Washington County

Key demographics for Washington County, Kentucky

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates)

• Population

  • Total population (2020): 12,027
  • Population density (2020): ~44 per sq. mile

• Age

  • Median age: ~41 years
  • Under 18: ~22%
  • 18–64: ~58%
  • 65 and over: ~20%

• Gender

  • Female: ~50–51%
  • Male: ~49–50%

• Race and ethnicity

  • White alone, not Hispanic: ~88%
  • Black or African American alone: ~6–7%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3–4%
  • Two or more races: ~2–3%
  • Asian: ~0.3%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.2%

• Households and housing

  • Total households: ~4,600–4,700
  • Average household size: ~2.6
  • Average family size: ~3.0
  • Family households: ~67–69% of households; married-couple families ~50–55%
  • One-person households: ~25–30%
  • Homeownership rate: ~75–78%

Insights

• Small, rural county with stable population around 12,000.
• Older age profile than the U.S. overall, with about one in five residents 65+.
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White, with modest Black and growing Hispanic populations.
• Household structure is family-oriented with high homeownership and moderate household size.

Washington County, KY snapshot

• Population/density: 12,027 (2020 Census) across ~301 sq mi ≈ 40 people/sq mi; predominantly rural outside Springfield.
• Estimated email users: ~8,300 adults. Basis: ~9,350 adults (≈78% of population) with ~89% email adoption (consistent with U.S./KY rural norms).
• Age distribution of email users (estimate):
  • 18–29: ~17%
  • 30–49: ~31%
  • 50–64: ~25%
  • 65+: ~27% (usage remains high but slightly lower than younger cohorts)
• Gender split: ~50% female, ~50% male; email adoption is effectively even across genders.
• Digital access and trends:
  • ~80% of households subscribe to broadband; ~87% have a computer device; ~12–15% are smartphone‑only users.
  • Fixed broadband (cable/fiber) strongest in and around Springfield and along primary corridors; DSL and fixed‑wireless fill rural areas, with typical download speeds ranging ~25–100+ Mbps.
  • 4G/5G covers main roadways; pockets of weaker signal persist in sparsely populated hollows. Insights: Email is near‑universal among working‑age adults and solid among seniors, but rural bandwidth/device constraints and spotty mobile coverage mean some residents access email primarily via smartphones or lower‑speed links.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Washington County, Kentucky

Scope and sources: Figures reflect best-available county-scale estimates from 2019–2023 ACS 5-year computer/internet-use tables, 2023 FCC Broadband Fabric/coverage filings, and statewide benchmarking through mid‑2024.

Key takeaways

• Mobile is the primary on‑ramp to the internet for a larger share of residents than the Kentucky average, driven by limited wired options outside Springfield.
• Overall smartphone ownership is slightly below the state rate, with a wider senior adoption gap and more “smartphone‑only” households.
• 5G is present from all three national carriers, but mid‑band 5G and wired gigabit coverage are patchier than statewide norms; fixed wireless (5G FWA) fills much of the gap.

User estimates and adoption (Washington County)

• Population and households: ~12,000 residents; ~4,600 households (2020–2023).
• Adults (18+): ~9,300.
• Any mobile phone (adults): ~8,700 users (≈94% of adults). Kentucky overall: ~96%.
• Smartphones (adults): ~7,800 users (≈84% of adults). Kentucky overall: ~87–88%.
• Households with any internet subscription: ~80–82% (KY ≈85–87%).
• Households with a cellular data plan for home internet (phone/tethering or hotspot): ~62–65% (KY ≈56–59%).
• Smartphone‑only internet households (no laptop/desktop or wired service): ~20–24% (KY ≈14–17%).
• Estimated active cellular lines: ~12,000–14,000 (roughly 1.0–1.2 lines per resident), reflecting multi‑line families and IoT lines.

Demographic patterns

• Age:
  • 18–34: smartphone ownership ≈96–98%; heavy app/social/video use; high uptake of 5G FWA for rentals.
  • 35–64: ≈88–91% smartphone ownership; notable work/mobile‑banking use; rising FWA adoption where cable is absent.
  • 65+: ≈65–70% smartphone ownership (KY seniors ≈72–76%); highest share of voice‑only or basic plans; more reliance on family hotspots when wired isn’t available.
• Income:
  • < $35k: smartphone‑only households ≈30–35% (KY ≈24–28%); cost sensitivity leads to prepaid plans and FWA in lieu of cable.
  • $35k–$75k: smartphone‑only ≈18–22%; mix of DSL/cable plus mobile backup.

  • $75k: smartphone‑only ≈8–12%; more likely to have fiber/cable plus unlimited 5G on phones.

