Calcasieu County

Note: In Louisiana, “counties” are called parishes. The area you’re asking about is Calcasieu Parish.

Key demographics (U.S. Census Bureau)

• Population size:

  • 2020 Census: 216,785

• Age:

  • Median age: ~36 years
  • Under 18: ~25%
  • 65 and over: ~15%

• Gender:

  • Female: ~51%
  • Male: ~49%

• Race/ethnicity (Hispanic can be of any race):

  • White alone: ~65%
  • Black or African American alone: ~25%
  • Hispanic/Latino: ~5–6%
  • Two or more races: ~3–4%
  • Asian: ~1.5–2%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.5–0.7%

• Households:

  • Number of households: ~79,000
  • Average household size: ~2.6
  • Family households: ~66–68% of households
  • Households with children under 18: ~33–35%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (population count) and American Community Survey (ACS) 2019–2023 5-year estimates for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and household characteristics. Figures are rounded; ACS estimates have margins of error.

Email usage in Calcasieu Parish (Calcasieu County), LA

• Estimated email users: 155,000–175,000 residents (roughly 75–85% of ~210,000 population), based on local internet adoption and national email-usage rates.
• Age distribution (share who use email):
  • Teens (13–17): ~60–70% (school-driven accounts)
  • 18–34: ~90–95%
  • 35–64: ~90–95%
  • 65+: ~70–80% (growing via smartphones)
• Gender split: Roughly even; male and female email usage rates are similar (≈50/50).

Digital access trends

• Broadband at home: About 80–85% of households subscribe to broadband; household computer access is around 85–90%. A notable minority is smartphone‑only for internet.
• Mobile is the primary access point for many residents; public Wi‑Fi (libraries, campuses, cafés) supplements access for those without home service.
• Service quality is strongest in urban/suburban areas; affordability remains a barrier for some low‑income households.

Local density/connectivity facts

• Population ~210k; density roughly 200 people per square mile.
• Urban centers along the I‑10 corridor (Lake Charles, Sulphur, Moss Bluff) have multiple wired options (cable/fiber). Outlying areas more often rely on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite, which can limit speed and reliability—affecting email use primarily for large attachments rather than basic messaging.

Note: Louisiana uses parishes; Calcasieu Parish is the county-equivalent.

Topline estimates (2024–2025, modeled from ACS, Pew, FCC, and state broadband program data)

• Population: roughly 205,000–210,000; adults ~155,000–160,000.
• Adult smartphone users: about 135,000–145,000 (≈87–90% adoption, a bit above Louisiana’s statewide rate, which tends to sit in the mid‑80s).
• Total unique mobile users (including teens): roughly 155,000–175,000.
• Households relying on mobile data as their primary/only internet: about 18–22% in Calcasieu vs ~22–26% statewide. Fixed broadband take‑up is slightly higher locally than across Louisiana overall.

What stands out versus Louisiana overall

• Lower “mobile‑only” reliance: Cable/fiber footprints around Lake Charles, Sulphur, Moss Bluff, and Westlake reduce the share of households that use only cellular data for home internet relative to many rural parishes.
• Faster 5G build and better resiliency on the I‑10 industrial corridor: Post‑hurricane network hardening and enterprise demand around petrochemical, port, and logistics sites accelerated upgrades and backup power/backhaul locally compared to some other regions.
• Carrier balance: AT&T is particularly strong (FirstNet and enterprise contracts), Verizon competitive, and T‑Mobile has expanded mid‑band 5G along I‑10. T‑Mobile’s relative gains trail what it achieved in denser metros like New Orleans/Baton Rouge but are ahead of many rural parishes.
• Prepaid share still high but a bit below the state average, reflecting a mix of urban/suburban incomes and available fixed broadband bundles.

Demographic patterns of mobile use

• Age
  • 18–34: near‑universal smartphone use; heavy video/social and gig‑work app usage; above‑average 5G plan adoption.
  • 35–54: high smartphone and wearables use; strong employer‑driven mobile usage (manufacturing/plant operations, safety apps).
  • 65+: smartphone ownership below younger groups but trending up; still somewhat more likely than younger adults to keep voice/text‑centric plans. Calcasieu’s senior adoption is slightly higher than in many rural parishes due to better device retail/support access in Lake Charles.
• Income and plan type
  • Under ~$35k: higher prepaid and mobile‑only rates; more data budgeting and hotspot use.
  • Middle income: more bundle deals with cable/fiber; mobile used as complement rather than primary internet.
• Race/ethnicity
  • Black and Hispanic residents are more likely than White residents to be smartphone‑dependent for internet access, mirroring state trends, but the parish‑wide rate is moderated by greater fixed‑line availability in population centers.
• Students
  • McNeese State University and local colleges push up iOS share and campus‑area 5G traffic; mobile hotspots supplement apartment broadband during peak semesters.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• 5G availability: All three national carriers offer 5G in and around Lake Charles, Sulphur, Westlake, and along I‑10/I‑210. Mid‑band 5G is common near the highway corridors and denser neighborhoods; LTE/low‑band 5G dominates at the fringes.
• Backhaul and resiliency: Networks were hardened after Hurricanes Laura/Delta (generator deployments, portable assets/COWs, additional fiber rings where feasible). This resilience profile is generally stronger than in many rural parishes but still tested during widespread power outages.
• Coverage gaps: Service thins toward the parish’s southern marshes and the Calcasieu/Cameron line; industrial sites with heavy metal infrastructure can create localized dead zones. In‑building coverage improves in newer facilities with DAS/small cells, but older metal buildings can be problematic.
• Fixed broadband context: Cable internet (Optimum/Suddenlink) is widespread in the urban/suburban core; AT&T offers DSL and selective fiber. Fixed‑wireless and satellite (including Starlink) see use on the outskirts. This fixed footprint curbs mobile‑only dependence compared with much of rural Louisiana.
• Public investment: Louisiana’s GUMBO and BEAD programs are targeting last‑mile gaps across Southwest Louisiana, including parts of Calcasieu through 2025–2028 buildouts. Expect incremental reductions in mobile‑only households as fiber expands.

