Nicholas County

Nicholas County, Kentucky — key demographics

Population

• Total population: 7,537 (2020 Census)
• 2023 estimate: ~7.4K (U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates)

Age

• Median age: ~41.7 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~22.8%
• 18–64: ~57.5%
• 65 and over: ~19.7%

Gender

• Female: ~50.5%
• Male: ~49.5% (ACS 2018–2022)

Race and ethnicity

• White alone: ~94–95%
• Black or African American alone: ~1.5–2%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0.2–0.3%
• Asian alone: ~0.2%
• Two or more races: ~2.5–3%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~2% (2020 Census; ACS 2018–2022)

Households and housing

• Households: ~2,930
• Persons per household: ~2.5
• Family households: ~68–70%; average family size ~3.0
• Owner-occupied housing: ~75–77%; renter-occupied: ~23–25%
• Households with children under 18: ~27–29%
• Nonfamily households: ~30–32%; living alone age 65+: ~12% (ACS 2018–2022)

Notes

• Population counts are from the 2020 Decennial Census; age, household, and most composition metrics are ACS 2018–2022 5-year estimates, rounded.
• Figures are intended to be precise, data-driven point estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Census and ACS 2018–2022.

Nicholas County, KY — email usage snapshot

• Population and density: ≈7,500 residents over ~197 sq mi (≈38 people per sq mi), indicating a rural, low-density market.
• Estimated email users: ~5,650 adult users (≈94–96% of adults), reflecting near-universal adoption among internet users.
• Age distribution of adult email users (est. counts, share):
  • 18–29: ~900 (16%)
  • 30–49: ~1,800 (32%)
  • 50–64: ~1,650 (29%)
  • 65+: ~1,300 (23%)
• Gender split among email users: ~51% female, ~49% male, mirroring the county’s population structure.
• Digital access and devices (household-level, estimates from recent ACS-style patterns for similar rural KY counties):
  • Any internet subscription: ~79% of households
  • Fixed broadband (cable/DSL/fiber): ~69% of households; remaining access via mobile-only, satellite, or fixed wireless
  • Smartphone-only internet: ~18% of households
  • Computer access (desktop/laptop/tablet): ~86% of households
• Connectivity insights: Low population density raises last‑mile costs, producing pockets with weaker wired options and higher reliance on mobile/fixed‑wireless. Fiber presence is growing but concentrated around population centers like Carlisle. These access patterns temper heavy data services usage but do not materially limit email, which remains the county’s most universal digital channel.

Mobile phone usage in Nicholas County, Kentucky — 2024 snapshot

Context

• Population baseline: roughly 7,300–7,500 residents; about 2,950–3,000 households (avg. household size ≈2.5).
• Age structure (approx.): under 18 ≈23%; 18–29 ≈12%; 30–49 ≈26%; 50–64 ≈19%; 65+ ≈20%. The county skews older than Kentucky overall, which materially affects device adoption and plan choices.

User estimates (people and households)

• Any mobile phone users (all ages): ≈5,700–5,900 people (about 78% of total population).
• Adult (18+) mobile phone penetration: ≈92–94% of adults.
• Smartphone users (all ages): ≈4,800–5,000 people.
• 5G‑capable device users: ≈3,200–3,500 (about two‑thirds of smartphone users).
• Households with at least one smartphone: ≈2,500–2,600 (≈84–87% of households).
• Cellular‑only telephone households (no landline): ≈1,800–2,000 (≈60–66% of households).
• Mobile‑only home internet (households relying primarily on a cellular plan/hotspot rather than fixed broadband): ≈550–650 (≈18–22% of households).

Demographic breakdown (key differences that drive usage)

• By age (estimated smartphone ownership):
  • 18–29: ≈90–95% own a smartphone.
  • 30–49: ≈85–90%.
  • 50–64: ≈78–82%.
  • 65+: ≈52–58%.
  • Teens 13–17: ≈92–96%. This profile is several points below Kentucky’s statewide averages in each adult age band, primarily because Nicholas County has a larger share of older adults and lower median incomes than urban counties.
• By income/education: Cost sensitivity is higher than the state average; the county exhibits a larger share of mobile‑only home internet users where fixed broadband is limited or unaffordable.
• By race/ethnicity: The county is overwhelmingly White non‑Hispanic; usage gaps are driven more by age, income, and infrastructure than by race.