• Race/ethnicity (small samples; directionally consistent with ACS/Pew patterns):
  • Minority households are more likely than non‑Hispanic White households to be smartphone‑only for home internet, mirroring statewide trends but at slightly higher county differentials due to infrastructure gaps.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Mobile coverage:
  • 4G LTE: ≥98–99% of populated areas served by at least one national carrier; farm valleys and outer ridges create spot dead zones.
  • 5G: countywide low‑band 5G from at least one carrier covers most residents; mid‑band 5G (capacity layer) is concentrated in and around Springfield and along main corridors, covering roughly 40–55% of residents.
  • Typical speeds: LTE 10–35 Mbps down in rural edges; low‑band 5G 20–80 Mbps; mid‑band 5G 100–300 Mbps with good signal. Median speeds trail state urban medians.
• Fixed broadband alternatives relevant to mobile use:
  • Cable (DOCSIS): Charter/Spectrum presence in Springfield and adjacent neighborhoods; ~45–55% household availability.
  • Fiber to the home: limited but expanding pockets (telco/co‑op builds); ~15–25% availability countywide.
  • Legacy DSL: wide geographic footprint but many lines <25 Mbps effective; often pushed aside by 5G FWA.
  • 5G Fixed Wireless Access (home internet): eligibility for ~60–70% of addresses (T‑Mobile, Verizon), highest outside cable footprints.
  • Public/anchor connectivity: schools, library, and county facilities provide critical Wi‑Fi access; E‑Rate and KentuckyWired middle‑mile backhaul support local ISPs and WISPs.

How Washington County differs from Kentucky overall

• Higher mobile dependence: smartphone‑only households are roughly 5–7 percentage points more common than the state average.
• Slightly lower smartphone adoption overall, with a larger senior gap relative to Kentucky, reflecting both demographics and coverage/performance variability.
• More fixed‑wireless substitution: 5G FWA uptake is above the state average due to sparser cable/fiber and underperforming DSL in rural tracts.
• Lower typical mobile throughput and higher variability than Kentucky’s metro corridors, especially outside Springfield where mid‑band 5G is intermittent.
• Infrastructure skew: fewer addresses have access to gigabit cable/fiber than the statewide share, making handset data plans and hotspots a more frequent primary connection.

Social media usage in Washington County, Kentucky (2025 snapshot)

Baseline

• Population: 12,027 (2020 Census). Adults (18+): ~9,300.
• Note on method: County-level platform data isn’t directly published; figures below are modeled local estimates based on Pew Research Center 2024 U.S. adoption rates adjusted for rural demographics and the county’s age/gender mix.

Most‑used platforms (share of adults using at least monthly; modeled local estimate)

• YouTube: ~78%
• Facebook: ~62%
• Instagram: ~40%
• TikTok: ~33%
• Pinterest: ~32% (skews female)
• Snapchat: ~28% (skews younger)
• LinkedIn: ~24% (skews 25–44)
• X (Twitter): ~20% (skews male)
• WhatsApp: ~16% (niche, family/intl. ties)

User stats and age groups (modeled)

• Overall adult social media penetration: ~70% use at least one platform.
• 13–17: Heavy Snapchat/TikTok; Instagram secondary; minimal Facebook posting but maintain accounts for events/sports.
• 18–24: Instagram + TikTok lead; Snapchat for messaging; YouTube near‑universal.
• 25–34: Instagram/TikTok strong; Facebook used for events, Marketplace, parenting/school info.
• 35–54: Facebook dominant; YouTube widespread; Instagram moderate.
• 55+: Facebook + YouTube core; Pinterest adoption notable among women; limited TikTok/Instagram use, but growing.

Gender breakdown (modeled tendencies)

• Among adult social media users: slight female majority, reflecting county demographics.
• Platform skew: Facebook and Pinterest lean female; X (Twitter), Reddit, and long‑form YouTube content lean male; Instagram relatively balanced; Snapchat slightly female among teens/young adults.

Behavioral trends observed in similar rural Kentucky counties and applicable locally

• Community information hub: Facebook Groups/pages for schools, youth sports, churches, local government, and obituaries drive high engagement; Marketplace is a top traffic source for local commerce.
• Video first: Short vertical video (Reels/TikTok) outperforms photos for reach; YouTube is primary for how‑to, farm/DIY, sermons, and sports highlights; Facebook Live remains effective for events.
• Messaging patterns: Facebook Messenger is the default cross‑age channel; Snapchat dominates teen/college messaging; group chats (teams, church committees) coordinate activities.
• Discovery and purchase: Local services, seasonal events, farm/hunting gear, and home services perform well via Facebook posts/Marketplace; Instagram aids discovery for food, boutiques, salons; TikTok boosts reach for youth‑oriented events.
• Timing and cadence: Evenings and weekends see the most local engagement; posting tied to school calendars, sports seasons, and church schedules yields predictable spikes.
• Trust signals: Real names, local faces, and recognizable landmarks outperform polished corporate creative; comments and shares drive reach more than reactions.

Sources and method

• U.S. Census Bureau (2020) for population baseline; ACS 5‑year profiles for rural Kentucky age/gender patterns.
• Pew Research Center (2024) on platform adoption by U.S. adults; rural/age/gender skews applied to produce county‑level modeled estimates.