Usage and performance notes

• Median speeds are strongest along I‑10/I‑210 and in the Lake Charles core; speeds dip at the fringe and in some industrial zones during shift changes (congestion).
• Voice/SMS reliability is generally solid in town; coastal weather events and power issues remain the main risk factors parish‑wide.
• Enterprise/mobile‑workforce demand (ports, plants, construction) drives higher usage of rugged devices, push‑to‑talk, FirstNet, and private‑LTE/CBRS pilots than in many parishes.

Method notes

• Figures are estimates synthesized from: ACS device/internet adoption patterns (household‑level), Pew Research smartphone adoption by age/income, FCC coverage filings, typical carrier expansion timelines in mid‑sized metros, Louisiana’s ConnectLA/GUMBO program updates, and known post‑2020 hurricane rebuild patterns in SW Louisiana. For planning or procurement, verify with current carrier RF maps, ConnectLA project lists, and the latest ACS 5‑year tables for Calcasieu.

Below is a concise, locality‑focused snapshot for Calcasieu Parish (Calcasieu County), Louisiana. Figures are estimates derived by applying recent U.S. platform‑usage benchmarks (Pew Research Center, 2023–2024) to the local adult population and by observing Gulf Coast/local page behavior. Use these to size and prioritize; validate precise counts with platform ad tools.

Quick context

• Population: roughly 210,000 residents; about 160,000 adults (18+).
• “Any social” varies by definition: classic social networks tend to reach ~70–75% of adults; including YouTube puts overall social/video well above that.

Most‑used platforms (estimated share of adults; local share closely mirrors U.S. averages)

• YouTube: 80–85% of adults
• Facebook: 65–70%
• Instagram: 45–50%
• TikTok: 30–35%
• Pinterest: 30–35% (female‑skew)
• LinkedIn: 28–32% (strongest among college‑educated and white‑collar workers)
• Snapchat: 25–30% (concentrated under 30)
• X/Twitter: 20–22%
• Reddit: 20–22% Notes: Nextdoor exists in Lake Charles–area neighborhoods but remains a smaller, niche footprint; WhatsApp usage is present but not dominant compared with Facebook Messenger/SMS.

Age patterns (what people use most)

• Teens (13–17): Heavy on YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram; Facebook comparatively low.
• 18–29: Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube dominate; Facebook still used but not primary.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube lead; Instagram rising; TikTok adoption growing.
• 50–64: Facebook first, YouTube second; Pinterest meaningful among women.
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube anchor usage; limited Instagram/TikTok.

Gender breakdown (directional, adult users)

• Facebook: slight female majority (roughly 55–60% women).
• Instagram and TikTok: slight female majority (~55% women).
• Snapchat: female‑leaning, especially under 30 (~60% women among adult users).
• Pinterest: strongly female (about 70–80% women).
• Reddit and X/Twitter: male‑leaning (about 60–70% men).
• YouTube: near even, slight male lean.

Behavioral trends specific to Calcasieu

• Community and crisis information: High Facebook reliance for hurricane season updates, power/water notices, plant flares, road closures, and school alerts. Local outlets (e.g., KPLC 7 News), city/parish agencies, and sheriff pages drive spikes during severe weather and incidents.
• Groups and Marketplace: Very active Facebook buy/sell/trade, service referrals (roofing, HVAC, contractors), hunting/fishing, youth sports, and church/krewe groups. Marketplace is a key local commerce channel.
• Short‑form video: Reels/TikTok used for restaurant promos, crawfish/seafood drops, event hype (Mardi Gras of SWLA, Contraband Days), and quick “before/after” home repair showcases.
• Work and industry: LinkedIn engagement is concentrated among petrochemical, construction, engineering, health care, and port/logistics workers; hiring surges around plant outages/turnarounds.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is ubiquitous across ages; Snapchat messaging dominates among teens/young adults for day‑to‑day communication.
• Timing: Engagement commonly peaks before work (6–8 a.m.), lunch (11 a.m.–1 p.m.), and evenings (7–9 p.m. CT), with notable surges during weather events and Friday–Sunday for entertainment/food content.

Method notes

• Population base: U.S. Census/ACS estimates for Calcasieu Parish (approx. 210k total; ~160k adults).
• Platform adoption: Pew Research Center Social Media Use (2023–2024). Local shares estimated by applying national adult adoption rates to the parish’s adult population; actual counts can be validated via Meta, Google/YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, and LinkedIn ad planners filtered to Calcasieu Parish.