

Key figures (2024)

• Population: 11,338 (2020 Census)
• Households: ≈4,700
• Adult smartphone users: ≈7,500
• Households with a smartphone: ≈4,100 (≈87%)
• Cellular-only internet households: ≈1,030 (≈22%)
• No home internet subscription: ≈850 (≈18%)
• Fixed broadband subscriptions: ≈2,770 (≈59%)
• Seniors (65+): ≈22% of population

These statistics and comparisons reflect the most recent multi-source estimation aligned to ACS trends and observed carrier footprints; they show a consistent pattern of above-average mobile reliance and below-average fixed broadband adoption versus Kentucky statewide.

Social media usage in Monroe County, Kentucky (2025, best-available county-level estimates synthesized from recent Pew/state/rural benchmarks)

User base and activity

• Estimated social media users: ~8,000 residents (≈71% of total population; ≈79% of adults)
• Daily active users: ~6,200 (≈77% of users)
• Multi-platform behavior: ≈63% use 2+ platforms weekly; ≈32% use 3+ platforms

Age breakdown (share of each age group using any social platform)

• 13–17: 92%
• 18–29: 94%
• 30–44: 88%
• 45–64: 73%
• 65+: 56%

Gender split

• Among social media users: ~52% women, ~48% men
• Platform tendencies: women over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube and Reddit; near parity on Instagram and TikTok

Most-used platforms (share of Monroe County social media users using monthly)

• Facebook: 79%
• YouTube: 76%
• Instagram: 39%
• TikTok: 33%
• Snapchat: 29%
• Pinterest: 30%
• X (Twitter): 13%
• WhatsApp: 12%
• LinkedIn: 11%
• Reddit: 10% Note: shares overlap because most people use multiple platforms.

Behavioral trends

• Facebook as the hub: Heavy reliance on Groups (schools, churches, youth sports, neighborhood updates) and Marketplace (farm/ranch equipment, vehicles, furniture). Events and fundraisers see strong organic reach.
• Video-first shift: Rising time on short-form video (Reels/TikTok); local highlights, how-to, hunting/outdoors, and high school sports content perform best.
• Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger is the default for most adults; Snapchat dominates quick messaging for teens/20s; group chats coordinate teams, clubs, and church activities.
• Local news discovery: County and city pages, school districts, local first responders, and nearby TV/radio outlets drive news consumption; trust skews higher for local sources than national brands.
• Commerce behavior: Marketplace price sensitivity is high; posts with clear photos, price, and pickup details outperform. Younger buyers respond to short videos; older buyers to straightforward listings.
• Timing: Engagement peaks evenings (roughly 7–9 pm CT) and weekends; notable seasonal spikes during school milestones, county events/fairs, holidays, and hunting seasons.
• Ads and calls-to-action: Best results from simple offers (availability, price, time-bound promos), click-to-call, and message objectives; geotargeting within ~15–25 miles of Tompkinsville captures most response.