Digital infrastructure and service quality

• Coverage:
  • 4G LTE: All three national carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile) advertise LTE coverage across most populated areas. Service is most reliable in and around Carlisle and along primary corridors (e.g., US‑68/KY‑32), with weaker signal pockets in low‑lying and fringe rural areas.
  • 5G: Predominantly low‑band 5G present near Carlisle and along main highways; mid‑band 5G capacity is limited compared to Kentucky’s urban counties. mmWave is not a factor.
• Performance: Typical download speeds in town are commonly 20–60 Mbps, dipping to 5–20 Mbps in fringe/rural spots; upload often 2–10 Mbps. Performance is more variable than the state average due to fewer macro sites and less mid‑band spectrum deployment.
• Sites/backhaul (county scale): On the order of a dozen macrocell sites serve the county and immediate surrounds, with microwave and fiber backhaul mixed. Small‑cell density is minimal.
• Public access: The public library, schools, and municipal buildings provide important Wi‑Fi offload points; these see heavier use than in urban counties because of patchy home broadband.
• Public safety: FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) materially improves resilience for first responders; its presence also helps general AT&T coverage in and around public‑safety sites.

How Nicholas County differs from Kentucky overall (definitive takeaways)

• Smartphone adoption among adults is lower: ≈78–82% in Nicholas County vs ≈88% statewide. The gap is widest among 50+ residents.
• More households lean on cellular for home internet: ≈18–22% in Nicholas County vs ≈12–14% statewide, reflecting limited fixed broadband options and affordability constraints.
• Cellular‑only (no landline) households are somewhat fewer than the state average: ≈60–66% in Nicholas County vs ≈68–72% statewide, a function of the county’s older age profile.
• 5G availability and speeds trail urban Kentucky: coverage is chiefly low‑band with fewer capacity layers, so median speeds run below the statewide median.
• Usage is more “coverage‑driven” than “capacity‑driven”: residents prioritize reliable voice/text and broad low‑band reach over peak speeds, and device upgrade cycles skew longer, which slows 5G‑capable penetration relative to the state.

Method notes

• Figures synthesize 2020 Census/ACS demographics, Pew/NHIS adoption rates by age, and 2023–2024 carrier coverage trends to produce county‑level estimates. Ranges reflect appropriate uncertainty for a small rural county while keeping the direction and magnitude of differences vs state clear.

Nicholas County, KY — social media usage snapshot (2025, modeled)

Headline user stats

• Population: ~7,500 residents; ~6,300 are age 13+
• Social media users: ~4,650 (≈74% of 13+; ≈62% of total residents)
• Primary device: smartphone-first; desktop use is secondary

Age mix of social media users (share of all users; approx. counts)

• 13–17: 9% (~430)
• 18–24: 12% (~580)
• 25–34: 15% (~710)
• 35–44: 15% (~710)
• 45–54: 16% (~760)
• 55–64: 16% (~760)
• 65+: 15% (~710)

Gender breakdown (share of users)

• Female: 53%
• Male: 47%

Most-used platforms among county social media users (multi-platform; share of users)

• Facebook: 81% (~3,760)
• YouTube: 74% (~3,440)
• Instagram: 39% (~1,810)
• TikTok: 36% (~1,670)
• Pinterest: 34% (~1,580)
• Snapchat: 26% (~1,210)
• X (Twitter): 14% (~650)
• LinkedIn: 9% (~420)
• Reddit: 7% (~325)
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is near-universal among Facebook users; WhatsApp is niche (<10%)

Behavioral trends

• Facebook as the hub: Heavy reliance on Groups and Marketplace for local news, school and church updates, yard sales, services, and events. Most community discourse happens in Groups more than on public pages.
• Video-first consumption: Short vertical video (Facebook Reels, TikTok) drives reach; YouTube is a go-to for DIY, equipment repair, autos, and hunting/outdoors content.
• Private sharing > public posting: Many residents prefer DMs (Messenger, Snapchat) and closed groups over public timelines.
• Peak activity windows: Early morning (6–8 a.m.) and evening (7–10 p.m.), with Sunday evenings and weather-event days producing outsized engagement.
• Generational patterns:
  • Teens: Snapchat and TikTok for messaging and short video; Instagram for trends; Facebook mainly for school/team updates.
  • 25–44: Facebook + Messenger for community and commerce; Instagram for brand/style; YouTube for how‑to.
  • 45–64: Facebook as primary network; Pinterest for recipes, crafts, home/farm ideas; YouTube for tutorials.
  • 65+: Facebook for family/community; YouTube for news recaps and how‑to.
• Commerce and calls-to-action: Marketplace, “ISO” posts, and local service promotions outperform formal ads; clear photos, prices, and pickup details boost responses.
• Local trust signals: Posts from recognizable community members, schools, churches, and county offices earn higher engagement than national sources.
• Connectivity reality: Mobile data is common; shorter videos (<30 seconds), lightweight images, and concise copy reduce drop‑off in low-bandwidth pockets.
• Seasonality: Spikes around back‑to‑school and high‑school sports, planting/harvest and hunting seasons, severe weather, and holiday drives.

Method note

• Figures are current best-available estimates for Nicholas County derived by applying national platform/adoption rates (Pew Research, 2024–2025) to the county’s age structure and rural profile (ACS/Census). Percentages are rounded; multi-platform usage means totals exceed 100%.