Powell County

Powell County, Kentucky — key demographics (U.S. Census Bureau)

Population

• Total population: 13,129 (2020 Census)
• ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimate: ~13.4k

Age

• Median age: ~41 years
• Under 18: ~22%
• 65 and over: ~18%

Gender

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50%

Race and ethnicity (mutually exclusive)

• Non-Hispanic White: ~95–96%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~1–2%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~2%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~0.5%
• Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic): each <0.5%

Households and housing

• Households: ~5.2k
• Average household size: ~2.5
• Family households: ~65–67% of households
• Married-couple families: ~45–50% of households
• One-person households: ~25–30%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~70–73%; renter-occupied: ~27–30%

Notes: Figures are primarily from the U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census and 2019–2023 American Community Survey (5-year) estimates. Percentages rounded for clarity.

Powell County, KY snapshot

• Population and density: ~13,200 residents across ~180 sq mi (≈73 people/sq mi).
• Estimated email users (adults 18+): ≈9,300 countywide.
• Gender split among email users: ≈51% female, 49% male.

Age distribution of adult email users (counts and share):

• 18–34: ~2,600 (28%)
• 35–54: ~3,400 (37%)
• 55–64: ~1,700 (18%)
• 65+: ~1,600 (17%)

Digital access and connectivity:

• Household internet mix: ~73% have home broadband; ~15% are smartphone‑only; ~12% lack home internet.
• Access patterns: Fiber and higher‑speed cable are concentrated around Stanton and Clay City corridors; many outlying areas rely on DSL or mobile data. 4G/5G covers most populated corridors, with signal gaps in hollows and forested ridges typical of the Red River Gorge/Daniel Boone National Forest edge.
• Trend: Email is near‑universal among working‑age adults and growing among seniors as smartphones become primary access. The end of ACP subsidies in 2024 likely increases cost pressure on low‑income and smartphone‑only households, sustaining a notable offline minority.

Insights: Email reach is strong where fixed broadband exists; mobile‑dependent users skew younger and lower‑income. Low density and terrain continue to slow fiber build‑out, producing pockets of weaker connectivity despite high overall mobile coverage.

Mobile phone usage in Powell County, KY: summary with county-specific estimates and how they diverge from statewide patterns

User estimates

• Population and base: Powell County has roughly 13–14 thousand residents and about 5–5.5 thousand households. Adults make up about 77–79% of residents.
• Mobile phone users: Approximately 9.5–10.0 thousand adults use a mobile phone.
• Smartphone users: About 8.1–8.6 thousand adults use a smartphone (roughly 80–83% of adults), noticeably below Kentucky’s statewide adult smartphone adoption (mid‑80s to high‑80s).
• Mobile‑only internet households: Around 950–1,100 households rely on a cellular data plan as their only home internet connection. This is materially higher than the Kentucky average, indicating stronger dependence on mobile data for home connectivity.

Demographic breakdown (usage patterns)

• Age
  • 18–34: Very high smartphone adoption (low‑ to mid‑90%); heavy app and social/video usage.
  • 35–64: High adoption (mid‑80%); broad use of messaging, navigation, commerce, and work apps.
  • 65+: Lower adoption (mid‑60% range), with a larger share using feature phones or limited‑use smartphones. This senior adoption gap is wider than the state average, reflecting Powell County’s older rural profile.
• Income
  • Lower‑income households show higher reliance on mobile‑only internet than Kentucky overall and a greater use of prepaid/MVNO plans to manage costs.
  • Middle‑income households mix postpaid family plans with hotspot use when fixed broadband is unavailable or unaffordable.
  • Higher‑income households mostly have smartphones plus fixed broadband; mobile‑only still appears but at much lower rates than in lower‑income groups.
• Geography within the county
  • Stanton and Clay City corridors exhibit the strongest and most consistent 4G/5G service and higher smartphone adoption.
  • Outlying hollows and forested areas see more signal variability; users there are more likely to keep legacy devices, use voice/SMS heavily, and conserve data.

Digital infrastructure points

• Coverage and technology mix
  • 4G LTE coverage is broadly available along major corridors (Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway, KY‑11, KY‑15) and in population centers, but topography creates dead zones off‑corridor.
  • 5G is present primarily as low‑band for broad coverage; mid‑band 5G capacity is spotty and mostly tied to main roadways and towns; mmWave is not a factor.
  • Indoor coverage can be inconsistent in metal‑roofed buildings and valleys; residents commonly report better service outdoors or near windows and use Wi‑Fi calling where fixed internet exists.
• Carriers and backhaul
  • All three national carriers operate in the county; AT&T’s FirstNet presence and Verizon’s LTE footprint are strong for public safety and voice reliability, with T‑Mobile providing wide low‑band 5G and selective mid‑band where backhaul exists.
  • Fiber backhaul follows primary transport routes; areas off these paths depend on microwave or older circuits, constraining peak speeds and capacity during busy hours.
• Device and plan mix
  • A higher‑than‑state average share of prepaid/MVNO lines and budget Android devices, reflecting income and credit profiles.
  • Hotspot use is common among mobile‑only households for homework, telehealth, and streaming at modest bitrates.

How Powell County differs from Kentucky overall

• Higher mobile dependence: Mobile‑only internet is several points higher than the state average, driven by patchy fixed broadband and affordability constraints.
• Slightly lower smartphone penetration: Adult smartphone adoption trails the state by a few points, with the gap largest among seniors.
• Capacity over coverage: Coverage exists on roads and in towns, but usable mid‑band 5G capacity and indoor performance lag the state’s urban/suburban counties.
• More prepaid/MVNO usage: Budget plans and line‑by‑line subscriptions are more common than the statewide pattern.
• Greater performance variability: Speeds and reliability vary more with terrain and distance to corridors than in flatter parts of Kentucky, leading to heavier reliance on LTE and Wi‑Fi calling.

Bottom line Powell County residents are well covered for voice and basic data along main corridors, but many rely on mobile as their primary internet at home. Smartphone adoption is high but modestly below the state, especially among seniors. Infrastructure constraints—topography, limited mid‑band 5G, and backhaul—produce more variable performance than Kentucky overall and sustain higher mobile‑only and prepaid usage.

Powell County, KY social media snapshot (2025)

Topline user stats

• Population: ~13.1K; residents 13+ ~11.2K
• Active social media users (used at least monthly): ~8.9K (≈79% of residents 13+; ≈68% of total population)
• Daily users: ~6.8K (≈76% of social media users)
• Primary access: smartphone-dominant; a sizable minority rely on mobile data and public/household Wi‑Fi rather than home broadband

Age mix of social media users

• 13–17: 9% (~800)
• 18–24: 12% (~1,100)
• 25–34: 18% (~1,600)
• 35–44: 19% (~1,700)
• 45–54: 16% (~1,400)
• 55–64: 14% (~1,200)
• 65+: 12% (~1,050)

Gender breakdown of social media users

• Female: 53%
• Male: 47%
• Platform skews: Facebook and Pinterest skew female; YouTube and X (Twitter) skew male; Snapchat and TikTok skew younger and slightly female

Most-used platforms in Powell County (share of residents 13+, with approximate counts; share of social media users in parentheses)

• Facebook: 58% (~6.5K; ~74% of social media users)
• YouTube: 56% (~6.3K; ~71%)
• Instagram: 29% (~3.2K; ~36%)
• TikTok: 25% (~2.8K; ~32%)
• Snapchat: 21% (~2.4K; ~27%)
• Pinterest: 20% (~2.2K; ~25%)
• X (Twitter): 11% (~1.2K; ~14%)
• LinkedIn: 9% (~1.0K; ~11%)

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the community hub: heavy use of local Groups (yard sales, church and school updates, youth and high school sports), Marketplace, and event posts; comments drive visibility and decisions
• Short-form video is surging: TikTok and Instagram/Facebook Reels feature local outdoor content (Natural Bridge, Red River Gorge), small business promos, automotive, and DIY; creators commonly cross-post to Facebook
• Messaging norms: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are primary; many households lean on Wi‑Fi at home or work for media-heavy activity, leading to evening peaks
• YouTube viewing shifts to the TV: how‑to, hunting/fishing, weather, and local sports highlights get strong completion rates on connected TVs
• Trust is local: recommendations from friends, churches, schools, and established local pages outperform polished brand ads; giveaways and community tie-ins lift engagement
• Seasonality: Spring–fall tourism bumps interest in outdoor, lodging, dining, and service content; school-year sports drive recurring spikes; weather events rapidly amplify via Facebook pages/groups
• Timing: Highest activity 6–9 pm on weekdays; weekend mornings perform well for community and commerce posts

Notes on figures

• Counts and percentages are 2025 estimates modeled from recent Census/ACS population structure for Powell County and current U.S./rural adoption patterns from major studies; overlaps across platforms are expected.